The arena was ablaze with energy. Only three teams remained in the competition, and the crowd cheered at every elimination. Claws' group moved with precision, taking out opponents one by one, drawing ever closer to victory.
Rafa (excited): "Almost there!" — after tagging an opponent and watching them leave the arena dejected.
Isa, sweaty but determined, added:
Isa: "If we keep this pace, victory is ours."
Diego laughed aloud:
Diego: "I can already taste the prize!"
Lucas, however, remained cautious.
Lucas: "Don't let your guard down. There's always something hidden in the vice principal's rules…"
Claws didn't reply. His eyes were sharp, too serious for the moment. He felt something off in the air, as if this trial had stopped being just a game.
The siren blared, signaling the final stage. The three remaining teams were directed to an internal corridor of the school, specially set up as the last part of the course. It was narrow, dimly lit, with makeshift obstacles along the way.
Isa (uneasy): "Feels like a horror movie set…"
Diego: "Relax, it's just for atmosphere." — though his voice lacked his usual confidence.
The group entered, focused on reaching the end of the corridor before the others. Their footsteps echoed, mingling with their fast breaths. The silence, so different from the courtyard's noise, made the atmosphere heavy.
Suddenly, Rafa stopped abruptly.
Rafa: "Wait… what is that?"
On the floor, illuminated by the dim light, lay the body of a student. The vest was still on, but there were no signs of life. This wasn't an elimination; it wasn't part of the game. It was… death.
Isa brought her hands to her mouth, shocked.
Isa: "This can't be real…"
Lucas approached slowly, heart racing.
Lucas: "No… this makes no sense. This festival is just a competition… nothing like this should happen!"
Matheus clenched his fists, his gaze hardening.
Matheus: "Who did this?"
Before they could react, Claws looked toward the end of the corridor. For a brief second, a dark shadow moved quickly and vanished around the corner. It wasn't a student; it wasn't a game official. It was… something different.
Claws narrowed his eyes.
Claws: "Did you see that?"
Rafa (scared): "What?"
Claws: "A shadow. Running away."
Diego grew serious, a rare expression for him.
Diego: "Are you saying someone… or something… killed this guy and ran off?"
The festive atmosphere vanished completely. The crowd's cheers from the courtyard couldn't reach them. The corridor was too silent, too heavy.
Isa stepped back, her voice trembling.
Isa: "This… this isn't part of the trial, right?"
Lucas shook his head.
Lucas: "No. The vice principal would never do something like this."
Claws crouched beside the body. His gaze wasn't shock, but restrained anger. He clenched his fists.
Claws: "Whoever this shadow is… didn't want us to win."
Matheus looked at him, intrigued.
Matheus: "How are you so sure?"
Claws: "Because it left the body in our path. It was a message." — his eyes never leaving the darkness ahead.
Suddenly, a loud whistle echoed through the corridors. Vice Principal Augusto's voice came through the speakers:
Augusto: "Attention, students! All teams, stop immediately where you are!"
The entire festival was halted. What was meant to be the grand finale had turned into a scene of terror. Teachers and security staff rushed through the school, while news began to spread rapidly.
Rafa, still in shock, looked at Claws.
Rafa: "What now?"
Claws rose slowly, his eyes fixed on the corridor where the shadow had vanished.
Claws: "Now… the rules have changed."
The chapter ends with the group torn between shock and determination, unaware that from that moment on, the festival would no longer be just fun—it marked the beginning of something far darker at Aurora Academy.