July 1st, 8:00 AM – Kairon's Room
Kairon was asleep, curled under the thin blanket, soft morning light slipping through the blinds.
[Speaker crackles to life]
"Good morning, students. Please report to the Assembly Hall immediately."
Kairon groaned, dragging himself out of bed.
"Ugh… already?" he muttered, yawning as he shuffled into the bathroom.
---
Assembly Hall – Moments Later
All the students stood in perfect rows, divided by class and gender. Buzzing murmurs echoed in the hall. Kairon stood next to Aria, still half-asleep.
"Morning," Kairon yawned.
Aria glanced at him. "You look like a zombie. Didn't sleep?"
"I did… just late."
Aria raised an eyebrow. "I stayed up reading, but I still slept early. What were you even doing?"
Kairon smirked. "I was socializing. Unlike you, I don't live in a cave."
Aria scowled. "Excuse me?"
Before the bickering could escalate, the teachers stepped onto the stage.
At the front stood:
Mr. Nathaniel – Class C
Mrs. Sora – Class B
Miss Elira – Class D
Mr. Shawn – Class A
Mr. Shawn stepped forward, voice amplified by the mic.
"Good morning, students. There will be no classes today."
Gasps. Whispers.
"Another free day?"
"Seriously?"
"Sweet!"
Miss Elira stepped forward, frowning.
"Settle down. Let's not jump to conclusions."
Mr. Shawn nodded. "Thank you, Miss Elira. What you'll be doing today… is a test."
The hall fell silent.
"Huh? A test?!"
"But we weren't told anything!"
Aria sighed. "Of course. Surprise tests. It's the academy's thing. Good thing I studied."
Kairon stretched. "It's probably not written. If it was, we'd be in class."
"…True," Aria mumbled.
Mr. Shawn raised his hand. "Miss Elira will explain the rules."
Miss Elira held up a sleek smartwatch, the school's emblem glowing on the screen.
"For this test, all phones will be collected. Instead, each of you will be given one of these. These watches track your movement. Everything will be monitored from the control room."
Students groaned.
"Breaking rules or removing the watch results in immediate failure."
Two men began distributing the watches. One per student. Cold metal, tight fit.
Mr. Shawn continued, "You will now be assigned into groups."
Miss Elira read from a tablet.
---
Group 1
Aria Nyre
Ivy Draelin
Gabriel Ironhart
Evelyn Starcrest
Lizzy Grey
Tobias Greystone
Silas Darkmoor
Jasper Holloway
Group 2
Kairon Vale
Ren Yuga
Adams Albert
Dorian Ashford
Seraphina Moonshade
Jasper Holloway
Group 3
Lucien Crowe
Riven Halden
Ronan Firebrand
Alina Stormbreaker
Nathaniel Ravenscar
Isabella Fairwind
---
Kairon glanced at Aria. "Looks like we're in different groups."
"Good," Aria replied. "I'm sick of coincidences."
Kairon raised an eyebrow. "Harsh."
She leaned closer. "Just 'cause I'm not there doesn't mean you get to slack. If you fail, I'll expose you to the whole class."
Kairon chuckled. "Looking forward to that."
Miss Elira finished. "Proceed to the gate. Your buses are ready."
---
At the Gate
Kairon stepped out. Miss Elira stood by the exit, arms folded.
"I expect great things from you, Kairon."
He didn't stop walking. "You'll be disappointed."
She smiled. "We'll see."
---
On the Bus
Kairon took a window seat. Trees blurred past. Wind rattled the glass.
He closed his eyes. Slept.
---
Unknown Grounds – Afternoon
The bus halted. Kairon blinked awake as the doors hissed open.
Students stepped out, eyes wide.
The place was massive—North Sector Grounds. An abandoned training facility. Old walls, rusted gates, and forest lining the edges.
Mr. Shawn spoke.
"Rooms are assigned by group. Boys and girls will have separate restrooms. Room numbers will be sent to your watches."
Kairon's watch buzzed: Room 5.
"Five again… lucky number, huh?"
---
Room 5 – Evening
The room was large but plain. Mats on the floor. One wall divided the genders. No beds. Just bags, mats, silence.
Kairon changed into his home clothes, sat back, and stared at the ceiling.
---
6:50 PM – Dining Table
The group sat around their tables. The food was untouched. Everyone glanced at each other, tense.
Suddenly, their watches buzzed.
RULES:
Each group has 6 members.
1 is a traitor.
You may vote once to expose them.
Vote correctly = group passes.
Vote wrong = group fails.
Or… choose to vote no one.
The room fell into stunned silence.
---
Tension Sparks
Adams stood. "Let's stay calm. No accusations. No rash decisions."
Ren scoffed. "Who made you group leader?"
Seraphina sighed. "Please, not now. We'll only make things worse."
Kairon leaned back, watching Seraphina quietly.
"She's from Class A…" he muttered to himself, spotting her gold badge.
"It's just the first night," Kairon said aloud. "Let's not panic yet."
His voice was calm. But his eyes—sharp, calculating. Watching.
---
Midnight
The lights dimmed.
Most lay down. Some snored. Others pretended to sleep.
Kairon? He watched.
Dorian moved.
Soft steps. Careful.
Kairon narrowed his eyes.
Dorian knelt beside Seraphina. Reached for her bag. Slipped the key card out.
Then he moved to the corner—Kairon's bag.
He unzipped it. Hid the watch. Closed it. Tiptoed back to bed.
Kairon waited… one minute… two.
Then he moved.
He pulled the stolen key card out, and crept over to Ren's bag—the one labeled "C-Leader."
Slipped it in.
Back to bed.
Eyes closed.
"Now let's see how you play, Dorian."
---
Morning – 7:00 AM
Panic exploded.
"My key card!" Seraphina shouted. "It's gone!"
Adams stood. "You sure?!"
Ren barked, "Bag check. Now!"
Everyone opened their bags.
Then—
"Uh… Ren?" Jasper mumbled. "Is this…?"
He held out the stolen key card.
From Ren's bag.
Dorian blinked in mock confusion. "Wait… how did that…?"
Kairon stayed silent. Observing.
Ren growled. "It was supposed to be in his bag…" His eyes darted to Kairon.
The room burst into shouts.
"You planted it!"
"Liar!"
"Calm down!"
"It was you!"
Kairon just leaned back.
He glanced at the small camera in the corner of the ceiling.
Then muttered with a smirk:
"Funny how trust crumbles over one missing watch…"
And just like that—
The first seed of betrayal was sown.