A light silence settled between us, as if everyone was waiting for some kind of signal. Then Knox snapped his fingers lazily and said:
"We'll decide who starts with a game of rock, paper, scissors. The winner chooses the first victim."
We all nodded in quiet agreement, that childish spark appearing in our eyes—the kind that comes before unexpected games.
Knox smiled.
"Alright… let's begin."
We raised our hands and chanted together:
"Rock, paper, scissors!"
I saw that Marcus and I chose rock, while Knox picked scissors and Cairo picked paper.
We stared at our hands for a moment, then Cairo raised his hand with a mocking grin.
"A strange tie… we'll have to do it again."
We laughed lightly and repeated:
"Rock, paper, scissors!"
Once again, I chose rock—I don't know why, but it felt like the safest option.
Knox chose rock. Cairo did too.
Marcus, however, calmly opened his hand—paper.
Knox nodded as if accepting fate.
"Marcus wins… paper beats rock."
We all looked at Marcus, who showed a hint of childish excitement before nodding.
"Well then… looks like I'll be the first to choose."
And just like that, the game began.
Only a few seconds of suspenseful silence passed before Marcus said, in a carefully deliberate tone:
"I choose…"
He paused, as if enjoying the moment, then smiled.
"I choose Knox."
We all turned toward Knox, who stayed silent for a moment before sighing, as if he had expected it.
Cairo smirked.
"Looks like the first victim has fallen. Good luck, Knox."
I chuckled.
"Don't worry, Knox. It's just a game."
He gave me a sideways glance and smiled.
"That's what I should be telling you. You look more nervous than I am… even though I'm the one who got picked."
I raised an eyebrow dramatically.
"Haha, what do you mean? That's just a defensive smile, nothing more."
Marcus cut in:
"Anyway, let's begin… Knox, choose: truth or dare?"
Knox paused, looking at the ground, then lifted his head with quiet confidence.
"I choose truth."
And just like that, a new kind of anticipation began.
What would Marcus ask?
Something personal?
Something about the past?
Or just a silly question to lighten the mood?
All possibilities were open—and all eyes were now on Marcus.
It was clear that this moment, simple as it seemed, hid many untold stories beneath it.
A brief silence followed Knox's choice, as if everyone had turned into statues waiting for the next word.
Marcus looked at him with a faint smile and asked calmly:
"My question is… how did you feel when you first arrived in this world?"
For a few seconds, Knox didn't respond.
He just stared at the ground, as if searching for words in the dust of memory.
Finally, he spoke:
"To be honest… when I first came to this world, I thought I was dreaming. Nothing more. I felt like I'd wake up at any moment, so I didn't take it seriously."
He slowly raised his eyes, staring at an invisible point above us.
"But… when days passed and I didn't wake up… I realized I wasn't dreaming. That everything was real… completely real."
Silence fell again—but this time, it wasn't comfortable. It was heavy, as if even the air had stopped to listen.
Knox bit his lower lip for a moment, then said softly:
"I don't really know how I felt back then… but I think… I was worried about my sister."
I froze internally.
He has a sister?!
No one had ever mentioned that before.
But Knox continued, his voice quiet and heavy:
"I didn't really care about being in this world… I wasn't afraid of monsters, or hunger, or loneliness… but I was worried about her."
He lowered his head.
"I kept wondering… is she okay? Where is she now? Is she eating well? Sleeping well? Is she crying?… Is she sad because of me?"
His words weren't dramatic. They weren't meant to gain sympathy.
They were just… honest.
So honest that none of us could respond immediately.
A strange silence filled the space—one that didn't feel like the calm before laughter, but more like the silence of a funeral.
But Cairo, as usual, stepped in to break the mood quickly. He raised his eyebrows with a forced smile.
"Haha… guys, why so gloomy? I mean, no need to take it that seriously. It's just a game, remember?"
Knox smiled lightly.
"Cairo's right. No need to feel sorry for me."
Before I could stop myself, the words slipped out:
"We're not feeling sorry for you! I mean… we just feel sad… that's all."
I stumbled slightly at the end, unsure of my own feelings—or maybe afraid to admit them.
ox smiled again, this time genuinely.
"Thanks… I appreciate that."
Another silence followed—but this one wasn't heavy. It felt like relief after confession… a quiet understanding that didn't need words.
Then, as if resetting the scene, Knox clapped his hands lightly.
"Anyway, Marcus's turn is over. Time for the next player."
He glanced around and added:
"Let's continue… the person to Marcus's right goes next."
I turned slowly—
And found that it was me.
My heartbeat quickened slightly.
I hadn't been ready for this… but there was no escape.
Marcus smiled at me.
"Looks like it's your turn."
I wondered: Who should I pick?
What should I say?
But before anything else, I had to face the fact that I was no longer just an observer.
I was part of the game now.
…
I stayed silent for a moment, closed my eyes, and took a deep breath, trying to gather my scattered thoughts.
I could feel all eyes on me, waiting patiently.
I opened my eyes slowly and looked around.
Knox still carried traces of sadness in his gaze. Marcus looked calm and curious.
Cairo yawned lightly, as if none of this mattered much to him.
I looked at them one by one…Then my gaze settled on Cairo.
I raised my hand and pointed at him without hesitation.
I didn't have a deep reason for choosing him—he was simply the only one who hadn't played yet.
It felt fair.
Marcus smirked.
"Looks like the second victim is you, Cairo."
Cairo smiled as he adjusted his posture.
"Better than just watching… at least I'll contribute something to this suspicious gathering."
I smiled slightly and said in a semi-formal tone:
"So, Cairo… truth or dare?"
He raised an eyebrow confidently.
"I choose dare. Let's see what you've got."
I paused to think.
I wanted something not too easy—but not torture either.
Something fun… something that would stir the atmosphere without ruining it.
Dozens of ideas flashed through my mind in seconds—some ridiculous, some impossible—
Until one stood out.
I raised my finger as if announcing a serious decision.
"Do thirty push-ups."
Cairo's eyes widened, his expression instantly shifting from amusement to irritation.
"You chose that because you know I've started hating training after the punishment Noble Valis gave us…"
I pretended innocence, raising an eyebrow with a sly tone:
"What do you mean? Are you saying you'll refuse… and be a coward?"
His jaw twitched, then he let out a low laugh.
"Oh… so that's how you want to play?… Just wait until it's my turn."
I swallowed quietly.
A faint sense of regret crept in.
Had I made a mistake?
The atmosphere was heating up, and something in Cairo's eyes told me I had opened a door that shouldn't have been opened.
Cairo stood up slowly, brushing off his hands like he was heading into battle.
He got into position.
Marcus clapped lightly.
"Come on, champ! Show us what you've got."
Knox joined in, smirking:
"Maybe we need an hourglass to keep count, what do you think?"
Cairo started counting out loud, each rep accompanied by a heavy breath—like he was releasing all his frustration… not just at the exercise, but at me specifically.
Five… ten… fifteen…
Sweat began to drip, his face turning red.
At twenty, he paused briefly, then looked at me, his eyes burning.
"You'll suffer… ha… when it's my turn… ha…"
Knox chuckled.
"Revenge is coming."
As for me…
I swallowed again, silently blaming myself.
What have I done?
I started imagining what Cairo would do when his turn came—make me do a hundred push-ups? Force me to run around the castle ten times? Or… something worse?
I muttered internally:
"Darn… I shouldn't have given him that dare… I'm never choosing dare when it's his turn… never."
At that moment, Cairo finished the thirtieth push-up and stood up heavily, catching his breath.
He smiled—the smile of someone waiting eagerly for revenge.
He sat back down, looked at me, and said in a calm but threatening tone:
"My turn is coming… soon."
That's when I realized…
I really shouldn't have given him that dare.