Chapter 5

Kieran's pov

My finger was literally a hair away from tapping the message when Nova suddenly hissed,

“Drop it.”

I blinked up at him. “What?”

He sat up on his bunk fast, eyes widening. “Kieran, I’m dead serious drop the damn phone.”

“But it’s a message from the Overseer. What if it’s important?”

He pointed behind me. “Look at the time.”

I glanced at the hologram clock glowing blue above the door.

7:59:50 PM.

7:59: 51.

7:59:52.

Nova’s voice went sharp. “Rule of Zones EVERYBODY must be in bed at exactly 8:00 PM. No standing. No walking. No talking. No screens. Nothing.”

“What kind of weird cult shit ”

“KIERAN.”

His tone snapped like a whip. “If you’re not lying down when it hits eight, the motion sensors flag you as ‘Non-Compliant.’ And trust me, you do NOT want to know what happens to non-compliant players.”

My stomach dropped.

7:59:58.

“Shit ”

I tossed the phone onto my bed and dove under the sheets.

7:59:59.

Suddenly the light went out.

Everything snapped black. Not even a moonlight.

Like someone erased the world.

A robotic voice echoed overhead:

“Zone 1 dorm 3 Sleep Cycle Initiated.”

Doors locked into place. The air vents shifted. A cold gust blew through the room, like sedative. My eyelids went heavy immediately.

Nova whispered from above, “Don’t fight it. Just sleep.”

I didn’t get the chance to argue. The darkness swallowed me.

NEXT MORNING

A blast of white light slapped my face.

“Rise and bleed, rookies!” Nova's voice shouted.

I groaned, sitting up. Nova hopped off the top bunk like his bones were made of steel.

“You good?”

he asked.

“No,” I muttered. “I feel like I got hit by a truck.”

“That’s the sleep gas. You’ll get used to it.”

I rubbed my eyes. “I really hope I do.”

“RISE UP, PARTICIPANTS. ZONE 1 DORM 3 – 06:00 AM – HYGIENE ROTATION.”

The boys groaned all around me. Some rolled off beds. Some cursed. Some stretched like they’d slept on rocks.

“Come on, sweetheart. Morning rush is wild.”

He dragged me toward a large sliding door at the end of our dorm.

“Where are we ?”

“The showers,” Nova said. “Our dorm shares one bathroom.”

“One bathroom?” I frowned. “how many dudes?”

He gave me a wicked grin. “Oh, honey. You’ll see.”

The door slid open

And holy hell.

Steam filled the massive bathroom. Dozens of naked guys were everywhere under showerheads, at the sinks, lounging on the benches. Some were wiping water off their abs like a slow ad commercial. Some were brushing their teeth like they had trauma.

And some…

Some were a little too close under the same shower stream.

One guy pressed another against the tiles, whispering something that made the other dude laugh shyly. Another pair were openly touching each other while pretending to “help wash each other’s backs.”

I stopped dead. “Uhh Nova… they’re ”

He shrugged. “It’s Erevos, babe. Life expectancy is like… forty-eight hours. People get lonely fast.”

“That does NOT make it less weird.”

Nova rolled his eyes. “Relax. They’re harmless. Most of them only do it when overwhelmed. Trauma response. Hormone dump. Panic bonding. Whatever you want to call it.”

“Panic bonding?” I snorted. “That sounds like bullshit.”

A guy moaned from one shower stall beside us.

Nova smirked. “Does that sound like bullshit?”

I covered my face. “I hate it here already.”

Nova shoved a towel at me. “Come on lets shower. I smell sweaty.”

The water hit my skin and instantly warmed me. I let out a sigh, washing off the sweat and grime from yesterday’s hellish maze. As i watched other guys kept flirting, touching, play-fighting, laughing like they weren’t imprisoned in a murder game.

It was weirdly normal.

We finished, dried off, put on our uniforms black tactical pants, fitted shirt and headed out.

THE “CAFETERIA”

“Welcome,” Nova announced dramatically, “to The Nourish Vault.”

I blinked at the glowing neon archway spelling it out.

“Bro… that sounds like a cult kitchen.”

He snorted. “Better than calling it a cafeteria.”

We stepped inside and my jaw actually dropped.

The place was HUGE like a shopping mall food court mixed with a sci-fi airport lobby. Massive holograms danced above us showing menus, digital flames, animated dishes. People filled every table hundreds of them.

“Jesus,” I whispered. “Why didn’t you tell me there were THIS many people?”

Nova flipped his hair. “Because you didn’t ask, sweetie.”

“Even without asking, you could have told me.”

“And I didn’t feel like saying anything.”

“Nova ”

“Shh. Food first. Arguments later.”

We grabbed trays and joined the buffet line.

And, holy shit

There was EVERYTHING here.

Steak cooked medium rare.

Glazed salmon.

Korean BBQ ribs.

Pasta tossed in cream.

Fresh sushi.

Fried chicken.

Even bowls of expensive fruits

dragon fruit, lychees, cherries, strawberries, mango slices.

“Are we in prison or a five-star hotel?” I muttered.

Nova smirked. “System says nutrition improves survival outcomes. Can’t have you dying from hunger before Round Two.”

We loaded our trays until my arms almost broke, then found a table near a glowing glass screen.

I took a bite of the steak.

My eyes rolled back. “Holy this is insane.”

Nova winked. “Erevos food is always top-tier. Now education time.”

He tapped my tray with his fork.

“See those tables over there?” he said, pointing to a group of guys wearing red-marked uniforms. “Zone 2. They’re cocky but dumb.”

He pointed at another group wearing blue patches. “Zone 3. Smarter but aggressive. Don’t mess with them unless you want a broken nose.”

“What about Zone 10?” I asked, scanning the room.

“They don’t eat with us,” Nova said. “They’ve got their own private dome at the top there. Only the chosen are allowed in.” he pointed up.

“Chosen?” i muttered looking up.

He nodded. “The elites. The strongest. The top survivors.”

I swallowed a bite. “So what happens if someone makes it to Zone 10? Like… what then? What’s the endgame?”

Nova leaned back, twirling a fork between his fingers.

“If you make it to Zone 10…” he said slowly, “you get a chance to find your lifeline key.”

“And that does… what exactly?”

“It’s supposed to send you back to the real world,” he said. “A fresh start. New life. New version of you. Better version.”

“You don’t sound too sure.”

Nova shrugged. “Nobody’s ever made it out. So that last part is just the rumor mill talking.”

I stared at my tray. “So we’re fighting for something that might not even be real.”

“Welcome to Erevos,” Nova said. “Where hope is the biggest scam of all.”

I huffed a laugh. “That’s depressing.”

“Depressing is waking up next to a demon mecha trying to claw your face off. This is fine.”

Then

a shadow fell over our table.

Nova’s expression softened instantly.

“Well, well,” he purred, “look who finally crawled out of Zone 3.”

I looked up.

A tall guy with amber eyes and messy brown hair stood over us, hands in his pockets. Muscles. Tattoo on his collarbone. Cracked lip. The casual, bored expression of someone who’s seen too much.

“Nova,” he said, voice deep and smooth. “Still loud as hell, I see.”

Nova jumped up and hugged him tight. “Aiden! You bastard, you didn’t tell me you got sent back to Zone 3!”

Aiden hugged him back with one arm, smirking. “Kinda hard to text when your comm got fried.”

Nova pulled away dramatically. “Text me with your soul, idiot.”

Aiden chuckled, then looked at me.

“And who’s this?”

“Kieran,” Nova said proudly. “My new roommate.

Aiden scanned me slowly, assessing.

Not mocking judging look.

“Not bad for a fresh arrival,” he said. “You’ve still got fear in your eyes, though. That’ll get you killed.”

“Nice to meet you too,” I muttered.

Aiden smirked. “Relax, newbie. I don’t bite.”

Nova mumbled, “That’s a lie. He totally bites.”

Aiden flicked water at him. “Shut up.”

Then he caught my gaze again.

“You better stick close to Nova,” he said. “Erevos eats rookies alive.”

“Yeah, I’m starting to realize that.”

Aiden nodded once, then looked at Nova. “I’ll catch you later. Got a briefing.”

Nova blew him a kiss. “Don’t die, sweetheart.”

Aiden winked and walked off, girls and guys alike staring at him like he was pure trouble.

Nova flopped back into his seat. “God, I missed him.”

“You two were…?”

He shrugged. “Roommates. Training partners. Occasional kissers.”

I blinked. “I’m sorry what?”

Nova waved a hand. “Relax, we barely touched tongues. Also, he’s straight. Mostly.”

I dragged my hands down my face. “This place is insane.”

Nova stabbed a piece of salmon. “Welcome to Erevos, babe. If the system don’t kill you, the drama will.”

I laughed despite myself.

For the first time since waking up here…

Erevos didn’t feel completely impossible.

Dangerous?

Yes.

Insane?

Absolutely.

“Yoooouuu bitch!!“ a scream echoed.

Nova’s eyes widened.

“Oh hell talking of drama,” he smirked. “Show’s about to start.”

Nova jerked his chin. “Come on, Kieran. This is good shit.”

We pushed through the crowd until it cleared enough to see.

Two girls stood on top of one of the metal tables.

Both drop-dead gorgeous.

Both ready to tear each other’s heads off.

Right between them on the table was a stolen cafeteria knife.

“What the hell’s going on?” I whispered.

Nova answered like this was normal. “Zone 10 drama. Lyria and Rhea been fighting for weeks.”

“Over what?”

He turned to me, raised a brow like I was dumb.

“Over Kael, obviously.”

My stomach clenched when I heard that name. The Zone 10 Supreme. The same man I saw before I died.

“That guy?” I muttered. “Why him? He looks like a stuck-up psycho.”

Nova snorted. “Yeah, well, most girls in every Zones especially Zone 10 think he’s the hottest thing alive. Dangerous. Strong. Cold. That walking red flag shit? They eat it up.”

Rhea yelled suddenly, voice cracking, “You think he wants YOU? You think Kael even looks at you?!”

Lyria laughed, cruel and loud. “He doesn’t just look, bitch. He wants me. That’s more than he ever did for you.”

The entire cafeteria gasped.

Someone muttered beside me, “Aw hell, she didn’t have to say it like that…”

Another boy whispered, “Lyria's been mentoring Keal for like a month. Rhea’s losing her mind over it.”

Rhea lunged.

It was fast she grabbed the knife first but Lyria blocked her, slammed her hand down on the table so hard the whole thing clanged.

“Try it,” Lyria hissed. “If you want to die before the next trial, DO IT.”

Rhea screamed and shoved her, sending both of them crashing off the table. They hit the ground, rolling, scratching, pulling hair, punching whatever they could hit.

People yelled, cheering like this was a UFC match.

Nova leaned in. “Zone 10 girls are wild as hell. Don’t piss them off. Especially not over Kael.”

“Those many people like him?” I asked.

Nova nodded. “They don’t like him, Kieran. They obsess over him. He’s strong, he’s smart, he’s the face of survival here. Everyone wants a piece of him.”

I clutched my shirt.

I didn’t like the sound of that.

The fight kept escalating Rhea got on top and slammed Lyria’s head against the floor; Lyria kicked her off and clawed her shoulder, leaving visible marks.

Their uniforms ripped. People whistled. Some yelled for security. Some yelled for the Overseer to let them fight.

Finally, six armored guards rushed in, pulling them apart like they were wild animals.

Rhea was still screaming.

“I’ll kill her! I’ll fucking kill her! Kael is mine!”

Lyria spat blood on the floor. “Dream on, clingy bitch. He chose ME.”

The guards dragged them in opposite directions, both still fighting to break free.

The entire cafeteria buzzed like a beehive.

Nova exhaled dramatically. “Whew. Damn. Zone 10 girls never disappoint.”

I rubbed the back of my neck, still staring. “Is it always like this?”

“Not every day,” he shrugged. “But anytime Kael gets involved?”

He pointed at the mess on the floor.

“This is the result.”

I felt a chill go through me.

If Kael had this much effect on the highest-level girls…

If he controlled everything in this place…