Chapter 6

Chapter 5: The Trap Door

Dim emergency lights flickered on. The once-grandballroom now felt like a cage. The sealed corridor behind them thudded shut,locking like a vault. Panic rippled through the group.

“Someone’s controlling this in real-time,” Sharon said,voice tight. “They’re watching every move.”

Kriya pressed her palm against the wall where the doorclosed. “They’re not just making us face ourselves — they’re testing ourbonds.”

“Then they’ll fail,” Rey said, stepping beside her.“We’re not the same people we were back then.”

“Exactly,” came a voice from a speaker — deeper, clearerthan before. “You’re weaker. Divided.”

Suddenly, the floor beneath Rey gave a metallic groan.Before anyone could react, a trap door opened beneath him.

“Rey!” Kriya screamed.

He fell into darkness.

Swayam dove forward, grabbing the edge too late. The doorslammed shut. On the wall, a new screen flickered on:

“Trust Test: Save him... or save yourselves.”

Kriya ran to the screen, pounding it with her fists.“Where is he?!”

The screen split into two options — two hallways markedwith signs:

• A: Save Rey
• B: Advance to Round Two

Swayam read the instructions below. “Only one team membercan go through Hall A. The others must continue. If no one chooses, Rey doesn’tmake it.”

Kriya didn’t hesitate. “I’m going.”

Sharon tried to stop her. “It might be a trap—”

“I don’t care. If they want trust tested, they’ll getit.”

She disappeared down Hall A before anyone could argue.The door slammed shut behind her.

Alone in the silence, Swayam looked at Sharon.

“We move,” he said.

As the couple stepped into Hall B, the distorted voicereturned.

“Love is the perfect illusion. Let’s see whosurvives it.”

_________________________

HOPE ALL OF YOU LIKE IT.