No one touches the phone.
Lyrelle shakes her head.
"No more truths. No more dares. We're done."
Jason nods. "Yeah. This is crazy."
For the first time, the app goes silent.
Then Kaida's phone lights up by itself.
"Refusal detected."
"A player will be chosen."
The screen flickers.
A name appears.
SAPHIRA
Her heart drops.
"What?" she whispers. "Why me?"
The next message loads slowly, almost cruelly.
"Your task: Forgive Summer. Apologize for your words."
Saphira laughs ….sharp, broken.
"No. Never."
Summer steps forward, eyes glassy.
"Saph… please. I didn't mean to hurt you…"
Saphira backs away.
"Why should I apologize when I'm the one who got embarrassed? Hurt? No. I'm out of here."
She grabs her bag and heads for the door.
Suddenly, the app flashes bright red.
"IF THE TIMER STOPS, CONSEQUENCES WILL BEGIN."
A loud countdown fills the room.
10… 9… 8…
"SAPHH PLEASE!" Kyra cries.
"Don't go!"
"Just say it!" Lyrelle shouts.
Saphira reaches the door anyway.
3… 2…
"I WON'T," she screams, tears spilling. "I WON'T LET THIS GAME CONTROL ME!"
1.
The timer stops.
The lights flicker violently.
The room plunges into darkness.
Something heavy CREAKS above.
"SAPHH…MOVE!" Jason yells.
A huge ceiling light snaps loose and crashes down — missing her by inches but slamming onto the floor with a deafening sound.
Saphira screams and collapses, shaking, sobbing uncontrollably.
The lights snap back on.
The phone buzzes one last time.
"CONSEQUENCE DELIVERED."
"NEXT TIME, COMPLIANCE IS ADVISED."
Everyone rushes to Saphira.
"She can't breathe!" Summer cries.
"She's shaking!"
"Oh my God…call an ambulance!"
They rush her to the hospital …not hurt by the light, but in shock, terrified, broken.
As they leave, Kaida looks back at her phone.
The app is already glowing again.
Waiting.
The hospital room smells like antiseptic and fear.
Saphira's eyes flutter open slowly.
The beeping machine beside her steadies.
Lyrelle jumps up first.
"Saph…?" Her voice breaks. "You're awake."
Jason rushes to her side immediately, relief flooding his face.
"Oh my God. Thank God."
Ryan and Jake stand near the door, quiet, shaken.
Prince's arms are crossed tightly, his jaw locked.
Thorian leans against the wall beside Kaida, watching her closely.
Zyren hasn't said a word since they arrived.
The doctor steps in, calm but serious.
"She's stable," he says.
"What happened wasn't physical injury. It was acute stress and shock. Her body basically shut down from fear."
Summer exhales shakily, tears slipping down her face.
"I'm so sorry," she whispers.
Saphira turns her head slightly.
Her eyes land on Summer… then Jason.
She doesn't say anything.
Jason swallows.
"Saph, I swear…nothing happened. I would never…"
She closes her eyes again, not ready.
That hurts more than yelling would have.
Kyra stands frozen at the foot of the bed.
Her hands are shaking.
Her chest feels tight.
She keeps hearing the app's words in her head.
Conflict acknowledged.
All players are active.
Kaida notices first.
"Kyra?" she whispers. "Are you okay?"
Kyra shakes her head slowly.
"No… no I'm not."
Prince looks over sharply.
"What do you mean?"
Kyra's eyes dart to him… then away.
"The game," she breathes. "It didn't stop. Even here… I can feel it."
Thorian frowns.
"You're saying it followed us?"
Kaida looks down at her phone.
The screen lights up by itself.
Her face drains of color.
Lyrelle steps closer.
"What does it say?"
Kaida hesitates… then turns the screen so everyone can see.
"ROUND THREE PENDING."
"TRUTH WILL BE COLLECTED."
Kyra lets out a quiet sob.
Jake takes a step toward her.
"Kyra… what aren't you telling us?"
She hugs herself, shaking.
"I lied before," she whispers. "And the game knows."
Prince stiffens.
Jason looks between them, confused.
"What lie?"
Kyra's voice cracks.
"I don't think I can survive another consequence."
The room goes silent.
Saphira opens her eyes again… slowly this time.
Her voice is weak but clear.
"Kyra…" she whispers.
"What did you do?"
Kaida's phone vibrates once more.
"TRUTH ROUND WILL BEGIN SOON."
"ALL SECRETS COME DUE."
And Kyra finally breaks down crying.
Because she knows
this time
the truth isn't about feelings.
It's about something that could destroy everything.