MARKED BY THE CURSED ALPHA

CHAPTER 8

Kayda's POV

The moment the palace doors closed behind us, Emily let out a long dramatic sigh before throwing herself onto her bed.

"I survived my first day," she groaned, staring up at the chandelier. "I honestly didn't think I'd make it this far."

Sophia laughed as she sat on the edge of her own bed and pulled off her boots.

"You say that like we've already escaped."

"We're alive, aren't we?" Emily shot back with a grin. "That deserves a celebration."

Nina shook her head with an amused smile while carefully folding the black jacket she had worn throughout the day.

"I don't know how you still find reasons to smile."

"If I stop smiling," Emily replied softly, "I'll start crying."

The room fell silent.

No one argued with her.

Because deep down...

We all understood exactly what she meant.

I slowly walked toward the large window overlooking the palace gardens. The setting sun painted the sky with shades of orange and gold, making Blackwood Palace appear almost peaceful.

Almost.

From where I stood, I could see dozens of guards patrolling the grounds without pause. Every entrance was watched. Every pathway had armed soldiers stationed nearby. Even the towering walls surrounding the palace were lined with guards carrying rifles.

There really was no escape.

Sophia joined me by the window.

"Still thinking about running?" she asked quietly.

I shook my head.

"Not anymore."

She nodded.

"Good."

Neither of us spoke again.

A soft knock interrupted the silence.

The doors opened, and several servants entered, pushing silver dining carts into the room. The rich aroma of freshly prepared food instantly filled the air.

Emily's eyes widened.

"Oh..."

"I think I love this palace."

Sophia burst into laughter.

"You were terrified this morning."

"I still am," Emily admitted honestly. "But being scared on a full stomach sounds much better than being scared while starving."

Even Aria managed a tiny smile.

Within minutes, the servants arranged another luxurious dinner across the dining table before bowing politely and leaving.

For several moments, none of us moved.

Yesterday, prison had served me dry bread and watery soup.

Tonight...

There were grilled steaks, roasted chicken, creamy pasta, seafood, vegetable salads, fresh fruit, warm bread, desserts, and sparkling juice.

It still didn't feel real.

We quietly took our seats and began eating.

For a while, the only sounds in the room were forks gently touching plates and the occasional sigh of relief after a warm meal.

Finally, Emily broke the silence.

"So..."

"What do you think tomorrow's game will be?"

Sophia swallowed a mouthful of steak before answering.

"If you ask me, it'll probably be a fight."

Emily's eyes nearly popped out of her head.

"A fight?"

"Why not?"

Sophia shrugged.

"They want the strongest to survive."

Nina slowly shook her head.

"I don't think it'll be that simple."

"What makes you say that?"

"They've spent too much money bringing us here."

She looked around the luxurious room.

"They're testing more than strength."

Aria nervously placed her fork down.

"I just..."

"I don't want anyone to die tomorrow."

No one answered.

Because none of us could promise that.

I looked at each of the girls sitting around the table.

Twenty-four hours ago...

We had been complete strangers.

Now...

They were the only people I could rely on.

"We stay together," I finally said.

Four pairs of eyes turned toward me.

"No matter what tomorrow's game is..."

"We don't leave anyone behind."

Emily immediately nodded.

"I'm in."

"So am I," Nina added.

Sophia smiled confidently.

"Works for me."

Aria hesitated for only a second before nodding as well.

"We survive together."

Emily lifted her glass of juice into the air.

"To surviving."

One by one, we raised our glasses.

"To surviving."

For the first time since arriving at Blackwood Palace...

The room was filled with genuine laughter.

None of us noticed the hidden camera quietly watching from the corner of the ceiling.

Far away...

Inside another part of the palace...

Someone else was watching us too.The following morning, a loud horn echoed throughout Blackwood Palace, pulling every contestant from their sleep. I sat up immediately, my heart pounding as I remembered where I was. No one complained this time. Emily quietly got dressed, though she attempted a small smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. Sophia stretched her arms before muttering, "Today's the day." Nina silently tied her hair into a neat ponytail while Aria's trembling hands struggled to fasten the buttons of her jacket. I walked over to her and gently helped her without saying a word. She looked up at me with grateful eyes before whispering, "Thank you." Moments later, another knock came at the door. The same polite maid from yesterday informed us that all contestants were expected in the central courtyard immediately after breakfast. None of us had much of an appetite despite the luxurious meal placed before us. Every bite felt heavy because our minds were focused on one question alone. What exactly was waiting for us outside? Once breakfast ended, we joined the other contestants already gathering in the enormous courtyard. Forty young women stood in neat rows beneath the bright morning sky, their expressions ranging from terrified to determined. The atmosphere was so quiet that even the sound of birds flying overhead seemed unusually loud.

After several minutes, Victor walked onto the raised platform with the same calm smile he had worn since the day we arrived. Behind him stood dozens of palace guards dressed in black armor, each carrying weapons that gleamed beneath the morning sun. "Good morning, contestants," Victor announced, his voice echoing across the courtyard. "Congratulations on surviving your first night inside Blackwood Palace." No one responded. He didn't seem to mind. "Today marks the beginning of your first official Survival Trial." Several girls exchanged nervous glances while others instinctively stepped closer to their friends. Victor slowly raised one hand toward the massive black gates standing several meters behind him. "Your first challenge is called... The Maze of Shadows." A low murmur spread through the crowd. "Hidden beyond those gates lies a maze unlike any you have ever seen. You will have five hours to locate the exit. Fail to escape before the final horn sounds, and you will be eliminated from the competition." My stomach tightened. A maze sounded simple enough... until I remembered where we were. Nothing inside Blackwood Palace was ever simple.

Palace attendants moved through the rows, handing each contestant a small backpack. Curious, I opened mine and found a bottle of water, a small loaf of bread, a flashlight, a compass, and a folded piece of paper. Around me, the other girls unfolded theirs as well, confusion immediately appearing on their faces. Emily frowned. "This doesn't even show the whole maze." Sophia held hers beside Emily's. "Mine looks completely different." Nina unfolded hers next, only to discover another unfamiliar section, while Aria stared silently at the strange markings printed across hers. Victor smiled as though he had expected our reactions. "No two contestants have received the same map," he announced. "Whether you choose to trust one another... or betray one another... is entirely your decision." His words sent another wave of whispers through the crowd. I slowly looked down at the map in my hands before glancing at the four girls standing beside me. Something about the pieces didn't feel random. I couldn't explain why... but a strange feeling told me these maps were hiding a secret. Before I could think any further, a loud mechanical rumble echoed across the courtyard as the enormous black gates slowly began to open, revealing the dark entrance to the Maze of Shadows.The moment the gates were fully opened, Victor raised his hand, signaling for silence. "The Maze of Shadows officially begins... now!" A loud horn echoed across the palace grounds, and almost instantly dozens of contestants sprinted through the entrance without a second thought. "Wait!" Emily called, but they were already disappearing into the thick fog that covered the maze. Sophia looked at them before shrugging. "Guess they're eager to get eliminated." She adjusted the small backpack on her shoulders as the five of us walked through the gates together. The instant we crossed the entrance, the massive iron gates slammed shut behind us with a deafening boom that echoed throughout the forest. Several girls screamed and rushed back toward the entrance, desperately pounding against the cold metal, but it never moved. We were trapped. I slowly looked around. Towering trees blocked most of the sunlight, leaving the maze covered in an eerie gray mist. Twisting pathways stretched in every direction, while vines climbed ancient stone walls that looked centuries old. Strange markings had been carved into the rocks, and the only sounds were birds chirping in the distance and the occasional rustling of leaves. It was strangely beautiful... yet every instinct inside me warned that danger lurked somewhere nearby. "Which way?" Aria asked nervously, clutching her backpack. Before anyone could answer, several contestants chose different paths, convinced they could find the exit on their own. Within minutes, they had vanished into the maze, their footsteps swallowed by the silence.

Emily unfolded her map once again, studying it carefully before frowning. "This makes no sense," she murmured. "There's no exit anywhere." Sophia opened hers beside Emily's and immediately frowned as well. "Mine doesn't even look like yours." Nina quickly spread her own map across a nearby rock. "Neither does mine." Curious, I unfolded my own while Aria silently placed hers beside the others. For several moments, we simply stared at the five papers lying side by side. Then something caught my attention. The edge of Emily's map had an unusual line that seemed to continue perfectly onto Sophia's. I slowly slid the papers closer together. Another line matched. Then another. My heartbeat quickened. Without saying a word, I rearranged all five maps until they locked together like pieces of a puzzle. The girls watched in complete silence. Finally, the image before us became clear. It wasn't five different maps at all. It was one complete map that had been divided into five sections. Emily's eyes widened. "No way..." Sophia let out a low whistle. "So that's why none of them made sense." Nina looked at me with admiration. "You figured it out." I shook my head. "No... we figured it out. If Aria hadn't placed hers beside the others, I wouldn't have noticed." Aria blinked in surprise before a shy smile appeared on her face. For the first time since arriving at the palace, hope flickered across all our faces.

"Then we stay together," Sophia said firmly, folding the completed map with care. Everyone nodded without hesitation. We had already agreed the previous night that no one would be left behind, and now that promise seemed more important than ever. Guided by the completed map, we began moving deeper into the maze, carefully following the narrow path marked on the paper. Unlike the others who had rushed ahead, we walked cautiously, watching every step and studying our surroundings. A few minutes later, distant screams suddenly echoed through the forest, causing all five of us to stop in our tracks. Another scream followed, louder than the first, before complete silence returned. Emily swallowed nervously. "Do... do you think someone got hurt?" No one answered. We didn't have to. The Maze of Shadows had only just begun, yet it had already claimed its first victims. Tightening my grip on the map, I took a slow breath before looking at the path ahead. Whatever awaited us deeper inside the maze... turning back was no longer an option.