His voice was low.
Too low.
On the stage, Ivy turned toward the obstacle zone as the giant screens shifted again to the Bear Trap layout, the metal platforms glowing under the arena lights, reflecting in the water pools below like something cold and dangerous waiting to happen.
"First match in ten minutes," her voice echoed through the speakers, steady, controlled, the kind of tone that didn't allow doubt.
"Teams prepare."
Lights moved across the arena in slow waves, scanning the stands, the stage, the obstacle course, the rows of houses behind the barriers.
Music started low in the background, heavy and tense, vibrating through the ground like a heartbeat under the metal structure.
Players began moving everywhere.
Some stretching their arms and legs like they were about to enter a real fight.
Some arguing over positions.
Some laughing too loud to hide the nerves.
Some completely silent, eyes locked on the obstacle course like they were already there in their head.
DTL gathered near their zone, just behind the line marked for the first match.
Peachy clapped once, sharp, cutting through the noise.
"Listen."
Everyone turned toward her.
"Team Ghost goes first and Rex next"
Rex swore under his breath. I dont know if it was because he can't do the bear trap or because he's relieve to not do it.
Liam let out a nervous laugh.
"Better early than last."
Jon rolled his shoulders slowly, staring at the water pools.
"I don't like that water."
Rex smirked.
"You don't like anything."
Jon pointed at the moving plates.
"That thing is not normal."
Ghost didn't say anything.
He was looking at the stage.
Looking at her.
Not at the screens.
Not at the obstacle.
Not at the crowd.
At her.
Peachy noticed immediately.
"You good?"
He nodded once.
"Yeah."
"You don't look yeah."
He didn't answer.
Instead, his phone vibrated in his pocket.
One vibration.
Short.
Private.
His eyes dropped for half a second before he pulled it out, turning his body slightly so the others wouldn't see the screen.
Unknown number.
He frowned.
For a moment he almost ignored it.
Then he opened it.
Ivy:
We need to talk.
His chest tightened instantly.
Not Bloomy.
Not the game.
Not the chat.
Her.
He looked up toward the stage.
She wasn't looking at him.
She was talking to one of the technicians, pointing at the obstacle course, calm, focused, like nothing inside her was shaking.
But he knew.
He typed.
Ghost:
Now?
The answer came almost immediately.
Ivy:
Behind the control tunnel. Two minutes.
He stared at the message longer than he should have, then locked the phone slowly.
Peachy saw the change in his face.
"What?"
He shook his head.
"Nothing."
"You sure?"
"Yeah."
He stepped back from the group.
Rex looked up.
"Where you going?"
"Bathroom."
Liam smirked.
"Don't fall before the challenge."
Ghost didn't answer.
He just walked.
Along the side of the arena, past the camera rails, past the lighting towers, past the equipment zone where cables ran across the ground like veins feeding the entire structure.
The noise of the crowd faded the further he went.
The music became distant.
The voices blurred.
By the time he reached the metal corridor behind the stage, the sound was nothing but a low echo under the hum of the generators.
Dark.
Cool.
Quiet.
The air smelled like metal, water, and electricity.
Somewhere behind the wall, the pumps for the obstacle pools were running, slow and constant.
He stopped.
She was already there.
Standing near the wall, half in shadow, arms crossed, headset gone, hair slightly messy from the wind, black clothes catching just enough light to make her look unreal.
No stage lights.
No screen.
No distance.
Just Ivy.
For a second neither of them moved.
Too much between them.
Too much unsaid.
He looked at her like he didn't know if he should be angry… or relieved she was real.
"You serious?" he said finally.
Her jaw tightened.
"Yes."
He let out a short breath, almost a laugh, but without humor.
"You're Bloomy."
She didn't answer.
Didn't deny.
Didn't confirm.
Just stood there, looking at him like she was waiting for the hit.
"You built this," he said.
Silence.
"You lied to everyone."
Her voice stayed calm, but softer now.
"I didn't lie."
"You didn't tell."
"That's different."
He stepped closer.
Too close.
Close enough that the noise of the arena disappeared completely.
"You disappeared," he said.
Her eyes moved to his.
"I had to."
"Bullshit."
A beat.
"You couldn't even text me?"
Her breath caught, but she didn't step back.
"If I told you… it would change everything."
"It already did."
Silence again.
Louder than the arena.
He ran a hand through his hair, pacing one step, then back toward her like he couldn't stay away even when he wanted to.
"You picked me," she said.
She frowned slightly.
"For the team."
"You picked me first."
"You're strong."
"That's not why."
Her eyes dropped for a second.
Then back to him.
"You need to focus on the challenge."
He let out a dry laugh.
"You call me here for that?"
"No."
A pause.
Her voice lower now.
"I called you because once this starts…"
She swallowed.
"…we won't have time to talk."
Their eyes locked.
Closer than before.
Closer than they should be.
He stepped even nearer, stopping just in front of her, so close she could feel the heat of his body through the thin fabric of her shirt.
"You always do that," he said quietly.
"What."
"You come close… then disappear."
Her eyes softened for a fraction of a second.
"I never disappeared."
He shook his head slowly.
"You just hid better."
From the arena, the speakers roared.
FIRST MATCH — FIVE MINUTES
Neither of them moved.
He looked at her like he was trying to memorize her face.
"You Ivy… or you Bloomy."
A long silence.
Her lips parted slightly before she answered.
"I'm both."
He stared at her.
Like that answer hurt more than a lie.
Like he didn't know which one he wanted.
Outside, the crowd screamed louder.
MATCH START IN TWO MINUTES
She stepped back first.
Not far.
Just enough to breathe.
"We go back."
He didn't move.
His hand lifted slightly, like he almost reached for her, then stopped halfway.
"You always leave first."
Her voice was barely above a whisper.
"If I don't… I won't."
That made him look at her differently.
Something softer.
Something more dangerous.
Another announcement shook the corridor.
TEAMS TO BEAR TRAP
She turned toward the exit.
"Ghost."
He didn't answer.
She looked back at him once.
Just once.
"Don't fall."
He almost smiled.
"Don't cheat."
She walked back toward the light.
He stayed there one second longer.
Breathing slower.
Jaw tight.
Then he turned and followed the sound of the arena.
And the first challenge began.