Black ashes lay scattered across the metal floor. Right where Rona had been. My heart lurched, then seemed to forget how to beat. The world shrank to that empty patch of scorched ground.

  My knees gave out. "...Rona."

  We weren't even friends for an hour. But she was bright. Warm. Like the sun. And now...

  Who would tell her family? Did she even have one? Who were they? How do I... No. Even if I never found out, I would travel all across Eden to tell them. To tell them that Rona… my friend… was gone.

  "…Oh, Rona." I murmured, voice breaking. Isaac said nothing. He only placed a hand on my shoulder. It was warm. Which made it harder for me to hide my feelings.

  Then, someone stepped in front of us. We both looked up, and I froze.

  "Rona…?"

  She was standing right in front of us. Smiling. Untouched. I leapt to my feet and reached out, patting her arms, her cheeks, her shoulders, searching for burns, for wounds, for anything.

  "You okay? You're not hurt? No pain anywhere?"

  Rona beamed. "Rona is super strong! Fit as a fiddle!" she announced proudly, puffing out her chest.

  Isaac looked as stunned as I felt. "What…? I thought you got caught in the flames..."

  "I dodged!" Rona sang, then spun in a little circle, dancing her bizarre little jig like this was nothing more than a stage performance.

  "Then…" I hesitated, glancing at the still-smoking ash. "Whose ashes are those?"

  Isaac squinted. "If my memory's right… someone was standing next to Rona just before it hit."

  Rona blinked innocently. "Hmm…? Dunno."

  "Ouiii…" Isaac and I stepped back in perfect sync.

  A low mechanical hum rolled through the box. The lights dimmed slightly. Something moved beneath us. Suddenly, a scream tore through the chamber. A boy slammed against the wall, begging for an exit. His voice cracking in panic. "Where's the exit?! GIVE ME THE EXIT! I CAN'T TAKE THIS ANYMORE!"

  Beep.

  The floor beneath him vanished. His scream was cut short as he plummeted down.

  Straight into Monica's waiting mouth.

  "There's your exit," Mr. James said cheerfully.

  "Ouiii… More like an entrance," I muttered. "Doesn't Monica ever get full?"

  "With that size, she could probably eat the whole stadium," he added with a scowl.

  Beep.

  "Hm? Woah!" The ground beneath me vanished this time. My heart lurched. I flailed, but Rona caught my wrist just in time.

  "Thanks Rona!"

  Isaac was already there, helping pull me back up. As I dangled from the edge, a cold, slimy sensation slithered up my leg.

  "...Guys?" My voice came out thin. "Is something touching my leg?"

  Isaac leaned over, then flinched violently, jerking back like he'd touched fire. His face twisted in revulsion. "…Yup. Monica's tongue. It's… there."

  "WHAT?!" I screeched. "How long is her tongue?! Hey, MONICA! Could you not eat for one second?!"

  "Aww, Monica likes you," Rona said with a dreamy smile.

  "Sadly, I have to reject her." I kicked furiously, but the tongue wouldn't budge.

  Ouiii… This reminds me of that first dream.

  Isaac looked away and his face turned pale. "G-G-Guys? T-The..."

  "Isaac! Less talking, more pulling!" I barked.

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  "B-BALL! COMING!" he shouted.

  "Oui?!" I twisted around, only to see a blazing fireball barreling toward us.

  My brain froze a millisecond. What the...

  Then a thought struck. Not something sane. I didn't have a plan. I just knew if we didn't do something right now, we'd all die.

  "PULL ME UP!" I screamed. "HURRY! I've got an idea! And Monica. Don't let go! I've got something you've never tasted before!"

  Monica roared.

  Isaac and Rona pulled me back in. Monica's tongue slithered back.

  "Oh no you don't!" I grabbed the tongue.

  "What are you doing?!" Isaac yelled. "The ball's coming!"

  "I know! Trust me. Just help me pull!"

  "Eww... No. You nuts?" Isaac shook his head.

  "Stop being such a wuss and grab it already!" I exploded at Isaac.

  "Ugh, I swear..." Isaac gagged. "Fine! I'm blaming you if I puke!"

  Together, we hauled Monica's tongue further into the box. The fireball roared, growing louder. Monica wailed. The tongue twisted, trying to retreat, but we held on, even as it drenched us in spit.

  A terrible thought flickered through my mind. If this worked, Monica would die because of me. I looked down at Monica, who seemed to be tearing up. Is it crying? Memories of the children she had swallowed pushed at the back of my mind. Right. No matter how you look at it, Monica is partially at fault. Though it might be the owner's.

  "Come on! FASTER!" I roared, sweat and saliva soaking my sleeves.

  "I think I'm gonna hurl!" Isaac gasped.

  BOOM.

  The fireball slammed down onto Monica's tongue. There was a split second of resistance. Then a scream tore out of the pit, so loud the metal walls vibrated beneath our hands.

  Flames licked downwards, consuming the massive creature. The sprinklers kicked in, but it was too late. Monica's shriek faded into a broken, bubbling hiss. The pit glowed faintly… then went dark. For a moment, the arena was quiet. No cheers. No laughter. Just the smell of smoke and something burnt that shouldn't have been alive.

  When the fire finally died, there was nothing left but scorched charcoal. We collapsed backward, breathless, drenched in saliva and steam.

  I glanced toward what was left of Monica. My stomach twisted. Not from the smell. From the fact that it had been my idea. The guilt was gnawing at me until Isaac opened his mouth.

  "…I'm covered in spit," Isaac groaned.

  "Be grateful there's no poison in it." I sniffed my hand and nearly passed out from the smell.

  I wiped it on the floor, still staring at the ashes. "Guess that's what happens when you get greedy."

  Isaac muttered, "This was your plan? I can't believe I'm saying this, but… I kinda feel bad for Monica."

  "No. I didn't mean to burn her. I just wanted her to taste her own medicine," I muttered. "Didn't think she'd go up like a bonfire at a festival…"

  "Never underestimate a woman's wrath," Isaac sighed.

  "Monica… dead?" Rona's eyes glistened.

  "Yup. Llyne killed her," Isaac said, pointing at me.

  I slapped his arm. "Hey! Rona, look, I wasn't trying to..."

  "That was SO COOL!" Rona twirled. "BIG fire! Sparkles! So exciting!"

  "…Cool?" I blinked.

  "Like fireworks!" she squealed.

  "Oh! MONICA!" Mr. James dropped to his knees dramatically. "My darling mascot! Only five years old, taken too soon!"

  "…That thing was five?" Isaac looked horrified.

  Mr. James turned to us with a murderous glare. "Just you wait… I'll KILL you three…"

  "What did I do?!" Isaac cried.

  "You're an accomplice, idiot." I elbowed him.

  But the crowd? They cheered. The arena erupted in roars of excitement, whistles, and stomping feet. Mr. James rose to his feet and forced a smile. "Ladies and gentlemen… What a jaw-dropping performance! Truly one for the history books! Let's give a thunderous applause to our surviving bunnies!"

  I shook my head, unable to comprehend the situation. They're cheering us. Us. Even though we had just killed Monica. That thought felt worse than Monica's screams.

  "Two-faced," Isaac hissed.

  The cheers shook the box itself.

  Rona clung to me, starry-eyed. "Are we idols now?"

  "She still thinks this is a concert," Isaac muttered.

  "Maybe…" I replied with a weak smile.

  "You know," Isaac added, "I still can't believe they're cheering after you torched their mascot."

  "We. We torched her. And it was an accident," I huffed. "Blame her creator for making her that flammable."

  Isaac shrugged, not arguing.

  "Due to the unfortunate loss of our dear Monica," Mr. James sighed dramatically, "we'll end today's game early. Please return in two days for the next challenge."

  A glowing blue screen popped up, filled with comment options and ratings.

  "And don't forget to leave a review, darlings!" Mr. James winked. "As always, I'm your single and still available emcee, Mr. James. Love and kisses. Bye bye!"

  Bzzt.

  He vanished.

  "…A hologram?" Isaac blinked. "He looked so real."

  The translucent walls reappeared. Brute guards emerged, yanking us back into the tunnels.

  "Are we stuck here again for two days?" I groaned, flopping to the floor.

  "Don't you lambs dare try anything!" one of the brutes growled, cracking a massive stone into dust with one hand.

  I elbowed Rona and Isaac. "Think he was a Monica fan?"

  "If he is, you'd better sleep with one eye open," Isaac muttered.

  "Maybe he'll give you special treatment," Rona whispered.

  "… That's exactly what I'm afraid of."

  "How many of us are left?" I asked.

  Isaac peeked around, did a quick count. "Fifty-five."

  "Almost half gone."

  "It's only the first game. Don't be surprised."

  I lay back on the cold floor, limbs trembling, my sleeves stiff with dried spit and soot. "I'm so tired…"

  "Well, we did run non-stop for forty-five minutes from a fireball and a giant monster," Isaac pointed out.

  "…Fair point." I yawned. "Wake me if there's an announcement."

  "Goodnight, Llyne! Sleep well!" Rona chirped.

  "Thanks, Rona…"

  I turned to my side, arm under my head, eyes fluttering shut.

  I wonder how Iz is holding up… She'd freak out if she knew I went missing.

  The thought felt distant, fragile… like something from another life.

  And Ma…

  My chest tightened.

  I keep feeling like she's not dead. Like I'll see her again soon.

  I frowned.

  But I was there… Wasn't I? I saw her in bed, I think. But it was dark… D-Did I really see her?

  My chest hurt when I breathed in. Like something inside me had cracked and didn't fit back together anymore.

  "… Ma…"

  My thoughts drifted away as sleep finally pulled me under.

  The “games” aren’t just survival tests. They’re psychological ones too.

  Llyne’s guilt will matter more than she realizes.

  Next chapter, the story shifts focus toward the history of The Valley.