Roger and Kim stood in a place that didn't feel real. It was beautiful—too beautiful—like a memory shaped into scenery. Soft glowing trees bent with a gentle breeze, flowers hummed like someone was whispering dreams through their petals, and a river ran without making a sound. It felt peaceful enough to make them forget everything they survived.
Almost.
Roger kept scanning the place, her jaw tight. "Something's wrong," she whispered. "This place… it's pretending."
Kim felt the same. Even the air tasted sweet, but it was a sweetness that didn't feel earned—like a lie.
Yet far away, back in the living library, Samy, Jet, Tony, and Tin were still fighting for their lives. The shelves had turned hostile, pages slicing like blades and shadows crawling in the corners. They were trying hard not to panic, every breath stiff with fear. They had to stay calm. The library fed on emotions—they had figured that out too late.
Back in the peaceful illusion, Kim walked ahead and touched a small carved object resting on a stone pedestal. The moment her fingers made contact—
CLICK.
The world flipped.
The sky shattered like glass. The quiet river twisted upward like a serpent. The soft ground snapped open beneath their feet.
Roger barely had time to shout, "Kim—!"
And they were falling.
No sound. No wind. Just weightless, helpless dropping, as if the world itself threw them away.
Then—
THUD.
They hit solid ground. Not painfully, but jarringly enough to know it was real this time.
Kim opened his eyes and froze.
They were in a huge circular hall. Dark stone walls. Cold air. The atmosphere heavy like a secret waiting to be spoken. In a ring around them were ten doors, each one different from the others—old wood, silver metal, cracked stone, burning red, frozen white, and more. Above each door was a glowing line of text.
Riddles.
Roger stood beside Kim, brushing dust off his jeans. "Ten rooms… ten riddles… Of course it couldn't be simple."
Kim stepped closer to one door. The riddle above it pulsed like a heartbeat.
"To move forward, speak the truth you fear."
Kim swallowed. "Oh great. Emotional torture. My favorite."
Roger shot her a look, but there was worry in her eyes. "We choose wrong, we die. We choose right… we still might die."
Kim laughed softly. "Comforting."
They turned slowly, taking in every door, every possible danger. They were alone. Totally separated from the other four. And wherever the others were, they were no doubt trapped in their own nightmare.
But the strange part was…
For the first time since the journey began, the place didn't feel like random chaos.
It felt designed.
Specific.
Intentional.
As if someone—or something—wanted Kim and Roger here. Wanted the others there. Wanted all of them to face something personal.
Kim whispered, "Roger… what if this isn't a trap? What if it's a test?"
Roger didn't answer right away. She was staring at the tenth door—the only one without a visible riddle. It was completely black, like it wasn't a door but a hole carved into reality.
"Tests are supposed to have rules," Roger said quietly. "And this place doesn't."
Before they could investigate further, the entire hall trembled, and glowing shapes formed in the air around them—letters twisting like smoke into words:
"THE GAME BEGINS WHEN YOU CHOOSE."
Kim's stomach tightened. "We don't even know what we're choosing."
"Then we better pick carefully," Roger murmured.
They stood together, facing ten doors filled with riddles, dangers, and secrets the place had been hiding since the moment they arrived.
And somewhere far away…
Samy, Jet, Tony, and Tin were running out of time.