All six of them lay scattered in the ruined street, breathing hard. Burn marks, fractured limbs, bruises that hadn't even had time to darken
Alex wiped blood from his mouth. He sat up, silent, eyes locked on the place Avork had stood before vanishing. His hand was trembling.
He looked at them — his team.
"I think I have an idea," Alex said, his voice quiet, hoarse. The others turned to him, too tired to speak but too desperate to ignore him.
"You all remember what they said about wolves, right?" he continued. "We awaken through death."
"You've died already," Zack said. "What's your point?"
Alex's hands clenched. "Exactly. Maybe. Maybe… maybe there is a way to trigger it."
Liana's eyes widened slightly. "Then if that's true—vampires need fresh human blood to awaken. Mia give me some of your blood from your wound."
"If we're going to die anyway…" Slowly, Liana licked the blood and waited for something that never came.
Zack finally muttered, "Two hours until it starts again."
"No," Liana said flatly. "I'm done."
Alex looked at her. She wasn't angry. She wasn't even scared. Just… hollow. The same emptiness sat in all their faces.
"We're not ready," Kyle whispered. "We're kids. What the hell was that?"
"Avork killed us like it meant nothing," Mia said. "He didn't even speak."
"He pointed at me," Alex murmured. "He just... pointed."
"In the end, we all are high school graduates I mean we haven't even killed anyone it's not worth the risk" Mia whispered eyes all teary
"Wait," Alex said.
"No," she snapped. "We're kids. We're just—kids! And we're dying like dogs in a game no one wins."
She turned to Zack. "You died laughing."
To Liana. "You didn't even scream."
"And you—you just kept going."
"We were supposed to have fun."
That did it.
Lily's breath hitched, and she covered her face with both hands. "I don't want to die again. Not even once more."
And that was it.
They voted. It wasn't dramatic. No one yelled. They didn't cry out against injustice or scream.
They just... decided.
PARTICIPANT GROUP 15: EXIT REQUESTED.
TRIAL SUSPENDED.
Result 9%
Ranking: D
Death count: 688
The entire dome world began to tremble. The blood-stained buildings of the simulated battlefield cracked and distorted as the system began its reset cycle. The sky glitched — from burnt orange to static to black.
The world blinked white.
"What the hell just happened?" Kyle muttered, shaking his hands like he had just discovered them.
"I... I'm not dead?" Mia asked, patting herself down like she'd misplaced a kidney. "I'm alive! I'm not bleeding!."
Zack said nothing. He was still staring at the spot where Avork had stomped his face. He looked… like he was trying to figure out if he was in a coma and had just woken up.
Suddenly, a figure appeared.
In a swirl of black and a lot of dramatic flair, Sia materialized before them. Her eyes gleamed with that unsettling violet hue, and her smile was the type that made you think, "I really don't want to know what you're thinking right now."
"Well, good job, guys," she said, voice dripping with a strange mix of approval and mockery. "Zack, Alex, Liana. You did... well, I guess? You failed, but hey, it was entertaining to watch."
"You just watched us die!" Alex exclaimed, hands flying up like he'd been accused of some awful crime.
"Repeatedly," Liana added, tone dry. "By the same guy over and over again. Very, uh, educational."
Sia just shrugged, her smile stretching. "Yes, but it's been decided. I'm your mentor now."
There was a collective, "Wait, what?"
"Mentor? Like, 'Hey, let's go grab a coffee and talk about your feelings, ' mentor?" Kyle asked, a bit too hopeful.
"No. Like, 'watch you suffer while I occasionally make sarcastic comments' mentor," Sia replied casually, her grin turning wicked. "But I'm sure we'll have fun. It'll be great."
"Wait, hold up," Zack said, squinting. "You're just gonna... what? Watch us, like, actually die in real life? Again?"
Sia's eyes twinkled with amusement. "Yes, that's right. And no, we're not done. The fun's just starting."
"We're the fun?" Mia asked, incredulous. "What about the others? Are you going to watch them suffer too?"
Sia tilted her head, making it look like she was considering this seriously. "No. They're busy. See, right now, the other students are still stuck in the simulation, dying... over and over. For the next six days. They'll come out eventually. Maybe with some... minor changes. You know, psychologically. Just a few mental scars here and there."
The group stared at her, slack-jawed.
"You've got to be kidding me," Alex muttered. "You're telling us we get out, and the rest are stuck in that?"
"Pretty much," Sia said with a cheery shrug. "They get to relive the worst part of the trial. You know, the one where they die repeatedly until they can't remember what day it is. Honestly, I think they're having fun.I had a blast."
Liana crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow. "That doesn't sound like 'fun' to me."
Sia grinned wider. "Well, maybe you're just not cut out for it. But don't worry! I'm your mentor now, so we'll make the next part... memorable."
"'Memorable,'" Kyle repeated. "So, like... we get to take a vacation? No more immortals, no more endless pain?"
Sia laughed. "Oh no, sweetie. You're not done yet. But don't worry, you'll get a break. You've earned it."
"A break?" Alex blinked. "After that hellscape, you're giving us a break? What's next, a beach vacation?"
Sia looked at him for a long moment, her gaze intense, before letting out a slow, dark chuckle. "Maybe you'll find a beach. If you're lucky. But right now, you're going to need all the rest you can get."
"So, what, we get to lie in a hammock somewhere with cocktails? That's your idea of a break?" Liana asked.
"Only if you're very, very lucky," Sia said with a wink. "But for now, enjoy the peacefulness. While it lasts."
"Alright, that's it," Zack muttered, "I'm not buying it. This is some kind of sick joke, isn't it?"
"Of course it is," Sia agreed with a grin. "But trust me, the real fun is just about to begin."
The group exchanged exhausted glances.
"Right... and where exactly are we going now?" Kyle asked, still half in disbelief.
"Oh, right," Sia said, as if she'd forgotten to mention something. "I almost forgot. I'll be taking you to a special place. A little... paradise for you all."
A long pause.
"A paradise? After that nightmare?" Mia asked slowly. "What kind of sick joke are you playing, lady?"
Sia's lips twitched, and her eyes narrowed. "Not for you, for me. But sure, you can call it a 'paradise' if that helps you sleep at night."
"Yeah, I'll be sleeping with one eye open," Zack said under his breath.
"Perfect," Sia said. "But just so you know, every other student is still in there, dying over and over again until the next six days. They'll be right where you left them."
"What the fu**?!" Liana exclaimed.
"Yep. They're still stuck. Dying. On repeat. While you guys get to enjoy the good life. Don't worry, though; they'll catch up. Eventually."
The group was too stunned to respond.
Sia smirked at their silence. "See? Told you the fun's just getting started."