Alys POV
The door slammed shut behind us.
The sound echoed like a final decision.
For a moment, everything went silent.
Too silent.
I could hear my own heartbeat—fast, uneven, loud enough to make me feel exposed.
Drake didn't let go of my hand.
Not even for a second.
"Stay close," he said.
His voice wasn't the usual careless tone. It was sharp. Controlled. Almost… protective.
I swallowed.
"Drake… what is this place?"
The room slowly lit up.
Cold white lights flickered above us, revealing a long, narrow chamber. The walls were metallic, scratched, like people had tried to claw their way out.
My stomach twisted.
"We've been here before," Drake said quietly.
I froze.
"You mean it wasn't a joke…?"
He shook his head.
"No jokes in Hell University."
Jay POV
The moment our door closed, I turned to Kiefer.
"Start talking."
He sighed.
"Straight to interrogation, huh?"
"Don't test me," I snapped. "You knew about this."
He didn't deny it.
That was enough to confirm everything.
The room we were in looked different from Alys's—bigger, circular. In the center, there was a glass platform… and beneath it—
Water.
Deep. Dark. Endless.
"What is this?" I whispered.
Kiefer stepped closer to the platform.
"A pressure system," he said. "Classic."
I frowned.
"Meaning?"
"Meaning," he looked at me, "if one of us messes up… the other pays."
Gorya POV
"This is insane!"
My voice echoed around the room, but no one answered.
Thyme stood near the wall, unusually quiet.
That scared me more than anything.
"You're not saying anything?" I asked.
He ran a hand through his hair.
"I'm thinking."
"About what?!"
"About how to get you out of this alive."
I blinked.
"…what?"
He looked at me—serious, intense.
"This place doesn't reward both people. That's what Drake meant."
My chest tightened.
"So what are you saying?"
He didn't answer immediately.
And that silence said everything.
Zien POV
Ace was already scanning the room.
"Three doors," he muttered. "One exit."
"And the other two?" I asked.
"Probably traps."
Great. Just great.
A screen flickered on.
"PAIR: ZIEN & ACE"
"OBJECTIVE: FIND THE TRUTH"
I frowned.
"What truth?"
Ace's jaw tightened.
"…the kind people hide."
I looked at him.
For the first time since I met him—
He looked nervous.
Alys POV
A buzzer sound filled the room.
Then a robotic voice:
"GAME ONE: TRUST TEST"
I felt my grip on Drake tighten.
"Each pair will be given a choice."
"In front of you are two buttons."
I turned.
There they were.
One red.
One black.
"Press the same button—both survive."
"Press different buttons—one suffers the consequence."
My throat went dry.
"That's it?" I whispered.
Drake laughed softly—but there was no humor in it.
"No. That's never 'it.'"
The voice continued—
"But… there is a twist."
Of course there is.
"You may communicate… or you may choose to act alone."
"Time limit: 60 seconds."
A timer appeared.
60… 59… 58…
Jay POV
Same setup.
Two buttons.
Red and black.
I crossed my arms.
"This is easy."
Kiefer raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
"We just choose the same one."
He smiled slightly.
"And how do you know I won't lie?"
I stepped closer.
"Because if you do, I'll make sure you regret surviving."
He laughed.
"Fair enough."
But then his expression softened.
"Jay… trust me."
I froze.
Trust.
Funny word for a place like this.
Gorya POV
"I don't like this," I whispered.
Thyme looked at the buttons.
"Then don't think."
"What?"
"Just choose what I choose."
"And how do I know what you'll choose?!"
He looked at me.
"…you don't."
My chest tightened.
"Thyme—"
"Gorya," he cut me off, "listen to me. No matter what happens… don't panic."
The timer hit 20 seconds.
Why does that sound like a goodbye?
Zien POV
Ace didn't even look at me.
He was staring at the buttons like they were enemies.
"Say something," I said.
Silence.
"Ace!"
Finally—
"I'm choosing black."
Just like that.
No discussion.
No hesitation.
I stared at him.
"And I'm just supposed to follow you?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
He looked at me.
"Because if you don't… you might regret it."
That didn't feel reassuring at all.
Alys POV
"Drake…" my voice shook, "what do we do?"
He didn't hesitate.
"Red."
That fast.
"You're sure?"
"Yes."
The timer hit 10 seconds.
"But what if—"
"Alys."
His voice stopped me.
"Look at me."
I did.
And for a second… everything else disappeared.
"Do you trust me?"
My heart pounded.
I don't know why.
I don't know how.
But—
"…yes."
Final Moments (All POVs Intercut)
5…
Jay smirked slightly.
"Don't mess this up, Kiefer."
He chuckled.
"Same to you."
4…
Gorya closed her eyes.
"Please…"
Thyme watched her.
Something unreadable in his eyes.
3…
Zien hesitated.
Black?
Or not?
Ace didn't move.
2…
Alys whispered,
"Red."
Drake pressed his button.
1…
Silence.
Then—
CLICK.
Results
The voice returned.
"Processing choices…"
A long pause.
Too long.
Then—
Alys & Drake
"MATCH."
The lights turned green.
I exhaled sharply.
"We did it—"
But before I could smile—
The voice continued:
"BONUS ROUND ACTIVATED."
Drake's expression darkened instantly.
"…I knew it."
Jay & Kiefer
"MATCH."
Jay smirked.
"Told you."
Kiefer leaned closer.
"You didn't even hesitate."
She shrugged.
"Neither did you."
But the voice cut in—
"SECOND CONDITION: ONE MUST STEP FORWARD."
Their smiles faded.
Gorya & Thyme
"…MISMATCH."
Gorya's eyes widened.
"No—no no no—"
A loud alarm blared.
The floor beneath Thyme cracked open slightly.
Gorya screamed.
"THYME!"
Zien & Ace
"…MATCH."
Zien sighed in relief.
But Ace didn't react.
Because the voice added—
"TRUTH PHASE INITIATED."
Zien looked at him.
"…what did you hide?"
Final Scene (Suspense Peak)
Screams.
Alarms.
Flashing red lights.
The games weren't over.
Not even close.
Drake grabbed Alys again.
"Stay with me."
Jay clenched her fists.
"What kind of sick system is this?!"
The speaker answered—
Almost like it was alive.
"Welcome to Hell University."
"Where love is tested…"
"By how much you're willing to lose."