Everyone is still breathing out from the Zyren and Prince round when it happens.
Summer's phone vibrates.
Then Kaida's.
Then everyone's.
At the same time.
Summer already knows.
She does not even want to look.
Kaida swallows and reads it out loud.
ROUND NINE
MODE TRUTH
Participant selected.
SUMMER
Summer lets out a shaky laugh.
"No. Not me again. I just did one."
Her phone lights up brighter than the rest.
The screen changes.
TRUTH
You will answer alone
No witnesses
No help
Her smile fades.
"What do you mean alone," she whispers.
Another message appears.
Go to the bathroom
Lock the door
You have three minutes
Lyrelle stands up immediately.
"No. Absolutely not."
Prince shakes his head.
"She's not going alone."
The screen flashes red.
RULE VIOLATION DETECTED
Summer's breathing speeds up.
Kyra grabs her arm.
"Please don't make her go."
A new message appears.
If Summer does not go alone
Someone else will
They all freeze.
Summer's hands start shaking.
"It's fine," she lies.
"I'm fine. I can do it."
She walks slowly toward the bathroom.
Every step feels wrong.
She turns back.
"Don't let it do anything to me."
Lyrelle's voice cracks.
"Just hurry."
Summer locks the door.
The click echoes.
Inside, the lights flicker.
Her phone buzzes.
She looks down.
TRUTH
Who do you pretend to hate
But actually want
Her breath catches.
"No," she whispers.
"That's not fair."
The mirror fogs slightly even though there is no steam.
Her phone vibrates again.
Answer
Outside, they all stand frozen.
Jason presses his ear to the door.
Prince paces.
Kyra is crying silently.
Thorian's fists are clenched.
Then Summer screams.
Not loud.
Not dramatic.
Just one sharp terrified sound.
Lyrelle rushes forward.
"Summer."
They try the handle.
Locked.
Kaida's phone buzzes.
TRUTH IN PROGRESS
Jason pounds on the door.
"Open it."
Summer's voice comes through the door, shaking.
"I don't want to say it."
Prince shouts.
"Say what."
Her voice breaks.
"I don't want to hurt her."
Everyone goes still.
Lyrelle's heart drops.
Kyra wipes her face.
The phone buzzes again.
Say it
Summer slides down against the door, sobbing.
"I don't hate her," she says.
"I pretend I do sometimes but I don't."
The silence outside is deadly.
"I want Lyrelle."
No one breathes.
Lyrelle feels like the floor disappears.
Summer continues, crying.
"I've always wanted her. Since last year. I joke because it's safer. I tease because it's easier. I don't want to ruin anything."
Kaida's phone lights up.
TRUTH ACCEPTED
The bathroom door unlocks by itself.
Click.
Summer opens it slowly.
Her eyes are red.
She cannot look at Lyrelle.
Lyrelle cannot move.
No one knows what to say.
The game does not buzz.
Because it already got what it wanted.
And now everything feels different.