The Last Trial

As the third trial ended, the survivors exited the room, their steps heavy with exhaustion and relief. The air outside the trial chambers was thick with tension, mingling with the faint hum of overhead lights. The remaining participants, nine out of the original twelve, gathered at the center of Trial Room Number Three.

The room was vast, with a cold metallic sheen reflecting the harsh fluorescent lights above. A large screen at the front flickered to life, its glow casting eerie shadows across the walls. One by one, the names of those who had made it through illuminated in white, while the names of the eliminated participants stood out in bold red, crossed out as if erasing their existence.

Room 1

Danish - Eliminated

Room 2

Rayyan - Eliminated

Room 3

Jay - Eliminated

Their absence lingered in the air like a heavy weight, pressing down on the nine survivors who remained. Some shifted uncomfortably, their gazes fixed on the screen. Others stared at the ground, their minds racing with thoughts of how close they had come to sharing the same fate.

This time a robotic voice crackled through the overhead speakers, its monotone delivery cutting through the tense silence.

"Congratulations, survivors. Nine remain. Now, take your rest before the next phase."

The survivors exchanged glances with each other. Hakim tried to find Rizman and Sarah. As soon as they meet each other. Hakim saw at the two of them seems like in mental break down. He was curious at the time. Even though they survive, they become like this. What does this trial impact to them actually.

"Are you two okay?" Hakim asked, his voice calm but tinged with concern as he looked at Rizman and Sarah.

Rizman let out a tired sigh, rubbing the back of his neck. "Ah, Hakim! Glad to see you survived too. Honestly, I don't know. I'm exhausted after this trial. I need some time to clear my head and make better decisions for what's ahead." He offered a weary smile before turning to leave. "I'll get to my room first. See you later."

"Bye," Hakim replied softly, watching as Rizman disappeared down the hallway.

Sarah hesitated for a moment, her expression strained. "I'm sorry, Hakim. I'm not feeling well. This trial... it really hit me hard. I need to rest." She gave him a weak nod and walked away, leaving Hakim standing alone in the quiet space.

For a moment, he lingered there, unsure of what to do next. The weight of the trial still clung to him, and the silence was heavy, amplifying his unease. Just as he began to contemplate heading to his own room, a voice broke through his thoughts.

"Hakim, let's go eat at the cafeteria together," Mira said, appearing seemingly out of nowhere. Her sudden invitation caught him off guard.

"Mira? Why so sudden?" Hakim asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Eh..." Mira fidgeted slightly, avoiding his gaze. "Do you want to come or not?" she countered, her tone defensive as though trying to deflect his question.

Hakim studied her for a moment, sensing there was more to her invitation than she was letting on. Still, her earnestness made it hard to refuse. 'As she asked me nicely, it's probably better to just go along with her,' Hakim thought to himself.

"Alright," he said, nodding. "Let's go."

Mira gave a small smile, and together they walked toward the cafeteria.

As they entered the cafeteria, the air felt heavier than before, as if the remnant of the third trial still lingered, clinging to their thoughts.

Hakim noticed at cafeteria, there are only a few participants sat at scattered tables, their faces worn with exhaustion and quiet contemplation. The usual tension still hung in the air, but there was an unspoken understanding between the survivors. Tonight was for rest, not conflict.

Mira led Hakim to a table in a corner, far from others. She sat down first, gesturing for him to do the same. Hakim followed, watching as she tapped her fingers lightly against the table, her eyes darting to him and then away.

"You seem... uneasy." Hakim noted, studying her expression.

Mira let out a small sigh before giving a slight nod. "Can you blame me?" she said, her voice sound softer than usual. "The trial was intense, we lost three people. And even though we survived, it's hard to shake off the feeling that next time, it could be one of us."

Hakim remained silent for a moment, considering her words. 'She wasn't wrong. The trials were getting more dangerous, and trust was becoming an even rarer commodity.'

"You asked me to come here," Hakim finally said. "Is it just to talk about the trial? Or is there something else on your mind?"

Mira hesitated, then leaned in slightly, lowering her voice. "I know that we are not from the same team before, but I need to know whether I can trust you, Hakim."

Hakim's expression remained neutral, but inside, he felt a slight shift in tension. 'So that's what this is about...'

"And why are asking that now?" He responded carefully.

"Because," Mira said, her eyes locking onto Hakim, "I think someone is planning something for the next trial. And if I'm right, then we're all in danger."

Hakim thought about that for a moment, then said, "How do you know that someone is planning something for the next trial? If what you're saying is true, then he is the mastermind of this trial.""Right. I knew you would be curious. But whether you want to believe me or not, I advise you to forget everything behind you and look forward at me," Mira said, and I could feel something lingering in my heart."Give me some time to consider your advice. I need to rest," Hakim said, then stood up, walked out of the cafeteria, and entered his room.

As Hakim sat on his bed, Mira's words echoed in his mind. Forget everything behind you an look forward at me... 'What did she mean by that? Was she warning me about something bigger than just the next trial?'

Shaking his head, he pushed the thought aside. His body was exhausted, his mind heavy with everything that had happened. Right now, he needed rest. 

He lying down on the bed and think. 'Mira suspects someone is planning something... but who?' At that night, Hakim thought every possibility about who would be the mastermind.

The mastermind of the trials had remained elusive, their presence felt but never seen. Could one of the remaining nine survivors be involved? And if so, why would Mira bring this up to him specifically?Something wasn't adding up.Letting out a slow breath, Hakim finally lay back on the bed, his eyes growing heavy. The fatigue from the trials pulled him into sleep, but not before one last thought crossed his mind.The next morning, all nine remaining participants made their way to Trial Room Number Four. The air was thick with tension, a mix of determination and uncertainty weighing on them. As they walked, Rizman spotted Hakim and approached him with a grin."Hey, Hakim! You ready for the next trial?" Rizman asked, his tone light, but his eyes searching for any sign of hesitation.Hakim exhaled. "That depends on what kind of trial we're walking into this time."Before Rizman could respond, a familiar voice called out from behind them."Ah, you two! I'm glad I found you," Sarah said, catching up with them. "We need to be on our game for this trial. No matter what happens, we have to win.""Right. Let's give it everything we've got," Rizman agreed. Then, as he glanced at Hakim, he hesitated. Something about him seemed... off. "Hakim, you sure you're okay?"Hakim forced a small smile. "Yeah, I'm fine. Don't worry about it.""You know we trust you, right?" Rizman said, his voice quieter now. "So trust us too. What's on your mind?"Hakim hesitated before finally speaking. "It's about yesterday… Mira told me something strange. She thinks there's a mastermind among the nine of us."Sarah's expression darkened. "Wait—you're serious? Do you believe her?""I don't know," Hakim admitted. "But if she's right, then this whole thing—this entire game—might be even more dangerous than we thought."Sarah crossed her arms. "Listen, Hakim, I get it. But if you overthink everything, you'll drive yourself crazy. For now, let's just focus on the trial ahead. If something feels off, we'll deal with it together. Alright?"Hakim looked between them, then let out a small chuckle. "Thanks, you two. I needed that."With renewed focus, the three of them stepped into Trial Room Number Four. As soon as all nine participants were inside, the heavy doors slammed shut with a metallic thud, locking them in. A moment later, the eerie, synthetic voice of the mastermind echoed through the chamber."Welcome, remaining participants. This will be your fourth and final trial. Today, we determine the ultimate survivor—the winner of Genius's Gambit."A hush fell over the room as the participants exchanged uneasy glances."The rules of this trial are simple: a game of hide and seek. The hiders must remain concealed until the time runs out. The seekers must find and capture all hiders. However, to raise the stakes, this is no ordinary game. Each of you will be given an emblem—your life in this game. If a seeker takes your emblem, you will be eliminated."A mechanical hum filled the air as a table rose from the floor, displaying nine identical emblems, each marked with an unfamiliar symbol."The seeker can recruit others they capture, but only the original seeker will be declared the winner. Hiders may have additional objectives to improve their chances of survival. Choose wisely. The details of the trial will be displayed on the screen in front of you. Your final stage awaits behind that door."Then, the voice stopped.A heavy silence fell over the room, broken only by the faint hum of the overhead lights. The participants stared at the emblems before them, the metallic surfaces gleaming under the cold fluorescent glow. Each one bore the initials "GG", a twisted reminder of the game they were trapped in. Though identical in design, the emblems varied in color—subtle differences, but significant nonetheless.These weren't just objects. They were their survival. Lose it, and they were out.A small click echoed through the chamber as automated compartments slid open from the walls, revealing sleek digital watches. Without hesitation, each participant reached for one, fastening them onto their wrists. The screens flickered to life, displaying a countdown timer.00:30:00Thirty minutes until the trial began.Then, with a soft beep, the large screen at the front of the room came to life, revealing the detailed rules of the trial. The participants turned their attention to it, scanning the text carefully as the true nature of the game was laid bare.*Trial 4: Hide and Seek – Survival Edition1. Each participant has an emblem that represents their life in the game.2. The game begins with one seeker. The rest are hiders.3. The seeker's goal is to find and steal the emblems of the hiders.4. If a hider loses their emblem, they are eliminated.5. The seeker can convert captured hiders into seekers, but only the original seeker will be crowned the winner.6. Hiders have the option to complete sub-objectives to increase their chances of survival.7. The time limit for the trial is twenty-four hours.8. The game ends when either all hiders are eliminated or time runs out.9. If the seeker's emblem is stolen by a hider (who still possesses their own emblem), the roles are reversed.The last rule was the most chilling:A ripple of unease spread through the group.This wasn't just a game of hiding—it was a psychological war. A battle of trust, deception, and outmaneuvering one another.Hakim clenched his jaw. So this is it. The final trial.Rizman exhaled, arms crossed. "This isn't a normal hide-and-seek. This is a hunt."Sarah shook her head, tension in her voice. "Do we play defensively, or take the risk and fight back?"Mira, who had been silent until now, smirked slightly. "The real question is… who's starting as the seeker?"As if on cue, a soft chime rang out from the screen. The text shifted.A single line appeared in bold red letters:SEEKER: ???A loading animation spun beneath it. The system was selecting at random.The room grew deathly quiet as they watched, the letters scrambling like a twisted lottery. Name after name flashed before them, their fates hanging in the balance.Then, it stopped.SEEKER: [Redacted]The screen glitched for a second, before returning to normal. But something was wrong. There was no name. No announcement.A chill settled over the room.No one spoke. No one moved.The system had chosen.

But this time… it wasn't telling them who.

A tense silence gripped the room as they exchanged wary glances. No announcement. No confirmation. Just an unsettling emptiness where a name should have been.

Then, with a loud metallic clunk, the heavy doors in front of them unlocked and began to slide open.

Beyond the threshold lay a vast, dimly lit complex. The air was thick with tension, as if the very walls knew the game had begun. A labyrinth of corridors stretched ahead, some leading to open spaces, others disappearing into shadow. No clear exits. No signs of safety.

A robotic voice crackled overhead.

"The trial has begun. Survive."

With that, the finality of the game set in.

No one knew who the seeker was.

But one thing was certain—someone among them was already hunting.