CHAPTER 3: The First Test
1433 Words
Three days that was all the time we had before the first test would begin.
The hallway outside our rooms slowly became quieter as people returned to their chambers. Some walked with determination, while others dragged their feet as if they had already given up.
Kate and I went back inside my room, the moment the door closed behind us, the silence felt heavy again. I leaned the arnis sticks against the wall and sat on the edge of the bed. My muscles were already aching from the hours of practice.
Kate sat down on the chair across from me, breathing heavily.
“You should rest,” I told her.
“I’m fine,” she insisted, though her tired face said otherwise.
“You’re not fine,” I replied. “You’re pregnant. You shouldn’t push yourself too hard.”
Kate looked down at her stomach and gently rubbed it. “I don’t have the luxury to rest,” she whispered.
Her words made me pause, she was right none of us had the luxury to feel safe anymore.
I stood up and walked toward the wall where the Philippine flag was hanging, for a moment, I stared at it.
‘’Home.’’ The thought made my chest tighten.
My parents, my little sibling, Were they searching for me right now?
Did they think I was dead? I clenched my fists.
I have to survive, not just for myself. ‘’For them.’’
Behind me, Kate spoke softly. “Luna… do you think Earth knows what happened to us?”
I shook my head. “I doubt it.”
“Then they must be worried,” she said quietly.
“Yeah,” I replied.
Silence filled the room again.
Suddenly—A loud metallic sound echoed through the walls.
BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.
Kate and I immediately looked up. A mechanical voice filled the entire facility.
“Earthlings, your preparation period continues.” A holographic screen suddenly appeared in the center of the room.
Lord Zorvath Krael’s face appeared again. His four glowing eyes stared down at us.
“Tomorrow,” he announced, “you will face your first test.”
Kate’s grip on the arnis stick tightened.
“What kind of test?” someone shouted from the hallway.
The alien king smiled. “A simple one.”
The screen changed a massive forest appeared.
Dark, dense and full of towering trees and thick fog.
“This is the Forest of Velkris,” Zorvath said.
A chill ran down my spine.
“Tomorrow, all 195 of you will be sent into this forest.”
Kate gasped quietly beside me.
“In this test,” the alien continued, “you must survive for twelve hours.”
“That’s it?” someone shouted from outside.
Zorvath laughed a cold, cruel laugh. “Oh, Earthling… you misunderstand.”
The forest on the screen suddenly moved something large rushed through the trees and we saw them the creatures. Massive beasts with long claws, glowing eyes, and bodies covered in dark scales.
Some looked like wolves.
Others looked like reptiles.
But all of them looked deadly.
“These are the Varkul Beasts,” Zorvath explained “They are the natural predators of this forest.”
Kate whispered in horror. “Oh my God…”
The alien king leaned forward on his throne.
“If you survive the twelve hours… you pass.”
“And if we don’t?” someone asked.
Zorvath smiled wider. “Then you die.”
The screen suddenly turned black and the room went silent again.
Kate slowly sat down on the bed then her hands were shaking.
“Luna… those creatures…”
“I saw them,” I said. “They’re monsters.”
I walked toward the weapons wall again my eyes scanned the weapons carefully.
Spear, Bolo, Balisong, Bow, Arnis sticks.
If those beasts were large and fast…then close combat would be dangerous.
I grabbed the spear from the wall.
Kate looked at me “You’re changing weapons?”
“I need reach,” I said.
“If those creatures get close, this will keep them away.”
Kate nodded slowly “What about me?”
I thought for a moment then I picked up the slingshot and handed it to her.
“This.”
Kate looked surprised “A slingshot?”
“You’re not fighting monsters,” I said firmly “You’re surviving.”
I grabbed a small pouch of metal pellets from the table. “These can distract them,” I explained.
“If a beast gets close, aim for the eyes.”
Kate swallowed nervously “Okay…”
Then I walked to the supply shelf there were several items there like Rope, Flashlights, Water containers, Medical kits.
I began gathering what we needed, “We’ll travel light,” I said “and no unnecessary weight.”
Kate watched me carefully “You’ve thought about this before.”
I shook my head “No.”
“Then how—”
“I watch it in TV before,” I replied.
I placed the supplies into two small packs “One for me. One for you.” I said while placing supplies
Kate stood up slowly “What’s the plan?”
I looked at her seriously “We stay together okay.”
Kate nodded immediately.
“No wandering off.”
“Agreed.”
“We avoid fighting the beasts if possible.”
“Agreed.”
“And if other players attack us…”
Kate hesitated.
“…then we defend ourselves.” That answer was enough.
Suddenly— Another scream echoed from the hallway Kate and I rushed to the door and opened it and a group of people had gathered outside. In the center of the hallway, two men were arguing loudly.
“You’re lying!” one shouted “You’re planning to abandon us in the forest!”
“I’m not!” the other replied.
More people began shouting and panic was spreading again.
Kate stepped closer to me “They’re already breaking apart.”
I nodded “That’s what fear does to us and everyone.”
Then a tall man with blonde hair stepped forward from the crowd and he raised his hands.
“Everyone calm down!”
Then shouting slowly faded.
“We need to work together,” he continued. “If we stay in groups, we’ll have better chances against those monsters.”
Some people nodded, others looked suspicious.
I watched the man carefully he looked strong Confident a natural leader. But leaders were also dangerous because when survival came down to one person… Trust could break easily.
Kate whispered beside me “Do you think we should join them?”
I shook my head “Not yet.”
“Why?”
“Because alliances can break,” I said quietly “And when they do, people die.”
Kate looked uneasy “So it’s just us?”
“Yes for now,” I replied.
The crowd slowly began to separate again some formed groups and some returned to their rooms.
The fear in the air was getting heavier I closed the door and locked it.
Kate looked at me nervously “Are you scared?” she ask
I took a deep breath “Yes.”
“Me too.”
For a moment, neither of us spoke then Kate suddenly said something unexpected.
“Luna… if something happens to me…”
I immediately interrupted her “No.”
“But listen—”
“No,” I repeated firmly.
“You’re not dying.”
“But if I do—”
“You won’t,” I said.
Kate looked into my eyes there was determination in my voice.
“If we go into that forest,” I continued, “we both come out alive.”
Kate’s eyes filled with tears again “You promise?”
I held out my hand “I promise.”
Kate slowly shook my hand “Then let’s survive.”
Later that night, we finished preparing our supplies and the room lights dimmed automatically then a mechanical voice echoed through the facility.
“Earthlings, rest well.” “Tomorrow… the games begin.”
Kate lay down on the bed while I sat on the floor, leaning against the wall and I held my necklace tightly in my hand.
“Lord Jesus,” I whispered quietly “Please guide us tomorrow.”
The room was silent except for Kate’s soft breathing and sleep didn’t come easily because tomorrow…we would enter the forest.
And somewhere in those dark trees… the Varkul Beasts were already waiting.
Hungry.
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