The siren-song pressure of the Survival Zone washed over the ruins like a held breath finally released.
Concrete fractures sealed. Dripping shadows froze mid-fall. The monsters—whatever had been watching from just outside reality—lost interest all at once.
A cheerful chime rang in both of their heads.
SURVIVAL ZONE ESTABLISHED
HOSTILE ENTITIES: PAUSED
TIME DILATION: MINIMAL
Zeke dropped to one knee immediately, palms flat on the glowing floor.
"Oh thank god," he groaned. "My legs were doing that thing where they stop being legs."
Julie didn't sit. She turned slowly in place, eyes narrowed, testing the boundaries of the shimmering dome. Her breath fogged faintly, even though it wasn't cold.
"Breaks in this place are never free," she muttered.
Something creaked.
The sound came from above, like a toy chest opening on rusty hinges.
The First Toy unfolded into view—the caped child like entity with a bucket on it's head and a single fiery red eye, with crayon war paint. Its single red eye spun open, settling on the children.
"GOOD SURVIVAL PERFORMANCE," it said warmly.
"YOU MAY ACCESS YOUR ITEMS."
Zeke winced. "I hate when it compliments us."
Julie exhaled through her nose. "Open your HUD. Before it changes its mind."
They both did.
Zeke — ITEM MENU
The world dimmed slightly as translucent panels stacked themselves in his vision, like floating trading cards.
CONSUMABLES (7):
Monster Potion (x3)
Description: Distilled vitality from hostile biomass.
Effect: Rapid regeneration. Increased aggression and mass.
Warning: Side effects may include feral thoughts.
Zeke frowned. "Why does everything here come with thoughts."
Ghost Potion (x2)
Description: Phase-shifted ectoplasm in stable suspension.
Effect: Temporary intangibility.
Warning: Anchors to identity may loosen.
"…That one sounds like it steals your soul," he said.
Mystery Potion (x2)
Description: Unknown.
Effect: Unknown.
Warning: Unknown.
Zeke stared at it for a long second.
"That's not even a warning," he whispered. "That's a threat."
WEAPONS:
Pipe Spear (Cracked)
Emergency Flare Gun (1 shot remaining)
Scrap Cleaver (+1 Bleed)
MISC:
Monster Teeth (Currency?)
Torn Map Fragment
Something That Moves When You're Not Looking
Zeke immediately minimized that last one.
Julie — ITEM MENU
Julie's interface was cleaner. Less clutter. More red text.
CONSUMABLES (6):
Monster Potion (x1)
Note: Potency higher than standard.
Ghost Potion (x3)
Note: Extended duration. Reduced exit stability.
Her jaw tightened at that.
Mystery Potion (x2)
Note: Item reacts to user intent.
Julie blinked. "…Excuse me?"
WEAPONS:
Short Hatchet (Balanced)
Throwing Knives (x5)
Signal Whistle (Non-Combat / Very Loud)
PASSIVE ITEMS:
Fractured Lucky Charm
Effect: Avoids fatal damage once.
Status: Spent? Watching?
She didn't like the question mark.
Zeke glanced over. "You get fewer items, but yours sound way scarier."
Julie nodded. "Yours sound like they turn you into a problem. Mine sound like they erase me."
The First Toy leaned closer, wood joints popping softly.
"ALL ITEMS ARE FAIR."
"FAIRNESS IS IMPORTANT."
Julie looked straight at it. "What happens if we drink a Mystery Potion?"
The Toy's grin widened by a millimeter.
"YOU WILL LEARN SOMETHING TRUE."
Zeke swallowed. "I don't like truth potions."
"THEY ARE NOT TRUTH POTIONS," it corrected cheerfully.
"THEY ARE CONSEQUENCE POTIONS."
Silence settled.
Julie closed her menu with a flick of her fingers. "We save those for when we're desperate."
Zeke nodded quickly. "Or dead. Or both."
The Survival Zone's glow pulsed once—gentle, patient.
Somewhere outside it, something scraped its claws together and waited.
Breaks never lasted long here.
But for the first time since the game began, both kids knew exactly what they were carrying.
And exactly how bad things would get when they finally had to use it.