Phased out

 Darkness.

Then—a sharp breath.

Karlos' eyes fluttered open.

His body felt heavy, sluggish—like waking up from a deep, dreamless sleep. But the moment he regained consciousness, he didn't care about himself.

Ethan.

He turned immediately, eyes locking onto his unmoving form.

"Ethan!"

Karlos crawled closer, ignoring the stiffness in his limbs. His hands grabbed Ethan's shoulders, shaking him with urgency.

"Wake up, man! Come on!"

A few seconds of stillness—then, a slow inhale.

Ethan's eyelids fluttered. A deep, instinctive breath filled his lungs as his mind crawled back to awareness.

For a brief moment—he felt... refreshed.

But then—

Pain.

His body remembered.

A sudden wave of exhaustion, soreness, and raw aches crashed into him all at once. His muscles burned, his bones felt weighed down, his skin stung with the wounds from before.

His expression tightened, a low groan escaping his throat as he forced himself up.

Karlos held out a hand, steadying him.

Ethan took it, his breath still uneven. He blinked, adjusting—first to Karlos, then to wherever the hell they were now.

And then—

His eyes widened.

His breath hitched.

"...Oh my god..."

Because what he saw—

Was beyond anything he had ever imagined.

The cold hit them first.

A sharp, metallic chill seeped through their skin, sending a shiver up their spines.

Karlos and Ethan lay motionless, their bodies pressed against something hard, something freezing.

Metal.

Their fingers brushed against the surface, rough and uneven—rusted. The sharp, biting scent of iron and decay filled their lungs as their minds slowly caught up with their surroundings.

Ethan stirred, his limbs aching. The exhaustion from before still clung to him, but he forced himself upright.

His breath hitched.

The dim, suffocating glow of red lights bathed the world around them. Flickering, pulsing—unnatural.

Karlos was already awake, scanning the area with narrowed eyes.

The bridge.

They were on a metal bridge.

Not a narrow one—wide enough for five, maybe six people to stand side by side. But the sight of it made their stomachs twist.

The rust. The decay. The failure.

Steel beams stretched endlessly, some bent, some broken. Long, jagged metal rods jutted out from the ground like the bones of a dead structure.

A failed construction site.

But the worst part wasn't the bridge itself.

It was the silence.

No wind. No movement. No life.

Just the red glow reflecting off rusted steel, and the cold metal beneath their fingertips.

Karlos exhaled sharply, breaking the silence.

"What the fuck is this now…?"

Ethan barely swallowed back his unease. His voice was lower, almost uncertain.

"I absolutely have no idea."

Slowly, they got to their feet.

Ethan's boots clanked softly against the metal as he took careful steps toward the right side of the bridge.

Something felt off.

A deep, unnatural unease crawled over his skin before he even reached the edge.

And then—

He looked down.

His breath caught in his throat.

Nothing.

Not a floor. Not a bottom.

Just—darkness.

A void so deep it felt wrong.

The red light from above didn't even reflect.

It was as if the abyss swallowed everything.

Ethan staggered back instantly, heart pounding.

"KARLOS—" His voice was sharp, urgent. "WE ARE ON A FUCKING FLOATING BRIDGE."

Karlos' brow furrowed. "What?"

Confused, he stepped forward as well.

When he reached the edge, his breath shuddered.

He peered down.

And for a moment—

His mind refused to process what he was seeing.

There was no depth. No distance.

Just an endless, devouring black void.

His fingers twitched slightly as he whispered:

"...What the..."

His voice was barely audible.

"It's just..."

His pupils dilated, his breath unsteady.

"...so dark down there."

Ethan's pulse was still uneven. His mind struggled to process the vast, metal wasteland around them—the twisted beams, the oppressive red glow, the endless void below.

This wasn't freedom.

This wasn't an exit.

His hands clenched into fists, his jaw tightening.

"I thought..." his voice wavered slightly, carrying both frustration and uncertainty. "I thought we would get out after pressing that button."

Karlos let out a sharp exhale, shaking his head.

"No..." His voice was firm. "Did you not hear the speech? Whatever the hell was playing in our minds?"

Ethan's expression darkened.

"I did." He rubbed his temple. "I'm still confused about what it means."

A brief silence stretched between them. The air felt heavy.

Then Ethan muttered, almost to himself:

"I do have a rough idea."

Karlos' gaze flickered toward Ethan, then back to the vast metal graveyard they had been thrown into. His head tilted slightly upward, then downward—analyzing. Calculating.

"This is Phase 1."

Ethan glanced at him. "Yeah?"

Karlos' eyes narrowed. His voice was steady, but the weight of realization was settling in.

"Everyone was divided into different phases."

Ethan blinked, his mind clicking into place.

"That's what the voice said..."

Karlos nodded. "It said, 'You will not walk the same path.' Which means..."

His breath slowed.

"Everyone has been sent to a different phase."

A cold chill ran through Ethan's spine. His hands instinctively clenched as the thought solidified.

"But then...?" His brows furrowed. "Why name them in an ordered way? Like Phase 0, Phase 1?"

His voice was laced with frustration.

"That just sounds completely stupid."

Karlos exhaled sharply, nodding.

"Agreed."

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

The dull, rhythmic buzzing of the overhead red lights filled the silence.

Then, Karlos' expression shifted slightly—his posture relaxing just a bit.

Something felt... different.

Lighter.

His body wasn't aching as much. His breath was steady. The deep, crushing exhaustion from Phase 0—was fading.

His eyes widened slightly.

"Ethan..." His tone was almost questioning. "Don't you feel... less exhausted here?"

Ethan hadn't noticed it until Karlos pointed it out.

His muscles weren't screaming in pain. The relentless fatigue that had clung to him like a second skin was gone.

He blinked. "Yeah..." His voice carried a hint of surprise. "You're right."

Karlos' mind began racing again. Piecing together the puzzle.

And then—he reached a conclusion.

His voice was calm, steady—almost certain.

"So every participant is divided into different random phases. Like, we are in Phase 1, but others might be in Phase 26, or 10, or... who knows?" His eyes flickered with thought. "We don't even know how many phases there are. We're just assuming."**

Ethan stayed silent, listening.

Then, Karlos' gaze sharpened.

"That means..." He looked around, scanning the vast emptiness.

"There have to be other people in this phase."

Ethan's breath steadied, finally catching on.

Karlos continued, voice firm.

"I think we should focus on finding them... and escaping together."

Ethan nodded at Karlos' plan.

Then, a thought hit him.

His brows furrowed. He hesitated for just a second before speaking.

"Wait!"

Karlos turned to him, confused.

Ethan's voice was sharp, questioning.

"You said during Phase 0, there was a rule book. Let's just call it a rule book for now."

Karlos blinked, then nodded. "Yeah?"

Ethan's gaze flickered around their surroundings—the floating bridge, the endless void, the twisted beams.

"It was at the starting point, right?"

Karlos paused for a second, then nodded again. "Yeah. Right when we woke up."

Ethan gestured around them, his tone growing more certain.

"But this place..." His voice trailed off as his eyes scanned the desolate bridge.

His expression hardened.

"It just looks like it has nothing here."

Karlos exhaled sharply, finally catching on. "Where could it even be? We're literally standing on a floating metal bridge."

Ethan's eyes narrowed.

"But it has to be somewhere, right?" His voice carried conviction now.

Karlos said it himself—this game was too detailed to break its own rules.

"You yourself said it," Ethan continued. "The game is too well-designed to go against its own mechanics. If there was a rule book in Phase 0... and if they don't give us one here, wouldn't that technically go against their own system?"

Karlos was quiet.

Thinking.

Then, after a moment—he exhaled.

"You're right."

His expression sharpened, his posture steady.

"Let's try to find that rule book first."

Ethan nodded. Determined. Focused.

And so—their first real search in Phase 1 began.

Ethan and Karlos searched.

Their boots clanked against the rusted metal as they walked along the edges of the bridge, scanning every inch of the platform.

They checked near the beams. Nothing.

They walked a little ahead, hoping the rule book had just fallen somewhere. Nothing.

They scanned the entire surface of the bridge—at least, the starting area.

Still nothing.

Ethan exhaled sharply, frustration creeping into his voice.

"Damn… could it actually be that there's no rule book here?"

Karlos stopped in place, his expression hardening.

A pause.

Then—he sighed.

"No idea, man. This is actually kind of annoying me right now."

He turned, taking a frustrated step forward—

CLANG.

"FUCK!"

Karlos jerked back, grabbing his foot. His face twisted in pain. He had stubbed his toe on a metal bar.

Ethan blinked—then snorted softly.

Karlos looked up at him, still holding his foot.

And then—he smiled.

For the first time since waking up here, the air between them felt lighter.

They were frustrated. Tired. Confused. But at least—they weren't alone.

Maybe…

They really could survive.

Together.

Karlos scoffed, shaking his head before letting out a soft, amused laugh.

Ethan chuckled too.

For just a second—the weight on their shoulders felt a little less crushing.

The last echoes of their laughter faded, leaving only the distant hum of the red lights and the unsettling silence of the abyss below.

Ethan, still catching his breath, felt something stir in his mind—a realization, a wild possibility.

It was absurd.

But was anything not absurd in this nightmare?

His smile faded as his eyes sharpened with thought.

"Hey, Karlos…"

Karlos turned to him, his usual confident expression still relaxed after their brief moment of relief.

"Yeah? Wassup?"

Ethan hesitated for just a second, his tongue pressing against the inside of his cheek as he tried to find the words.

Finally, he exhaled.

"Don't you think it's weird that we're literally on a floating bridge?"

Karlos blinked at him. "Uh… yeah? We already established that."

"No, I mean—" Ethan rubbed his hands together, his nerves making his movements slightly restless. "I mean… it might not be the case as I'm thinking, but…"

A deep breath.

He finally spoke the thought aloud.

"What if the rule book is actually at the bottom of the bridge?"

Silence.

Karlos' head tilted slightly. "The bottom?"

Ethan nodded. "Yeah. What if we have to literally climb down to find it?"

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Karlos' eyes narrowed slightly, running the thought through his head. It was crazy. Completely ridiculous even.

But at the same time…

Was it?

A snort escaped his lips. Then—a chuckle.

Then—a full laugh.

Karlos ran a hand down his face, shaking his head. "Damn, man." He exhaled. "Even I didn't think of that. That is pretty unlikely, as you said, but… it's worth a try."

Ethan blinked.

He hadn't expected Karlos to just accept his suggestion so easily.

But he did.

Something in his chest felt lighter.

For once, it wasn't Karlos taking the lead. It was him.

A realization settled in Karlos' mind, one he didn't say out loud—

"Good. He's starting to feel motivated."

Karlos had never seen Ethan voice his opinions so openly.

Sure, he had fought alongside him. Survived alongside him. But making decisions? That was different.

Ethan had always been reactive. Following the flow. Doing what was necessary to survive, but never really…stepping forward.

And now?

Here he was.

His mind running ahead, thinking past just surviving and looking for solutions.

Even if the idea was reckless. Even if the idea led nowhere.

It still meant something.

And that?

That made Karlos proud.

Even in the worst possible situation, Ethan was growing.

Karlos let out another small laugh, this time softer. "Alright, then. Let's see if we can actually get down there."

For the first time since they arrived in Phase 1, Ethan felt like he belonged in this fight.

The idea was there.

The logic made sense.

But the execution?

That was the problem.

Ethan and Karlos stood at the edge of the bridge, peering down into the abyss below.

The red light above them was dim. It barely reflected anything.

Below?

There was nothing.

Just blackness. Deep. Endless. Unforgiving.

A place where light didn't reach. A place where sound was swallowed whole.

Karlos shifted uncomfortably. He felt like the darkness was staring back at him.

His fingers twitched slightly. His breath was steady, but his gut felt wrong.

Finally, he spoke.

"Uhm… Ethan… Are you sure we want to do this?"

His voice wasn't mocking or doubtful. Just… cautious.

Ethan didn't take his eyes off the void.

He took a deep breath, his hands clenching and unclenching.

"Well..." He exhaled. "That's the only place left to search now, Karlos."

Another beat of silence.

Neither of them moved.

Then—something clicked in Karlos' mind.

His eyes flicked to the side, scanning the bridge where they had woken up.

And there—

Still lying on the cold metal, untouched since their battle—

Were Unguibus' claws.

A weapon. A trophy. A tool.

Karlos' head snapped back toward it, an idea forming in his mind.

Karlos' eyes stayed fixed on the sharp, curved claws lying on the bridge.

Then, he spoke.

"Ethan, we'll use those curves on Unguibus' claws."

Ethan furrowed his brows. "Huh?"

Before he could ask, Karlos had already moved.

He rushed toward the claws, his boots clanking against the metal. Kneeling, he carefully gripped one, making sure not to slice his own fingers on its wickedly sharp edge.

It was massive.

Almost half his height. The sheer length and weight of it felt unnatural, yet perfect for what he had in mind.

Ethan's mind clicked. He finally understood.

Karlos turned back to him, explaining quickly.

"We'll wedge the curved end between the two metal rods at the bridge's edge. That'll secure it in place."

Ethan nodded slowly, analyzing the plan. So far, it made sense.

Then Karlos added—

"And you're still wearing the same pants from the office, right?"

Ethan blinked. "Uh... yeah?"

Karlos pointed at his waist.

"We'll use your belt. Tie it around the other end of the claw and use it to climb down. But—" he paused, making sure Ethan was fully listening, "we have to be very careful and coordinate with each other. If we mess up…"

A sharp exhale.

"I might fall."

Ethan froze.

His brain latched onto those words.

"I."

"I might fall."

Wait.

Wait.

"Karlos, you're gonna go down!?"

His voice wavered slightly.

Karlos just nodded.

The plan made sense. The idea was solid. But the risk?

Ethan's stomach twisted.

Because suddenly, this wasn't just a theory anymore.

This was real.

This was life or death.

Karlos' eyes stayed fixed on the sharp, curved claws lying on the bridge.

Then, he spoke.

"Ethan, we'll use those curves on Unguibus' claws."

Ethan furrowed his brows. "Huh?"

Before he could ask, Karlos had already moved.

He rushed toward the claws, his boots clanking against the metal. Kneeling, he carefully gripped one, making sure not to slice his own fingers on its wickedly sharp edge.

It was massive.

Almost half his height. The sheer length and weight of it felt unnatural, yet perfect for what he had in mind.

Ethan's mind clicked. He finally understood.

Karlos turned back to him, explaining quickly.

"We'll wedge the curved end between the two metal rods at the bridge's edge. That'll secure it in place."

Ethan nodded slowly, analyzing the plan. So far, it made sense.

Then Karlos added—

"And you're still wearing the same pants from the office, right?"

Ethan blinked. "Uh... yeah?"

Karlos pointed at his waist.

"We'll use your belt. Tie it around the other end of the claw and use it to climb down. But—" he paused, making sure Ethan was fully listening, "we have to be very careful and coordinate with each other. If we mess up…"

A sharp exhale.

"I might fall."

Ethan froze.

His brain latched onto those words.

"I."

"I might fall."

Wait.

Wait.

"Karlos, you're gonna go down!?"

His voice wavered slightly.

Karlos just nodded.

The plan made sense. The idea was solid. But the risk?

Ethan's stomach twisted.

Because suddenly, this wasn't just a theory anymore.

This was real.

This was life or death.

The silence between them felt heavier than the void beneath their feet.

Ethan's heart pounded, not out of fear—but something deeper.

Something warmer.

Karlos was really going to do this.

Ethan's lips parted, his breath uneven, his mind screaming at him to stop this before it started. But before he could speak—

Karlos placed a hand on his shoulder.

Not forcefully. Not to restrain him.

Just enough to steady him.

His grip was firm, strong—reassuring.

"I already made you play with your life before in Phase 0," Karlos said, his voice steady, filled with something Ethan couldn't quite describe. "Let me do this one."

Ethan's body tensed.

He wanted to argue. To tell Karlos that this was different.

That if something happened, if Karlos fell, he wouldn't be able to live with it.

But before the words could leave his lips—

"Wait, but—"

Karlos cut him off.

His hand squeezed Ethan's shoulder, not in a controlling way—but as if to remind him that he was here. That he was alive. That he would be okay.

"This was your plan, right?" Karlos' tone wasn't mocking, wasn't doubtful—just matter-of-fact. "You didn't hesitate to take the risk in my plan."

Ethan's breath hitched.

Karlos' eyes shone under the dim red light.

There was no hesitation. No doubt.

Only trust.

A deep, unshakable trust.

One Ethan wasn't used to receiving.

One that, despite the horrors around them, felt... good.

"I'll trust you on this," Karlos continued. "And I'll take the risk in your plan as well."

Ethan froze.

Karlos' words sunk deep—deeper than any injury, deeper than any fear.

Trust.

Not just in his choices.

Not just in his ideas.

In him.

His chest tightened—not with panic, not with dread—but with warmth.

Karlos was willing to put his life in Ethan's hands.

And for the first time, Ethan wasn't scared of that responsibility.

His body relaxed.

His breathing slowed.

His fingers clenched once—then loosened.

And then—he nodded.

Not out of obligation. Not out of uncertainty.

But because he believed in Karlos just as much as Karlos believed in him.

Karlos' lips curled into a small smile.

"Alright then," he said, rolling his shoulders. "Let's get to work."

Ethan exhaled softly.

And for the first time since this nightmare began—

he didn't feel like he was surviving alone.

The moment was here.