Chapter Three: The First Morning

 A loud, blaring siren rips me from sleep. My eyes snap open, heart hammering as my brain scrambles to process where I am. For a split second, I think I'm back in Tier 5, waking up to the distant hum of machinery and the shouts of workers. But the stiff mattress, the metal bunks, and the cold, sterile air remind me otherwise.

Echelon Trials. Barracks. Raegan.

I shift, feeling the weight of my brother above me as he stirs on the top bunk. The others in the room groan and mutter, but no one hesitates to move. I push myself up just as the overhead lights flicker on, bathing the room in a harsh, sterile glow.

"Rise and shine!" A voice crackles through an unseen speaker. "You've got ten minutes to be dressed and outside. Move."

I glance around, catching sight of Callum already pulling his black shirt over his head, his movements efficient, practiced. Sienna, across the room, is tying back her brown hair, her expression unreadable as she tugs on her boots.

Raegan groans dramatically, hanging half off his bunk. "This early? I thought hell would at least let us sleep in."

I toss his uniform up to him. "Move faster, complain less."

He snatches the clothes from the air with a grumble but obeys.

We pull on our uniforms—black compression shirts with our tier numbers marked in bright green on the sleeves. Mine and Raegan's both bear a bold 5, a silent reminder of where we came from. The material is thin but flexible, and despite the way it clings uncomfortably to my skin, it's leagues better than the rags we wore in Tier 5.

When I glance up again, Callum is watching me. "Try not to pass out today, hero," he says with a smirk. "Wouldn't want you missing all the fun."

I don't take the bait. Instead, I run a hand through my hair, exhaling slowly. I have no idea what today holds, but I know one thing for sure—nothing here will be easy, and i damn sure dont wanna deal with that prick.

The moment the ten minutes are up, the heavy steel doors at the end of the barracks slide open with a sharp hiss. No guards enter, no one gives further instructions, but the unspoken expectation is clear.

Go. Now.

We step into the corridor, a flood of bodies moving in unison. The halls are just as cold and metallic as the barracks, the air thick with tension. Everyone is silent, eyes flicking around, already analyzing, already wary.

Ahead of us, another set of doors looms.

And beyond them—our first test. or i thought.

We step into the corridor, a flood of bodies moving in unison. The halls are just as cold and metallic as the barracks, the air thick with tension. Everyone is silent, eyes flicking around, already analyzing, already wary.

This is it. The first test.

I square my shoulders, fists clenching at my sides. I have no idea what they'll throw at us first—combat? A physical trial? Something worse? But whatever it is, I need to be ready. I won't be caught off guard again.

The group moves as one, stepping through another set of doors, but when they slide open—

I freeze.

Instead of a testing arena, instead of a battlefield or some kind of brutal initiation, we're met with the sight of a cafeteria.

Rows of metal tables stretch across the massive hall, overhead lights buzzing faintly. The sharp scent of food lingers in the air—not fresh, not particularly good, but food nonetheless.

For a second, no one moves.

Then, an uncertain murmur ripples through the group. A few people exchange glances, clearly as thrown off as I am.

Raegan elbows me. "Huh. Guess we're fighting on a full stomach."

The clatter of trays and quiet murmurs fill the cafeteria as everyone cautiously picks at their food. The tension hasn't disappeared, but after the initial hesitation, people settle into the routine of eating.

Raegan wastes no time digging in, shoveling the dry bread into his mouth before grimacing. "Tastes like dirt."

I take a bite of my own. It's stale but edible. The porridge is bland but warm, and compared to the scraps we got in Tier 5, it might as well be a feast.

Across from us, Sienna eats with quiet efficiency, while Callum pushes his food around, more focused on scanning the room than actually eating. I don't blame him. There's an unease crawling under my skin, something about how easy this feels.

Too easy.

"They wouldn't give us food if they didn't need us to survive," Sienna mutters, almost like she can sense my hesitation. "We're still valuable to them."

"For now," Callum adds.

That's the part that sticks with me.

Raegan doesn't seem to care about the deeper implications, already halfway through his meal. "Well, if they're offering free food, I'm taking it. Who knows when we'll eat again?"

I don't respond, taking a sip of the water. It's lukewarm but clean, and I can feel it ease the dryness in my throat.

The hum of conversation around us builds, people starting to relax just a little, letting themselves believe this is just a normal meal.

Then—

A sharp clank echoes through the room.

The doors slam shut. The automatic locks engage with a finality that sends a chill down my spine.

The air changes.

It's subtle at first—a faint hiss, barely noticeable beneath the chatter. I wouldn't have caught it if not for the way my vision slightly blurs at the edges, the way my limbs suddenly feel just a little heavier.

Raegan grips the table. "What the hell?"

Across from us, Sienna tenses, her spoon hovering over her bowl. Callum exhales sharply, like he's just put the pieces together.

"It's the food," I realize, my voice tight. "Or the air."

A test. It was always a test.

And "we just failed." i muttered 

The gas thickens, and my head feels lighter by the second. My limbs are sluggish, like I'm wading through water, but Sienna's words snap me into focus.

"No, the test hasn't begun yet."

People around us start slumping over, some fighting against the pull, others too slow to react before their heads hit the metal tables.

Raegan blinks rapidly, his grip on the table tightening. "Take us where?"

Sienna doesn't answer right away. She presses the sleeve of her uniform against her mouth, but it won't do much. Whatever this is, it's already in our systems.

Callum exhales through his nose, watching the room carefully. "Wherever they want." His voice is steady, but I catch the way his fingers flex, the way his body tenses like he's calculating something. 

The gas burns in my lungs now, as I fight to stay upright, but my head is swimming. My heart pounds.

Raegan's voice slurs. "Ryker…"

I reach for him, but the strength is leaving my body too fast. My vision swims, distorting the metal walls, the cold lights above.

Sienna exhales slowly, like she's giving in. "Don't fight it. There's no point."

Her words barely register before my legs buckle. The last thing I see is Raegan's form sagging against the table, his body going limp.

Then, everything fades to black.