314 Phantom Chamber -5

As Adam stood among the tombstones, his mind reeled, trying to make sense of William's accusations. He looked at the names engraved on the stones, each one a painful reminder of lives lost, lives he couldn't remember taking.

Everything seemed real to him.

"I... I don't understand," Adam whispered, his voice barely audible over the weight of his guilt.

William's anger seemed to dissipate, replaced by a profound sadness. He knelt beside Adam, his expression pained. "You were supposed to be there, Adam. You were supposed to protect them," he said, his voice choked with emotion.

Adam's heart clenched as memories began to surface, fragments of a past he had tried to bury. Flashes of laughter, of children playing, of his promise to keep them safe flooded his mind. But alongside those memories were darker images, ones he couldn't comprehend – scenes of chaos and destruction, of fire and screams.

"I... I don't remember," Adam murmured, his voice trembling.

William's gaze softened, his anger giving way to empathy. "You were there, Adam. You were there when the fire consumed the orphanage. When the children cried out for help, you were nowhere to be found,the bandits burnt the whole placed down." he said, his voice heavy with sorrow.

Adam's chest tightened with each word, the weight of his failure crushing him. He had always considered himself a protector, a guardian for those who couldn't defend themselves. But now, faced with the reality of his absence during their darkest hour, he felt like a failure.

"I'm sorry," Adam whispered, his voice choked with tears. "I'm so sorry."

William's eyes glistened with tears as he placed a hand on Adam's shoulder. "It's too late for apologies, Adam. The damage has been done," he said, his voice filled with grief.

But Adam couldn't accept that. He couldn't bear the thought of living with the guilt of what he had supposedly done.

He was scared of losing.

And just at that moment, while Adam was grieving, William silently came right behind him. He put his hand on Adam's both shoulders in a consoling manner and leaned in towards his ear.

Unlike before, William's eyes were completely devoid of anything—not pure white or just dark, but there was no eyeball in the eye socket.

Adam didn't notice. His mind felt cloudier with dark thoughts that kept on as he cursed himself internally.

The sky turned dark, and rain came pouring down like bullets falling on the ground, obscuring the sight.

William's voice, just like a whisper, passed by Adam. He said, "They wanna see their brother."

Adam took a second to register, but before he could, William spoke again, "Talk to them, tell them how you killed them."

Adam felt his heart pounding as he shook. It felt like he was ensnared by the voice.

"Tell them their Hero failed, Adam," William let go of Adam while pushing him forward. Adam slid on his knees.

Staring at the tombstones, a hand popped out of one of the tombs, followed by another, and then another as they just kept popping.

As the hands emerged from the earth, Adam's breath hitched in his throat. Each hand grasped at the air, reaching out as if seeking something—seeking him.

A face popped up,it was the girl that greeted him when he entered the grounds of Orphanage but in current condition Adam wasn't able to tell that.

The rain continued to pour down relentlessly, soaking Adam to the bone as he knelt among the tombstones. His mind was a whirlwind of confusion and despair, unable to comprehend the surreal scene unfolding before him.

"Speak to them, Adam," William's voice urged from behind, cutting through the sound of the rain. "They're waiting to hear from you."

Adam's hands trembled as he struggled to find his voice. He knew he had to say something, to confront the accusations laid upon him, but the words caught in his throat like shards of glass.

"I... I didn't mean to," Adam finally managed to whisper, his voice barely audible over the pounding rain. "I didn't know..."

But his words were drowned out by the anguished cries of the hands emerging from the earth. Each one seemed to bear the weight of a lost soul, a reminder of lives cut short by tragedy.

"Tell them the truth," William's voice insisted, his tone harsh and unforgiving. "Tell them how you failed them."

Adam's heart felt like it was being torn apart as he stared at the outstretched hands. Memories flashed before his eyes—memories of laughter and joy, of innocent faces filled with hope. But alongside those memories were darker images—images of smoke and flames, of screams echoing in the night.

"I'm sorry," Adam choked out, his voice thick with emotion. "I'm so sorry..." He repeated.

But his apology was met with silence, broken only by the relentless drumming of the rain. The hands continued to reach out, their silent accusation hanging heavy in the air.

[Ren Hilton POV.]

'How long this lame-ass dude gonna take? He's been the longest one in there?' asked Blaze. I know for a fact it'd be over anytime soon.

On the holographic screen showed the kneeling figure of Adam as he looked into the ceiling, smoke chains surrounding him. It was creepy, like a Halloween setup.

C R A C K

Something like a claw came right from the ground below him while it clutched his neck and banged his head on the floor.

"WHAT'S HAPPENING TO HIM!" Isolde immediately shouted. "Get him out of there! Now!"

Eldric stayed silent for a while before moving his lips and uttered, "He's unconscious. Get him out before the Chamber does something else."

This was the first time he has actually said something about taking out the student. Otherwise, he just leaves it to the teachers.

Adam was given the biggest nightmare that he could have ever imagined, being taken away from his family.

It from now on changed him from a person who cares for only his people to a person who cares for everyone... mid-character development if I had to say. Anyways, Isolde, Erik, and Vexa ran towards Adam who was taken out. He looked... in tough condition.

Professor Night took him out of there to the medics.

"Deserved," I heard from behind.

Aron stood there with a big ole smile on his face like he enjoyed that. Damn, he hates that guy to the core.

Eldric's voice cut through the tense atmosphere, breaking the somber silence. "Let this be a reminder to all of you," he began, his tone solemn. "The Phantom Chamber is not to be underestimated. It has the power to delve into your deepest fears and insecurities, to challenge you in ways you never thought possible."

"In the face of adversity, you must remain vigilant," Eldric continued, his voice resonating with authority. "You must draw upon your inner strength and resilience to overcome the challenges that the Chamber presents. Remember, you are not alone. Your fellow students are here to support you, just as you are here to support them."

"Is what he's saying true?" asked Blaze. "Like it ain't that hard if I had to say."

Well, it depends. In-game, Imperial Academy has lost this round by one point, and this time the whole team's different, so we don't know the outcome of anything... it's unpredictable.

"Vexa Velcrow!" Eldric called.

I raised a brow, but looking at Eldric, he looked like I heard him right - another one from the team directly?

Vexa stepped out. Erik gave her a thumbs up, while Isolde patted her back. Her gaze swept across everyone, to me, and then she walked towards me.

What is she doing?

She came really close, and in a very small voice, she asked, "What should I do?"

Eh? Why's she asking me that?

"I don't..." I paused. "Just don't forget, everything is a lie. Nothing is true, even if you feel it is - it's all a big lie." I just gave her words that I thought might be useful.

She nodded to herself as she left - no thanks, huh?

I could feel a lot of gazes on me.

As Vexa walked away, a sense of unease settled over me. Why did she ask me for advice? Was she unsure of herself, or did she simply trust my judgment? I couldn't shake off the feeling that there was more to her question than met the eye.

She walked into the chamber and the Chamber closed itself immediately and-

Before even I could turn my gaze to the screen, I saw her silhouette disappearing and then with a loud bang that can be even heard outside the chamber- She was slammed into nearest wall that had grown multiple spikes that were foot long, pierced her body from top to bottom.

S I L E N C E

As if nothing has happened, Vexa peeled herself off of the wall- no blood or bruises, she's given a physical task I guess.

T U K

And then, Vexa's arm dropped down on the floor.

"Tf?"

I saw Vexa pick up her arm from the ground and swing it from one side to another like a baseball bat but immediately the hand that had held the other flailing arm.. dropped down too.

"This one is.... actually fucked up." Blaze muttered.

What is Chamber trying to do now? I had no idea what was happening to Vexa now.