I opened my eyes.
The tunnel was still intact.
"Damn you, old man!" I yelled into the empty space.
"Huff… Huff…"
My lungs burned as I sucked in air. My heart thudded like it wanted to punch its way out of my chest. Sweat dripped down my face and soaked into the dirt below.
Why am I having so many nightmares? What did I do to deserve this?
I sighed in relief. Just a dream.
"The next time I see that old man, he's getting a good beating," I muttered under my breath.
Bang.
Something smacked the top of my head.
"Shut up, you crazy slug!" Isaac was glaring at me, his fist still midair.
"Youch!" I sat up and rubbed my scalp. My eyes met a bunch of other kids staring. Their expressions were a mix of judgment and disbelief.
Oops.
I gave them a sheepish bow. They looked at each other, rolled their eyes, and went back to whatever they were doing.
They probably think we're a bunch of lunatics...
I smiled awkwardly.
Rona turned me around and gently wiped my sweat with her sleeve.
"Llyne had a nightmare? You were mumbling and squirming a lot in your sleep."
I nodded. "Yeah. Sorry for worrying you."
"You weren't just mumbling. You tried to destroy the wall," Isaac pointed at a dent nearby.
"Ouish… That explains the leg pain." I stared at the dent, massaging my sore foot.
"What nightmare is it? Share! Share!" Rona clapped her hands.
Isaac crossed his arms. "Yeah. What kind of nightmare lasts two days?"
"Two days?!" My jaw dropped. "You're joking, right?"
"Nope." Isaac rolled his eyes. "Tomorrow's the second game already. We were too nervous to sleep while you were sleeping like a baby."
"I had a nightmare, okay?" I groaned. "Who knew I was out for two days…"
"Now that I know it was a nightmare, I can sleep well." Isaac laid down and smirked.
"Grr~ Why you…"
Rona giggled. "Isaac was worried about you, you know. You kept trembling."
Isaac blushed. "I wasn't worried. I was annoyed because she kept making weird noises."
"Ohhh~ We understand, Tsundere-kun." I smirked.
Isaac's face turned redder than a boiled crab. "Don't call me that!"
Rona tilted her head. "Tsun… what?"
I grinned. "It means he's prickly outside but soft inside."
Rona's eyes sparkled. "Ooooh~ Isaac's a softie?"
"Absolutely not." Isaac scoffed, already regretting waking me up.
Rona jumped on Isaac's stomach without warning.
"Oof!"
"What are you doing, Rona? Get off— you're crushing me!" Isaac wheezed.
Rona rolled off and laughed until she was breathless. "Let me do it again!"
"Hell no." Isaac backed away like a cornered cat.
"Big fat meanie." Rona pouted.
"Small skinny meanie," I added.
Isaac's eye twitched. "Aren't you gonna talk about your nightmare already?"
"Okay, okay, sheesh." I took a deep breath and told them everything Master and I talked about—except Lyndall. That part stayed with me.
Isaac stared at me blankly. "I get it now… You're trying to be Rona."
"Me?" Rona beamed.
Isaac sighed. "You're both fools."
"Oii!" I lunged for Isaac's neck, but Rona grabbed my arms just in time.
Isaac brushed himself off. "Only a fool would trust a stranger. Moreover, a senile old man. Besides, why do you trust him? Just because one of the Masters told you to? Don't forget that person killed your family and dragged you here."
I froze. I had no comeback. Everything he said was true.
"I… I don't know. I just felt like I could trust him. We need some info to survive in this place."
"Maybe," Isaac replied flatly. "But it's still too risky. That crap about THE SYSTEM? Sounds like nonsense. He could be lying—or testing you. Don't forget: he probably wants something from you."
I sniffled dramatically. "You do care about me, TsunTsun~"
"Don't call me that!" Isaac growled.
Rona blinked. "I still don't understand what you're talking about."
I patted her head. "Don't worry, Rona. Everything's fine."
Rona smiled. "Okay. Me relief now."
Isaac laid down again. "Sleep. The second game's tomorrow. We'll need our strength."
Rona and I replied in unison: "Okay, TsunTsun~"
Clack!
Isaac chucked rocks at us.
Rona and I giggled as we huddled closer.
Soon after, Isaac and Rona fell asleep beside each other. Rona snored with drool trickling from her mouth right into Isaac's ear. His face scrunched up in annoyance.
I giggled quietly and turned to the side.
I hate the dark… but silence is even scarier.
I glanced at Rona. Despite everything, she slept like it was just another day. Her presence made the weight on my chest a little easier to bear.
"Thanks, Rona," I whispered and smiled faintly.
I lay back, but sleep wouldn't come.
What if they weren't here? What would've happened to me? In the first game, I could've… I might have gotten them hurt. I could've killed them.
My thoughts spiralled fast. Too fast.
"No. Stop," I muttered. "Remember Ma's words, 'Positive thoughts, positive life'."
Ma's voice echoed in my head… followed by her demonic fist.
I shivered at the memory. That fist could reset anyone's brain.
"I miss Ma…" My eyes welled up.
Eventually, I drifted into sleep.
The next morning.
"Ne…lyne… Llyne!"
A loud voice dragged me back from slumber. I thought I was in Iz's room again.
"Iz?" I muttered. "Five more minutes…"
Slap.
"WAH— What was that for?!" I bolted upright, clutching my cheek.
Rona stood over me with puffed cheeks and narrowed eyes.
"Oh, Rona. It's you." I laughed. 'So everything wasn't a dream after all.'
"Did something happen?" I asked.
Rona pouted and turned away.
I turned to Isaac, who was happily watching our drama.
"Oii, Piggy. What's up with Rona?"
Isaac pointed at her stomach. "Probably hunger. I heard her stomach growling like a beast."
"So? Why is she ignoring me?"
"Hunger temper? She ignored me too."
Shing.
A wooden door materialized at the tunnel's entrance.
Creak… Creak…
"A door now?" I squinted. "Yesterday it was a translucent wall. What kind of cursed place is this?"
Isaac crossed his arms. "We've seen monsters, vanishing doors, overdose lunatics, and floating boxes. This place stopped making sense on Day One."
Crack. Crack.
"Mic test, mic test." A familiar voice echoed.
"Oh! It's Mr. James," Rona mumbled with a mouthful.
"…Wait. What are you eating?"
Rona smiled. "Dirt!"
"SPIT THAT OUT!" I slapped her back.
"Booooo…" Rona coughed up dirt, tears in her eyes.
Mr. James's voice continued, "Welcome to the 2nd game, little bunnies! Don't worry about your fans—they're safe from getting roasted alive. We made sure of it."
Everyone turned to look at me.
"It wasn't intentional!" I held my hands up.
Mr. James continued, "Now, today's game is nice and easy. Just destroy the dungeon core. Like those RPGs you little freaks love so much. Simple, right?"
"Straightforward like last time?" I muttered. "That 'welcome' included a giant flamethrower and a rolling death ball."
"Yeah, right. Bet they've got another surprise," Isaac muttered, flipping the bird toward the ceiling.
Mr. James ignored him. "Please proceed through the door. It'll take you straight to your designated dungeon. And better hurry, or something ugly might happen."
"Ugly?" I frowned.
ROAWR~
We looked back—
And froze.
A grotesque monster, large enough to fill the width of the tunnel, was crawling forward. Its muscles bulged unnaturally, bones cracking with each movement as it squeezed its massive frame through the narrow space. Its eyes burned with primal hunger.
Roawr—!
It was coming straight for us.
"In! In! Go in!" someone shouted.
The wooden door was mercifully close. We sprinted toward it with everything we had.
But not everyone was fast enough.
Crack. Squelch.
The monster plowed through the tunnel like a rolling avalanche. Several kids were caught in the chaos, their bodies crushed and flung like ragdolls against the walls. Screams were cut short. Blood sprayed across the stone like grotesque paint.
There was no time to mourn.
The rest of us slammed into the door, shoving each other through.
One by one, we tumbled in—scrambling, panting, screaming.
The last of us pulled the door shut.
Bang!
The wood rattled violently—but held. For a second.
Then, in a blink, the door vanished.
Gone. Like it was never there.
We stood there, trembling. Gasping. Alive.
Barely.