MARKED BY THE CURSED ALPHA

CHAPTER 5

kayda's POV

I had barely spent twenty-four hours inside prison when the loud sound of metal keys echoed through the hallway. The cell door swung open, and three armed guards stepped inside. "Kayda Hart," one of them called. "You're being transferred." I frowned in confusion. "Transferred? To where?" None of them answered. Instead, they secured handcuffs around my wrists before escorting me out of the cell. As we walked through the prison corridors, I realized I wasn't the only one. One by one, other female inmates were brought out of their cells under heavy security. Some looked confused. Others cried and begged for answers, but the guards remained silent. By the time we reached the prison yard, nearly fifteen women stood beside me. We were quickly loaded into a large black transport van. The moment I stepped inside, my heart skipped a beat. We weren't alone. Almost thirty young women were already inside, their heads resting against the seats as though they were in a deep sleep. Something about it felt terribly wrong.

The doors slammed shut behind us, and the van slowly pulled away from the prison. I looked around at the unconscious women before turning to the guard seated near the entrance. "Where are you taking us?" I demanded. No response. "You can't just kidnap people!" I shouted, throwing myself against the locked door. Several other girls joined me, banging on the walls and screaming for help. The van continued moving as if none of us existed. Suddenly, one of the masked men standing inside pulled out a small canister. Before anyone could react, a strange mist filled the air. I covered my nose, but it was already too late. My vision blurred. The voices around me became distant. One after another, the girls collapsed onto the floor. I fought to stay awake, but my eyelids grew heavier with every passing second. The last thing I saw was the cold smile beneath the guard's mask before darkness swallowed me whole.

A sharp splash of freezing water struck my face. I gasped, coughing violently as my eyes flew open. My wrists were tied behind my back, and rough ropes bound my ankles. Around me, dozens of frightened girls were waking up in the same condition. We were inside an enormous palace unlike anything I had ever seen. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, while armed guards dressed in black surrounded the grand hall. Every exit was blocked. Fear settled deep inside my chest as a man stepped onto the stage at the front of the room. "Welcome," he announced calmly. "You have all been selected to participate in the Survival Game." Murmurs immediately spread through the crowd. Some girls began crying while others demanded to be released. My own heartbeat pounded loudly in my ears. Survival Game? What was that supposed to mean?

The man raised his hand, and the hall instantly fell silent. "Participation is not optional," he said. "However, we are generous enough to offer you one final choice. If anyone is unwilling to participate in the Survival Game, raise your hand now." A heavy silence filled the room before one girl slowly lifted her hand. Then another. Soon, nearly ten girls stood with trembling arms raised, believing they would simply be sent home. I remained frozen where I sat. Something deep inside me screamed that this was a trap. Without another word, the man nodded toward the guards. Gunshots exploded through the hall. One after another, the girls collapsed onto the marble floor, their bodies lying motionless as terrified screams filled the room. Every remaining girl stared in horror, too shocked to move. My entire body trembled uncontrollably. The man smiled as though nothing had happened. "Excellent," he said. "Since no one else wishes to leave..." He paused, his eyes sweeping across the room. "The Survival Game begins tomorrow."