Chapter 4: The Gauntlet of Instincts
The Gauntlet of Instincts had begun.
Zack, Jake, and Arya sprinted across the uneven terrain, their breaths coming in ragged gasps. The air was thick with the scent of ozone and something metallic, and the sky above pulsed with unnatural colors, vivid greens and deep purples that shifted like liquid. The ground beneath their feet trembled faintly as if the entire world was alive and watching.
Ahead of them stretched a narrow bridge, its surface slick and glistening under the eerie light. It spanned a bottomless chasm, the depths below swallowed by darkness. The group skidded to a halt, their chests heaving as they stared at the precarious crossing.
Arya collapsed to her knees, her hands trembling as she tried to catch her breath. "I… I can't," she gasped, her voice barely audible over the distant rumble of the shifting landscape.
Zack glanced at the holographic timer floating in the air. The numbers glowed red, counting down with relentless precision:
[23:00…22:59…22:58…]
Beside the timer was a map of the area, its lines flickering faintly. They were still far from the safe zone, and the bridge was their only way forward.
"We don't have time to rest," Zack said, his voice calm but urgent. He knelt beside Arya, his hand resting on her shoulder. "We need to keep moving."
Before she could respond, the ground beneath them shuddered violently. A loud crack echoed through the air, and the path behind them crumbled, falling away into the abyss.
"Run to the bridge!" Jake shouted, grabbing Arya's arm and hauling her to her feet. "Now!"
The group bolted toward the bridge, their footsteps echoing against the metallic surface. But as they reached the edge, a new obstacle appeared: the bridge itself was unstable, its planks shifting and swaying with every step. And the entire structure seemed to groan under its own weight.
"This thing's going to collapse if we all step on it at once," Jake said, his voice tight with frustration. "We'll never make it across."
As they step forward, the step from each bridge crumbles down and falls into the darkness beneath them.
Zack's eyes narrowed as he studied the bridge. He noticed something strange; each time one took a step, the bridge seemed to stabilize momentarily before becoming unstable again. It was as if the structure was designed to test their coordination.
"Wait," Zack said, holding up a hand. "I think I've figured it out."
"Figured what out?" Arya asked, her voice shaky but curious.
"The bridge," Zack replied, his tone steady. "It's not just unstable...it's reacting to us. Every time one of us steps on it, the weight distribution changes. But the bridge might stabilize if we space ourselves one step apart."
Jake raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure about that? Because if you're wrong, we're all going down."
Zack met his gaze, his expression determined. "It's the only way. If we try to cross together, the bridge will collapse. But if we space ourselves out, we can distribute the weight evenly. It's like… like a team balancing on a seesaw."
Arya nodded slowly, her analytical mind catching on. "It makes sense. The bridge is designed to test our instincts, our ability to work together under pressure."
"Alright," Jake said, his voice grudging but firm. "What's the plan?"
Zack took a deep breath, his mind racing. "We'll go one at a time, each of us taking a step when I say so. We need to stay exactly one step apart, no more, no less. If we're too close, the bridge will destabilize. If we're too far, it might not hold."
Arya's eyes widened. "That's… a lot of pressure."
"We don't have a choice," Zack said, calm but urgent. "We're running out of time."
The timer flashed above them, its numbers burning red:
20:00…19:59…19:58… but they are almost halfway to the safe zone.
"Let's do this," Jake said, his voice steady. "You lead, Zack. We'll follow your count."
Zack nodded, his heart pounding as he stepped onto the bridge. The planks creaked under his weight, but they held. He took another step, then turned to face the others.
"Arya, your turn," he said, his voice firm. "One step onto the bridge. Wait for my signal before taking the next one."
Arya hesitated, her fear evident in her wide eyes. But she took a deep breath and stepped onto the bridge, her movements slow and deliberate. The planks shifted slightly but remained stable.
"Good," Zack said, his voice calm but urgent. "Jake, you're next. One step, then stop."
Jake followed, his movements quick and precise. The bridge groaned under the added weight, but it held.
"Now, Arya, take another step," Zack instructed, his eyes fixed on the bridge's surface. "Keep your movements steady."
Arya obeyed, her hands trembling as she took another step. The bridge swayed slightly, but the planks remained intact.
"Jake, your turn," Zack said, his voice steady. "One step, then stop."
Jake moved forward, his eyes scanning the bridge for signs of weakness. The group continued like this, step by step, their movements synchronized and precise.
The timer flashed above them, its numbers burning red:
17:00…16:59…16:58…
As they reached the halfway point, the bridge began to tremble more violently. The planks shifted and groaned, and the group could feel the structure straining under their weight.
"Stay focused," Zack said, his voice calm but urgent. "We're almost there."
But a loud crack echoed as they took their next steps. One of the planks near Arya's foot splintered, sending shards of wood tumbling into the abyss below.
"Arya!" Zack shouted, his voice filled with panic. "Don't move!"
Arya froze, her heart pounding as she stared at the crumbling plank beneath her. "What do I do?" she whispered, her voice trembling.
"Take a deep breath," Zack said, his voice steady despite the fear in his eyes. "When I say so, step forward. Slowly. Don't look down."
Arya nodded, her hands clenched into fists. She took a deep breath and stepped forward at Zack's signal. The plank held, and the group breathed a sigh of relief.
The timer flashed above them, its numbers burning red:
13:00…12:59…12:58…
"Let's finish this," Jake said, his voice grim. "One step at a time."
The group continued their careful progression, their movements slow and deliberate. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, they reached the other side of the bridge.
As they stepped onto solid ground, the timer flashed one last time:
11:59...11:58…11:57…
The Gauntlet of Instincts was far from over.
The group sprinted forward, their footsteps echoing against the metallic ground. The timer flashed above them, its numbers burning red:
10:59…10:58…10:57…
As they ran forward, a massive door blocked their path. Its surface was covered in glowing symbols and intricate mechanisms, and behind it, a grid of deadly lasers crisscrossed the air, their beams humming with lethal energy.
"We can't go through that," Jake said, his voice tight with frustration. "One wrong move, and we're toast."
Arya stepped forward, her eyes scanning the door's surface. "There's a control panel here," she said, her voice steady despite the fear in her eyes. "I think I can figure it out."
Zack glanced at the timer, his heart pounding. "You've got three minutes. We'll cover you."
Arya nodded, her fingers flying over the holographic interface. The symbols shifted and rearranged themselves, forming a series of equations and patterns. Her brow furrowed as she tried to decipher the code.
"What's taking so long?" Jake muttered, his eyes darting between Arya and the timer.
"Give her space," Zack said, calm but firm. "She's got this."
Arya's hands trembled as she inputted the final sequence. The door hissed, its mechanisms whirring to life. The lasers flickered and deactivated, leaving the path clear.
"Done!" Arya said, her voice filled with relief. "Let's go!"
The timer started beeping, and a voice came out from nowhere.
[Survivors, 6 minutes remaining]
6:00…5:59…5:58…
The group rushed through the door, only to halt as they entered a vast, open chamber. At the far end was the safe zone, its glowing barrier shimmering invitingly. But between them and safety stood a massive, alien-like monster.