My eyes connect with Nicolette's for a valuable millisecond. Between the experiments and the rebellion, we've both had enough fear to last us a lifetime. I didn't think life could get any worse. I mean, I can handle the mysterious Equinox as well, right?

A loud buzzer blares across the cornfield, signaling the beginning of the end. For some reason, I know my nagging gut feeling is correct. My nerves are high-strung and ready to explode at any moment. Then all hell threatens to break loose.

Every pair of eyes turns towards the glass wall. The leaderboard statistics vanish, replacing with bold text. I squint as I skim the words. It's a set of directions.

The announcement voice returns, reading the words I process. "Inductees, find a white box and return it to your platform. Then face the monument wall to unlock further instructions.

"Keep in mind your duties to the Equinox and the nation. It's your responsibility to prove yourself to the Screeners and Equinox officials who will dictate your future. The only rule in place is follow the instructions and complete the task as quickly as possible."

Another buzzer goes off, and a million things occur at once. Inductees leap of their platforms, masking themselves in the tall corn stalks. The plants shift and wave as non-visible teens run in between them. In every direction, the air is filled with competitive voices vying to win.

But what are we winning exactly? A new life for ourselves? The thought doesn't sound likely. I feel queasy about the entire situation. It's impossible for a city of 18-year-olds to appear in a random cornfield without warning. Just seconds ago we were all in those glass boxes.

A haunting thought occurs to me. Is the Equinox a part of the Enhancement Project? My instincts suddenly feel like they're being tampered with. A competition like this wouldn't be conducted without a greater purpose.

I think the goal is to test something, whether it be a miracle drug or an injection. Everything in the nation is so interconnected, I have no doubt there's a hidden meaning in the Equinox task. I just have to find it along with the white box.

I twist around on my platform, nearly all of the teens gone from my vision. Only a few inductees remain standing above the stalks, disadvantaged in the race. I need to get moving. My body feels compelled to shut down and give up, like it's telling me to surrender. I can't let that happen, especially if this is all an intricate trap.

"Nicolette, Stephen!" I call as I turn back around. Both of their terrified faces meet mine. I clear my throat and nod before addressing them again. Whatever the end goal of this first Equinox task is, we need to reach it to ensure our survival. "We need to win somehow. I think we should start looking as far away as we can get."

"Okay," Nicolette agrees. I detect determination and fear in her voice. "Can we all stay together though?"

"Of course we will. Stephen and I will come over to your pedestal. Just stay there for a second." With the outlines of a battle plan forming in my mind, I leap off the platform. My sneakers dig into the deep soil, and I bolt towards Nicolette.

The green stalks block nearly everything in view, hindering my senses and my sanity. I elbow the greenness away from me as I run. Reaching Nicolette's platform, I tell her we'll be okay.

"I don't think so," she says, "but I'll do this anyway."

Stephen finally reaches us. Before anything else, I give him a long hug, my arms clinging tightly around him. The embrace doesn't last long, but it's our way of saying we're still on the same team. I pull away and gaze into Stephen's deep brown eyes. We both nod, confirming our stance. We won't give up until we reach the end.

Nicolette leads the way to the glass monument, but the journey is more difficult than I originally thought. Maneuvering between the leaves and stems is time-consuming and disorienting.

We pass by a dozen or so inductees arguing near a black platform. One teen makes a grab for a flash of white while another tackles the beholder. The teens dogpile on top of each other, wrestling for the box. I can't believe my eyes. Are they really fist-fighting over a stupid box? When the voice said no rules, I think it should have known better. People could die if they're not careful.

Shaken up, all three of us finally reach the monument wall, the leaderboard restored to its glory. I scan the area for anything out of place. A small section of cut grass lines the monument, blending into the endless field. Though I continue to search, my eyes fail to find anything out of ordinary.

Then I see it. Disguised as a corn plant, I spot a glint of metal shining in the yellow kernels. The discovery is so slight that I find myself blinking repeatedly. The glare doesn't vanish.

Stephen taps his hand on my forearm. "Holland, I think I found something."

"Me, too," Nicolette says.

Not drawing any attention to ourselves, we approach the cornfield again. To my surprise, all three of us were referring to different plants. As I close in on the plant merely yards away, Nicolette steps deeper into the camouflage while Stephen bends towards the mushy dirt near my feet.

I reach to touch the silver corn, a holographic cage popping up in front of my fingers. As soon as my skin intercepts the aqua grid, it burns me with scalding heat. How is that possible? Holograms are never supposed to hurt your skin.

I jerk my hand back, stepping away from the tall plant. Stephen and Nicolette react similarly, each of our names appearing above our discoveries.

"A passage code is required to unlock the holograms," a voice says.

I whip my eyes towards the others. "Any ideas?"

Stephen shakes his head. "Can we have a hint?"

The voice actually replies. "Prove your loyalty to your country with pride."

"Now and always," Nicolette and I say in sync, quoting our daily pledge. All three holograms disappear as I sigh in relief.

I check over my shoulder before tearing apart the corn plant. The inductees seem to be distracted by their own searches, though a few groups continue to argue. I catch the eye of a girl before spinning back around. No way am I drawing attention to myself.

I grasp the corn, realizing it's solid like metal. The yellow kernels breaks off easily with a snap, revealing a potion of metal: a handle. Easing it away from the plant, I stop in confusion when I identify what I found.

Nicolette steps next to me out of nowhere, gasping. "Is that a gun?

"I think so."

"Hey, guys," Stephen says. He rises from the ground. "Look what I found."

In his palm is a glossy white box smeared with dirt. The box itself is the size of a softball.

"Can it open?" Nicolette asks.

"No, it can't. The lid doesn't--"

"Hey!" a female voice shouts roughly. We all twist around. Merely ten yards away is the girl from before with a pack of inductees. "Give us that box!"

The girl's shouting attracts the attention of more people. Every person stops their searching, a few guns waving menacingly at us. The shouting becomes louder, more violent.

I grab Nicolette and Stephen, shoving them into the cornfield. We bolt into the coverage, the sound of at least fifty pairs of sneakers storming after us. These people are insane. How could they be ready to hurt or kill at a moment's notice?

Deafening bangs burst around us, dear rattling my body. Adrenaline forces us through the maze at even faster speeds. Leaves graze my arms as we struggle through the dense greenness.

Just as we make a left turn, a louder barrage of bullets descends on us. A blur of metal skims Nicolette's leg, opening small red wound. My insides shriek.

Out of nowhere, Stephen trips and falls with a grunt. I skid to a halt, Nicolette stopping a few yards away.

"Stephen," I urge, glancing at the oncoming inductees. They continue to fire their weapons as I squat closer to the ground. "Stephen, c'mon."

"I- I can't," Stephen pants. He rolls onto his back, revealing a massive wound in his chest. I scream, covering my mouth with my hands. The dizzy world fades out of view. "Oh, my gosh!"

"Holland, y-you have to... keep going."

"No! I'm not leaving you here!"

"H-Holland, go. D-Don't even--"

"What do I do?" I cry, my fingers shaking. "How do I fix it? I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry. This is all my fault, Stephen. I'm sorry."

With his skin pale, Stephen shakes his head, using an enormous amount of effort. I helplessly watch the light fade from his gaze, his deep eyes unfocusing. He grasps my hand, grip tighter than ever.

"Don't leave," I whisper to him, "because I'm not leaving. I'm staying here, with you."

"I-It's alright, 400."

I unwillingly smile at the mentioning of my number. Then panic seizes my body again, forcing my half-grin to disappear. My friend is dying in front of my eyes. "I love you, okay? I love you so much."

Stephen gasps again, nodding his head. His hand slackens against mine as my sight grows blurry. Wiping my tears away, an aura of grief fills me up. I let Stephen's fingers go. He doesn't take another breath.

I scream so loud the birds around us take off and flap away in fear.

-- -- -- -- --

a majority of you voted for the first death. i'm sorry i had to do this, but I PROMISE IT WILL RESOLVE ITSELF. this is not the end, there's so much more to come. I PROMISE!

and as a side note: i'm getting braces soon! comment if you've ever had them before (i just got the separators put in yesterday). i also have to get a gum graft on my four bottom teeth... i'm kinda scared. cross your fingers for me!

Question: Choose a phrase: finish the hunt, finish them off, or finish crying.