CHAPTER 4

The fortress loomed before us, a menacing labyrinth of jagged stone and pulsating light. Each step we took toward the entrance seemed to thrum with otherworldly energy like the structure itself was alive and watching. I could see Oliver and Adelle ahead, their movements swift and deliberate as they navigated the crumbling staircase leading to the fortress doors.

Michael and I paused at the base of the stairs. “We have to outthink them,” Michael said, his voice low but firm. “They’ll be faster, but we’re smarter.”

I nodded, my nerves tightening into a knot. I wasn’t just facing a challenge—I was facing Oliver Obed, the most ruthless competitor in our year. He didn’t play fair; he played to win.

The voice returned, echoing through the air around us:

“The relic lies at the heart of the fortress, guarded by trials designed to test your worth. Its power awakens only for those who prove themselves. Retrieve it, and victory will be yours. Fail, and the mindscape will consume you.”

The message left little room for interpretation. The relic wasn’t just a trophy—it was the key to activating the mutant gene, the proof that you deserved your powers. Without it, failure wasn’t just a possibility; it was a guarantee.

Michael gripped my shoulder. “We stick together. No matter what.”

“Agreed,” I said, forcing steadiness into my voice.

We entered the fortress just as the massive stone doors groaned shut behind us. The air inside was thick and heavy, the faint scent of something metallic lingering in the air. The walls were etched with glowing symbols that seemed to pulse like a heartbeat, lighting our path through the dim corridor.

TRIAL ONE: THE MIRROR ROOM

The first chamber was a vast, circular room filled with mirrors of all shapes and sizes. As soon as we stepped inside, the mirrors shimmered, and distorted versions of ourselves stepped out. These weren’t simple reflections—they were twisted and malicious, with glowing red eyes and crooked smirks.

“Doppelgängers,” Michael muttered. Before I could respond, one of my reflections lunged at me, its hands morphing into jagged claws. I ducked and rolled away, narrowly avoiding its strike. Another rushed at Michael, but he countered with a swift uppercut, sending it staggering back.

“They’re fast!” I shouted, dodging another attack.

“But they’re us,” Michael called out, grabbing a shard of broken glass from the floor. “They think like us. Use that against them!”

I focused on my doppelgänger, watching its movements. Every time I moved left, it anticipated me. When I feinted right and lunged left instead, it faltered just long enough for me to strike. The glass shard in my hand sliced through it, and it disintegrated into a burst of light.

Michael finished his opponent with a similar maneuver, and soon the room fell silent.

“First trial down,” he said, offering me a grin. “Not bad, Jace.”

TRIAL TWO: THE SHIFTING FLOOR

The next corridor opened into a narrow bridge suspended over a pit of swirling shadows. The floor shifted and spun with every step, threatening to throw us off balance.

Ahead, Oliver and Adelle were already halfway across. Adelle moved with careful precision, her focus unshakable. Oliver, however, darted forward with alarming speed, his smirk visible even from this distance.

Michael and I stepped onto the bridge, testing each tile before putting our weight on it. The moment I miscalculated, the tile beneath me began to crumble. I froze, my heart pounding, until Michael grabbed my arm and yanked me back onto solid ground.

“Watch your footing!” he warned.

We pressed on, each step a calculated risk. By the time we reached the other side, Oliver and Adelle had disappeared through the next door.

“They’re ahead,” I said, my frustration bubbling to the surface.

Michael didn’t falter. “Let them be. We’ll catch up.”

TRAIL THREE: THE RELIC CHAMBER

The final chamber was breathtaking. The ceiling soared high above us, adorned with constellations that shifted and glowed. At the center of the room, hovering above a pedestal of black stone, was the relic. It looked like a crystalline orb, radiating a soft, golden light.

Oliver and Adelle stood near the relic, clearly arguing.

“We take it together,” Adelle was saying, her voice sharp.

Oliver’s smirk grew darker. “Or I take it alone.”

Before Adelle could respond, Michael and I entered the room. Oliver’s gaze snapped to us, his expression hardening.

“Stay out of this,” he growled.

Michael stepped forward, his stance firm. “That’s not happening.”

Oliver didn’t hesitate. In a flash, he lunged at me, faster than I could react. He tackled me to the ground, his hand wrapping around my throat.

“You’re in my way, Jace,” he hissed. “And I don’t let anyone stay in my way.”

I struggled against his grip, panic flooding my senses as he tightened his hold.

“Michael!” I croaked.

Before Oliver could do more damage, Michael launched himself at him, tackling him off me. The two of them rolled across the ground, grappling fiercely.

Adelle, clearly conflicted, hesitated before finally stepping back. “I’m not part of this,” she muttered, watching the fight unfold.

Michael pinned Oliver, his fists flying. “You don’t touch him again,” he snarled, his usual calm replaced by raw fury.

Oliver, grinning despite the hits, shoved Michael off with surprising strength and reached for the relic.

“Not so fast!” I shouted, scrambling to my feet.

With a burst of adrenaline, I dove for the relic just as Oliver’s fingers grazed its surface. The moment I touched it, the room exploded with golden light. The constellations above us swirled violently, and the relic’s energy surged through me like a wildfire.

When the light faded, the words MUTANT TRACE appeared in glowing green above Michael's name and mine. Oliver stood frozen, disbelief etched on his face as the words NEGATIVE TRACE appeared above him. “No!” he shouted, his voice breaking. “This isn’t right!” Felicity was also shown to have the MUTANT TRACE.

The disembodied voice returned, cold and final. “The relic has been chosen. The trial is over.”

Michael pulled me to my feet, his expression a mix of relief and pride.

“We did it,” he said, clapping me on the back.

Oliver glared at us, his face dark with rage. “This isn’t over,” he spat before storming out of the chamber. "Congratulations, even if it was just a fluke, "Felicity said to me as she walked out. As the chamber dissolved around us, the simulation ended, leaving me with one thought - it was only the beginning.

A silence was heard except for the sound of footsteps of Scarlett coming to the podium. She took the microphone in her hand.....