A Glimmer of Hope, The Nature of Phase 10

Victor stepped forward, his slow, deliberate clap echoing through the dimly lit prison hallway. His unsettling smirk sent an involuntary shiver through some of the group. All eyes turned to him as he spread his arms dramatically.

"Now, the plan..." His voice was smooth, confident—almost too confident.

The others exchanged glances, waiting.

Victor's grin widened. "We now know that this prison is actively messing with our sense of direction. The hallways shift, loop, and rearrange, making sure we never take the same path twice—even when we think we are."

He let his words sink in.

"But…" He lifted a finger, tilting his head. "That means there's a pattern. And once you understand the pattern, you can break it."

Jace raised an eyebrow. "And you've figured it out?"

Victor didn't answer immediately. Instead, he glanced at Samuel, his smirk sharpening into something more knowing.

"I've already confirmed this with everyone," Victor said, his voice carrying an unmistakable edge.

Samuel narrowed his eyes. "With… everyone?"

Victor chuckled. "Well, not you. But don't worry, Sammy—your opinion wouldn't have changed anything."

Samuel gritted his teeth, but before he could respond, Victor pressed on.

"Now, here's what we're going to do." He took a step forward, his presence commanding attention. "We wait. Just for a few minutes. And then, when we start walking again, I can assure you—" his smile grew eerie "—we will find an exit."

Silence hung over the group.

Skepticism.

Uncertainty.

But at the same time… a flicker of hope.

Silence weighed heavy over the group.

Doubt flickered in their eyes, but no one spoke it aloud. No one wanted to question him.

Except Sierra.

She crossed her arms, her stance firm. "What makes you so sure?"

Her voice cut through the tension like a blade—confident, demanding. She wasn't just asking. She was challenging him.

Victor's smirk didn't waver. If anything, it deepened, as if he'd been waiting for this exact question.

"Because we've figured out the loop," he said simply.

He took a slow step forward, tilting his head slightly as he looked around. "And now, by staying still—by not moving from this one spot—we break that loop."

Then, his eyes flickered up to the ceiling.

"Samuel, did you notice?" His voice took on that eerie, unsettling edge again, the one that always made people feel like he knew more than he was letting on.

Samuel hesitated, then followed Victor's gaze.

At first, nothing seemed different. The walls, the cracked tiles, the flickering light overhead—it all looked the same.

And then… he saw it.

The lightbulb.

It was different.

The first time they came here, the bulb had been round. Now, it was elongated—almost oval.

A chill crept down Samuel's spine.

"It changed," he muttered.

Victor snapped his fingers. "Exactly."

He turned back to the group, spreading his arms as if presenting undeniable proof. "Even though we ended up at the same spot, something shifted. The prison is moving around us, not the other way around. And that's why waiting is the key."

For the first time, doubt wasn't the only thing in their expressions.

There was realization.

And that terrified them even more.

And just like that, there was no doubt about it.

Victor was right.

The realization settled over them like a heavy fog—unnerving yet undeniable. The prison was shifting around them, not the other way around. And Victor had figured it out.

But how?

That was the question that disturbed Samuel and Owen the most.

How did Victor piece all of this together in just a few tries?

Samuel stole a glance at him. Victor stood there, arms crossed, a smug smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. It wasn't just confidence—it was something more.

Owen, standing beside Samuel, felt the same unease creeping into his bones. Something about this wasn't normal. Sure, Victor was sharp, but this level of understanding? This quickly?

Yet, while they wrestled with their unease, the others were looking at Victor in a completely different light.

Sierra, Riley, Evelyn, and Noa? Impressed.

Callen, Lawren, and Wesley? Amazed.

For the first time, there was a real, tangible sense of hope. A belief that if they just followed Victor's lead, they might actually make it out of this hellhole.

And that's exactly what Victor wanted.

But at that moment, no one noticed.

Under the dim light of the hollow prison, they sat together—eating, drinking, resting. The weight of exhaustion pressing down on them, yet for the first time, they weren't running.

Owen had taken out his backpack, distributing food and water bottles among them. He passed one to Sierra, who took it with a small nod, then moved along, handing them out to the others.

Samuel took a bite of his food, chewing slowly, trying to shake off the lingering adrenaline. It wasn't just him—everyone was still on edge, their minds trapped in the haunting corridors of this prison.

But then—conversation.

Small, unimportant, pointless gossips.

Anything to keep the fear away.

Riley nudged Sierra. "Okay, be honest, how are you so calm?"

Sierra smirked, stretching her arms. "I just got a good poker face."

Noa scoffed. "Girl, please. I saw your hands shaking earlier."

Sierra shot her a look. "Listen, acting calm and being calm are two different things."

Callen leaned back. "I think Sierra's just built different."

Lawren chuckled. "Or maybe she's just in denial."

Evelyn crossed her arms. "Denial sounds about right."

Sierra rolled her eyes. "Oh, shut up, all of you."

Laughter rippled through the group—a fragile, temporary relief.

Samuel glanced at Owen. "Hey, what were you even carrying in that bag anyway?"

Owen shrugged. "Supplies. Snacks. I, uh… I panic-packed before we got here."

Wesley raised a brow. "Panic-packed?"

Owen scratched the back of his head. "Yeah, you know… just threw in a bunch of stuff without thinking. I even packed a deck of cards, for some reason."

Noa perked up. "Wait, you got cards?"

Owen blinked. "Uh, yeah?"

Noa grinned. "Damn, we should play later."

Callen suddenly groaned. "Man, the first thing I'm doing when I get out of here is eating a real meal."

Lawren nodded. "Same. I want a burger. A big, greasy one."

Wesley sighed dreamily. "I just want a hot shower."

Evelyn exhaled. "A shower… I almost forgot what that feels like."

Riley snorted. "Speak for yourselves, I'm getting a drink first."

Noa smirked. "Yeah, yeah, tough girl act."

Riley grinned. "It's not an act, babe."

The conversation kept flowing, little jokes and stories filling the space between them.

Meanwhile, Victor remained silent.

He simply sat there, observing. Listening.

And in the corner, Ava did the same.

Still sitting against the wall.

Still empty.

The more they talked, the more they laughed, the more relaxed they became—the less terrifying the prison felt.

The dim lights grew brighter.

The air, once suffocating, felt lighter.

And that's when it hit them—

Victor.

His logic was simple:

Fear more, and this prison will be a nightmare.

Fear less, and this prison will be easier.

And the proof was all around them.

For the first time, this place didn't feel like hell.

The small conversations continued—gossips, jokes, meaningless chatter that filled the once-hollow air of the prison. The dim light had grown brighter, the suffocating weight of fear slowly loosening its grip.

And then—Ava moved.

Her steps were slow. Mechanical.

Like a puppet whose strings had been cut, yet still trying to move forward.

She walked toward Samuel.

The one who had saved her.

She didn't know why. Maybe because he was the only familiar thing in this nightmare. Maybe because, for a brief moment, when he grabbed her hand and ran—she wasn't alone.

Ava sat beside him, her frame small, fragile—like someone who could break at any moment.

She still looked empty. Still looked lost. But she was trying. Trying to hold onto something.

Her eyes flickered across the room, taking in everything—the conversations, the small gossips, the laughter. The warmth of people who still had something to hold onto.

And it made her feel—left out.

Like she wasn't part of this world anymore.

Like she was watching from the outside.

But she wanted to be part of it.

She wanted to speak.

She wanted to vent.

She wanted to tell them.

To rip open the silence that had consumed her, to get it out—the nightmare. The horror she had seen. The thing that had left her like this.

And so, she reached out.

Softly.

Timidly.

She pinched the fabric of Samuel's shirt.

Like a child seeking comfort.

Samuel noticed.

His gaze drifted down to her black hair—messy, yet somehow silky, strands falling gently over the side of her face. Shiny. Despite everything, it still reflected the dim prison lights.

Her eyes.

Black.

Yet, even in their emptiness, there was a strange innocence—a dull glimmer, something that hadn't completely withered away.

His eyes trailed lower, noticing the way her small, tender hands gripped the fabric of his shirt.

Delicate fingers. Slim wrists.

He had held them so tightly before, nearly crushing them in his desperate attempt to save her. Yet, here she was, still reaching out.

Her small frame.

The way her slender legs turned inward, her thin arms folded slightly as if trying to make herself smaller.

Samuel felt something stir inside him. A strange, unfamiliar feeling.

He quickly shook it off.

Instead, he softened his voice—gentle, comforting. Almost like a mother soothing her crying child.

"Feeling better now?"

His words were light, careful. As if speaking too harshly would shatter her completely.

Ava's lips parted slightly, and for the first time, she spoke willingly.

"Good enough… to talk."

She responded with something not negative.

Before, her words had been nothing but death.

"You'll die."

"Kill me."

Always hoarse. Always broken.

But this time, her voice was different.

It was real.

Soft.

Soothing, in a way he hadn't expected.

It was cute, high-pitched—but there was something mature underneath. A balance between femininity and quiet strength.

And for the first time, Samuel wanted to hear more.

Samuel immediately understood. She was going to tell him.

But before she could, the group took notice.

Owen, who had been in the middle of drinking from his water bottle, perked up. "Oh, hey—she talks now."

Seirra leaned in slightly, her usual confidence showing. "Ava, right? Good to see you're doing better."

Ava barely looked at her. Instead, her fingers fidgeted with the fabric of Samuel's sleeve.

Evelyn smiled, trying to be friendly. "If you feel like talking, we'd love to get to know you."

Noa gave a small nod. "Yeah, we're all in this together. Might as well start somewhere."

Callen, Lawren, and Wesley stayed silent, observing, but there was an undeniable curiosity in their eyes.

Ava, however, wasn't responding.

Her small frame seemed to shrink further, her shoulders stiffening. She didn't meet anyone's gaze—only staring at her hands as they clutched onto Samuel's sleeve.

Samuel felt the tension rolling off her. She didn't want to talk to them.

She had only spoken because of him.

Riley, noticing the unease, chuckled awkwardly. "Uh… we're not scaring you, right?"

Silence.

Ava barely moved.

Even as the others looked at her, waiting—she remained still.

Samuel exhaled quietly.

"Hey, it's fine," he said, his voice calm, reassuring. "You don't have to talk to them if you don't want to."

Ava slowly turned her head toward him, her expression unreadable. But after a few moments, she gave the tiniest nod—almost imperceptible.

Owen, sensing the tension, raised his hands. "Alright, alright, backing off. No pressure."

Seirra sighed, leaning back. "Didn't mean to push, just thought she might feel better talking."

Evelyn gave a soft smile. "Maybe later, when she's ready."

Noa shrugged. "Yeah. No rush."

And with that, the group moved on.

But even as the conversation shifted, Ava stayed glued to Samuel's side.

She wasn't ready to open up to the others.

But to Samuel—she was willing.

Ava fidgeted nervously, her fingers still gripping onto Samuel's sleeve. Her black eyes flickered toward the others—Seirra, Evelyn, Noa, Riley, Callen, Lawren, Wesley… all of them had been so kind.

Yet she had ignored them.

A wave of guilt settled in her chest.

She wasn't trying to be rude. She wasn't trying to push them away. But words… they just didn't come to her easily.

Her lips trembled slightly before she finally forced herself to speak.

Her voice, soft and fragile, barely above a whisper.

"I… um… I'm… Ava… um…" she paused, gulping. "N-nice to… meet you…"

Her voice was delicate—gentle, high-pitched, yet airy. There was a quiet shakiness to it, like a small bird trying to chirp for the first time.

And then—

"OMGGGGG QUEEN YOUR VOICEEEE—"

A loud, dramatic squeal from Riley nearly made Ava jump out of her skin.

Riley grabbed Seirra's arm, shaking her wildly. "SEIRRA. DO YOU HEAR THAT?? HER VOICE?? IT'S SO—IT'S SO—LIKE, CUTE-SHY-PRINCESS-ADORABLEEEE."

Seirra let out a small laugh, watching as Ava turned bright red.

Evelyn chuckled, nodding along. "Yeah, I was gonna say! Your voice is so soft and pretty."

Noa smirked slightly. "Like those soft-spoken anime girls."

Ava's ears burned as she shrank slightly, hiding behind Samuel's sleeve out of embarrassment.

Samuel, despite everything, held back a laugh.

Ava, still flustered, gripped his sleeve tighter and muttered under her breath—

"T-too loud…"

But despite her embarrassment, for the first time— She looked a little less empty.

Ava fidgeted nervously, her fingers still gripping onto Samuel's sleeve. Her black eyes flickered toward the others—Seirra, Evelyn, Noa, Riley, Callen, Lawren, Wesley… all of them had been so kind.

Yet she had ignored them.

A wave of guilt settled in her chest.

She wasn't trying to be rude. She wasn't trying to push them away. But words… they just didn't come to her easily.

Her lips trembled slightly before she finally forced herself to speak.

Her voice, soft and fragile, barely above a whisper.

"I… um… I'm… Ava… um…" she paused, gulping. "N-nice to… meet you…"

Her voice was delicate—gentle, high-pitched, yet airy. There was a quiet shakiness to it, like a small bird trying to chirp for the first time.

And then—

"OMGGGGG QUEEN YOUR VOICEEEE—"

A loud, dramatic squeal from Riley nearly made Ava jump out of her skin.

Riley grabbed Seirra's arm, shaking her wildly. "SEIRRA. DO YOU HEAR THAT?? HER VOICE?? IT'S SO—IT'S SO—LIKE, CUTE-SHY-PRINCESS-ADORABLEEEE."

Seirra let out a small laugh, watching as Ava turned bright red.

Evelyn chuckled, nodding along. "Yeah, I was gonna say! Your voice is so soft and pretty."

Noa smirked slightly. "Like those soft-spoken anime girls."

Ava's ears burned as she shrank slightly, hiding behind Samuel's sleeve out of embarrassment.

Samuel, despite everything, held back a laugh.

Ava, still flustered, gripped his sleeve tighter and muttered under her breath—

"T-too loud…"

But despite her embarrassment, for the first time—She looked a little less empty.

Ava was still hiding behind Samuel's sleeve, her face burning with embarrassment from Riley's over-the-top reaction.

She thought she was finally safe.

Then—

A deep, gruff voice suddenly cut through the air.

"So… what's your story?"

Ava froze.

Her soul LEFT her body.

Her entire existence glitched.

"EEK—!!"

She JUMPED like a cat getting sprayed with water, her body flinching so violently that she nearly tackled Samuel over.

The group erupted into laughter.

Riley was wheezing, smacking Seirra's arm repeatedly.

Seirra had to hold onto Noa's shoulder to keep from falling over.

Evelyn was laughing into her hands, trying to be polite but failing miserably.

Even Callen, Lawren, and Wesley—who had been mostly quiet—were grinning at Ava's ridiculous reaction.

Samuel, still trying to recover from nearly getting knocked over, turned his head—

And there he was.

Jace.

Sitting RIGHT BEHIND AVA.

His arms crossed. His expression completely blank.

The man had been there the whole time.

Ava whipped her head around so fast she almost snapped her own neck, her wide, horrified eyes staring at Jace like he was some kind of ghost.

"W-WHEN DID YOU GET THERE?!?!"

Jace blinked once. "I've been sitting here."

Ava's jaw dropped.

Samuel facepalmed. "Ava… he's literally been behind you this whole time."

Jace sighed, rubbing his forehead. "That's the second time now."

The second time, he had jumpscared someone just by existing.

Riley collapsed against Seirra, still laughing. "SHE GOT JUMPSCARED BY A WHOLE HUMAN BEING—"

Ava, still processing, just clutched her chest dramatically. "I think I died just now…"

Jace simply exhaled through his nose.

"...So anyway. Your story?"

Ava immediately tensed up again, realizing what he had actually asked her.

And just like that—her face dropped.

The laughter slowly died down.

The air shifted.

And Ava… looked away.