Chase and the rest had all been advancing forward for a while now, and so far, there had been no issues. The ghostly hands that had once reached up to drag people below had stopped appearing, and the oppressive atmosphere that made every hair on Chase's neck stand up had disappeared as well. It felt almost too calm, like the eerie quiet before a storm. He couldn't help but feel unsettled, yet a hand clapped onto his shoulder, startling him out of his thoughts.
"Don't overthink everything, bro," Arthur said, grinning. "Let's just go with the flow for now and see what happens."
Chase glanced around. Nothing seemed out of place, and everyone else appeared relieved, even cheerful as they walked without fear. 'Maybe he's right,' Chase thought. 'Maybe I am overthinking things.'
But he quickly shook off the thought. He'd rather be cautious and suspicious than end up like the others who'd failed the test, those who'd been dragged down without a trace. He didn't trust this setup or the people behind it. Resigned, Arthur rolled his eyes but didn't press further, choosing instead to keep a watchful gaze around them as they drew closer to the tester at the end of the path.
A few minutes passed in silence until Arthur pulled on Chase's sleeve, his face strangely animated with excitement. Chase, annoyed by the interruption, turned and sighed. "What is it this time?" he asked, a hint of frustration in his voice.
"Hey, don't give me attitude," Arthur replied with mock offense, furrowing his brows. "I'm only trying to help here."
Chase eyed him suspiciously. Arthur's behavior was definitely out of the ordinary—he kept glancing around, dragging Chase away from the main group like they were planning something top secret. Chase reluctantly followed, though he couldn't help but feel a little curious.
Arthur led him to a spot hidden from the others, then leaned in, grinning from ear to ear. "Listen, have you noticed a certain someone keeping their eye on us? I mean, I'm talking about someone really, really pretty."
Chase rolled his eyes. "What are you on about?"
Arthur's voice dropped to a whisper, his gaze darting to a small cluster of people near the tester. "The girl with the black hair, blue eyes, and that red gown. Absolute knockout, right? She's been sneaking glances at us this whole time."
"Who?" Chase's brow furrowed. But it didn't take long for the description to click. Black hair, blue eyes, red gown... Kellie. Of course, she'd been with Belinda and another girl, but it was Kellie who fit Arthur's "pretty girl" description. Though Belinda was striking in her own way, Kellie was the one who fit the "gorgeous" stereotype in Arthur's book.
Still, there was something off about what Arthur was saying. Chase shot him a suspicious look. "And how, exactly, did you notice her blue eyes from here?"
Arthur shrugged, clearly pleased with himself. "Call it instinct," he said with a sly smile, and then pointed at the tester. "Come on, the first batch of people are almost there. Let's get moving."
Chase sighed, trying to ignore Arthur's nonsense as they approached the device. But Arthur wasn't done; he kept whispering excitedly in his ear.
"Listen, maybe the pretty girl's into me. I mean, why else would she keep looking over here, right?" Arthur waggled his eyebrows, clearly enjoying his own delusions.
Chase tried to hold back an exasperated groan. "Can you stop saying 'pretty girl' every five seconds and focus on the task at hand? And, no, she's not interested in you. Trust me."
Arthur feigned a dramatic sigh, shaking his head. "You're probably right, but...I mean, look at her! All three girls in her group are absolute gems. That's some rare beauty right there, my friend." Arthur's face lit up as he noticed something ahead. "Hey, wait for me!"
Chase had ignored his companion and moved ahead, finally reaching the tester. As they approached, an automated voice echoed through the area, announcing instructions with a chilling precision.
"CONGRATULATIONS ON PASSING THE FIRST TEST – HAND OF DEATH. YOU WILL NOW PLACE YOUR HAND ON THE TESTER. IT WILL TELEPORT YOU TO ANOTHER PART OF THE FACILITY WHERE YOU WILL SETTLE DOWN."
The crowd around the tester buzzed with excitement and relief, and a few people who'd been skeptical of magic and advanced technology gaped in awe.
"Teleportation is real? I've only read about it!" someone exclaimed.
Others crowded around the device, jostling to be first in line. The atmosphere was suddenly light and hopeful, as if the horrors of the first test had been nothing more than a bad memory. Chase watched them with a neutral expression, his distrust barely concealed. They were excited, perhaps even a little too eager.
Arthur noticed Chase's reserved stance and nudged him playfully. "What's the matter, man? Are you, like, some ancient soul in a teenage body? They're just happy to move on."
Chase's gaze hardened slightly. "I'm cautious, not old. You might want to be the same."
But Arthur only shrugged and flashed a devil-may-care grin as he moved to join the line. Chase watched as the first group approached the tester. Each person placed their hand on the device, and with a flash of light, they vanished.
One by one, people disappeared, transported to some unknown part of the facility. Whispers of excitement and awe rippled through the line as more people experienced the teleportation for the first time.
"Wow, this is amazing! I feel like we're stepping into a whole new world!" someone said.
Chase listened without commenting, his expression cool and unreadable. He watched as Arthur practically bounced with excitement, his eyes shining as he awaited his turn.
"This is just the beginning," Arthur said to him with a grin. "After all this, I think we're going to be unstoppable."
"Focus on staying alive first," Chase muttered, stepping forward as the line shortened.
When Arthur finally reached the front, he placed his hand on the tester. A flash of light enveloped him, and his name and age appeared briefly on the screen. He was gone in an instant, and Chase was finally next. He stepped forward, cautiously placing his hand on the cold surface of the tester, bracing himself for what was to come.
As the light surrounded him, he felt a strange tugging sensation, like being pulled through a tunnel at high speed. When the light faded, he found himself in a spacious, dimly lit room filled with rows of bunk beds. Around him were the other participants who'd passed the first test, looking equally disoriented as they took in their new surroundings.
The automated voice spoke again, echoing through the room.
"Welcome to the Dormitory of the Second Phase. Here, you will have the opportunity to rest before the next challenge. Meals will be provided shortly."
The room was silent for a moment before conversations broke out. Some people cheered, others breathed sighs of relief, and a few cast wary glances around as they assessed the new environment.
Arthur materialized beside Chase, his face alight with excitement. "That was incredible! Did you feel that pull? I can't believe we're really here. It's like something out of a dream!"
Chase only nodded, taking in the room. He'd known from the beginning that this facility would be no ordinary place, and he couldn't shake the feeling that this respite was merely the calm before another storm.