The tension from Phase One didn't last as long as I expected.
Or maybe—
we were all just pretending it didn't happen.
Soon after, we were called back to the assembly area.
Everyone stood there.
Alive.
Breathing.
Talking.
Like nothing had changed.
But I knew better.
Someone was missing.
And no one was saying it out loud.
The instructor stood in front of us again.
Calm. Controlled.
"As your training has now begun," he said, "you will be required to push yourselves beyond your limits."
His voice echoed across the hall.
"Your future training begins tomorrow. Today… you may rest."
A pause.
Murmurs spread instantly.
"Seriously?"
"After that?"
"Are they being nice now?"
A few nervous laughs.
"But," he continued.
Silence fell again.
"You will have your final ten minutes with your mobile devices."
That got everyone's attention.
"After that," he said, "they will be confiscated."
A ripple of shock.
"You will not be allowed to contact anyone outside."
My chest tightened.
"You will only regain access upon completion… or elimination."
That word again.
Elimination.
It wasn't just a word here.
It was a possibility.
He left.
Just like that.
No explanation.
No reassurance.
Only rules.
Everyone rushed to their phones.
Calls.
Messages.
Last words.
Some laughed.
Some cried.
Some stood frozen—
not knowing what to say.
I didn't move.
"Hey."
I turned sharply.
"You scared me," I exhaled.
It was Xavier.
"Don't you have anyone to call?" he asked.
I shook my head.
"My parents… already told me not to expect contact."
He blinked.
Then gave a small, almost sad smile.
"Lucky."
Lucky?
I didn't ask what he meant.
"Want help submitting your phone?" he offered.
I nodded.
"Time's up."
The announcement echoed sharply.
One by one—
phones were placed on the table.
When my turn came—
I hesitated.
Just for a second.
Then—
I let go.
It felt strange.
Like I had just cut off the last connection to the world I knew.
"To ease your transition," a staff member announced,"you may choose to explore the campus… or take a supervised trip outside."
The answer was obvious.
"Trip!" someone shouted.
Laughter followed.
And for the first time—
it felt like we were just… normal people again.
The destination—
mountains.
A campfire night.
The ride there was loud.
Chaotic.
Full of songs and laughter.
Even I joined in.
For a while—
I forgot everything.
The test.
The warning.
The message.
Even—
Steve.
When we reached—
the view stole my breath.
The sky stretched endlessly.
The air felt lighter.
Colder.
Real.
"Wow…" Xiami whispered.
We started setting up tents.
Messy.
Unorganized.
And suddenly—
a memory hit me.
Steve.
The way we had struggled with a tent once.
Arguing over something as stupid as poles and ropes.
Getting stuck inside it—
until someone pulled us out.
I smiled unconsciously.
"Miss him?" Claire's voice came softly from beside me.
I froze.
"Is it that obvious?" I asked quietly.
She didn't answer.
But her silence said enough.
The campfire was lit.
Flames danced.
Shadows stretched.
We sat in a circle.
Talking.
Laughing.
Sharing stories.
For a moment—
it felt like we were safe.
Like none of this was real.
But then—
I noticed something.
Xavier wasn't there.
"Where's Xavier?" I asked.
No one answered.
"I thought he was with you," Xiami said.
A strange unease settled in my chest.
"I'll check," I said, standing up.
"Don't go alone," Claire added quickly.
I hesitated.
Then nodded.
The forest was darker than I expected.
Too quiet.
"Xavier?" I called out.
No response.
I walked further.
Each step crunching softly against the ground.
"Xavier, this isn't funny."
Still nothing.
Then—
I saw something.
Near one of the trees.
A small object.
I stepped closer.
My breath caught.
It was—
his watch.
Broken.
The glass cracked.
Lying on the ground like it had been dropped in a hurry.
Or—
during a struggle.
A cold wind brushed past me.
And then—
my tablet vibrated.
Slowly—
I looked at it.
A message from Strike.
"Rule Violation Detected."
My heart started pounding.
Another message appeared.
"Candidate 11: Eliminated."
My fingers went numb.
Xavier.
No.
No—
this wasn't possible.
We weren't even in training.
Were we?
The final message appeared—
"Phase Two has already begun."
My breath hitched.
And then—
one last line.
"You should not have left the group."
The forest suddenly felt colder.
Darker.
Alive.
And for the first time—
I realized something terrifying.
Even outside—
we were still inside the game.