Ryan stood alone in the hallway.
The lights flickered once, then went completely out.
"Hello?" he called.
No answer.
Behind the door, everyone was banging, shouting his name.
"Ryan, come back!"
"Open the door!"
"Kaida, what does it say?!"
Ryan's phone buzzed in his hand.
He looked down.
New instruction.
Walk forward.
His chest tightened. "Nope. Nope. Nope."
The lights at the far end of the hallway turned on by themselves.
One by one.
Like they were inviting him.
He swallowed hard and took a step.
Then another.
Each step felt heavier.
His phone buzzed again.
Confession required.
"What confession?" he whispered.
The lights flickered.
Then his phone displayed something that made his blood run cold.
Video loading…
It was him.
Ryan stared at the screen.
It was a video of him in the locker room, months ago. Laughing. Joking.
Then saying something.
Something he had never told anyone.
Not even Prince.
Not even Thorian.
Ryan's breathing became shallow.
"No," he whispered. "You can't have that."
His phone vibrated violently.
Tell them.
He shook his head. "No."
The screen flashed.
Then the hallway speakers turned on.
And Ryan's voice echoed.
Everyone behind the door heard it.
His secret.
Prince froze.
Thorian whispered, "Ryan…?"
Summer's hand flew to her mouth.
Kyra slid down the wall.
Kaida dropped her phone.
Ryan collapsed to his knees.
The game didn't stop.
It never does.
His phone buzzed again.
That is only the first truth.
Round continues.
Suddenly, every light in the hallway went out.
Ryan screamed.
Inside the room, everyone's phones lit up at once.
Ryan's round is active.
Do not interfere.
Jason punched the wall. "This is sick!"
Lyrelle was shaking. "We have to do something."
Kaida whispered, "It won't let us."
Prince clenched his fists. "I'm not losing him."
Then—
A scream.
Ryan's scream.
It echoed through the house.
And then—
Silence.
No footsteps.
No voice.
Nothing.
Kaida's phone vibrated.
Ryan has been removed from the room.
Summer whispered, "Removed… how?"
Thorian's voice cracked. "What do you mean, removed?"
Another vibration.
Ryan will return when the round is complete.
Prince snapped. "Complete how?!"
No answer.
Minutes passed.
Then hours.
No Ryan.
No sound.
Just fear.
And then…
A knock.
Three slow knocks on the door.
Everyone froze.
Kaida whispered, "That's him."
Prince rushed forward.
Jason grabbed his arm. "What if it's not?"
The knocking came again.
Slow.
Deliberate.
Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
Kaida's phone buzzed.
Open.