The Jupiter Program

Chapter 3

"What?" I say in a confused tone. I looked down into the water of the pond and I knew exactly what they were talking about. I have pale snow white skin and hip length golden brown way hair. I walk over to the pond to look at my reflection and I see two pale blue eyes staring back. I look down at my outfit and I feel ridiculous. I have blue jean shorts that are too short for comfort, and a short, exposing pink crop top.

"I feel ridiculous, and why 2000's clothes?" I say, tucking my hands under my arms and crossing my legs uncomfortably, as Christian stares at my blue eyes from the corner of his, but looks away when he realizes I was staring back for a split second. Unfortunately, I know exactly how to explain every detail of my avatar: my skin, because when I was a baby, my skin was almost see through (luckily, it got progressively darker), my hair is just like my mother's (before she cut it), and my eyes, it makes me want to cry when I realize these aren't mine or mother's brown eyes, but my father and Leo's beautiful, long gone eyes.

"We better go before the other teams catch up," Christian says grumpily, shaking me out of my thoughts, although his voice suggests he is still brooding about the whistle.

We sprint quietly into the forest and across the forest floor, and I marvel at the waterfall that shimmers in the light a few hundred yards away. We find a cave close to the waterfall, and make camp.

"We should switch off being guards, for our safety, but we also need to each kill three people. I've already killed two out of three, but you guys still need to kill all three." Christian looks at me. "You don't need to be very close, if you throw your sword, but you-" he turns to Will "-you need to be right next to them."

Will nodded. "Alright."

"I'll be behind you, to watch your back, and Gray will be in front. Swords are better for deflecting blows than maces." Christian loads his bow and we get in line. About three seconds pass.

"Gray! On your left!" Christian warns me. I slice to the side, and Lizzy's avatar disappears.

"Her allies will be close. Will, this your chance." And, just as he says it, Brian and Alli burst through the waterfall. Will bashes Brian, and Christian shoots Alli.

"That was easy," Will says. But he spoke to soon.

"Wait. Wasn't Lizzy teaming up with Madison and Jasmine?" I ask.

"Good point," says Christian uneasily. Will bites his lip.

"Looks like they teamed up," I say. "Which means Macy is still out there, too."

Suddenly Christian looks up. "Will! Gray! In the cave!"

We run in. As we do, I see what Christian was talking about. Above us, crouched on the rocks, sit Madison, Jasmine, and Macy.

"Run!" I yell at Will, pushing him ahead of me. Macy and Jasmine jump down at me, looking ludicrously like raindrops. I stab Jasmine and punch Macy at the same time. Jasmine vanishes, leaving my sword free to stab Macy. But just as I'm about to shish-kabob Macy, Madison jumps down at me. I stab her easily, but while I'm distracted, Macy slips into the cave. Will brandishes his mace, hitting her hard on the head. She freezes, which means either she's stunned or faking it. Will makes to whack her again, but she was faking. She lashes out at him with her spear, and he falls to the ground. Luckily this means he's ok, because he's still there. He wacks Macy in the leg, and this time she disappears. I run towards him, but Christian gets there first.

"What defects do you have?" He asks.

"I have slowness and some reflex problem, but mainly just fatigue." Will yawns.

"You sleep. Gray and I will watch." Christian goes to grab some leaves from the woods outside the cave for a makeshift bed.

"Just try to rest." I tell him.