A beep from my digital phone jolted me awake. Despite the fatigue weighing me down, I'm still a light sleeper. My eyes were heavy with drowsiness, which made it difficult to focus on the bright screen of my phone. As my vision adjusted, the message became clear:
**Immediate task: Find Sandra (00:06:54)
Consequence: 50,000 digital points reduction**
What the—fudge? A task in the middle of the night with a steep consequence for failure? This was new and random.
I stumbled out of bed, still in my pajamas, unwilling to risk losing 50,000 points for what seemed like a simple task. Sandra's room was on the first floor, while mine was on the second. I raced down the stairs, passing through dimly lit hallways.
If I remembered correctly, Sandra told me her room number was 011001018. My head spun from the sudden wake-up call, and I struggled to remember the exact location.
The numbers on the doors gave me a headache.
In the midst of my search, I heard a strange noise coming from one of the rooms. I followed the sound and found Sandra's room. The door was slightly open, and I hesitated to enter. But as the noise grew louder, I pushed the door open and stepped inside. The room was dark, so I used my phone's flashlight to see.
Sandra was moving violently in her bed, as if possessed. I flinched at her wild movements, realizing she must be having a nightmare.
"Hey!" I called out, lightly tapping her face, but she remained in her restless sleep, continuing to move wildly. I didn't want to get involved, but I was already here. Backing down wasn't an option.
After several futile attempts to wake her, I slapped her harder than I intended. The sound echoed in the room, and I winced, knowing my handprint would be visible on her face. It was a careless move. I might get blamed for this.
Her eyes flew open, and she sat up abruptly, sweat pouring down her face as she gasped for air. After a moment, she flinched, touching the spot where I had slapped her. Indeed, my handprint was there, clear as day. A wave of guilt washed over me. I will definitely get blamed for this.
I was about to leave, pretending nothing had happened when she called my name.
"Roxanne," she uttered. I stopped in my tracks and turned to face her.
There was a long pause before she spoke again. "Thank you."
---
This is getting weirder and weirder. That encounter was not just a coincidence. How did the system know that Sandra was having a hard time? If I had decided not to go, she might be a goner by now. Something must be really going on at this institute. I shook off my deep thinking. Such thoughts wouldn't help me feel any better, so I decided to go outside for some fresh air, since I was unable to sleep. Once I'm awake, I find it nearly impossible to drift off again without considerable effort.
I sighed deeply as the cool midnight air brushed against my skin. Still in my pajamas, I didn’t care about my appearance. I found a bench at the back of our dormitory and sat down. The surroundings were quiet and dark, but the moonlight provided just enough illumination to make out the shapes around me.
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The peaceful atmosphere was shattered when I heard voices nearby. Having sharp senses is both a blessing and a curse. I muttered to myself, "Don't meddle, Anne. Stop meddling in other people's business." But who was I kidding? The strongest opponent a person faces is their own self.
I tiptoed cautiously, drawn to the voices. There were several people talking, and I could make out their conversation.
"Come on, bro, is that all you got?"
"What a weakling."
"Tell CJ to stop meddling. He's such a loser."
"Yeah, tell him! If you can still get out of here alive."
Then I heard laughter. I peeked slightly to see what was going on and saw a group of Veilers in their capes, beating someone up. Blood splattered across the victim’s face. The sight of their blank, emotionless eyes sent a chill down my spine. They seemed disturbingly accustomed to such violence.
But what unnerved me even more was seeing him again—the guy I met on my first day. He smirked and signaled for me to keep quiet. My eyes widened in shock. How did he see me in my hiding spot?
My mind raced with different thoughts. I had to decide whether to intervene or retreat, and quickly. The safety and moral implications of each choice weighed heavily on me, leaving me frozen in indecision.
Well, I had to do something, right?
I decided to step out of my hiding spot, but as I moved, I stepped on something that made a disturbing noise.
"Who's there!? Show yourself, weakling!" someone shouted, making my heart pound even faster. Oh my god. I frantically looked around for a place to hide but found none. My heartbeat was deafening as I heard footsteps approaching.
"I saw the guy run over there," a familiar voice said.
"But I heard it this way," another guy argued. Oh, come on, just believe the first guy.
"Are you sure?" the familiar voice replied, uncertainty lacing his words. He seemed convinced the other guy was wrong.
"Well—come on, let's look for him. Kairo, take that traitor to the dungeon." The footsteps moved in the opposite direction, and I felt a wave of relief but still prepared myself in case it was a trick.
"You look pale," a voice whispered right next to my ear, startling me. I flinched.
"What are you even doing here?" the guy asked, not looking at me, instead focusing on clipping his nails. How could he see in this dim light?
"That's none of your business," I snapped. His eyes met mine, dark and cold. He inched closer until his face was just inches from mine.
He gripped my jaw firmly but without causing pain. "Don't you think you're being ungrateful?" he asked, his eyes never leaving mine. Our position felt awkward and intimidating.
I tried to push his hands away, but his grip was unyielding. "Hey, move!" I demanded, but he didn't budge.
"So, what are you doing here?" he asked again. This time, I hesitated but finally answered.
"I w-was just out for fresh air," I stuttered. His presence scared me, especially his cold, blank grey eyes. But I forced myself to meet his gaze. I couldn't show fear.
He loosened his grip on my face and turned his head slightly, as if remembering something.
"Get out of my sight," he said flatly after a long silence. He turned his back to me and started walking away.
"T-thanks," I whispered while lowering my head and playing with my fingers.
"I don't accept appreciation," he replied coldly before disappearing into the night.
---
The weekdays passed by in a blur. At first, I struggled to cope. I spent most of my time trying different things before, but now I had to prepare myself to the limit. Those past days were full of pain and struggles.
On Tuesday, we had an Art Therapy Class in the Art Studio. The class involved a series of activities designed to help participants express themselves and process emotions through creative means.
The session typically started with an introduction and grounding exercises to help us focus and relax. A thematic discussion followed, where the therapist introduced a topic such as exploring emotions or coping with stress. We then engaged in an art-making activity, followed by sharing our artwork with the group and discussing our creative process. I drew a plain falls, which felt like a vivid dream on a canvas.
On Wednesday, we had a Nature Walk and Environmental Awareness session on outdoor trails. It was quite fascinating, but I got a lot of insect bites, which ruined the walk experience for me.
Thursday brought High-Intensity Interval Training in the Fitness Center. I felt like I might collapse from the intense exercises, but I managed to push through. I noticed how my body was coping with the daily activity, and it felt great.
On Friday, we had Photography and Visual Arts in the Art Studio. The professor sent us out to capture pictures. Unsure of what picture to submit, I captured some that seemed interesting. Then, I noticed the flagpole with five different flags. I took a shot but soon grew bored and went back to the studio.
After those busy days, today is Saturday. I've made a few acquaintances, but it doesn't really matter much to me.
I looked at my digital phone. It was early in the morning. I had already prepared myself for this day. Finally, I settled on a pair of snug, black leggings that offered both comfort and flexibility, perfect for rowing. I pulled on a lightweight, long-sleeved, moisture-wicking shirt in a bright blue shade, hoping it would keep me cool and protect me from the sun. To finish the look, I laced up my trusty running shoes, their soles gripping securely, and tied my hair back into a high ponytail to keep it out of my face. I glanced at myself in the mirror, took a deep breath, and grabbed my hat and sunglasses for some added sun protection.
Over those days, this is what I've been waiting for. Ready or not, it was time to face the regatta.
Team task: Regatta (01:12:23)