Chapter 6: The Mind Trap

With each step towards the heart of the system, the atmosphere around them became more oppressive." A world that had previously seemed like a strange yet manageable reality was now beginning to completely lose touch with logic. Streams of code slid across the walls like living things, forming strange patterns, reminding them that here, in this place, their minds were as vulnerable as their bodies.

"Time seems to have slowed down,"Lisa whispered, her voice shaking with fear. — It's like someone's watching us."

"We're being watched," Anya said calmly, gripping the hilt of her sword. — But it's not just the Director anymore." This world is also against us."

"But if we're close to the goal, then the game is trying to stop us," Max added, continuing forward, his eyes still focused. "That's a good sign."

Anya knew he was right. The closer they got to the core of the system, the more the world resisted them. A sense of menace loomed over them like an ominous shadow, ready to engulf them at any moment. 

What do you see, Dima? "What is it?" she asked as they paused for a moment in front of a strange, twisted space that seemed to lead to the core of the planet.

Dima stared at the interface for a few seconds, his face pale.

— This... this isn't just a trap." Something is happening here at the level of our consciousness. The game changes us — " his voice trembled as he continued. "The system actively interferes with our minds." The closer we get to the core, the more it tries to break us."

— You mean she can control our thoughts?" Lisa asked, her face even paler.

"It doesn't control us directly, but it affects our perception, our emotions, fears, and desires," Dima said, slowly turning his gaze to each of them. — It's like we're being subjected to psychological tests." Everything we see may be a distortion of the image. We can no longer trust what is in front of us.

Max frowned, but didn't stop.

"It doesn't matter." We came here for one thing-to find a way out." Even if everything around us is a lie, I will still break through it."

Anya nodded her head in silence. They knew that the risk was great, but it was already impossible to retreat." She took a deep breath and looked ahead at the wavering light coming from the depths of the warped space.

"We'll have to split up," she said softly. — In this maze, each of us will face our own demons." This is a test of endurance.

what? No! Lisa shook her head in horror. — We can't split up." We don't ... we don't know what's coming!"

"Anya's right," Max said. — If the system is designed to break each of us individually, we'll have to go through it alone." 

"We'll meet again at the core," Anya said, her voice firm, though her stomach clenched with fear. "This is our only chance."

"If this is the end, then —" Lisa began, her eyes trembling with panic, but she trailed off before she finished.

"It's not over," Max interrupted. — We will not let this game defeat us."

They nodded to each other in silence. At that moment, the tension reached its limit, but everyone knew that there was no other way." Anya was the first to step into the warped space, feeling a strange, almost palpable pressure envelop her body immediately.

---

**Anya: Labyrinth of Fear**

When Anya opened her eyes, she found herself on a street-an ordinary street of her hometown. The world around her seemed so real that for a second she thought she was back in reality. The sounds of cars, the smell of fresh bread from the bakery on the corner, passers-by going about their business… But something was wrong. She knew it was all an illusion.

"This can't be real," she whispered to herself.

Suddenly, her mother, the one she had lost a few years ago, came around the corner. Anya froze in place, her heart sank.

Anechka! My mother exclaimed happily, and hurried over to her with her arms outstretched.

 Anya backed away, realizing that this was just another trick of the game.

"You're still in a dream, daughter," the mother smiled, her eyes sparkling with kindness. "You're just confused." Come back to me. Stop fighting.

Anya clenched her fists, her mind racing between pain and common sense. It's not her mother." Her mother died.

— You can't be real, " she said firmly, taking a step back.

"It doesn't matter, my dear. You miss me, don't you? Her mother's voice was so sincere, so soft, that for a moment Anya almost succumbed.

But she took another step back.

 Her voice was shaky, but she couldn't afford to break down. "But I don't believe you." This is not reality.

The mother stopped, her kind eyes suddenly cold, and her face twisted into a terrible, vicious grimace.

— You'll never escape, " she hissed, and her form began to melt, turning into something dark, distorting space.

Anya squeezed her eyes shut, gripping her sword tightly. When she opened them again, the street was empty. She stood at the edge of the maze, realizing that she had passed the first test. But there were other, far more frightening things ahead of her.

---

* \ *Max: Test of Will**

Max stepped into the darkness, preparing to face something ominous. He was confident in himself and his choice, but when the space around him began to warp, even his iron nerves gave way."

An image of his old friend — the man he had lost during the military operation-appeared in front of him. Max froze, seeing the familiar face and the cold, reproachful look in his eyes.

"You left me," his friend said, and the voice struck at Max's very soul. — You knew you could have saved me." But you chose to leave.

Max gritted his teeth, fighting the memory. It was all a trick of his mind, but it still brought his guilt back to the surface. He had to relive the moment when he left his friend on the battlefield.

"You're not real," he whispered, trying to convince himself. "It's just an illusion."

— Then why are you still hurting?" His friend asked coldly as he continued to approach.

Max gasped at his own pain, but gripped the sword tightly in his hand. He couldn't afford to break down. Not now.

"Because I live with it every day," he said through gritted teeth. "But I won't let the past hold me back any longer."

His sword flashed with a bright light, and the image of his friend disappeared, leaving behind only a dark silhouette that immediately disappeared into thin air.

Max remained standing, panting, but not broken.

"I can handle this," he whispered to himself as he headed forward, toward the core of the system.

---

Now each of them faced their own fears. The mind games continued, but their will was stronger.