Night falls quietly.
Too quietly.
The hospital lights dim. Jake is asleep again. The nurses have left. Everyone else sits around, exhausted, scared, pretending they are okay.
Thorian stands near the window, arms folded, staring outside.
Kaida notices first.
"Where's Thorian."
It is not a question.
Lyrelle looks up.
"He was just here."
Prince stands.
"He went to get water, I think."
Five minutes pass.
Then ten.
Jason checks his phone.
"He hasn't texted."
Summer frowns.
"He wouldn't just disappear."
Kaida's phone vibrates.
Everyone freezes.
She looks down.
The message is short.
ROUND SEVEN
MODE UNKNOWN
Participant selected.
THORIAN
Kyra's voice breaks.
"What does that mean."
Another message appears.
Find him.
Now.
Prince is already moving.
"Split up."
They search the hallway.
The vending machines.
The waiting room.
The bathrooms.
Nothing.
Jason runs a hand through his hair.
"He wouldn't just leave."
Saphira whispers.
"What if the game took him."
Nobody answers.
Kaida's phone vibrates again.
New message.
He is close.
But you are looking in the wrong way.
The hospital lights flicker.
Once.
Twice.
Summer grabs Lyrelle's arm.
"I don't like this."
Prince shouts.
"Thorian."
No answer.
Kyra starts crying quietly.
"This is my fault."
Kaida suddenly looks up.
"The roof."
They all turn.
Prince frowns.
"What."
Kaida is already running.
They take the stairs two at a time.
When they push the door open, cold air hits them.
Thorian is sitting on the edge of the rooftop, legs dangling, staring at the city lights.
Not crying.
Not moving.
Just sitting.
Prince rushes forward.
"Bro what are you doing."
Thorian turns slowly.
His eyes look empty.
"I didn't walk here," he says.
Everyone stops.
"What do you mean," Lyrelle whispers.
"I was in the hallway," he says.
"And then I wasn't."
Kaida's phone lights up.
New message.
He was chosen
He was tested
He passed
Kyra shakes her head.
"What did you do to him."
Thorian looks down at his hands.
"It asked me one question," he says quietly.
Jason steps forward.
"What question."
Thorian swallows.
"If you had to save one of them and let the rest suffer, who would you choose."
Silence crashes down.
"And," Thorian continues, voice low,
"I couldn't answer."
Kaida's phone buzzes again.
Then everyone's phone lights up.
At the same time.
He did not choose
So the game will
Everyone stares at the screen.
The next message appears slowly.
Someone else will disappear soon.
And this time
You will not find them so easily
Kyra screams.
Lyrelle grabs her.
Prince swears under his breath.
Saphira feels her knees weaken.
Kaida just stares at her phone.
Because she already knows.
This is no longer a game.
It is a hunt.