Game of the dead

The door to the next chamber was unlike anything they had ever seen. It shimmered with a sinister beauty, an intricate design of twisting vines etched into the glowing, blackened steel. Pulsating red light seeped through the cracks like blood, casting jagged shadows across their anxious faces.

Jessica reached out, her hand trembling as she pushed it open. A loud creak echoed, the sound akin to the wail of a dying creature. Beyond the threshold lay a cavernous hall, and the sight froze them in place.

The ground was a mosaic of glass, suspended impossibly over a roaring sea of fire. The flames licked hungrily at the bottom of the glass, their heat rising in waves that made the air shimmer. Above them, glass shards of various sizes hung precariously from the ceiling like a field of deadly stalactites. The atmosphere was suffocating, the smell of molten metal and ash thick in their lungs.

"This is insane," Bella muttered, her voice barely above a whisper. Her earlier disdain and sarcasm were gone, replaced by sheer terror.

"No," Alex said, his eyes scanning the room. "This is the next trial."

The door slammed shut behind them with a thunderous finality, sealing their fate. The group jumped, spinning around to confirm what they already feared. They were trapped.

"What do we do now?" Ethan asked, gripping Alex's arm.

Jessica clutched the book to her chest, flipping through the pages desperately. "It doesn't say anything specific about this room," she said, her voice rising in panic. "Just that every step forward is a step closer to the end."

"Well, forward is the only way, then," Alex said firmly, taking the lead.

The first step onto the glass sent shivers through the group. The surface groaned under their weight, but it held firm. One by one, they followed, their movements careful and deliberate.

The deeper they ventured, the more the glass seemed to shift, as if alive. The flames beneath roared louder, and the suspended shards above began to tremble.

"This isn't stable," Bella hissed. "We need to move faster."

"No, if we run, we'll—" Alex began, but a loud crack interrupted him. A hairline fracture splintered across the glass under Jessica's foot. She screamed, leaping forward just as the piece gave way, falling into the fire below.

"Run!" Alex shouted, grabbing Jessica's arm to steady her as the others took off.

---

The hall became a chaotic blur of movement. Glass exploded beneath their feet with each step, sending fragments flying. Above them, the shards suspended in the air began to shatter one by one, raining down like deadly knives. The sound was deafening—shrieking glass and roaring fire merging into a cacophony of destruction.

Jessica, clutching the book tightly, ran faster than she ever thought possible. But the chaos was unforgiving. Her foot caught on a jagged edge, and she tumbled forward with a cry. The book flew from her hands, skidding across the glass before coming to rest at the very edge of the cliff overlooking the fire.

"No!" she screamed, scrambling after it.

"Jessica, leave it!" Ethan shouted, but she ignored him.

The ground beneath them groaned ominously, fractures racing outward in all directions. Jessica reached the book just as the glass surrounding it began to crack. She snatched it up, turning to run, but a deafening boom erupted above her.

The shards hanging from the ceiling shattered in unison, raining down in a deadly storm. Jessica screamed as the group scattered, dodging the lethal rain.

In the chaos, Ethan's footing faltered. A large piece of glass beneath him gave way, and he slipped, sliding toward the edge. His hands flailed, searching for something to grab, but the slick surface offered no grip. His scream cut through the chaos as he teetered on the brink.

"Ethan!" Alex shouted, sprinting toward him.

Ethan's fingers found a metal rod embedded in the glass, and he clung to it desperately, his body dangling over the flames. The heat was unbearable, and tears streamed down his face as he looked up at Alex, who had dropped to his knees, reaching for him.

"I've got you!" Alex said, his voice filled with determination. "Hold on!"

But Ethan's face crumpled with despair. "I can't, Alex," he sobbed. "I'm sorry… I'm so sorry."

"Don't say that! Just hold on!" Alex yelled, his arm straining as he tried to reach him.

Tears streamed down Ethan's face as he spoke, his voice shaking. "Alex… I love you. I've always loved you. Forgive me for not standing up for you in school. I was weak, but you… you were always so strong. You're my light, Alex. My savior. But… I'm sorry we couldn't make it."

"Don't do this, Ethan!" Alex cried, his voice breaking. "I'm not losing you! Not here, not now!"

From behind, Bella's voice rang out, sharp and commanding. "Come on, Alex! Don't let him die!"

Alex turned, stunned, as Bella—who had always been cold and dismissive toward him—raced forward. Nathan was right behind her. Without hesitation, they grabbed Alex and helped him pull Ethan up.

With a final, desperate effort, Ethan's body was hauled back onto the glass. He collapsed into Alex's arms, sobbing uncontrollably.

"You're not dying on me remember what I promised you're going back to your parents Ethan," Alex whispered fiercely, holding him close.

But the victory was short-lived. A massive shard of glass fell from above, crashing into the platform. The impact sent Nathan sprawling. The ground beneath him gave way, and he slid toward the edge.

"Nathan!" Bella screamed, reaching for him, but it was too late.

Nathan's eyes widened in terror as the glass beneath him crumbled completely. He fell, his scream echoing through the chamber as the flames consumed him. The group watched in horror, frozen as his cries faded into silence.

The glass beneath their feet began to collapse entirely, forcing them into a desperate sprint. Bella grabbed Alex and Ethan, dragging them forward with every ounce of strength she had left. Jessica, clutching the book, ran ahead, leading the way.

The final stretch was a chaotic blur. The glass disintegrated behind them, the fire roaring hungrily. They dove through the exit just as the last remnants of the floor gave way, collapsing into the inferno below.

They landed in a heap on solid ground, gasping for breath. The door behind them slammed shut, cutting off the heat and noise. For a moment, they lay there in stunned silence, the weight of their loss pressing heavily on them.

Nathan was gone.

Jessica clutched the book to her chest, tears streaming down her face. Bella stared at the closed door, her expression blank with shock. Ethan clung to Alex, sobbing quietly, while Alex held him, his own face etched with grief. Oliver on the other hand stood far way crying still the question would he make made shudder.

"We survived," Jessica whispered, silently almost sadily, the memory of how they did hunted her...