Chapter Three: Trial One(Physical)

Ahead, the next challenge looms—a set of metal poles jutting out of the ground like spikes. They're spaced too far apart for anyone to jump from one to the next, but there's a narrow plank bridge swaying between the poles. It looks treacherous, each step on the bridge's thin surface likely to send anyone who's not careful plunging into the abyss below.

Raegan's already sizing it up, his eyes narrowed as he watches someone ahead of him hesitate at the edge of the next pole. The recruit takes a deep breath, eyes wide with uncertainty. And then, just like that, they take a step forward, misjudging the weight of the plank. It wobbles violently under them, and before anyone can react, the recruit falls.

Another scream.

It's becoming too familiar.

"Raegan," I say, more sharply this time. "We move together. Don't hesitate."

He nods, swallowing hard. The fear's still there, but I can see him steeling himself.

We move forward, reaching the edge of the platform where the poles begin. I glance back one last time, seeing more recruits falling off in the distance, their bodies fading into the black. Some try to steady themselves, but others are panicking, pushing one another in their scramble to get across.

Raegan steps behind me, his foot landing on the narrow plank. He steadies himself, balancing, but he's not as quick as before. I grab his arm to steady him when I see his foot begin to slip, and he gives me a brief, grateful nod before continuing.

One by one, we make our way across the precarious bridge. The sounds of shuffling feet, desperate gasps, and faint screams echo through the air, but I don't let myself look back. I can't afford to.

The last step is the hardest. The bridge sways dangerously, but with a deep breath, I push forward, leaping onto the final metal pole. I land with a grunt, feeling the shock of impact run through my legs, but I manage to stay upright.

Raegan follows, a little slower but just as focused, and we both land on solid ground once more.

The platform jerks beneath us again, pulling inward, forcing people to move.

Ahead of us, I see Sienna, still ahead by a few paces. Her movements are precise, every step calculated. But I can see the strain on her face too, the exhaustion catching up with her. 

We catch up just as she approaches the next challenge,

a massive rock-climbing wall looms, but this isn't your average climb. The handholds and footholds don't stay put. They appear and disappear in a cruel, unpredictable dance, forcing everyone to think on their feet—literally.

I glance up at it, my heart racing. The wall stretches high, taller than anything I've faced before. The holds don't stay static; they seem to materialize for just a few seconds before vanishing into the smooth surface of the rock.

Sienna's already moving, stepping forward with a speed that makes me blink. She launches herself onto the wall, her body fluid as she catches one of the appearing holds just as it flickers into existence. Her fingers grip it tight, and with a swift pull, she's already moving to the next one. She's not backing down.

I turn to Raegan, who's standing beside me, his face a mixture of dread and determination. I can tell he's analyzing the situation, calculating his next move.

"Ready?" I ask, already knowing he's not. He nods, but I can see the hesitation in his eyes. This is unlike anything we've faced before. But we can't back down either.

Sienna's already up several feet, her movements quick and calculated. She's a natural at this, or at least that's how it looks. Her hands find another hold just as it flickers into place, and she pulls herself higher.

I glance up at the wall again. The handholds are moving too fast, shifting in and out like they're teasing us, daring us to miss the next one.

I take a deep breath and step forward, my feet finding purchase as I leap for the first hold. My fingers graze it just as it begins to fade, but I grip it tightly, pulling myself up. My arms strain as I reach for the next one, barely making it in time as the hold flickers back into place.

Raegan's right behind me, his breath shaky, but his grip firm. He reaches for the same hold I just left, catching it just as it appears, and pulls himself up after me.

The wall seems endless. Every time I think I'm nearing the top, another stretch of wall looms ahead, more disappearing holds forcing me to leap, catch, and shift my weight in impossible ways. It's like trying to climb up a waterfall—one wrong move and you're back at the bottom.

Sienna's movements are graceful, a testament to her natural agility. She's already several feet up, her body flowing from one hold to the next with practiced ease. I can see the rhythm she's found, her body in sync with the unpredictable nature of the wall. It's impressive—until the moment it isn't.

As I reach for another hold, I hear a sharp gasp. I glance over just in time to see Sienna's foot slip, her grip loosening on the disappearing handhold she was counting on. Her body jerks downward, the void beneath her threatening to swallow her whole.

Without thinking, I lunge forward.

My hand catches her wrist just as she begins to fall, my fingers locking around her arm with a desperate, reflexive grip. She's dangling there, her body swaying dangerously as her legs flail for a solid foothold.

"I've got you!" I grunt through clenched teeth, my muscles straining under the weight of her.

Sienna's breath hitches in surprise, but she doesn't panic. Her eyes lock onto mine, wide and steady. "I didn't think you'd reach me," she mutters, her voice a mix of relief and surprise.

"Don't thank me yet," I growl, trying to pull her back up. The hold she was on had vanished, leaving nothing but empty air in its place. My arms burn, every inch of my body begging me to stop.

Sienna tries to shift her weight, her legs searching for a foothold that isn't there, but she's stuck. The rock wall, or whatever this platform is, wavers beneath us, the abyss just below.

"Hold on," I order her, my voice sharp. I lock my gaze onto the shifting holds above us. "I'll pull you up."

She nods, biting her lip in concentration. "Okay, just—"

Before she can finish her sentence, the next handhold appears, just a few feet above us. With my grip tight on her wrist, I make the decision. I leap for the hold, using the momentum to swing us both upward, my other hand grabbing it with desperation.

Sienna's weight momentarily pulls me off balance, but I manage to brace myself, shifting my stance to get both feet under me. Together, we scramble upward, and just as her feet find solid purchase, I push her up one last time until we're both on stable ground.

Sienna exhales, the tension releasing from her body as she catches her breath. "Thanks," she says, giving me a brief but grateful look.

"Don't make me do that again," I mutter, catching my breath. The adrenaline rush is still surging through me, and I feel every muscle ache. But there's no time to savor the victory. The wall is still there, the next obstacle still looming.

Raegan's just a few feet behind, his hand reaching for the same disappearing hold I just left. He watches the space between us—me and Sienna—and shakes his head, eyes wide with unease.

"Stop trying to kill my brother, will you?" Raegan says, his voice strained but with a nervous laugh that doesn't quite reach his eyes.

Sienna, still catching her breath, shoots him a look. "I promise it wasn't on purpose, If it weren't for him, I'd be falling into the void right now."

Raegan glances between me and Sienna, his expression unreadable for a moment. "Guess you owe him one then," he mutters, his tone a mix of frustration and relief.

"We can't waste any more time," I say, my voice low but firm. "Let's just keep moving, and maybe we can get out of this without any more close calls."

Sienna nods, wiping her hand across her forehead before shifting her focus to the next climb. "Agreed," she says. "We're not done yet."

I pull myself up onto the next handhold, feeling the weight of the climb press on my arms and shoulders. There's no turning back now. We keep climbing, the pressure building with every second. The wall doesn't care about our exhaustion or our fear. It just keeps shifting, taunting us.