Chapter 109: The Final Test

"What happened to them?" asks a concerned Hunter, the map model articulated in front of them glitching out when displaying either beacons two or three. Scar was holding onto beacon four.

Flipping the map model back to show beacon one, the model takes shape and displays the dead end where our group seemingly vanished. Beacons two and three, which should also be visible on the map, are gone.

Raising his eyebrows, Scar shakes his head, "Not sure. We tried to reach out through radio when the models began going all wonky, but they haven't responded."

Snatching the radio out of Scar's hands, Delta presses the button to speak and thoughtlessly spats a series of statements, "Where the hell are you guys?! I swear… you'll pay if you betray us! Scar will make sure of it! Ember! Code! I know you can hear this! Answer!!"

Taking the radio back, Scar says, "Stop, you're wasting your time."

Delta scoffs, "What do you want to do then?"

Glancing at each person, Scar takes a second before replying, "We've been communicating with them back and forth for hours, and they know better than to betray us. Now that we know the course to that dead end is presumably safe, there's no reason to sit around and wait here any longer. We're going in after them."

***

"Welcome to the final test."

"Final test…?" quietly murmurs Sky, caught dumbfounded like the rest of us.

Tilting her head close toward me, Faith whispers, "Do you think this is Zeris?"

I glimpsed at her briefly and nodded a few times, assuming as much.

"By now," the AI voice continues. "You are probably aware that you are participating in what is known in this kingdom as 'the trials'. This kingdom's trials were created to weed out the weak in our society by assessing qualities like physical prowess, mental fortitude, adaptability, intellect, social comprehension, and many other traits that make up a human being. These trials are intended to discover the best of us and place them on a pedestal to flourish in society."

"By simply surviving this far, you have proven to excel in at least one or multiple areas. Those who weren't deemed suitable… have already been dealt with. However, just because you have reached this point, don't fashion the mindset that you have already passed. Do not become comfortable. As growing comfortable enough to stagnate your limitless potential is one of humanity's greatest sins."

"Beyond this point, your most difficult challenge yet awaits. Every attribute that fabricates who you are will be tested to the max. You'll be pushed to the brink, teetering on the very edge that separates life and death. One mistake, one misstep… and you'll fail."

At least the bastard is straightforward with us. I oddly appreciate that.

The details on the screen faded away, and new information quickly took its place. Then, a series of hatches unlocked simultaneously as I studied the monitor, creating a resonating metal 'clunk' sound.

Inspecting the room, I noticed that equidistant hatches had opened on the floor in front of each wall, four per side. Taking a step toward one of them, I peered down and saw a ladder that tunneled underground. Just above that ladder, the name 'Blue' was printed on the backside of the hatch.

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Gazing back at the monitor, I began to draw a few connections.

Displayed on the large screen was a direct match of the room we were standing in. At the center of the screen were the words 'you', and small boxes had been illustrated on the four edges. There were four of these boxes on each side, making a total of sixteen… and their locations on the screen matched the locations of the hatches dispersed across the room. Additionally, within each box, there was a name in bold.

A name and box belonged to each of the sixteen original people. I saw my name, Sky's, Falcon's, Scar's, and Ace's… everyone's. What's more, the locations of each boxed name matched where our tents were arranged back at camp. It was like we were looking at a very simplified layout of our camp from a bird's-eye view, the design correlating to the room we were currently standing in.

"Ember, Sky, Code, Faith. When you're ready, enter and scale down your designated course. I will warn you that attempting to enter the incorrect hatch, intentionally or accidentally, will kill you. Additionally, if you attempt to wait out the rest of your time here, you will die, as this room has been rigged to detonate once the timer at your camp reaches zero. That's all. Good luck."

I check my watch to see how much time is left. 49:02:46… 45…

Heaving a long, weary sigh, I turn to face the others. I already felt a lump in my throat as I nervously gulped.

"I'm not one for saying goodbyes… see ya," I anxiously blurt out, drawing everybody's attention toward me as I'm already en route toward my hatch and beginning to climb inside.

"Wait! Ember!" I hear Sky exclaim a few seconds later, and I poke my head back up reluctantly.

Sky and Faith were beside my hatch, and Sky had her hand outstretched.

"I'm glad I met you. I hope we reunite soon," says Sky, a smile on her face. This smile wasn't forced or manufactured but pleasant… and authentic. And before I knew it, the corners of my lips curled slightly upward. I was smiling, too.

Shaking her hand, I reply, "You too."

Faith then places her hand on ours and says, "Until we meet again."

Sky nods and repeats the same phrase while I simply give Faith a nod, which she conveys is enough for her as she nods in acknowledgment. Then, veering my gaze past them at the lonely man standing on the other side of the room, I felt, in a weird way... empathetic for Code.

"Best of luck to you," I say, Faith and Sky glancing back over their shoulders at him.

"Thanks… do your best, Ember," he coldly replies, hardly making eye contact.

I smirk at his response.

Typical Code, always isolating himself from everyone in some unnecessary way.

And before Faith and Sky can look back at me to get my reaction, I begin scaling down the rungs into the pitch darkness that awaits below.

***

"I thought they said there weren't any traps!" shouts Hunter, sprinting down the slanted path with Scar, Delta, Forest, and dozens of boulders in tow.

"Something must've activated after they disappeared! That's the only feasible explanation!" replies Forest, nearly struck with an arrow, but Scar intercepts its path and breaks it.

"I think you're right. All of these obstacles were seemingly raring to go before we entered ourselves. It appeared normal at first, but as we got deeper into the maze… the paths were already crooked, the arrow compartments were opened, and clearly…" calmly evaluates Scar, glancing back over his shoulder. "These boulders had been triggered to begin rolling after us, too."

Speaking between labored breaths, Delta taps Scar on the shoulder and says, "We need to find cover. I can't run much longer!"

"Suck it up. You're no good to me if you die here. Are you really going to let Ace get the last word on you while you're dead?" instigates Scar, causing Delta's jaw to slack before she reaffirms herself and picks up the pace.

"Hunter, Forest, you two better know what you're doing. I'll continue to watch your back as long as you lead me to where Code's group vanished from. You understand me?" authoritatively imposes Scar, clutching the deactivated map model in his right hand and their only beacon stuffed in his pocket.

"Yes," quickly replies Hunter with a convincing tone as he drags his shirt over his face to briefly cleanse himself from sweat.

Scar then transfers his eyes from Hunter to Forest, awaiting his response.

"Of course," shouts Forest, glancing back at Scar. "We aren't too far."

"Good," voices Scar. "Prove it to me."

With that, the group continues onward without conversing much, running for their lives as a crow soars above, carefully observing the pack.