Jacky’s POV
The whispers followed me down the hall. I kept my head down, jaw tight, doing my best to ignore the eyes that trailed my every step. The other contestants lined the corridor, some of them exchanging murmurs of encouragement, others simply watching with that guarded look people get when they’re waiting for someone else to fall.
“Good luck, Jacky,” one girl whispered as I brushed past her. Her hand barely touched my arm, a fleeting gesture of support, maybe solidarity. It was strange-after everything, I was the one they were rooting for. It didn’t feel right.
Then, Liana stepped out from the crowd, blocking my path. Her face still bore faint bruises, reminders of the injury she’d survived, but her gaze was steely, determined.
“May the Moon Goddess bless you, Jacky,” she said, voice soft but resolute. “If anyone can put an end to Malia, it’s you. I hope you win.”
I just nodded, offering her the smallest acknowledgment before moving past her. The weight of it all-the expectations, the pressure-pressed down on me like a storm cloud. This wasn’t how I wanted it.
A short while later, the heavy doors to the main hall swung open. We were due for another trial announcement, and sure enough, Malia was already there, standing tall like she owned the place. Her hands were clasped around a scroll she’d collected from whoever was in charge of these sadistic games. No one knew who was pulling the strings. It didn’t matter, really. We were all just pieces on someone else’s board.
Malia’s voice sliced through the buzzing murmurs in the room, cutting through the tension. She stood at the front, her expression smug. She always enjoyed this-the power, the attention, the chance to keep us all on edge. I could feel the anticipation in the room, the silent exchange of glances, every girl here wondering if this was the challenge that would break her.
“Today’s trial,” she announced slowly, letting each word hang in the air as if savoring the effect, “is a survival challenge.”
The announcement spread like wildfire, rippling through the crowd of contestants around me. There was a collective intake of breath, a mix of excitement and dread tightening the air. A survival challenge meant we’d be pushed to the edge, expected to rely on nothing but raw instinct and the flimsiest alliances we’d scraped together to make it through.
“Survival,” someone muttered beside me, barely above a whisper. “Great.”
I didn’t bother looking to see who it was. My mind was already spinning, assessing the implications of Malia’s words.
With deliberate slowness, Malia unfurled the scroll in her hands, her eyes scanning its contents. I couldn’t tell if she was reading or just drawing out the moment, relishing the control she had over us. Every eye was on her, hanging on every word she hadn’t even spoken yet.
Finally, she looked up, a twisted smile playing on her lips. “We’re going into the mate trials maze,” she said. Her gaze drifted over the crowd, lingering on each of us, as though daring us to react. “Each team will be dropped in a different section of the maze with nothing but your wits.”
Around me, girls shifted uncomfortably. The mate trials maze was notorious-a sprawling labyrinth that stretched out into the dense woods at the edge of the grounds, winding paths that disoriented even the sharpest mind. Stories floated around about it, of contestants getting hopelessly lost, wandering in circles for hours, of girls collapsing in exhaustion while desperately searching for the exit. It wasn’t just a test of endurance but of mental resilience. And now, that’s where we were headed.
“You’ll have to survive for five hours,” Malia continued, her voice taking on a darker edge. She paused for dramatic effect, then leaned in slightly, lowering her tone, and yet somehow making it sharper, more menacing. “However…”
I felt my heart skip a beat. There was always a catch. The kind that would make it a true nightmare.
“One member from each team has been chosen as the traitor,” she went on, her lips curling up in a wicked smile. “Their job is to take out as many of their teammates as they can before they’re discovered.”
A chill ran down my spine. My stomach twisted at her words, and I felt the weight of the challenge sink in. A traitor. Not only did we have to survive the maze itself, but we’d have to watch our backs, to see if the girl beside us was waiting for the right moment to strike.
Malia seemed to delight in our shock, her voice gaining a kind of sick satisfaction. “Your task is simple,” she continued, savoring each word as though it were the best news she’d ever delivered. “Figure out who the traitor is and eliminate them. If the traitor successfully eliminates the team members first, they win the challenge for themselves.”
This was so twisted. This was the kind of game they wanted us to play, turning us against each other, pitting friend against friend, seeing who would survive and who would be left in the dirt. It wasn’t just a test of survival-it was a test of trust, of betrayal, of how far we’d go to save ourselves.
I glanced over at Jessy and Malia, my so-called teammates. Of all people to be stuck with, it had to be them again. Malia, who was already gloating at the idea of a “traitor” among us, practically shining with that smug, arrogant smirk on her face. Jessy, meanwhile, was shifting uneasily beside her, her gaze flickering between Malia and me, her face tense and uncertain.
If I had to pick a traitor between them, Malia seemed like the obvious choice. She had that look of someone who wouldn’t hesitate to stab a teammate in the back. But with Jessy acting so nervous, could I really trust her either? The worst part was, I couldn’t afford to make a mistake. If I guessed wrong, I’d be the one left vulnerable, the one facing the betrayal I failed to see coming.
The crowd was already breaking off, everyone heading to prepare. Some girls disappeared down side hallways, probably sneaking off to hide weapons, while others were already grouping up, whispering strategies. I felt a tug at my elbow and turned to find Valerie standing there.
“Jacky,” she murmured, pulling me aside, her voice low and serious. “Watch your back out there. You’re like a sheep stuck between two wolves.”
A smirk tugged at the corner of my mouth, though there was no humor behind it. “Trust me, Valerie. I’m not one to get bullied.”
Valerie’s gaze hardened. “Good. But don’t underestimate them, either. Malia’s not the only one you need to be wary of. These trials are designed to push you to the brink. Just… stay sharp. I know you’re tough, but out there, it’s every girl for herself.”
I nodded, absorbing her words. This challenge wasn’t about alliances or friendships, not anymore. Everyone had a target on their back, and I wasn’t about to let mine be an easy one to hit.
She gave my arm a squeeze, then leaned in close. “Don’t forget who you are, Jacky. You’ll get through this. But remember, Malia might be a nightmare, but she’s not the only threat. Jessy isn’t to be trusted, either.”
I nodded, clenching my fists. “Don’t worry, Valerie. I’ll make it through. One way or another.”