Phased out

The argument between Ethan and Victor had left a lingering tension in the air.

The group stood in uneasy silence, the city's glow stretching infinitely below them. The tower loomed in the distance, impossibly tall, its presence suffocating even when ignored.

And then—

Nathan spoke.

"Victor has a point."

The shift was immediate.

Ethan's gaze snapped toward him, eyes narrowing.

"You agree with him?"

Nathan nodded, arms crossed, his face calm but unreadable. "We don't have time to waste."

The group stirred.

Alice frowned. "Nathan, you can't be serious."

Nathan exhaled, his voice firm. "Look, I get it. This place is incredible. It's safe. It's comfortable. But that's exactly the problem."

Victor smirked. "Ah, so you do have a brain after all."

Nathan ignored him.

He turned back to Ethan. "You know I'm right. We're stuck here, and this isn't some vacation spot. Just because this place looks perfect doesn't mean it's safe."

Ethan clenched his jaw.

He knew that.

He had known something was off about this place since they arrived.

And now, Nathan was just confirming it.

Then, another voice entered the conversation.

Ivy.

She had been quiet the entire time, sitting on the sidelines, observing. But now, she stepped forward, adjusting her glasses.

"Nathan's right."

Samuel's eyebrows lifted slightly. Ivy rarely spoke up.

But when she did?

You listened.

Ethan turned to her. "Explain."

Ivy's gaze flickered across the group before she spoke, her tone cold, calculated—too sharp to ignore.

"This place is a trap."

A heavier silence fell over them.

Even Victor, amused as ever, tilted his head slightly in interest.

Ivy continued.

"Think about it. This phase? It's beautiful. No threats. No rules forcing us to move forward. It's designed to make people comfortable. To make them want to stay."

"And that's exactly why it's dangerous."

Alice crossed her arms. "You think this place is meant to keep us trapped?"

Ivy nodded. "Not physically. But mentally? Absolutely."

Ethan's stomach twisted.

"Maybe…" Ivy paused, pushing up her glasses, her voice quieter now. "Maybe the main purpose of this phase is to get everyone so mesmerized by its beauty that they don't explore further. That they never explore further."

That hit.

Hard.

Milo, who had been leaning against the railing, suddenly straightened. "Wait, wait, wait. You're saying this place is, like… a giant distraction?"

Ivy didn't even hesitate. "Yes."

The weight of the realization settled over them.

Ethan exhaled sharply, staring out at the glowing metropolis.

It made too much sense.

He had felt it from the beginning—that something was wrong.

Why was this world so perfect?

Why was the air so crisp, so clean?

Why did the buildings lack decay, lack history?

Why did the stars not exist?

Why did this place feel so alive, yet so… empty?

Because it was never meant to be explored.

It was meant to be lived in.

To be settled into.

To keep them here.

Forever.

Victor let out a low whistle, clapping his hands together.

"Now that is a brain worth listening to."

Nathan nodded at Ivy, his respect clear. "You're right. It's too perfect. And nothing in this world is perfect unless it serves a purpose."

Ethan exhaled, his fingers twitching slightly. "And in this case… the purpose is to keep us from leaving."

Harper, who had been skeptical about exploring before, now looked deeply unsettled. "Shit."

Derek shook his head, rubbing his temple. "Damn. I mean… when you say it like that, it makes sense."

Lena frowned. "I liked this place better when it was just a pretty city and not a mind trap."

Milo scratched the back of his head. "So, uh, does this mean we have to leave?"

Ivy's gaze darkened. "If we don't, we might never."

That sent a chill through the group.

For the first time, even the ones who wanted to stay were rethinking it.

Ethan stared at the tower.

He didn't want to go.

It was too risky. Too unknown.

But staying here?

Now that he knew the truth, he couldn't unsee it.

He inhaled sharply.

Then, he turned back to the group.

"We can't stay here." His voice was firm, certain. "We need to move forward. Soon."

For once, Victor grinned without mocking.

"Finally, something we agree on."

Nathan nodded. "Then let's figure out how we're gonna do it."

The group was slowly coming to terms with it.

The comfort of this city was a lie.

The longer they stayed, the harder it would be to leave.

And as Ethan looked out at the skyline, at the false paradise stretching infinitely below them…

He made himself a promise.

They were getting out.

No matter what it took.

A heavy silence fell over the rooftop.

The realization of what Phase 11 truly was had just settled in. The illusion was shattered. There was no peace here. Only a gilded cage.

Nathan turned his head—his sharp, unwavering gaze landing on Ethan.

One by one, the rest of the group did the same.

At first, Ethan didn't notice. He was still lost in thought, staring at the skyline, his mind racing with the implications of Ivy's words.

Then—he felt it.

That strange pressure.

Like eyes boring into him.

He turned—and saw them all looking at him.

His brows furrowed. "Why is everyone staring at me?"

Alice, still standing close to him, took a small step forward.

Her voice was soft, almost hesitant—but expectant.

"Ethan… what do we do?"

Ethan's stomach dropped.

His lips parted slightly, but no words came out at first. His mind scrambled for an answer.

Why was she asking him?

Why were they all looking at him like that?

His pulse quickened.

"Why me?" He finally asked, his voice edged with confusion.

That's when Nathan spoke.

His voice was calm. Certain.

"Because you're the only one who's made it through two phases."

Ethan blinked.

"Wait you guys haven't faced two phases..?"

Samuel spoke "No... Actually we were directly teleported here after Phase 0 ended"

All this time Ethan had believed that they had the same situation as him.

Nathan spoke again "Only Owen has experienced another phase, but that phase too was not very dangerous compared to what you had said. No Monsters, just plain desert"

Nathan continued, stepping forward. "You've been here longer. You know more than we do. You've seen things we haven't."

Harper, arms crossed, nodded slightly. "And the speech after Phase 0… it put you on a pedestal. Whether you like it or not."

Derek scoffed, rubbing the back of his head. "I don't believe in all that 'hero' crap, but let's be real—you and Karlos did get out of Phase 0 alive. And then you survived Phase 1 too."

Milo, grinning but serious underneath, leaned in. "That's two more than the rest of us, bro."

Lena clasped her hands together, tilting her head slightly. "I mean, isn't it kind of obvious? You're above us in some way when it comes to experience."

Ethan's hands curled into fists.

That word.

"Above."

It felt wrong.

He wasn't above anyone.

He had barely survived.

He had watched Karlos die.

He had spent most of Phase 0 running and relying on someone else.

He wasn't some chosen leader.

And yet—

They believed it.

That hoax, that illusion created by the speech at the end of Phase 0, still lingered over them like a curse.

They were looking at him for answers.

Because they had none.

Ethan's throat felt dry.

He inhaled slowly, letting the wind cool his skin.

Then, he met Alice's gaze.

She wasn't forcing this on him.

She was just waiting.

Trusting.

Just like Karlos had, back then.

He closed his eyes for a brief moment.

Then, he exhaled.

"We leave."

A final decision.

No hesitation this time.

Nathan nodded, his expression unreadable—but there was a flicker of approval.

Alice smiled softly, like she had already known what he would say.

Victor chuckled. "Now this is getting interesting."

Samuel let out a slow breath. "Then we plan for it."

The group slowly relaxed, shifting from expectation to preparation.

And Ethan?

He didn't feel like a leader.

But in that moment…

He became one.

Whether he wanted to or not.

Ethan took a slow breath, steadying himself.

The weight of their expectations still pressed on him, but he pushed it aside for now. He couldn't afford to dwell on it—not when they had bigger things to worry about.

"For tonight, we rest," he finally said, his voice firm. "Tomorrow, we move."

The group exchanged glances.

No one looked surprised. It was the logical choice. They all knew rushing in now would be reckless.

Nathan gave a small nod. "Agreed. If we're going to do this, we need to be ready."

Ivy adjusted her glasses. "Sleep will be necessary. Mental clarity will matter more than physical strength."

Samuel crossed his arms, glancing at Ethan. "And what's the plan for supplies?"

Ethan exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. "We take only what we need. No excess weight. Weapons, water, maybe food if we can carry it without slowing us down."

Owen, the supply expert, gave a sharp nod. "I'll ration everything. We can organize it first thing in the morning."

Harper still looked uneasy, her arms crossed tightly. "And if something's waiting for us inside?"

Ethan's eyes flickered toward the tower in the distance.

Dark. Unmoving.

Watching.

"Then we deal with it."

A silence passed.

Victor grinned. "Now that's what I like to hear."

Milo stretched, letting out a dramatic yawn. "Alright, then. If we're walking into hell tomorrow, I'm getting some beauty sleep."

Derek snorted. "Yeah, not even sleep can help you, man."

Milo gasped. "Wow. Rude. Uncalled for."

The lightheartedness helped—even if it didn't erase the tension.

One by one, the group began to settle.

Alice, still by Ethan's side, tilted her head. "You okay?"

Ethan hesitated.

Was he?

He wasn't sure.

But he nodded anyway. "Yeah. I'll be better after tomorrow."

Alice smiled softly. "Then I guess we both will."

She turned, heading toward the exit.

Ethan took one last look at the city—the fake paradise that had tried to keep them here.

Then, his eyes locked on the tower.

A shadow against the night.

Waiting.

Tomorrow… they would enter.

And whatever was inside?

They would face it.

Together.