The group is back inside after the rooftop incident.
No one talks. The air feels thick, heavy.
Kaida's phone lights up again.
ROUND EIGHT
MODE TRUTH
Two names appear simultaneously.
ZYREN
PRINCE
The boys freeze.
Prince runs a hand through his hair.
"What now."
Zyren smirks nervously.
"Looks like we're both in the hot seat."
Kaida whispers to Lyrelle.
"This one will hurt."
Jason nudges Prince.
"Don't mess this up. Just say it."
The screen changes.
Each must answer truthfully about one thing they hide from the other.
Zyren's eyes dart to Prince.
"What do you want to know first."
Prince exhales sharply.
"Start with me."
Zyren leans back, smirking just slightly.
"Fine. Do you ever doubt you're actually leading us right? That maybe your decisions make things worse?"
Prince stiffens.
"Of course I do. Every damn time. But I can't show it. If I don't lead, we all fall apart. Even you, Zyren. Even me."
Zyren blinks.
"Wow. Didn't think I'd hear that from you."
Then it's Zyren's turn.
Prince's voice softens slightly.
"Do you ever feel… useless? That maybe I make all the calls and you just follow?"
Zyren's smirk fades.
"Yeah," he says quietly.
"Sometimes I feel like my ideas don't matter. Like I'm just the guy who reacts instead of acts."
Prince nods.
"I get it. I feel like that sometimes too. But we need each other. Always."
The room goes quiet.
Then Kaida's phone vibrates.
The screen flashes a message.
TRUTH CONFIRMED
THESE ARE THE PEOPLE YOU CANNOT HIDE FROM
Everyone exhales. Relief mixes with tension.
Jason whispers,
"The game is watching everything. Everything we think. Everything we hide."
Saphira shivers.
"Even our thoughts?"
Thorian crosses his arms, looking at Prince and Zyren.
"This is why we stay together. Secrets are dangerous. Lies are dangerous. Even just thinking about hiding something… it's dangerous."
Prince looks at Zyren and cracks a small, tired smile.
"Guess we're closer than we thought."
Zyren nods.
"Yeah. Closer. But the game isn't done."
The lights flicker.
All their phones buzz again.
Everyone looks down.
The Shadow Game is ready.