Samy's eyelashes fluttered.
At first, there was only darkness — thick, heavy, pressing against her chest. Then sound crept in slowly, like waves reaching the shore.
"—Samy?"
Her eyes opened halfway.
Blurred shapes hovered above her. Panic surged for a second before a familiar voice grounded her.
"Hey, hey… she's waking up," Tin said, relief breaking through his usually controlled tone. He glanced back quickly. "Tony. Jet."
Tony and Jet rushed forward, kneeling beside her. Jet's hand hovered near Samy's shoulder, afraid to touch her too suddenly.
"Easy," Tony said softly. "You're safe. For now."
Samy swallowed. Her throat felt dry, her head spinning as she slowly pushed herself up on her elbows.
"Where… are we?" she asked.
Jet looked around before answering. The space around them was vast and hollow — endless black stretching in every direction, the floor barely visible beneath their feet.
"This place changed again," Jet said, frustration lacing her words. "We're back in the hollow space. And there's no exit. Nothing. Just… this."
Samy's breath caught.
The memories rushed back — the door, the light, the feeling of being pulled away from herself.
Without warning, she leaned forward and hugged Tin tightly.
Then Tony.
Then Jet.
She held on like she was afraid they'd disappear if she let go.
Tony chuckled softly, though his eyes were dark. "Okay, okay. We're not going anywhere."
After a moment, he straightened. "Sitting here won't help. If this place wants us trapped, then we walk until it gives us a reason not to."
Jet nodded. She reached for Tony's hand, gripping it tightly — grounding herself. Tony squeezed back without looking at her.
Tin helped Samy stand. The moment she was upright, he held her hand firmly, fingers interlacing like he didn't trust the space to keep her standing.
Samy noticed.
And instead of pulling away, she squeezed back — a silent promise.
As they walked, Samy told them everything.
The younger version of herself.
The glowing door.
Her sister's room.
The feeling that something was watching from far away.
They formed theories — broken, incomplete ideas — but none felt right. None felt true.
Somewhere else in the hollow space—
Roger ran.
Her lungs burned, legs aching as she pulled Kim along beside her. Behind them, the darkness warped, bending unnaturally as something chased them without sound.
"Don't slow down," Roger said sharply.
"I'm not," Kim replied, though his breath was uneven.
Ahead of them, Pete and Noah ran blindly, unaware of what hunted them — only that stopping meant death.
Noah's heart hammered violently. His thoughts were a mess of fear and confusion.
Why is this happening?
Why does it feel like we're being tested?
Pete stumbled.
Just for a second.
The world tilted violently, nausea crashing over him like a wave. His vision blurred, his knees threatening to give out.
Before he could fall, a hand grabbed his.
"Pete."
Noah didn't shout. He didn't panic. His voice was steady — anchored.
Pete sucked in a breath, focusing on that grip. The warmth. The certainty.
"I'm fine," Pete muttered, forcing himself upright.
But his fingers tightened around Noah's hand anyway.
They didn't let go.
Behind them, unseen but present, Roger and Kim followed closely. Roger glanced back once — the darkness pulsing, closing in.
"It's gaining," she said.
As if answering her words, the space ahead shimmered.
A door appeared.
Solid. Real.
Pete didn't question it.
He lunged forward, throwing it open as Noah nearly dragged him through. Roger and Kim followed instantly, slamming the door shut behind them.
The moment it closed, the hollow space screamed.
Something struck the other side — hard.
Once.
Twice.
Then silence.
The four of them collapsed against the door, gasping for breath.
For a long moment, no one spoke.
Pete slid down to the floor, head dropping forward. Noah sat beside him without thinking, close enough that their shoulders brushed.
"You scared me," Noah said quietly.
Pete huffed a weak laugh. "You don't scare easily."
Noah didn't answer right away. He stared ahead, jaw tight.
"Yeah," he said finally. "That's why it was scary."
Pete turned slightly, studying him. Not teasing. Not joking. Just… looking.
"Thanks," Pete said after a moment.
Noah nodded once. "Anytime."
There was no confession.
No dramatic moment.
Just silence that felt… safe.
A little distance away, Kim sat with his back against the wall, staring at his trembling hands. Roger noticed immediately.
She moved closer, crouching in front of him.
"Hey," she said gently.
Kim looked up, eyes dark. "It touched you."
Roger shrugged lightly, though her voice softened. "Didn't hurt."
"That's not the point."
Without thinking, Kim reached out, resting his forehead against hers. It wasn't rushed. It wasn't desperate.
Just real.
Roger closed her eyes, breathing him in. "We're still here."
Kim nodded. "Together."
Outside the door, the darkness waited.
And somewhere far away, the hollow space shifted — preparing its next move.