The video started playing.
At first, it was just darkness.
Shaky.
Like someone was holding the phone while walking.
Then Zyren's voice came through.
"Guys… I swear, this isn't funny anymore."
Everyone froze.
"That's him," Prince whispered.
The video brightened slowly.
Zyren was in what looked like an empty basketball court. The lights above him flickered like they were about to die.
"Hello?" Zyren called out in the video. "Ryan? Coach?"
His breath sounded fast. Panicked.
On-screen, Zyren turned around.
Then he stopped.
His face went pale.
"No," he whispered. "No, no, no…"
In the room, Summer grabbed Lyrelle's arm. "What is he seeing?"
Suddenly, text appeared over the video.
TRUTH ROUND
No escape.
Zyren's voice shook. "What do you want from me?"
The video zoomed in on his face.
QUESTION:
Who do you secretly hate in your friend group?
Gasps filled the room.
Jason whispered, "That's messed up."
Zyren laughed nervously on the screen. "Hate? I don't hate anyone."
The timer appeared.
30… 29… 28…
Prince slammed his fist on the wall. "Don't answer that!"
Zyren backed up in the video. "I'm not answering that. That's stupid."
22… 21…
The lights in the basketball court flickered violently.
Zyren spun around. "Stop it! I said I'm not playing!"
17… 16…
Suddenly, another voice echoed in the court.
His own voice.
But distorted.
"You lie."
Everyone in the room gasped.
Zyren's breathing became frantic. "That's not me."
10… 9…
The camera turned by itself.
Pointed behind him.
There was nothing there.
But Zyren started crying.
"I don't hate anyone," he whispered. "I just get jealous. That's not the same."
5… 4…
Kaida whispered, "Zyren, please just say something."
2… 1…
TIME UP.
The video glitched.
Then the screen went black.
Kaida's phone vibrated.
Truth rejected.
Consequence loading.
Prince yelled, "NO!"
The video turned back on.
Zyren was running now.
Breathing hard.
"I don't want to die," he said, sobbing. "I don't want to die."
In the room, Kyra collapsed onto the couch.
Jason whispered, "This is real. This is actually real."
Zyren reached a locked door in the video.
He started banging on it.
"Please! Somebody open!"
Then he froze.
Slowly turned around.
His eyes widened.
"No," he whispered.
The video cut.
Everyone screamed.
Kaida's phone vibrated.
Zyren has not returned.
Round incomplete.
Summer shook. "What does that mean?"
Kaida's voice broke.
"It means… he's still playing."
Prince ran his hands through his hair. "Where is he?"
Kaida swallowed.
Then another message appeared.
You will not see Zyren again until someone tells the truth he refused to say.
Silence.
Heavy.
Suffocating.
Then Ryan whispered.
"He was jealous."
Everyone turned.
Ryan's hands were shaking.
"He told me before. He said he hated how Prince was always chosen first. How Jason got Saph. How Thorian had Kaida. How Jake had Kyra. He said he felt invisible."
Prince's face fell.
Kaida whispered, "So who did he hate?"
Ryan closed his eyes.
"Himself."
Kaida's phone vibrated.
Truth partially accepted.
Zyren will remain missing.
Screams.
Crying.
Panic.
Lyrelle collapsed into Prince's arms.
Summer whispered, "We're going to die."
And then the screen changed.
Next target preparing.
Name loading…
Ryan.
Again.