6 days until the Last Ordeal

I barely remember anything from the rest of that day. I remember yelling at the other Chosen for things that weren’t their fault. I remember an ambulance, which would have been far too late to be any help. I remember crying.

All I could think about the next day was how unfair it was. Laura didn’t ask to be a part of this. She just wanted to help out her family. Instead, her family lost a daughter, and they don’t even know why. She was fourteen years old.

The only thing to break me out of my haze was a text from Harley. They wanted to gather everyone up after school to talk to 101 again. Apparently, it had agreed to meet. I said I’d be there. What else did I have to do?

We met in the same clearing as our first meeting. Everyone showed up except for Chris. With Laura gone, that left seven people instead of nine. For a difference of two people, it made the clearing feel unnervingly empty.

Harley broke the silence again. "What if we agreed to never take on a monster with less than three people?"

"What if there aren't three people available?" Marie shot back. "I'm not gonna just let one of those things kill someone. If there's a monster in front of me, I'm killing it."

"Do they actually kill people if you leave them alone?" Rita said. "I've only ever seen them attack us..."

"Maybe they just prioritize us over other people because we can stop them," Keiko suggested.

"Unless we can tell for sure, I'm not gambling with people's lives," Marie said. Before the argument could go in any more circles, 101 appeared.

"I am sorry that one of your number was killed," 101 said in its usual dry monotone. "I regret that there was nothing else I could do to prevent it."

"Bullshit!" Julio shouted. "You've barely told us anything! I don't even really know how my own powers work! Laura's dead because of you!"

"I do not have inherent knowledge of your abilities," 101 said. "The details vary based on the psyche and species of the Chosen. I cannot wield any power directly, so there was nothing I could have done to prevent her death."

"It's six days until the Last Ordeal." Akio spoke up suddenly. "Can you tell us anything else about it?"

"My information about the Last Ordeal is limited, but I will share what I do know. When it begins, 13 objects called Crowns will manifest in different parts of the world. In order for humanity to survive, all 13 Crowns must be destroyed."

"I'm sorry, what?" I stepped forward. "How are we supposed to do this if it's happening all over the world?!"

101 didn't reply. I asked the question again.

"There are 13 groups of Chosen. You only need to be concerned about one Crown."

I felt my stomach drop. The implications were much worse than what 101 suggested.

"101," I said. "What happens if 12 groups succeed and one fails?"

It hesitated again. "This would result in the end of humanity."

Thirteen groups of Chosen. There were thirteen groups, probably all as unprepared for this as we were. If even one of them failed, then everything we did was a waste of time. It would be the end of the world, even if we managed to get through our own battle alive.

"Why didn't you tell us this from the start?"

"I theorized that knowledge of the slim odds of success being rewarded would result in reduced morale, and accordingly reduced performance. I did not wish to burden you with unnecessary knowledge about your situation."

I tried to punch 101. My fist passed through it harmlessly. "Don't tell me what's unnecessary, you lying asshole! Our lives are on the line, tell us every goddamn thing you know!"

"Would you have made different choices if you knew that your group was only one of many?"

"That's not the-"

"Why is your name 101?" Rita asked suddenly. 101 went silent, and she continued. "Are there 100 more of you? Has this happened before?"

"Yes," 101 said with what sounded like a tinge of reluctance.

"Is Earth the 101st planet to be attacked?" She asked.

"Yes," 101 confirmed. "I am the 101st to be sent to attempt to avert the Last Ordeal on different worlds."

"What... What happened on the other 100?" Harley asked, their voice trembling. I could feel the answer coming. I begged 101 to say anything other than what I knew it was going to say.

"All 100 past attempts to avert the Last Ordeal have ended in failure."