Chapter Three: Beyond the Edge

 She says it so easily, like it's second nature to her. She's completely in control of the situation, her mind working ten steps ahead.

"I don't know how you can be so calm about all of this," I admit, shaking my head. "I'm just waiting for something to go wrong."

Sienna shoots me a small, knowing glance. "That's the key, Ryker. You're too busy thinking about everything that could go wrong. I'm thinking about how to make sure it doesn't."

Her words hit me harder than I expected, and for a moment, I just stand there, absorbing them. Maybe I've been too focused on the risks, on the danger. But Sienna... she's already looking past all that. She's analyzing the problem from every angle, already planning how we'll make it through.

Raegan's not far ahead now, and I can see the strain in his movements. But he's still making it. I realize something—Sienna is right. We're not just trying to survive the obstacle. We're trying to figure out the smartest way to navigate it, to make it as easy as possible for all of us.

"I'm ready when you are," I say, glancing over at Sienna. My voice is steady, despite the nerves still crawling up my spine.

She nods, eyes fixed on Raegan. "Just follow his lead. Move quickly, but don't overthink it."

"Right," I answer, taking a deep breath. "No overthinking."

Raegan clears the final gap, landing on the solid ground beyond the gears. He looks back at us, sweat beading on his forehead, but there's a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth.

"Piece of cake," he says, breathless but triumphant.

Sienna nods, her gaze sharp. "Good. Now, Ryker, your turn. You've got this."

I stare at the gears, my muscles tensing. It's my turn now, and there's no room for hesitation. I take a step forward, each movement deliberate as I watch the spinning blades with renewed focus. I take another steadying breath, pushing past the lingering nerves. I focus on the gears ahead, watching as they spin in a pattern that's almost hypnotic, the sound of grinding metal echoing through the air. The rhythm is starting to make sense, and I begin to time my steps in sync with the movement.

 The first gear approaches. It's massive, its teeth gleaming dangerously as it spins toward me. I watch it, waiting for the exact right moment. Then—without thinking too much, just trusting my instincts—I duck under it, my body sliding through with only a breath's space to spare. The metallic whine of the gear rings in my ears as I pull myself to the side, narrowly avoiding the next set of teeth.

I dart to the left as the next gear rotates past, keeping my eyes trained on the gaps as I move. The rhythm is starting to become second nature—each movement is sharper, faster. I slide under the next set of gears, my body moving instinctively now.

But as I approach the final stretch, I see something I didn't anticipate: a larger gap between two gears, just wide enough to make me pause. If I misstep, I'll be caught between them. My heart skips a beat, the fear creeping back into my mind.

"Wait," I hear Sienna's voice again, and it's almost like she can sense my hesitation. "The next gap is wider, but you've got to leap to clear it. Just focus on the timing."

I nod, though she can't see me, my heart thumping in my chest. I brace myself, watching the gears above me rotate into position. I can't wait for the perfect moment. I have to make it.

Taking a deep breath, I spring forward, pushing off the ground with every ounce of strength I have. My feet going over the gap, and for a second, I feel like I'm hanging in the air.

I don't look down. I don't look at the gears. I just focus on the end goal.

And then—thud—I land, my feet slamming onto solid ground with just enough force to make me stumble. I catch myself, my hands bracing against the floor as I regain my balance.

The sound of the gears continues to grind in the background, but I'm safe. I made it.

Raegan's voice breaks through the momentary silence. "Nice landing," he says, a grin in his voice.

Sienna gives a short, approving nod. "Good job. Now, we just have to get through the next part."

I let out a long, shaky breath. "Great. More fun," I say, my voice laced with sarcasm, though the adrenaline is still buzzing through my veins.

Raegan chuckles, but there's a slight edge to it. "You guys realize this obstacle course is starting to feel like a death trap, right?"

"your just now feeling that?" I huff.

But now it's Sienna's turn.

I watch as she takes her first step forward, eyes locked on the spinning gears. I notice the way her body stays still, her focus sharp and calm. Unlike me, there's no hesitation in her. She watches the gears with precision, tracking their movement.

She steps under the first gear, sliding through with the kind of smoothness that only comes from careful observation and flawless timing. Her movements are fluid—unhurried, calculated. She slides under one gear and hops over another, staying just a step ahead of the rotating teeth, narrowly avoiding the sharp edges as they grind and spin.

She doesn't falter once. She moves like she's done this a thousand times.

Raegan's voice is full of awe. "How does she make that look so easy?"

I can't help but watch in admiration. There's something almost effortless about Sienna's movements, as if she's reading the entire obstacle like a book, understanding each gear's rhythm before it even moves. She clears the final gap with a leap, landing safely on the other side.

Sienna takes a deep breath, then shoots us both a small grin. "Done."

We continue forward, the tension still buzzing in the air, our adrenaline making every step feel heavy. The sound of the grinding gears fades behind us, and the air grows still. 

I glance over at Sienna and Raegan, both of them looking just as cautious as I feel. But there's no more grinding. No more shifting walls or spinning blades. Just the soft hum of the environment and our quick, shallow breaths.

Raegan raises an eyebrow. "Is this some kind of trick? I swear I'm waiting for a hidden pit or something to open up beneath us."

Sienna slows her pace, scanning the area with a careful eye. "I don't trust it. It's too quiet. The next challenge could be waiting for us around the corner."

But the corner is just that—a corner. There's nothing beyond it but open space. No pits. No traps. No sudden spikes or surprises.

"Is this a joke?" I mutter, half expecting the floor to fall out from under us any second.

Raegan steps cautiously toward the open space ahead. "If it is, it's a sick one," he jokes, though there's a trace of unease in his voice.

We all stop at the edge of the open area, looking around for any sign of the next obstacle. The walls are smooth, nothing but stone and metal, and the path is clear. No hidden switches. No lethal traps lurking in the shadows. Just a wide stretch of open space that seems almost too peaceful compared to the chaos we've just endured.

Sienna's sharp gaze flicks from one side of the room to the other. "I don't trust this," she mutters. "This whole thing feels too easy. We've survived so much already, why would it suddenly stop?"

I'm about to speak when I hear something—a faint hum, like machinery activating in the distance. My heart jumps, and my muscles tighten, ready for whatever comes next.

But instead of something new springing to life, the walls around us begin to shimmer, like a hidden layer of energy or light folding away. And then, slowly, the exit reveals itself.

The doors open. Wide. Silent. Almost welcoming.

Raegan's jaw drops. "That's it? That's the end? Just like that?"

Sienna blinks, her face unreadable for a long moment. "I… I think it is."

I step cautiously forward, scanning every inch of the space. It looks too simple. Too clean. We've been through the fire, facing endless traps, and now it's just... over?

But there's no more to it. No final wall to climb, no last deadly leap. Just the exit, right in front of us.

For a long moment, we all just stand there, unsure how to react. No cheers, no relief. Just confusion.

"Maybe it's a test to see if we give up," I finally say, my voice quieter than usual. "Like we're supposed to wait and second-guess everything. It's too easy now. Too... perfect."

Raegan glances at me, then at Sienna. "Or maybe we finally made it. I mean, we've survived everything else. We got through the hard part. Maybe... this is the reward."

Sienna narrows her eyes, her hands on her hips. "I don't buy it. Something's off. We've fought through every single challenge, and now it just stops? That doesn't make sense."

I take a step toward the exit, my muscles still coiled tight, ready for something to jump out and take us by surprise. "Whatever it is, we're not turning back now."

Without another word, I walk forward, my gaze locked on the door. Sienna and Raegan follow closely behind, neither of them saying anything but both of them looking around like they expect an ambush at any moment.

But there's nothing. We reach the door, step through, and as soon as we do, we hear a faint click.

I glance back. The doors shut behind us, the sound of them sealing off the passageway. The space we've just entered is completely different—open, bright, and peaceful compared to the chaos of what we just left behind.

"Is this... it?" Raegan asks, his voice tentative.

Sienna nods slowly, but her expression is still a mix of uncertainty and suspicion. "Yeah. I guess we're done."

I look around at the new space. It's quiet. Almost too quiet. But then I let myself breathe, and I feel it—the strange sense of completion. We made it through. The course. The traps. The obstacles.

And just like that, it's over?

As we step fully into the room, the air still thick with tension from the obstacles we just survived, I'm immediately hit with the strange sight of Callum—leaning casually against the wall, back propped up as if he's been here for hours. He's staring at us with that cocky grin of his, his hands behind his head like he's been on a leisurely break this whole time.

"Callum?" sienna's voice sharpens as she steps forward. "What the hell are you doing here?"

Callum's eyes flick over to us, still unfazed, like we're the ones who just ran through hell. "Nice of you to finally make it," he says with a lazy smirk. "Took you long enough."

Sienna tilts her head, studying him closely. "What do you mean? How did you get here?"

"Easy," Callum says, standing up and stretching his arms. "I did the whole thing too. You just weren't as fast as me."

"What?!" Raegan exclaims, clearly shocked. "You've been through all of that? The gears, the climbing, the running? And you're—you're just sitting there?". Callum chuckles and takes a few steps toward us. "Yeah, well, when your tier 3 you train for this stuff. i thought sienna wouldve told you since your getting buddy buddy now," callum said coldly.

I glance at Raegan and Sienna. None of us are quite sure how to respond. After everything we just went through, the idea that Callum's been through it all without breaking a sweat is almost absurd.

Raegan trying to break the now forming tension yawned loudly, letting out a small laugh. "Yeah, I think I'm gonna need a minute. I don't know about you guys, but I'm exhausted."

Callum's eyes flick over to Raegan, the same lazy smirk still tugging at the corner of his lips. He seems unfazed by the tension, as if he's always been the one in control of every situation.

"Don't get too comfortable," Callum warns, his tone suddenly turning colder. "You've barely made it through the easy part."

Raegan, clearly irritated by the underlying jab, clenches his fists for a moment before rolling his shoulders and letting out a long, exaggerated yawn. "Yeah, well, I think I'm gonna need a minute.He glances at us, trying to break the tense atmosphere once more

Callum raises an eyebrow, but it doesn't seem like he's moved by Raegan's attempt at humor. "Exhausted? That's cute." He stretches his arms above his head, like he's just finished a light jog. "Trust me, you'll need more than a minute before this is over."

raegan narrows his eyes at him, his tone sharp. "What do you mean, 'before this is over'? You said we made it. We've finished the physical trials, right?"

. "And we all survived, so I think we're allowed to catch our breath for once."

Callum's smile falters for a brief second, then his eyes harden, and he gives a small shrug. "You think this is just about physical trials?" His voice grows more serious now, his eyes scanning each of us like he's sizing us up. "That was the easy part. The real challenge? the mental games," 

"mental games?" I said finally speaking up.

"yes mental I suppose they don't tell you tier five people, let alone help train you for these trials," Callum laughed, you'll figure out soon enough.

The room suddenly feels smaller. The weight of his words settles on us like a heavy fog, and I realize that the course isn't done. Not by a long shot.

Raegan lets out another long sigh, his shoulders drooping with exhaustion. "Great. So we're not done, and you're not telling us what's next." He shakes his head. "I guess we're just supposed to figure it out ourselves, huh?" Callum's smirk doesn't fade, but his eyes darken just slightly. "I'm not here to be your friend. I'm here to win. And you'll all learn that soon enough." He shrugs again, like this is all just a game to him, a twisted little puzzle we're meant to solve for his amusement.

Before anyone can say anything else, the doors to the room creak open, and several more competitors shuffle inside. As soon as they step in, it's clear things have changed. Their bodies are battered and bruised—some limping, others barely able to stand. One of them stumbles, collapsing to the ground as his leg buckles under him, a gash on his arm oozing blood.

"Jesus..." Raegan mutters, his gaze shifting to the newcomers with a mixture of concern and dread.

Another competitor, wide-eyed and pale, stumbles forward, clutching their stomach as if something inside them is twisting. "It's… it's worse than I thought," they rasp, before falling to their knees. "The obstacles—they're real. You don't just get through them physically… you feel them. In your mind."

 another competitor spoke up shaking, "They make you... they make you see things," the man says through clenched teeth, his voice shaking. "The traps aren't just obstacles. They're... mindscrews. You think you're climbing, and then you're falling. You think you're safe, and the floor opens up beneath you. You can't trust anything. You can't trust yourself." His voice trails off, almost as if he's lost his grip on reality.

I glance at Raegan, my stomach tightening as the reality of this place sinks in. It wasn't just about surviving the physical trials. It was about breaking us, testing not just our strength but our resolve, our sanity.

this is the Trials 

they break you down

 little 

 by little 

 by little.