Inside the Tower, the cold, concrete stairwell spiraled endlessly upward. Nathan, Ivy, Harper, and Alice were on their way to Phase 20.
Twenty floors. No elevators. No breaks.
Each step felt heavier than the last.
Nathan climbed at a steady, although slow pace. His breathing was controlled, but fatigue was beginning to show in his posture.
Ivy followed behind, her breaths sharp and rapid, shoulders rising with every inhale.
Harper, on the other hand, couldn't take it anymore. She dropped onto the edge of a step, back against the wall.
Alice simply laid flat on one of the landings, arms spread wide, staring up at the dusty ceiling.
"Pant… pant…"
"Shit—" Harper wheezed, wiping sweat from her forehead with her sleeve. "This is like the longest stair I've ever climbed."
"I feel like my legs are gonna fall off…" Alice added, her voice soft and worn-out, lips forming a tired pout. She turned her head slightly toward Harper, her tone still calm despite the exhaustion. "I swear, my soul left my body five floors ago."
Their bodies were weak, but the pressure of what awaited them at the top kept pressing forward in the back of their minds.
Only a few floors left. But they already felt like they had climbed to the sky.
Harper slumped against the railing, panting like a dog after a marathon.
"Same, same—" she groaned, wiping her forehead dramatically. "My lungs are filing a complaint. I swear I heard my kneecaps pop like bubble wrap three floors ago."
Nathan slowed down a few steps ahead and glanced back at the group. His eyes lingered on Harper sprawled on the stair, Alice still lying like she was sunbathing, and Ivy gripping the railing, taking deep breaths through her nose.
He sighed, placing a hand on his hip.
"Guys, we don't have much time."
"We can't afford to stop. Others are already ahead of us—we'll be the last ones to finish at this rate."
His tone wasn't angry—just frustrated and worried.
He turned his head and looked up the stairwell. They were only on the 18th floor. But he had already seen Kacey, Derek, Toby, and Zara—the Phase 25 team—power past them a few flights ago.
That squad was built like athletes. Endless energy, full coordination.
Meanwhile… his team was made up entirely of tired, charming, and slightly dramatic girls. Not that he minded—but the contrast was obvious.
Nathan let out another sigh, quieter this time.
"I'm the only guy here…"
"Are you sexist?" Ivy snapped without missing a beat, lifting an eyebrow as she leaned on the railing.
Nathan choked on air, eyes going wide.
"W-What?! No! That's not—! I didn't mean it like that!"
"Uh huh." Ivy smirked, folding her arms as if she had just caught him red-handed.
Alice giggled from the floor, brushing a strand of hair from her face.
"Don't worry, Nathan," she said sweetly, "we'll protect you if anything happens."
Harper burst into laughter, though still half-dead from climbing.
"Yeah! We'll form a protective circle around our fragile male hero. No monsters allowed."
Nathan groaned, burying his face in his hands.
"God help me."
They all laughed softly—tired, yes, but the moment lightened the weight of the climb.
"Alright, team," Nathan said, smiling faintly as he extended a hand toward Alice, "two more floors. Let's move before Harper starts describing how her organs feel again."
"Too late," Harper grinned, "my spleen has officially gone on strike."
With chuckles and groans, the group picked themselves up, and the climb continued.
After what felt like an eternity of dragging tired legs up concrete purgatory, the four finally reached the 20th floor.
Their footsteps echoed one final time before silence took over.
A wide, monolith-like chamber greeted them—eerily similar to all the floors they'd passed, and yet, this one held a certain weight. The center of the room featured a familiar round button embedded into the floor, glowing faintly, waiting to be pressed. It pulsed like a heartbeat.
Nathan took the lead, slowly stepping toward it, his eyes scanning the room's architecture.
"We are—" he swallowed hard, nerves settling in his throat, "we're here."
His voice was low. Not fearful, but heavy with responsibility. He knew they couldn't back down now.
Ivy stepped forward, eyes sharp, methodically surveying the area for clues—markings, hidden messages, anything.
But there was nothing. Just the usual polished concrete and symmetrical silence. Same sterile design. Same eerie emptiness.
Alice and Harper finally reached the top a moment later—and immediately collapsed to the floor.
"FINALLY!" Harper shouted, her face planted flat against the cold concrete.
"Ohhhh the floor," Alice cooed with a relaxed sigh, "the cold floor feels so, so good..."
She stretched out like a starfish, her chest rising and falling rapidly. Her hair splayed out around her like a halo as she adjusted her skirt modestly before propping herself up on her elbows. Her tired but still-gentle eyes landed on the glowing button ahead.
Harper rolled onto her back with a groan and then slowly pushed herself to her feet.
"So what now...?" she asked, brushing her palms on her shorts.
Nathan turned toward the group and took a deep breath, the weight of leadership pressing down harder now that the phase was right in front of them.
Nathan was about to speak—but before a word could leave his mouth, Ivy raised her hand slightly and stepped forward.
"Before we take any steps..."
"Let's revise the rules and keep a few things in mind."
Her tone was calm, clinical—like a strategist piecing together a battlefield.
The group turned toward her. Nathan stood silently, attentive. Harper tilted her head with a skeptical expression. Alice, however, lit up with joy.
"Yay!!" she beamed, her voice sweet and sincere.
"I only trust you, Ivy!"
She gave Ivy a dramatic little jump of joy, hands clenched into excited fists.
Alice had always seen Ivy as dependable, someone who always had the answers—logical, level-headed. That was exactly why she chose to join her for Phase 20, especially after learning she couldn't go with Ethan.
Ivy blinked, her cheeks lifting just a little in a soft smile.
"Okay."
She clasped her hands together and began walking slowly in a half-circle, entering her mental command zone.
"The first thing we should be worried about is the Echo Effect."
"If someone has died in this phase before, we have to be ready. The rule said anyone going to a Phase from the tower will have to face that… effect."
Everyone fell quiet for a second. The Echo Effect—just the term sounded ominous.
Nathan nodded slowly.
"So we prepare ourselves mentally, is what you're saying."
Ivy nodded.
"Exactly."
She took a breath and continued pacing, her mind clearly still calculating.
"The second thing is the Band of Conjunction. Now... I assume we'll find it either at the start or the end of the phase. We won't find it in the middle. That's where we'll be too distracted dealing with whatever threat is in there."
Harper raised her hand lazily like a student in a lecture hall.
"Wouldn't it make more sense if it was at the start of the phase?"
"Like, y'know… gear up before the chaos hits?"
Ivy tilted her head thoughtfully.
"Yeah, you're right. But... think about it."
"If it's placed at the end of the phase, it forces participants to endure everything before they get their exit key. Makes more sense if they want to test survival."
Nathan crossed his arms.
"Yeah. That explanation fits the Palamine logic more."
Alice chimed in with a nod, puffing her cheeks.
"Mean logic... but yeah, it fits."
Ivy glanced at them all once more, then continued.
"The last thing I wanted to mention is... the secret exits and passages."
She stopped pacing, turning to face the group fully.
"We know they exist, but not much else."
"From what we know, they're alternative routes out of the phase—different from the main exit. But they're hidden. And..."
Her voice dropped slightly.
"They could either lead to something really good... or really bad."
Alice tilted her head.
"So pretty much like a mystery door?"
Ivy nodded.
"Exactly. And the worst part? There's no real info on how to find them. No clues, no maps, nothing obvious. If one shows up, it'll be by chance... or through risk."
Nathan furrowed his brow.
"So if we see something suspicious—an alley, a strange room, a tunnel—we have to decide on the spot if we trust it or not."
"Right." Ivy confirmed.
"And that decision could either reward us with an easier path... or put us in a death trap."
Harper whistled low.
"Cool. Love that. Random horror roulette built into our already terrifying death game."
Alice looked mildly anxious now, biting her lip as she mumbled:
"So... maybe let's not take any suspicious glowing doors unless we're really desperate?"
Nathan gave a small nod.
"Only if there's no other option."
Ivy took a breath and concluded:
"Just... be aware. If things start looking too easy or too tempting, that might be where the danger really is."
The group went quiet, the full weight of her words settling into their minds.
Then Nathan stepped forward, eyes narrowing on the glowing phase button.
"Alright..."
Nathan turned to the others, his voice slightly strained.
"So... anything else? Does anyone need to say anything?"
They shook their heads. Ivy, Harper, and Alice all gave subtle, silent replies.
"Nope."
"Nothing."
"I'm good."
"Alright..." Nathan exhaled, his voice low.
He stepped forward, his feet slow and deliberate as he approached the glowing button in the center of the floor. One by one, Ivy, Harper, and Alice joined him, forming a quiet circle around it. The room, though familiar in design, felt heavier now—thicker with tension, like something was lurking just beneath the surface.
Nathan stared at the button. His hands trembled slightly. His throat tightened. His chest rose and fell, each breath shakier than the last.
He looked at Ivy—composed, sharp-eyed. Then at Alice—nervous but holding a small smile. Then Harper—still, serious, unreadable.
And yet…
"Damn... they're so calm?"
"Don't they realize...? This phase might be the death of—
—the death of us..."
A deep breath filled his lungs, and then slowly left him.
His voice came out quiet.
"Should we press it now...?"
He looked around the circle. Ivy gave a firm nod. Alice nodded too, brushing her hair back behind her ear. Harper cracked her knuckles, a half-smile appearing.
"Do it."
Ivy's voice was calm. Steady.
"We're ready."
Nathan nodded back.
"Alright..."
"Here goes nothing..."
Without giving his mind time to wander further, he reached down—and pressed the button.
THAM.
A flash.
The sound of reality shattering inward, like glass being sucked into a vacuum.
The ground vanished from beneath their feet. The light disappeared. All that was left was black—pure, consuming black.
And then…
The void.
They had entered Phase 20.
Nathan lay unconscious, his body sprawled across the hard concrete surface. The cold floor pressed against his cheek, its smoothness oddly comforting despite the dull throb behind his eyes. Slowly, as if waking from a dream he didn't remember entering, his eyes fluttered open—only to be greeted by a blinding light that stung his pupils. He groaned softly, lifting a trembling hand to shield his face.
For a moment, all he saw was white. White light. White sky. A gentle haze over everything, like a dream. It reminded him of Phase 11—eerily similar in structure and design—but this one felt... calmer. Subtler. It didn't scream danger, but it whispered something was wrong.
He blinked rapidly, rubbing his eyes with the back of his hand, trying to force his vision to stabilize. Slowly, the light began to dim, and shapes began to form.
And when it did—he found himself lying on a pale, faded highway road. The asphalt had cracks etched through it like veins, but they were shallow, harmless. Still, something about it unsettled him. The air smelled too clean. The wind didn't move.
His eyes scanned the surroundings.
Rows of small cottage-style houses lined either side of the street. Not luxurious, not rundown—just... normal. And that's what made it wrong. The windows glowed with a warm yellow light, inviting at first glance, but in a way that felt unnatural. There were no cars. No people. No sound. Just that heavy silence, the kind that made your heartbeat sound like a drum.
Nathan slowly pushed himself up on one arm, wincing slightly as pain shot through his elbow. He turned his head to check his teammates.
Ivy. Alice. Harper.
All three were unconscious, just like he had been. His gaze lingered on Alice. Her golden blonde hair was fanned out across the pavement like sunlight spilled on stone. Her snow-white skin almost glowed in the strange ambient light of this world. There was something ethereal about her—like she didn't belong in this place. Like she'd fallen from the sky, not arrived through a phase.
An angel... who just fell down?
Maybe.
He leaned over gently, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"Hey—"
"Get up."
"We're here."
His voice was soft, but urgent. He shook her lightly, hoping not to startle her too much.
Alice's lips parted slightly. A faint whimper slipped through, fragile and delicate. Her eyes squinted tightly shut at first, resisting the brightness—then began to flutter open with effort. Her lashes twitched as she blinked up at him, her expression clouded with confusion.
She looked... lost. Disoriented.
But alive.
Nathan exhaled a shaky breath he hadn't realized he was holding. Relief washed over him like warm water. His fingers lingered a moment longer on her shoulder before he looked back at the others.
The stillness of this place had not yet cracked, but it pressed down on him. Something was coming. He could feel it—not through sound or sight, but instinct. The silence wasn't peace. It was tension. Held breath. A moment before the scream.
He looked once more at the glowing cottage windows. None of them flickered. None of them opened.
They were being watched.
Or worse—
They weren't being watched yet.
He glanced at Alice again as she began to sit up, wincing. Then to Ivy, who was starting to stir. Then to Harper, who lay sprawled across the pavement like someone mid-nap after a long day.
They were vulnerable right now.
And this phase wasn't going to wait.
As each of them stirred awake, groggy and disoriented, they slowly pulled themselves up from the cold pavement. The silence that blanketed the area wasn't oppressive—but it was deeply unnatural. A stillness too perfect, too measured. Not a single sound of wildlife, not the distant hum of electricity or wind. Just quiet.
They stood together, blinking away the fog from their minds as their eyes adjusted to the surreal brightness of the world they had entered.
Ivy was the first to speak.
"This looks—" Her voice faltered. She looked around again, taking in the scene fully before finishing her thought.
"Just like Phase 11, right..?"
Her words weren't a statement. They were a question—laced with confusion, laced with a cautious edge. Even someone as logical and sharp as Ivy couldn't immediately wrap her mind around what she was seeing.
The street they were on was narrow and long—clearly a highway, bisecting two rows of small, cozy-looking cottage houses that stretched into the distance. Each house was identical in design—white-painted walls, triangular rooftops, neat windows glowing with soft amber light. It was the kind of place someone might dream of retiring in. Peaceful. Comforting.
Too comforting.
Nathan stepped forward, narrowing his eyes as he tried to trace the road as far as he could. It went on endlessly. No turns. No intersections. No visible end.
"This road just keeps going..." he muttered under his breath.
Alice stood near one of the cottages, her expression dazed but intrigued. The soft glow coming from inside the windows gave her a strange sense of warmth. Not just physical warmth, but something deeper—like the feeling of being safe after a long, terrifying nightmare. A place she wanted to step into. To rest in.
And that's what unsettled her the most.
"It feels..." she murmured to herself, voice almost inaudible. "Warm. Like home."
Harper stood beside her, arms crossed as she scrutinized the houses.
"Honestly, I wouldn't mind living in one of these," she said with a dry tone, trying to crack a small joke, but it was laced with tension.
"Feels like if I knocked on the door, I'd get hot cocoa and a welcome hug."
She paused.
"But, y'know... that's what makes it creepy."
Everyone went quiet for a moment.
Ivy finally broke the silence again, her voice now sharper, more alert.
"Well?"
She looked around at the group, her tone taking on its usual commanding presence.
"Do we find the rulebook first or do we try to analyze more of this place before anything else?"
Alice stepped forward, brushing dust off her skirt.
"Isn't it better," she began, her voice as soft as ever but full of clarity, "that we understand the surroundings first?"
"We should learn what we're walking into before charging ahead."
Nathan nodded in agreement, hands in his pockets. Harper raised a finger lazily in support.
"I agree to that. I don't trust cookie-cutter neighborhoods that scream 'trap' just by existing."
Ivy sighed, relenting.
"Alright... fine."
"But let's focus on sticking together, alright?"
"We move as one. No one wanders off. No chasing shadows or opening doors unless we all agree."
There was no argument from the others. Not this time. Whatever this place was—it had a pull, a subtle, almost hypnotic charm. And that's what made it all the more dangerous.
As they began walking slowly down the strange, too-perfect road, past the warm glow of silent homes, none of them knew what they were walking toward.
But something was waiting for them.
And it wasn't going to be kind.