As the seconds on the clock counted down, Alex's mind worked feverishly to solve the puzzle. His fingers traced the strange symbols on the glass floor, trying to find any hint of logic in the madness. His heart was pounding so hard it felt like it would burst out of his chest. He was so close—so painfully close to figuring it out. But the relentless ticking of the timer kept him on edge, gnawing at his concentration.
Across the arena, Ethan was visibly struggling, his hands trembling as he fumbled with the shapes scattered before him. Sweat dripped from his forehead, his breath coming in short, rapid gasps. Ethan glanced up, catching Alex's eye for a moment. The fear in his gaze was unmistakable, but Alex gave him an encouraging nod, even though dread clawed at his insides.
The arena buzzed with the sound of frantic efforts—scratching, scraping, desperate attempts to piece together the fragmented symbols and escape. The clock ticked louder with each passing second, the sound driving everyone into a deeper panic. Chloe was crying hysterically, her fingers trembling too much to hold the puzzle pieces properly. Isabella, usually calm and collected, was muttering to herself, frantically rubbing the glass beneath her hands. Her elegant facade was cracking as time ran out, leaving behind a girl just as terrified as the rest.
Then, the bell rang—loud, ominous, final.
The ground beneath Alex shifted suddenly, and a wave of relief washed over him as the glass barrier before him shimmered and vanished. He'd completed the puzzle. He was safe—at least for now. He stood up, breathing hard, and looked around, praying his friends had made it too.
He saw Nathan emerging from his section, a look of grim satisfaction on his face. Ethan stumbled forward from his own area, barely keeping himself upright but alive, having managed to solve the puzzle in time. Alex's heart lifted momentarily—at least they had made it. But then, his gaze swept across the arena, and a terrible realization dawned.
Not everyone had been so fortunate.
The first scream pierced the air with such intensity that it seemed to cut through the very fabric of reality. Samuel, who had been one of the bossy, more chiovent students, stood frozen in his section, the puzzle pieces still scattered around him. His eyes were wide with terror, and he hadn't even come close to finishing the task. Above him, the flying creatures that had been circling the arena began to descend, their massive leathery wings flapping with an eerie, rhythmic beat.
"Samuel, run!" Oliver shouted to his friend, but it was too late.
The first creature swooped down with a feral screech, its talons gleaming in the dim light. It grabbed Samuel by the shoulders and yanked him off his feet with terrifying force. Samuel screamed as the creature's claws dug deep into his flesh, blood spurting in all directions. The others watched, helpless, as Samuel was lifted into the air, thrashing wildly.
Then, with a sickening rip, the creature tore his arms clean off, sending Samuel's blood spraying in a crimson arc across the glass walls. His body convulsed, spasming violently as the creature savagely ripped into his chest, exposing his ribcage and spilling his organs onto the floor below. Samuel's screams quickly faded into gurgles as the creature feasted on his innards, its grotesque form bathed in blood.
Chloe screamed again, her voice breaking as she collapsed to the floor, covering her eyes. But the horror wasn't over.
Charlotte, Isabella best friend a bright and ambitious girl who had always been so sure of herself, hadn't been fast enough either. The creatures descended on her like vultures, their razor-sharp claws ripping into her flesh. Charlotte shrieked as they shredded her limbs, tearing her apart piece by piece. One of the creatures grabbed her by the hair and dragged her into the air, her legs kicking helplessly as it snapped her neck with a sickening crack. Her body dangled lifelessly, blood dripping from her torn torso as the creatures fought over the scraps. Isabella who watched her friend get ripped apart screamed insanely.
The third victim, Ben, didn't even have time to scream. The creatures descended on him so fast it was as if they materialized out of thin air. One of them tore his throat out with a swift bite, blood spraying from the gaping wound as his eyes went wide with shock. His body convulsed for a moment before collapsing in a pool of blood, the creatures tearing into him with ravenous hunger.
Alex felt bile rising in his throat as the creatures feasted on the remains of their classmates, the arena now a blood-soaked nightmare of carnage. The survivors stood frozen, unable to look away, trapped between the relief of their own survival and the horror of what they had just witnessed. While Oliver and Isabella who both lost their friends were the most shaken it was horrible.
The ghostly voice returned, a sinister, mocking tone weaving through the arena. "Congratulations to the survivors. You have passed the first test."
Alex's stomach twisted at the word first. This wasn't over. Not by a long shot.
"The final players have been chosen," the voice continued. "And for those who failed… well, I hope you learned something from their mistakes."
Alex looked around at the remaining students. There were only 15 of them now. 15 left from a group that had once been much larger. Nathan stood stoically, his fists clenched at his sides, while Ethan leaned against the glass, his face pale and his body trembling with exhaustion and fear. Isabella stared blankly at the blood-streaked floor, as if in shock but inside she was trembling in the brink of collapsing. Chloe was still sobbing, her body shaking uncontrollably. The twins, Lily and Eve, held each other tightly, their faces white with terror.
Above them, the monstrous figure reappeared, looming over the arena like a malevolent shadow. Its hollow eyes gleamed with dark amusement as it addressed the remaining students.
"You've survived the easy part," it said, its voice dripping with malice. "Now, the real game begins."
The floor beneath their feet shifted again, and the arena began to transform. The glass barriers around them rose, forming towering walls that separated the students into pairs. Each section became a labyrinth of twisting passages, dark and claustrophobic, with no clear way out. The walls were slick with moisture, and the ground was uneven, covered in patches of thick, sticky mud.
In the center of each section stood a pedestal, and on top of each pedestal rested a single, blood-red orb.
"This," the voice whispered, "is the second test. Each pair will race against the others. Only one of you can claim the orb. The one who does will be spared. The other..."
The voice trailed off, but the implication was clear. Only one in each pair would make it out alive.
A deathly silence fell over the arena as the students processed the new rules. Alex was paired with Ethan, a mix of relief and dread flooding him. They had survived together so far, but now only one of them could win. He glanced at Ethan, who was staring at the orb with wide, terrified eyes.
"I—I don't think I can do this," Ethan whispered, his voice barely audible.
Alex placed a hand on Ethan's shoulder, though his own heart was pounding in his chest. "We'll figure something out," he said, though he wasn't sure he believed it himself.
Around them, the other pairs were preparing for the grim race. Nathan, paired with Chloe, looked resolute, his eyes focused on the orb as though his life depended on it—because it did. Isabella, paired with Lily, was already strategizing, whispering frantically in the other girl's ear. Eve was left with Jessie, who looked like he was already plotting his move.
The ghostly figure raised its hand once more, and the bell tolled again, signaling the start of the game.
The second and main test has begun....