The knock came again. This time, louder—three sharp raps that seemed to echo a bit too long.
Kai paused with his hand on the handle. "Okay, weird vibe aside, I'm opening it."
He swung the door open.
But there was no one there.
Just the empty hallway, silent and still. No footsteps, no rustling—nothing.
Kai frowned. "...Huh?"
Luca stepped beside him, eyes scanning the corridor. "That doesn't make sense. We would've heard someone walking away."
Alexei stayed a few steps back, arms crossed. "You're sure it wasn't a prank? First day. New students. Some people like making dramatic entrances."
Kai scratched the back of his head. "Maybe. Still… felt off."
They stepped back inside, but as soon as the door closed, the room lights flickered—once, twice.
Then silence.
Luca looked to the ceiling. "Faulty wiring?"
"Doubt it," Alexei murmured. "This place is new. And expensive."
Kai flopped onto his bed. "Well, either way, I'm not gonna lose sleep over a ghostly knock. Let's just unpack and chill."
But Luca wasn't ready to let it go. He felt it—the tension. The strange energy. Genesis Institute was already full of secrets, and now the game was truly beginning.
**
Later that night, after unpacking and a silent, awkward dinner in the common dining hall, Luca lay in his bed, staring at the ceiling. The dorm room was dark now, save for the pale light from Alexei's tablet. He sat cross-legged on his bed, reading silently, face bathed in soft blue glow.
Kai was snoring. Of course.
Luca sat up. "You're not tired?"
Alexei didn't look up. "I don't sleep well."
"What were you doing before Genesis?"
There was a pause.
Alexei turned the tablet off and set it aside. "Does it matter?"
Luca didn't answer.
But Alexei continued anyway, his voice low. "Everyone here wants to win something. Validation, power, escape. I came here because I needed to disappear."
Luca frowned. "From what?"
Alexei met his gaze, eyes unreadable. "From everything."
Before Luca could press further, a soft chime rang through the room.
A notification. From the Genesis Institute app, installed on every student's device.
Kai stirred in his sleep, mumbling something, but didn't wake up.
Luca grabbed his tablet. A message flashed on-screen:
> [MANDATORY NOTICE: CLASS F STUDENTS - MIDNIGHT TRIAL INITIATED]
Location: Sub-Level B3
Time: 00:15
Dress Code: Combat Prep
Non-attendance = Expulsion
Luca's eyes widened. "A trial? Now?"
Alexei stood, already pulling on his boots. "Of course. They want to see who breaks first."
Luca rose, grabbing his jacket. "Then we don't give them the satisfaction."
Alexei looked over his shoulder and gave a faint smile.
"Good. Let's see what they've prepared for us."
Luca and Alexei made their way down to Sub-Level B3 in silence, their footsteps echoing in the empty, dimly lit halls. The tension between them was palpable, but neither of them spoke a word. It was as if the strange energy from the knock earlier still lingered, hovering over them.
When they reached the entrance to the testing area, they were met by Dr. Marcus Havel, standing at the doorway with his usual stoic expression.
"Glad you could join us," Dr. Havel said, his voice colder than usual. He glanced briefly at the two of them before turning his attention to the rest of the students, who were gathered in small groups, looking around in confusion and anticipation.
"All students from Classes C to F, listen up. Tonight marks the first of many trials you will face. Physical tests, designed to push you to your limits. Do not expect any leniency. Those who perform poorly will be eliminated," Dr. Havel continued, his eyes scanning over the group.
Luca felt the weight of his words settle into the pit of his stomach. No one had mentioned anything about elimination this early.
"Get in line," Dr. Havel ordered.
The students shuffled into an organized line, and as Luca stood there, he couldn't help but notice the various expressions—some nervous, some eager, and some stone-faced, like Alexei. But there was no sign of fear in his eyes. Just a quiet certainty.
"First test will be a series of endurance runs," Dr. Havel announced, walking to the front of the group. "I trust you all understand what's at stake. Physical strength, stamina, mental fortitude—this is where you will prove yourselves."
Luca's heart began to race. He wasn't exactly in peak physical condition, but he wasn't a slouch either. He could push through. He had to.
The whistle blew, and the students were directed to start running laps around a large circular track. One by one, each student pushed themselves to keep up with the pace.
Luca tried to ignore the growing ache in his legs and the tightening in his chest as he pushed forward. But then, just as he was about to fall behind, he felt a familiar presence beside him. Alexei had fallen into step with him, his calm expression unwavering.
"Don't fall behind," Alexei murmured, glancing at him briefly.
Luca glanced at him, surprised. "You really think this is just about running?"
Alexei smirked, his voice low. "It's never just about the running. Keep your head in the game."
As the laps continued, the students' faces became more strained, sweat pouring down their foreheads. Some of them stumbled, but Dr. Havel's cold gaze followed every movement, making sure no one slacked off.
After what felt like an eternity, Dr. Havel blew the whistle again, signaling the end of the test. The students were all gasping for breath, their bodies dripping with sweat.
"Impressive," Dr. Havel said, his tone devoid of any praise. "But this is just the beginning. You'll face worse before the night is over."
Luca wiped his brow, catching his breath, but his mind was already racing. Whatever came next, he had to be ready. And with Alexei by his side, maybe, just maybe, they could survive this trial.
The clock on the wall ticked past midnight.
And the real challenge had just begun.
Luca and Alexei stood together, still trying to catch their breath as the rest of the students filed off the track. It felt like every inch of their muscles was burning, but they kept their focus. The physical trial was far from over, and they knew it.
Suddenly, a familiar figure stumbled into view, huffing and puffing. It was Kai, looking completely disheveled, his face red with effort. He slowed to a stop beside them, clearly out of breath.
"Dude," Kai gasped, his hands on his knees. "I was this close to being late. You know how hard it is to find this damn place when you're still half asleep? And then I had to sprint here. That was... torture." He straightened up, wiping sweat from his brow, still panting. "Next time, you guys can just leave me behind."
Luca shot him a teasing grin. "You're still here. That's what matters."
Kai gave him a half-hearted glare. "Barely. But it's not over yet, right? I can feel my legs about to give out. This place is pure evil."
Before Luca could respond, a voice cut through the air.
"Mind if I run with you guys?"
A tall boy with messy brown hair approached them, a slight smirk on his face. His eyes held a cool confidence, and his posture radiated a subtle air of superiority. He wore the Class C uniform, and Luca recognized him immediately. It was Daniel Chevalier—a student known for his arrogance and somewhat aloof nature.
Daniel slowed to a walk, glancing over at them with a small chuckle. "I swear, you guys have a good pace. You're not as bad as I thought you'd be."
Luca exchanged a quick glance with Alexei, who remained as composed as ever.
"Sure," Luca said, though there was a hint of wariness in his voice. "You can keep up?"
Daniel's smirk deepened, and he shrugged. "I'm not the one gasping for air, am I?" He shot a look at Kai, whose face had shifted from annoyance to slight embarrassment.
"Whatever," Kai muttered, rolling his eyes. "But don't slow us down."
Daniel just laughed softly, falling into step beside them. As they began another round of laps, Luca couldn't help but feel the weight of the situation—the trials, the competition, the tension between students who had no idea what they were really up against.
With Daniel now running alongside them, the pressure only seemed to increase. There was something about his calm confidence that unsettled Luca. The more he ran, the more he realized: in this place, there were no easy answers. Everyone here had a different story, a different reason for being at Genesis. And if they were all going to make it out, they'd have to rely on more than just physical strength.
But for now, the race continued.
And the night was far from over.
Meet the characters revealed so far:
[GENESIS INSTITUTE - STUDENT FILE #C-019]
Name: Daniel Chevalier
Age: 14
Height: 1m85
Weight: 74 kg
Eyes: Deep green, with a sharp, calculating look
Hair: Short, messy dark brown hair with a slightly tousled look
Class: C Class
Nationality: French
Type of Student: Quiet Overachiever / Reluctant Leader
Hobbies: Parkour, chess, competitive running
Dislikes: Mediocrity, being underestimated, unnecessary drama
Notable Traits: Tall and lean, with a natural athleticism and poise that makes him stand out; a reserved yet confident presence; often seen observing rather than participating, but always ready to lead when needed
Quote: "I don't need to prove anything to anyone. But I'll still outrun you."