"Guys…"
The noise died down.
Everyone turned.
Adam stood there, head lowered, fingers curling slightly at his side."…If it's really bugged…"
No one laughed this time not even Sophie.
The air shifted.
Adam slowly lifted his head, his eyes drifting across the endless stretch of doors… rows and rows, going on like they had no end.
"…how long are we supposed to stay here?"
Silence.
Felix forced a small smile."I'm sure it'll get fixed soon… we just have to calm down and be patient."
No one responded.
Even he didn't sound convinced.
Adam exhaled slowly, then stepped forward, stopping in front of Sophie."In any case, we should—"
CLANG!
The ground split. No warning or crack.
"—WHAT?!"
Everything dropped.
Their bodies fell straight down into darkness.
Wind rushed past their ears.
Adam's hand shot upward instinctively, fingers reaching but the light above was already shrinking.
"What's going on?!" Sophie's voice broke, sharp and loud.
"Is this part of the game?!" Carl shouted, twisting mid-air.
Mark clenched his teeth, eyes scanning, trying—failing—to find anything to grab onto.
Sophie screamed again louder this time.
"SOOOOPHIE—!" Felix yelled, struggling to steady himself.
"Calm down! We'll figure something out!"
She didn't hear him.
Adam gritted his teeth, forcing his body to adjust.
He flipped—chest facing down and pushed forward through the air like he was swimming.
"Just hold on…!"
The void stretched endlessly but he found her.
"Sophie!"
She was flailing, eyes wide, breath breaking apart.
Adam stretched his hand toward her."It's going to be alright… just take my hand!"
She looked at him.
Then at the others and turned back at him.
His face was steady.
A small smile."We'll get out of this. Just stay calm."
Her hand trembled.
She reached.Their fingers brushed—slipped.
Grip! It made contact.
Sophie's breath hitched. She glanced down and froze.
Nothing. No ground. No end. Just darkness swallowing everything.
Fear crawled up her spine."…I—"
"Hey." Adam's voice cut in softly."Don't look down."
Her body stiffened."I can't… I keep—"
"You don't need to look anywhere else."He tightened his grip."Just look at me."
A pause.
Then slowly, she did.
Her breathing was still uneven… but it started to slow just a little.
Behind them Felix reached out.
Carl grabbed his arm, their grip locked.
Felix stretched his other hand and Adam caught it.
One by one they connected.
All of them except Mark.
He stayed there floating.
His eyes locked on Adam... and Sophie.
"Mark!"
Felix's voice snapped through."Snap out of it!"
Mark blinked like something pulled him back.
Carl reached out."…Come on."
He paused, then pushed forward and took his hand."…Tch."
They were all connected now.
Slowly, their fall changed. No longer chaotic.They descended together.
A faint glow shimmered below them .
Carl squinted."…What's that?"
The light grew brighter and warmer.
Then—
FLASH!
Everything turned gold.
——————
Adam's eyes snapped open.
The first thing he saw was a wide endless blue sky.
"…Huh…?"
He sat up quickly.
His hand touched the soft grass.
"…Everyone—?!"
He turned —Sophie lay beside him.
"…Sophie."
He leaned down, shaking her shoulder lightly."Hey… wake up."
Her fingers twitched, then her eyes slowly opened.
She blinked once… twice."Adam?"
She pushed herself up.
He let out a quiet breath."You good?"
She nodded slowly and looked around."…Where are we?"
Carl stood up behind them, dusting his clothes."…No idea."
Felix straightened, scanning the area."Does anyone recognize this place?"
No one answered.
Adam remained still for a moment… staring at his hand like it was something strange.
He turned it slightly and flexed his fingers.
Then he looked up at the others.
Mark frowned."…Why are you staring at us like that?"
Adam stood."It's just…"
They waited.
"Are we… taller?"
Silence.
Then everyone looked down at themselves.
Sophie blinked."Wait…"
She raised her hand."…We're back to our real forms."
Felix clenched his fist twice."And it feels… real."
A soft breeze passed through, their hair shifted slightly.
Adam looked up at the sky, he lifted his hand."This doesn't feel like a simulation.…This is real."
Mark crossed his arms." So what's the plan?"
Felix thought for a second."First—we figure out where we are. Anyone still have their phone?"
Carl immediately checked his pocket.
Nothing.
He sighed."…Figures."
Felix nodded."…Then let's move around and see if we can find help."
They started walking.
But—Flash!
Light burst behind them.
They turned immediately.
Another person appeared, then another.
More appeared again and again.
Adam's eyes widened."…Where are they coming from?"
Voices rose in confusion.
Everyone began to panic.
"What is this place?!"
"Is this some kind of joke?!"
The field filled rapidly.
Bodies pressed together. Noise rose.
Adam pushed forward."Excuse me—!"
Bump.
"Ah—!"
He grabbed his head, then looked up.
The man in front of him stared back.
They both froze.
"…Mr. Rogers?"
The man blinked."…Adam? Why are you here?"
Adam straightened immediately." We ended up here... somehow—"
"Same here," Rogers said, glancing around."Where are the others?"
Right on cue—
Carl and the others bumped into Adam .
Mark yelled." Don't just stand there... Move it ."
Rogers said." I see you're as feisty as ever... Mark."
They all stared at him .
Carl's voice dropped."... Dad?"
Sophie, Felix, and Mark straightened instantly." Good day, sir."
Rogers smiled faintly."I'm glad you're all okay."
Carl stepped forward."But how are you here?"
"The same way you are.…Through the game," Rogers replied.
Carl's eyes widened.
Rogers continued."I was watching TV… then everything changed. A man appeared… talked about a game…"
The group answered together."…Dream Lock."
Rogers nodded."And then a drone forced a headset on me."
Silence.
Mark scoffed."…That sounds insane."
Felix tapped his shoulder."…It's true."
He pointed."Some of those people… they're from our neighborhood."
Sophie's voice dropped."…No way…"
Adam looked around."…Seems like everyone got here differently."
Rogers caught that."Differently?"
Adam opened his mouth—
"People of planet Earth."
The voice echoed deep and heavy.
Everyone turned.
Above them, a figure floated and was covered in a red robe from head to toe.
No face visible.
The air tightened.
"Who is that?!"
The figure raised a hand."Welcome…to Dream Lock."
The crowd erupted.
"Where are we?!"
"Bring out Adrian!"
The figure tilted its head slightly. ."Adrian?…Ah.You mean the human who sent the invitation."
The word hung.
'Invitation.'
The figure pointed into the crowd."He is among you."
All eyes turned.
A man stepped forward, head lowered. Trembling. " I... I'm sorry. I didn't know what was going on and I—"
"WHO CARES?!"
The shout cut him off.
"This is all your fault to begin with!"
Voices rose immediately.
"Yeah!"
"You brought us here!"
"Fix it!"
The crowd turned on him all at once like fire catching dry grass.
The man flinched, shoulders tightening as he took a step back.
A young man pushed through the crowd."…Can we just go home?"
His voice wasn't loud." We all have families to return to."
The red figure tilted its head slightly."Family?…What family?"
A ripple went through the crowd.
"You all don't seem to understand what's happening here."
The young man frowned, confusion creeping in."…What do you mean?"
The figure raised its hand slowly."The invitation… was never meant for just you."
His voice deepened."Children, adults, the elderly…Across your entire world have all been invited."
Whispers spread immediately.
"So that means…"
The figure smiled." Your families are here."
Sophie's hand tightened around her sleeve." Our parents…"
Her voice came out smaller than usual."…they're here too…?"
Felix's jaw tightened slightly.
Another man stepped forward, frustration written all over his face."Then what about the things you promised us?!"
The figure didn't react."Those can be obtained…if you simply play the game."
He stretched its hand forward.
Then—
shnnn!
Light gathered .
An image of the game layout appeared above its palm.
The rooms, doors . Everything.
The crowd went quiet. Eyes locked on it.
Felix leaned forward slightly."Guys... isn't that—"
Adam's eyes narrowed."…Yeah." His voice dropped."…It's the same place as the one we were in before."
The figure continued."The game is simple."
The image shifted.
A human figure appeared walking into a room and laid on the bed.
"All you need to do… is choose a room."
"Sleep."
"Earn coins."
"Grow."
The image pulsed softly.
"…But."
The light flickered. Darkness crept in.
A twisted shape appeared behind the door.
Scratch…
Claws dragged slowly across the surface.
The sound alone made people stiffen.
"…Beware."The figure's voice lowered."…of the dream hunter."
The creature lunged—
BANG!
The door shook violently.
Again—
BANG!
Cracks spread.
The crowd flinched some stepped back instinctively.
"If it reaches your door…"
The creature slammed into it—
CRACK—!
The door shattered. Fragments scattered.
The human inside didn't even wake up .
The creature stepped in and everything went dark.
A single line appeared.
[GAME OVER]
The figure smiled."…It's game over."
A young man laughed nervously."So… all we have to do is keep it out, right?"
He shrugged."How hard can that be?"
"I will tell you this… so you don't regret it later."
The air tightened.
The figure continued."When I say game over…I mean death."
There was no sound even the whispers died.
Adam's fingers curled slightly."…Death…"
Someone behind them staggered back.
The image above the figure flickered once more—
then disappeared.
"I—I don't want to play this!" A woman's voice broke through the crowd."This game… it's too dangerous!"
She took a step back, hugging herself like that alone could protect her.
Murmurs rose again. Fear spread.
The figure chuckled darkly.
A chill ran through the crowd.
The figure tilted its head slightly."Growth has always been dangerous. Change… has always required sacrifice."
His gaze slowly swept across the crowd."But the real question isn't whether it's safe."
A brief silence.
"…It's whether you're willingly....to stay the same."
No one answered. No one moved.
Even the wind felt like it stopped.
A smile stretched slowly across the figure's hidden face."Dream Lock isn't for everyone and that's exactly why it works."
A few people lowered their heads, others clenched their fists.
"Some of you were blessed. Some of you… weren't. But Dream Lock…"
He raised his hand slightly."…gives you a chance to become something you've always wanted to be.... to be more than what you were.This is your chance to start over from scratch."
His voice deepened."So take it. All you need… is passion and the will to chase what you truly want."
The people were quiet. Some thinking, others doubting .
A man stepped forward, hesitant." So…"
Heswallowed."when can we go back?"
The figure didn't hesitate."When you clear the game."
He opened his hand and the Earth appeared, then shattered into red glowing parts.
" These parts are called Dream sectors. You all will be divided into each sector where you will stay and your growth will begin."
He clutched his fist and the image disappeared in a burst of light .
Rumors spread.
Carl's voice dropped."We'll be separated?"
Everyone looked down worried .
Adam said." I doubt that will happen. "
Rogers looked at him." Have you figured something out?"
Adam nodded.
The four turned towards him.
Adam pointed." He showed us the image of the planet and said those parts represents sectors, if we take it that these sectors equals countries then..."
Felix finished."Then we stay together."
Rogers tapped his chin." I see... so basically all occupants of a particular country will make up the sectors in this world."
Relief spread.
Sophie exhaled." Thank goodness."
Then—
light shone under their feet.
"—What now—?!"
FLASH!
They all vanished leaving only an empty field.
The figure smiled."Let the games begin."
——————
Adam raised his hand to block the blinding light.
The light dimmed.
He lowered his hand and opened his eyes.
He now stood in a different place.
[Welcome to Negris Sector]