Chapter 10: Unexpected Changes

Just when we thought we understood the test, a man in a suit appeared. “Everything has changed,” he announced. “One thousand questions have become 100,000. The time limit is now twenty-five days. Food and shelter will be provided, but you cannot leave.”

My stomach twisted. Twenty-five days of continuous testing? But Mateo, Ofurd, and Kamil were ready. They divided tasks, maintained focus, and stayed calm.

We were given devices to answer questions electronically. The rules were strict, mistakes punished severely, and teamwork mandatory. I felt a strange confidence. We had survived so much already; we could survive this too.