Gabriel lingered near the counter, eyes struggling to adjust to the darkness pressing in around the hub.
If I wander off like this, I'm going to smash my shin into a chair.
He turned back to Arthur. The android was still watching him.
"Arthur," Gabriel said, nodding toward the surrounding gloom. "Can I borrow that flashlight? Just so I don't break my neck."
Arthur hesitated for a moment.
Then he smiled and reached beneath the counter. "Of course. Please do remember to return it. I'll have flashlights added to the store."
"I will, thanks" Gabriel said, already taking it.
Hmm, he can add new items to the vendors, good to know.
He clicked the flashlight on.
The beam flared to life—and landed directly on a man sitting at a nearby table.
Gabriel flinched hard, heart slamming into his ribs.
"Jesus—"
The man didn't blink.
He sat slouched on the bench, elbows resting on the table, fingers loosely interlaced. The harsh white light illuminated his face fully — wide, bloodshot, sunken eyes, pupils blown, lips stretched into something that wasn't quite a smile.
He stared straight into the beam.
Uncaring.
Unbothered.
Unblinking.
"Take that flashlight," the man said calmly, voice rough and uneven, "and yourself, and get out of my face."
His eyes bored into Gabriel's — manic and sharp, like he was looking straight through him.
Gabriel swallowed.
"Right," he muttered, angling the beam away immediately.
He stepped back, pulse still racing, then turned and walked away without another word.
That guy… that was the thousandth contestant, Gabriel realised. The last person that arrived in the hub.
What the hell is he doing sitting alone in pitch-black darkness?
The thought crawled uncomfortably through his mind as he put distance between himself and the table.
He reached the wall, raised his hand, and knocked three times.
The surface rippled. A door formed.
Gabriel didn't hesitate. He pulled it open and stepped through, letting it seal shut behind him.
⸻
Thirteen hours later.
Gabriel was in the gym.
The space was brighter now, the artificial night cycle long since passed. The low hum of machinery filled the air, steady and controlled.
He was on a rowing machine, moving at a measured pace — legs driving back, arms pulling, breath steady. Not enough to exhaust himself. Just enough to wake his body up.
Warm the muscles. Loosen the joints. Get the blood moving.
He slowed, letting the handle slide forward, and glanced at the digital clock mounted high on the wall.
00:10:53
Ten minutes left.
Gabriel stood, rolling his shoulders once.
Almost time.
Most contestants were gathering at either side of the hub, where those weird, immovable doors were.
When Gabriel arrived at the closest side. There were already hundreds of contestants waiting, all murmuring to one another.
Gabriel tried to see if any of his acquaintances were around, but he couldn't find them.
None had approached the doors yet, most were standing close but didn't have the courage to enter.
Gabriel pushed through the horde, brushing past shoulders.
Is it still not possible to push open the doors? Gabriel thought.
By now he was at the front of the crowd. A large clock was above the twelve doors.
00:09:05
Cutting it close huh.
Gabriel walked up to the center most door.
Much of the murmuring stopped as people tried to catch a glimpse of what the black-haired tall man was doing.
There was no handle on the door. So Gabriel lightly pushed against it.
This time, to Gabriel's surprise, the door pushed in.
Inside was darkness, Gabriel stepped in and the door shut behind him without a warning.
Gabriel turned as the door shut completely. Now in pitch darkness.
After a few seconds, Gabriel felt the air… change. It felt, damper, and colder.
Light began to bounce off of a wall ahead of him.
He walked towards the light, leaving the dark room.
He went around the corner in order to see the source of the light.
It was the arena.
Gabriel was behind the infamous gate.
He felt a sudden rush of blood flow through his body.
Gabriel had been waiting for this moment for too long. Now that it was here. He was frozen.
Not out of fear. Out of excitement.
Alright, Gabriel, calm down. Don't get too excited and die on the first trial.
You must always have a plan.
A plan…
After a couple of minutes of silence, Gabriel muttered to himself. "Alright, that'll do."
Then the gate began to open.
It was time.
Gabriel walked out of his holding area into the arena.
It was a ruin, with cobblestone and moss just like the hologram from in his room, and from all the times he had viewed the broadcast.
Cobblestone walls surrounded the ruin.
Light rain pitter-pattered on the stone around him.
Gabriel looked up, toward the sky, where he knew many people would be watching him from.
A thud rang out, the gate Gabriel had came from closed.
Now, the other gate began to open.
Gabriel changed his stance. Prepared to run, or dodge.
The gate had fully opened by now.
A small green creature walked out. A goblin. Its light red eyes staring straight at Gabriel. It held a rusty dagger in its right arm.
It ran, dashing as quick as it could, barrelling toward Gabriel.
In seconds the goblin was within stabbing distance.
It lunged.
Gabriel stepped backward, and grabbed the goblins wrist with one hand, his other hand held the rest of the goblin back.
He twisted its wrist with all his strength, forcing it to drop the dagger.
He pulled it closer, it was now scratching his arms and leaning in to bite him like a feral creature.
Gabriel picked up the monster, and threw it into a pile of rubble nearby.
It howled in pain.
Gabriel casually leant down, and picked up the rusty dagger.
The goblin charged back at him, anger writhing in its eyes.
Gabriel slashed in one fluid motion.
The goblin fell to its knees, clutching it's neck, trying to stop the blood.
Gabriel pierced its eye with the dagger.
The goblin's arms fell to its sides, and then it came crashing down to the floor.
Behind Gabriel, the gate creaked open, signifying that the trial had ended.