We all nod, the weight of his words sinking in. Zane takes a deep breath and strides over to one of the chairs, sitting down with a determined expression.Across from him, a figure emerges from the shadows - Dale.The tension in the air is palpable as our opponents are revealed to be Dale's team, with Valarie as one of the players. I can feel my heart racing as I realise I may have to face off against my friend. "Well, well, if it isn't little Zane," Dale sneers, settling into the other chair. The two chess masters, Dale and Zane, are seated, each with a display screen that shows the players' positions on the board."I must say, I'm surprised to see you here. I thought you'd be too busy being a traitor to bother with a silly game like this."Zane's lips curl into a slight smile. "I'm full of surprises, Dale. And I intend to win this game, no matter what it takes."Zane directs us to the game board.The sheer scale of it strikes me. The playing field is massive, with towering structu
I follow Dale as he leads me away from the others, my mind racing with questions. What could he possibly want to talk to me about? We walk silently for a moment before Dale stops and turns to face me. He surveys me coolly, his gaze calculating. "You know, Andy, I'm impressed," he says finally. "You and your team put up a good fight out there." I resist the urge to react, instead keeping my gaze steady. "What are you saying, Dale?" I ask, already knowing the answer. "I sabotaged the game," he says bluntly, a twisted smile spreading across his face. "I had to make sure my team came out on top, you know. Nothing personal." I take a deep breath, trying to keep my cool. "I figured as much," I admit, my voice is calm and even. "But why, Dale? Why would you do something like that?" He shrugs, the casual gesture infuriating me. "This is a game of survival, Ande," he says, his voice low and serious. "And I'll do whatever it takes to come out on top." My hands clench into fists at my
In the meantime, I lie motionless on the bed, letting Ethan take care of me. Ethan kneels beside me, his brow furrowed as he gently checks my pulse."It's a little fast," he murmurs, his voice low and soothing. "You're dehydrated, that's all. Let me get you some water."I nod, smiling at him softly. Ethan hurries to the bathroom, returning with a glass of cool water. He helps me sit up slightly, guiding the glass to my lips. The refreshing liquid soothes my throat, and I gulp it down gratefully."There you go," Ethan says, reassuringly squeezing my shoulder. "Just take it easy, Okay?."I manage a faint smile, already feeling stronger. But my mind is still occupied, preoccupied with the events that led me here. Just then, the door to my room suddenly swings open, and my eyes snap towards the intruder. To my surprise, it's Zane striding in. "Zane?" I murmur, my voice barely above a whisper.Zane nods, his expression unreadable. "Oh, you're awake now," he says.Beside me, Ethan stiff
Mrs. Baker raises a hand, silencing the room. "Please, remain calm. I assure you, this is a positive development. Our guest will arrive shortly, and I expect you all to be on your best behaviour."As the minutes tick by, the tension in the room becomes palpable.I can feel my heart pounding in my chest, my palms growing sweaty with anticipation. What could this mysterious visitor possibly want?Finally, the doors to the hall swing open, and a hush falls over the room.All eyes turn to the entrance as a tall, imposing figure strides in. "Good morning, everyone," he begins, his voice smooth and authoritative. "My name is Mr. Blackwood, and I will be serving as your new teacher, effective immediately."I can't help but notice the unsettling tone in his voice."As you may have realised, Mrs. Baker is no longer going to be in charge of you," he continues, gesturing to the silent woman beside him. "I am."He grins placidly at our weary expressions, revealing a row of pearly whites, "I'm sur
I knock firmly, and the door swings open to reveal Everett, a smug grin on her face. "Well, well, if it isn't our resident hero," she says, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Feeling any better, Ande?" I scowl at her, my anger bubbling to the surface. "Cut the crap, Everett. Everyone knows you're a spy, and the principal wants something from me. So, tell me, what is it they're after?" Everett laughs humorlessly as she steps aside, gesturing for me to enter. "Come on in, Ande. Let's talk." I hesitate momentarily, but my desire for answers overrides my caution. I push past her and step into the room, glaring at her. She shrugs and closes the door behind us, flopping onto her bed with an air of nonchalance that only serves to irritate me further "So, what is it?" I demand, my voice low and dangerous. "What is the principal after?" I pause, my eyes narrowing dangerously, "And lie to me, Everett and I promise I'll kill you first " Everett laughs, sitting up and fixing me with a ca
I lie awake that night, my mind racing with the weight of Everett's words. What could this "other side" she spoke of possibly entail?I don't want to entertain this cryptic Nonsense, unwilling to be drawn into another web of secrets and deception. With a sigh, I turn over, pulling the thin blanket tighter around me. All I can do is sleep.But even that isn't secured as a piercing alarm shatters the stillness of the night. I jolt upright, my heart pounding as Chris burst into the room, his face urgently etched."Ande, Get up! There's a blackout - we have to move, now!" he hisses, tossing me a flashlight. I blink rapidly, disoriented by the all-consuming darkness. "What's happening?" I ask, scrambling to my feet."I'll explain on the way," Chris says tersely, ushering me into the hall. "We need to stick together. This is no ordinary blackout."As we hurry through the pitch-black corridors, my mind races. A blackout? At this hour? Something isn't right here. I glance sideways at Ch
I don't need to be told twice. Adrenaline surging, I bolt through the darkness, weaving through the corridors; my heart was beating faster than a dog's; I could count the few seconds to the end of me. I had to stay alive even when I was out of breath and wanted to give up; I couldn't, I had to keep running. Despite my words of encouragement to myself I had to face my unfortunate reality, they were faster, their footsteps gaining on me. I can hear their jeers and taunts, spurred on by the thrill of a hunt, it's a matter of seconds before I meet my end. "Dammit!" I yelled as I picked up the pace. Suddenly, a figure looms out of the shadows, blocking my path. I skid to a halt, my breath catching in my throat. It's one of my classmates, a boy with green eyes and a shaped, twisted grin as he advances, a utensil knife glinting in his hand."End of the line, Ande," he sneers wickedly. "Time to die." This was it.I backpedal frantically, my heart pounding in my ears, as I scanned for an e
I observe the unfolding scene through the CCTV cameras, my eyes glinting with a sinister curiosity. The flickering images reveal a decrepit hallway, its blood-stained walls and dusty tiles bearing witness to years of neglect. On one of the screens, I see Ethan, a trembling figure standing outside a room. His haunted eyes dart around nervously as if searching for an escape from the feelings that consume him. "How pathetic," I chuckle. The events have taken a psychological toll on the boy. His cousin's demise must be weighing on him more than he thought. He jumps at even the slightest noises, constantly looking over his shoulder in fear. Ethan seems to shiver in the decrepit hallway, his hands clamping tightly over his ears as he mutters apologies under his breath. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I never meant for this to happen. Please, I didn't want to cause any trouble!" Ethan whispers, his voice trembling. His shoulders shake, a few tears escaping his shut eyes. The guilt in