The hospital room is quiet again.
Too quiet.
Jake is half asleep, his breathing slow and uneven. The rest of them sit scattered around the room, not talking, not touching their phones.
No one wants to be the next one.
Kyra's hands keep shaking. She tries to hide them under her hoodie sleeves.
Saphira sits by the window, arms crossed, jaw tight. She has not apologized. She does not look at Jake.
Lyrelle watches her. Not angry. Just disappointed.
Thorian stands near the door like he is guarding them.
Then Kaida's phone lights up.
She does not touch it.
The screen turns on by itself.
Then every single phone in the room lights up.
At the same time.
A low vibration hums through the air, like a warning.
Prince stands up slowly.
"No. No no no."
Ryan's voice drops.
"It's starting again."
The message appears.
ROUND SIX
MODE TRUTH
A name types itself out.
SAPHIRA
Her head snaps up.
"What No."
Another message follows.
You hurt people with your words
Now you will answer for them
Saphira laughs sharply.
"That's stupid. It's just trying to scare me."
The lights in the hospital room flicker.
Once.
Twice.
Kyra gasps.
Jason stands up.
"Hey. Stop. That's not funny."
The TV screen across the room turns on by itself.
Static.
Then words appear across it.
TRUTH
Say what you really think about each person here
One sentence each
No lies
Saphira's smile fades.
"You can't make me do that," she says.
The heart monitor beside Jake suddenly speeds up.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
Everyone freezes.
Thorian steps forward.
"Saph. Just do it."
She shakes her head.
"No. I won't."
The lights flicker again.
The door locks.
Click.
Prince rushes to it.
"It's not opening."
Jason's breathing quickens.
"Saph. Please."
Saphira looks around. Everyone is staring at her.
Waiting.
The phone buzzes again.
If the truth is not spoken
Someone else will suffer
Kyra lets out a small broken sound.
Saphira's lips tremble.
She looks at Jake in the bed.
Then at Lyrelle.
Then at Kyra.
Her voice comes out shaky.
"Fine."
Everyone goes silent.
She turns to Lyrelle first.
"You always act strong but you're terrified of being alone."
Lyrelle stiffens.
To Jason.
"You love me but you don't trust me."
Jason swallows.
To Kyra.
"You make everything about guilt so people won't hate you."
Kyra's eyes fill with tears.
To Prince.
"You pretend you don't care but you do. Too much."
Prince looks away.
To Summer.
"You hide behind jokes because you're scared of being real."
Summer's smile disappears.
To Thorian.
"You're the only one here who actually tries."
Thorian exhales slowly.
Finally, she looks at Kaida.
The room feels colder.
"You know more than you say," Saphira whispers.
"And you're letting us get hurt."
Kaida's breath catches.
The lights stop flickering.
The door unlocks.
The machines return to normal.
Everyone just stands there.
No one speaks.
Because the game is no longer playing.
It is judging.
And Saphira is shaking.