CHAPTER 3

Mrs. Dumont, a tall and elegant woman with short, silver-streaked hair, walked into the podium with a confident air. Her presence demanded attention, and the hall grew quieter still. She adjusted the microphone, surveyed the crowd with sharp eyes, and began to speak.

"For those who don't know me," she began, her voice smooth and confident, "I am Scarlett Bernadette Dumont." Her name carried weight, and she knew it. Scarlett stood tall, dressed in a stunning grey dress adorned with golden flower patterns that shimmered under the bright lights. She was breathtaking, not just because of her beauty but because of the way she owned the room. My eyes lingered for a moment too long, and I caught myself thinking, I didn't know grey could look this good-or maybe it's just her.

Scarlett continued, her tone both inviting and authoritative. "I am thrilled to unveil a revolutionary procedure for this year's candidates. Unlike previous years where the mundane needle test was used to awaken abilities, we've designed somethin far more engaging and far more challenging. This year, you'll be stepping into a mindscape, a shared mental simulation tailored to unlock the dormant mutant gene in your DNA."

the room stirred, whispers rippling across the crow. A mindscape? That was something completely new and unsettling.

Scarlett smiled, sensing the mixture of excitement and anxiety. "In this mindscape, you'll face challenges designed to test your limits. To make it more interesting, you'll be paired randomly with someone from a different house. Together, you'll navigate the simulation, facing trials that will force you to rely on one another. Cooperation is key but so is competition. Only by defeating your opposing pair will you complete the course. And," she added with a smirk," there's a surprise for later. That's all I'll say for now."

Scarlett stepped back, her words leaving the room buzzing with anticipation. Arlon Griffin, his imposing figure cutting through the crowd, returned to the podium holding a sheet of paper. His voice, deep and unwavering, silenced the chatter. “Here are the pairings for this year’s procedure. Listen carefully.”

He began to read the names, his tone measured and deliberate. The crowd hung on every word.

“Frank Castle and Jake Peralta from the Founder and Elite houses…” My ears perked up as the list continued.

“Elsa Revel and Chance Pinkman from the Elite and Regens houses…”

“Jackson Peralta and Phoebe Thunder from the Elite and Glades houses…”

The murmurs grew louder with every name. People exchanged glances, some with approval, others with obvious frustration. Scarlett’s decision to mix the houses was clearly stirring emotions.

“Rin Shigaraki and Rita Showerhandle from the Regens and Glades houses…”

The crowd stirred as Rin, a wiry figure with sharp eyes and an air of mischief, gave a crooked grin. Rita, on the other hand, towered over him, her muscular build and stern expression making her look like she could bench-press the podium.

“Oliver Obed and Adelle Amani from the Regens and Founder houses…”

My stomach dropped. Oliver Obed, with his piercing blue eyes and perpetual smirk, was infamous for his cunning and ruthlessness. I hate him! Adelle, his partner, was his perfect foil: calm, calculated, and as regal as any Founder should be. This was a duo no one wanted to face. 

Arlon continued, “Hector Cruz and Damian Wallace from the Regens and Elite houses…”

Hector gave a mock bow, his curly hair bouncing as he grinned at the crowd. “Guess I’ll try not to embarrass you, Damian,” he joked. Damian, quiet and brooding, just rolled his eyes.

“Brock Leonard and Felicity Fournier from the Glades and Elite houses…”

Brock, a hulking figure with a scar running across his cheek, cracked his knuckles, while Felicity, small but fierce-looking, shot him a glare as if daring him to underestimate her.

“And finally,” Arlon concluded, “Michael Griffin and Jace Jamerson from the Founder and Regens houses.”

My heart skipped a beat. Michael and me? Relief mixed with apprehension. Michael might have been my best friend, but that didn’t mean the mindscape would be easy. Arlon looked up. “Prepare yourselves. The procedure begins now.”

As the pairs were called forward, Michael leaned close to me. “Relax, Jace. It’s just a simulation. Nothing we can’t handle.”

I nodded, trying to ignore the knot in my stomach. Each pair stepped into the machine—a towering structure brimming with glowing wires and shifting holograms. It looked more like something out of a sci-fi movie than a medical device. The operatives from Taskforce X moved with mechanical precision, strapping each candidate into their chairs and fitting them with headgear.

Brock and Felicity were called first. Brock flashed a confident grin at the crowd before stepping up, while Felicity glided forward with an almost otherworldly grace. The machine hummed louder as they were secured, and in moments, their minds were plunged into the simulation.

The display above them showed their progress: an elaborate maze filled with traps and challenges. They moved like a well-oiled machine, their strategies complementing each other perfectly. Within minutes, they defeated their simulated opponents, the words MUTANT TRACE flashing above both their names in glowing green letters.

The room erupted in applause. Scarlett’s voice came through the speakers. “An excellent demonstration of teamwork. Let’s see if the rest of you can match their skill.”

One by one, more pairs entered the simulation. Some succeeded, the green MUTANT TRACE lighting up above their names, while others failed, their results showing NEGATIVE TRACE in glaring red. The crowd’s mood shifted with each result, from cheers of triumph to murmurs of sympathy—or derision.

Then it was our turn.

“Michael Griffin and Jace Jamerson, step forward.”

Michael gave me a reassuring nod. “We’ve got this,” he said as we approached the machine. The Taskforce X operatives wasted no time strapping us in, the headgear fitting snugly over my temples. The hum of the machine grew louder, its vibrations thrumming through my entire body.

When I opened my eyes, we were standing in an open field under a strange, swirling sky. Ahead of us loomed a massive stone fortress, its walls alive with shifting symbols and flickering light. The air crackled with energy, and the distant sound of drums echoed ominously.

Michael stood beside me, his expression a mix of awe and determination. “Here we go,” he said.

In the distance, I spotted Oliver and Adelle at the fortress entrance, already strategizing. The disembodied voice returned: “Your task: retrieve the relic within the fortress. The first team to secure it wins. Beware, the course is designed to test your strength, wits, and trust in one another.”

Michael grinned. “Let’s show them what we’ve got.”

And with that, we sprinted toward the fortress, the thrill of the unknown driving us forward.