A group of people wake up in a video game world and are forced to work together to survive and find out how to escape.

The truth will set you free.

Chapter 27 recap

The wind picks up, icy and relentless, whipping my hair into my face. I close my eyes, steadying my breathing.

“I can do this,” I whisper to myself, trying to summon even a shred of determination.

But as I look back down the path, the weight of the journey ahead presses down on me. Every step feels heavier, every breath more strained.

Just keep going, I tell myself. For them. For Lyra. For all of us.

Chapters 28

“Just a little further,” I murmur to myself, my voice barely audible over the howling wind.

The words feel hollow, but I keep saying them, clinging to them like a lifeline. My legs feel like they’re made of lead, every step heavier than the last, but I force myself forward.

The path twists sharply ahead, descending into another stretch of jagged rock and uneven snow. The air feels thinner here, each breath coming in sharp and cold.

Just a little further.

My hands brush against the icy wall beside me as I walk, using it to steady myself when my legs threaten to give out. My fingers are numb now, but I can’t stop. Not yet.

The bottom of the mountain feels closer, but at the same time, impossibly far. My body screams for rest, for warmth, for anything other than this endless, brutal cold.

But stopping isn’t an option. Not anymore.

“When we come back here to leave this place,” I mutter to myself through chattering teeth, “I’m definitely buying a new cloak. The biggest one I can find.”

The thought is almost laughable, considering how miserable I feel right now. But it’s a goal—a silly, simple thing to cling to while I keep pushing forward.

I think back to Kaida lending me her sash, Lorien sharing his cloak with me, the others always trying to make sure I was warm enough. They shouldn’t have to do that. I need to take better care of myself, even if I don’t plan on staying here forever.

The cold wind cuts through my tunic again, making me shiver violently. “Big, warm, heavy cloak,” I whisper. “Maybe lined with fur. No, definitely lined with fur.”

A sharp gust of wind nearly throws me off balance, and I press myself against the rocky wall, my heart racing. Focus, Artemis. Keep going.

The thought of walking into a shop, trying on some ridiculous, oversized cloak, and maybe even hearing Kaida teasing me for how dramatic it looks—it’s enough to make me smile for a moment...

All I’ve done since I got here is push myself. Push them. To keep going, to find out what’s happening, to find a way to leave. I’ve forced us into danger over and over again.

~Brash. Impulsive. Reckless.~

If I’d been more careful, maybe I wouldn’t have left them and gone on that stupid mission alone. Maybe I wouldn’t have Shade in my head.

But if I hadn’t…

I wouldn’t have survived the first fight with the knight.

The memory of that fight flashes in my mind—his blade swinging down, the fall, his attacks so overwhelming I could barely think. Without Shade, I’d be dead. And now… now I’m stuck wondering if he saved me, or just trapped me in something worse.

What would they even say if they knew about him? Would they still trust me?

My foot slips slightly on the icy path, and I catch myself against the rock. The cold feels sharper now, biting into my skin as if punishing me for every bad choice I’ve made.

I should’ve been more careful all along. I should’ve thought things through before dragging all of us into this mess. Kaida, Veyron, Hrothgar, Lorien…

I clench my fists, the snow stinging against my palms. If anything happens to them because of me…

But another thought pushes its way into my mind. Would I even still be alive without them? Would I have lasted a single day here alone?

I sigh, the guilt and exhaustion wrapping around me like a second layer of cold. No. I wouldn’t have.

So now I just keep pushing forward, because what else can I do? I’ve already dragged them this far, and if we’re going to make it out, I need to keep going. I just… I need to make better choices. For them. For me. For all of us.

And maybe that starts with actually being honest. Eventually.

And now I’ve made them stay—to find Lyra first. Was it really all about her? Or did I just not want to lose them by going back?

~Selfish. Liar. Fraud.~

I convinced them we could find her, save her, bring her back with us. I made them believe it was possible.

~Traitor. False prophet. Judas.~

If anything happens to them, it’s my fault. Not just because I’ve been leading them, but because they could have already been home if not for me. I kept pushing, kept dragging them along with me.

And Lyra… I’m the reason she even got taken by that heart. I’m the one who led us down there, the one who trusted Selric. I thought that was our way out, that it had to be something important.

~Desperate. Sloppy. Delusional.~

My legs feel weaker as I think about it, each step harder than the last.

What if they head back to that cave before I reach them? Trying to save me, just like I convinced them we could save Lyra?

They can’t fight those things. They couldn’t even see them properly in the dark. And the way those creatures moved… the way they wanted me…

I shudder, forcing myself to keep going.

I can’t let them go back there. I can’t let them get hurt because of me again.

But the ache in my chest grows heavier with every step. No matter how far I run, I can’t seem to outrun this crushing guilt.

~Weak. Inept. Alone.~

I’ll always end up alone in the end, won’t I? Whenever I try, people fail me or I fail them. It’s a cycle, and no matter how hard I fight it, it always ends the same.

Maybe I should just stop trying. What difference does it make? At least if I don’t try, I don’t have to deal with them leaving me.

The thought sits heavy in my chest, wrapping around me like the cold. It would be easier, wouldn’t it? Easier to pull back, to stop pushing myself, to stop caring so much.

But then I see their faces in my mind. Kaida’s teasing smirk. Hrothgar’s steady smile. Veyron’s sarcastic grin. Lorien’s… everything.

I can’t just give up on them.

Maybe I do suck at this. Maybe I’m not a good leader or even a good friend. But I care about them. And they care too. I’ve seen it in the way they’ve stood by me, even when I didn’t deserve it.

Even if I mess up again, even if I make mistakes… I won’t stop trying. Not for them. Not for me.

I push myself forward, each step feeling just a little less heavy.

I just need to do better. Be stronger. Faster. Smarter.

My pace picks up as the thought echoes in my mind, driving me forward. The exhaustion clinging to my body doesn’t feel so heavy anymore.

I need to protect them. Myself. I need to stop messing up.

Better decisions, better choices. No more letting fear control me. Fear of this world, fear of my friends finding out about Shade, fear of how I feel, fear of these monsters and beasts.

Fear of people like the knight.

No.

Brave. Strong. Smart.

This world won’t break me. It can’t break me. I’ve survived too much already to let it.

I force my legs to move faster, each step crunching against the snow-covered ground. My muscles ache, but I don’t stop. I can’t stop.

Not until I reach them. Not until we’re all safe.

Whatever this world throws at us next, I’ll face it head-on. Because that’s what they need from me. That’s what I need from me.

I’ll tell them.

I’ll tell them everything—what happened with the knight, the creatures in the cave, and everything about Shade.

They need to know. They deserve to know.

I can’t keep letting fear stop me. I can’t keep hiding from them, pretending everything is fine when it’s not. They’ve trusted me through all of this, followed me even when I didn’t deserve it. The least I can do is trust them too.

I take a deep breath, my chest tightening as the weight of the decision settles on me. They might be scared at first. They might not understand. But… they’ll listen. They have to.

Kaida will roll her eyes and demand I explain it all in the simplest terms possible. Hrothgar will probably give me that quiet, thoughtful look of his, the one that says he’s already thinking ten steps ahead. Veyron… well, he’ll have something sarcastic to say, no doubt.

And Lorien…

My stomach twists slightly, but I push the thought away. He will understand. He has to.

I need to trust that they’ll see me for who I am, not just what’s inside me. That they’ll understand I didn’t choose Shade, but I wouldn’t be here without him.

No more lies. No more pretending.

I’m scared, but I can’t be scared anymore. Not of this. Not of them.

They’re my friends. My family.

And I have to believe that they’ll stand by me. No matter what.

We’ll go to the Nexus. We’ll find Lyra. We’ll escape this place.

And we’ll expose whoever’s behind this. All of it.

Anyone else trapped here will be freed. We’ll make sure of it.

And we’ll be safe—all of us, together.

The words hang in the air, and for the first time in what feels like forever, I believe them. I have to believe them. Because if I don’t, what’s the point?

I force myself to keep moving, each step feeling lighter as the thoughts swirl in my head.

Together. We’ve made it this far, and no matter what this world throws at us next, we’ll face it. Together.

Before much longer, I make it to the bottom of the mountain, the snow finally giving way to rocky dirt and patches of dry grass. The biting cold still lingers, but it’s nothing compared to what it was higher up.

Now I just have to find them.

First things first—I need to figure out where we came up the mountain and where we were heading down before we got separated. Maybe I can spot some tracks. If they went back up, if they headed somewhere else, anything.

After a bit I spot some familiar scenery.

I scan the ground carefully, moving slowly and keeping my focus on every detail. The wind hasn’t completely erased everything, not yet, but it’s scattered enough that I have to crouch down to really look.

The sled tracks are faint, but they’re there, leading away from the mountain path.

I follow the tracks a bit further, my heart sinking when I find the sled shattered against a large rock. Splinters of wood and torn pieces of fabric scatter the area, evidence of the crash.

The momentum must have taken them all the way here.

But… where are they now?

I glance at the faint footprints leading away from the wreckage. The snow thins out here, making it harder to see where they went, but the prints are just visible enough to follow.

My stomach twists as I stare at them. They’re alive. They had to have walked away from here.

But why didn’t they stop? Did they think I was dead? Or… were they trying to find me?

I shake the thoughts away, crouching to examine the prints more closely. A mix of sizes—definitely theirs. Kaida’s lighter steps, Hrothgar’s heavy boots...

They kept moving, just like I am now.

Where were they going? And why?

They didn’t go back up, and they didn’t stay put at the sled. The footprints just… end.

Was something following them? Chasing them?

I crouch down, staring at the faint impressions left in the shallow snow. They’re already fading, and there’s nothing else—no signs of a fight, no tracks from anything else. Nothing to explain why they kept moving or where they went.

Something had to have happened.

There’s no way they’d leave me behind—not without knowing I was alive, not without some kind of plan. Hrothgar would insist on staying together. Lorien… he’d never leave me.

So why does this feel so wrong?

I stand up, brushing dirt off my hands, and look around again. The landscape is barren, just endless dirt and rock stretching into the distance. The silence feels heavier now, pressing down on me.

Did they think I didn’t survive?

No. They wouldn’t give up on me that easily. Not them.

But then why did they leave?

My chest tightens as the questions swirl in my mind, each one without an answer. I take a shaky breath, trying to steady myself. Focus, Artemis. They’re out there. You just have to find them.

I’ll just keep going.

The tracks might be gone now, but I know the direction they were heading. That’s enough for now.

I force my legs to move, even though every part of me feels like collapsing. My body aches, my head pounds, but none of it matters. Not as long as I keep going.

The path ahead is rocky and uneven, twisting between patches of dirt and jagged terrain. I keep my eyes forward, scanning for anything—a sign, a clue, anything to tell me I’m on the right path.

The horizon feels endless, stretching out far beyond what I can see. Each step feels heavier, but I push through it, my breath steady as I whisper to myself.

“Just keep going.”

The words are quiet, almost drowned out by the wind, but they keep me moving.

Step by step.

I stop for a moment, closing my eyes and trying to sense them again.

Still nothing.

The emptiness makes my stomach drop. What if there’s nothing wrong with my ability to sense them? What if they’re not…

No. Stop.

I shake my head, forcing the thought away. They’re fine. They’re probably just somewhere I can’t reach right now. Maybe they took a minute to come up with a plan, like Hrothgar would.

I glance ahead, noticing a patch of trees not too far from here. It’s sparse, but enough to provide cover.

That has to be it. If they thought those shadow creatures were still following, they might’ve taken shelter there. It’s smart. Safer than staying in the open.

I steady my breath and start moving toward the trees, my steps a little quicker now. The thought of finding them—of seeing their faces again—gives me just enough energy to push forward.

You’re fine. You’re all fine. Just let me catch up.

The sun has almost fully risen now, casting long shadows through the sparse trees as I move deeper into the patch of woods. The light feels warm, but it does nothing to ease the knot in my chest.

“Hello?!” I call out, my voice hoarse and cracking slightly. “Guys?! Are you here?”

The sound echoes off the trees, but there’s no response. Just the rustling of leaves and the distant whistle of the wind.

I push forward, my eyes darting around the trees, searching for anything—a flash of movement, a familiar face, even a trail left behind.

“Kaida?! Lorien?! Hrothgar?! Veyron?!”

My voice rises in desperation as I call their names. Still nothing.

Come on… you have to be here somewhere. You have to be.

I pause for a moment, listening intently, but all I hear is the pounding of my own heart.

This feels all too familiar… just like in the castle when I disappeared into the darkness and couldn’t find them.

Shade gone. No direction. No answers.

Did I ever really leave that place?

The thought chills me more than the mountain air ever could. Did I actually escape, or was everything after an illusion?

The orb… me and Lorien… leaving the cave… It had to have been real. Right?

The doubt claws at me, and I can’t hold it in anymore. I scream, the frustration, fear, and exhaustion pouring out all at once.

“Artemis?!”

The voice is faint but clear, cutting through my spiral of thoughts like a lifeline.

I freeze, my breath catching. “Lorien?”

“Artemis! Where are you?!”

My legs move before I can think, pushing through the trees toward the sound. “I’m here! I’m here!”

I stumble over roots and rocks, but I don’t stop. My chest burns, and my voice cracks as I call out again. “Lorien?!”

“Artemis!” The voice grows louder, closer.

I burst through a small clearing, and then I see him. Lorien, his spear in hand and his face filled with relief.

“Artemis!” He rushes forward, closing the distance between us in seconds.

I barely manage to choke out his name before his arms wrap around me, pulling me close. “I thought we lost you,” he whispers.

“You guys are okay!” I say, relief flooding through me as I hold onto Lorien.

“Us?” he says, pulling back slightly to look at me, his voice tight with emotion. “We didn’t know if you were okay! Those things grabbed you, and then the sled… we couldn’t stop it…”

The others step into view from behind him, both looking just as relieved and exhausted. Kaida crosses her arms, her usual sharp tone softened by concern. “We thought you were… gone. We didn’t know what to do, Artemis.”

Hrothgar nods, his face somber. “We kept moving, hoping maybe you got away somehow. We’ve been looking for you, and trying to figure out what’s to do and...”

“You’ve been looking for me?” My voice wavers, and I can’t help the small, broken laugh that escapes. “I thought… I thought I’d never find you.”

“We’d never leave you,” Lorien says firmly, his hands still on my shoulders. “Not for anything.”

“Even if it meant fighting those things?” I try to smile, but my voice cracks.

Kaida sighs, stepping closer. “We barely got away as it was. If they hadn’t lost us…” She shakes her head. “What were those things?”

I hesitate, glancing away. “I… I don’t know exactly. But they weren’t just monsters.”

Lorien’s brow furrows. “What do you mean?”

My heart sinks. It’s time to tell them. Everything.

“Can we all just sit for a minute? There’s… some stuff I’ve gotta explain,” I say, my voice trembling slightly.

Everyone exchanges glances but eventually sits down around me. The tension is palpable, but I force myself to start.

“Back in that dungeon,” I begin, swallowing hard, “when there was the shadow creature… When I was trying to lead it away, I thought it got destroyed, but… part of it didn’t.”

Kaida leans forward, her face etched with confusion.

“Part of it survived. In me,” I admit, my hands gripping the edge of my tunic tightly.

That gets a reaction. Hrothgar sits up straighter, and Veyron tilts his head, the smirk on his face completely gone.

“That’s why I ran off,” I continue, trying to keep my voice steady. “I… I was scared. Scared it would hurt you guys.”

“Artemis…” Lorien’s voice is soft, but I don’t dare look at him yet.

“But it—it’s not bad,” I say quickly, before anyone can say anything else. “It’s the only reason I’m still alive. It’s saved me. Repeatedly. Every time I’ve almost died, it’s been there.”

Kaida’s eyes narrow. “The arrows… The ones you said were special?”

I nod. “They weren’t special arrows. That was from it. From Shade.”

“Shade?” Veyron echoes, raising an eyebrow.

“That’s what I call him,” I explain. “He’s been with me since then.”

The silence is deafening, but I keep going, forcing the words out before I lose my nerve.

“That’s how I knew there was something in the cave. I could feel them. That’s why I said we had to run, because… because he said we couldn’t beat them.”

I finally look up, meeting their eyes one by one. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I was scared you wouldn’t trust me. Or that you’d think I was dangerous. But… you all deserve to know.”

“And yeah,” I say, glancing at Kaida, “I didn’t get a new ability called Shade, like I told you before. That was just… me trying to cover my slip-up.”

Kaida’s eyes widen, her lips pressing into a tight line. “You lied about an ability?”

“I didn’t know what else to say!” I blurt, holding up my hands. “I was panicking, okay? I didn’t want you all to know about Shade. I didn’t know how to explain it, and I was afraid of how you’d react.”

Kaida crosses her arms, her expression a mix of frustration and hurt. “Artemis, you’re our leader. If there’s something going on—something that could affect all of us—you have to tell us.”

“I know,” I say softly, my voice shaking. “I know, Kaida. That’s why I’m telling you now. I can’t hide it anymore. You deserve to know everything.”

The silence that follows is unbearable. My chest tightens as I wait for someone to say something—anything.

Veyron leans back against a tree, letting out a low whistle. “So, let me get this straight. You’ve had some shadow… thing in your head this whole time? It’s been helping you, and you just didn’t mention it?”

“I… didn’t think you’d understand,” I admit, my gaze dropping to the ground. “I thought you’d be scared of me.”

Lorien reaches out, placing a hand on mine. “We’re not scared of you, Artemis. We’re your friends. You could’ve trusted us with this.”

“I wanted to,” I whisper, looking up at him, my eyes stinging. “But I was terrified. And now, with everything that’s happened, I don’t even know if you can forgive me.”

The group falls silent again, the tension thick in the air. I can barely breathe as I wait for their response.

“I mean, that’s not so bad,” Hrothgar says, his deep voice calm and reassuring. “I mean, it’s not controlling you or anything, right?”

I hesitate, my breath catching as I try to find the words.

“Well…” I trail off, my voice barely above a whisper.

Kaida’s head snaps toward me, her eyes narrowing. “What do you mean well?!”

I glance at Lorien, then at the others, before looking down at my hands. “It’s… complicated. Shade doesn’t control me—not really. But sometimes… it’s like he can influence me. Push me in certain directions.”

Kaida’s jaw tightens. “Influence? Like how?”

“There was one time, back in the castle,” I say, my voice trembling. “I wasn’t strong enough to keep going, and Shade… he took over. Just for a little bit. To help. He’s… saved me more than once that way.”

Hrothgar’s expression softens slightly, his eyes narrowing. “So, it’s not like he’s forcing you to do things you wouldn’t want to, right? Just… stepping in when you’re in trouble?”

I bite my lip, debating how much to reveal. “He… doesn’t force me. But sometimes it’s like he knows things I don’t. He’s not exactly… forthcoming about what he wants or why.”

Veyron lets out a sharp laugh, though there’s no humor in it. “So, we’ve got a shadowy freeloading passenger in your head who’s not even giving full disclosure? Great. That’s reassuring.”

Kaida crosses her arms. “Artemis, do you trust him?”

I glance away, my voice barely audible. “I… ye-… I don’t know.”

The silence that follows is deafening. Lorien finally speaks, his tone calm but firm. “Artemis, we’ll figure this out. Together. You’re not facing this alone.”

I look at him, my chest tightening. “Even now? After everything I just told you?”

He squeezes my hand, his eyes steady. “Even now.”

My mind flashes back to the forest—to the player Shade killed. Not doing things I wouldn’t… now at least, I think.

I shift uncomfortably. “We… made a deal. To work together. I set rules, and, well, he’s actually followed them so far.”

“So, he’s in your head right now? Talking to you?” Veyron asks, raising an eyebrow.

“Well… no,” I admit, shaking my head. “After those things in the cave… he… he commanded them to leave, somehow. And ever since then, he hasn’t said anything.”

Kaida frowns. “Nothing? Not a word?”

“Not since then,” I say, my voice quieter now. “Or… at least I believe he hasn’t. I thought he was talking when I was coming down the mountain, encouraging me, but now…” I trail off, biting my lip. “I may have just been hallucinating. I don’t know anymore.”

Kaida’s expression tightens. “Artemis, you can’t keep hiding stuff from us like this. How are we supposed to help you if you’re not honest?!”

“I know,” I say, my voice cracking. “I know, Kaida. I’m not trying to hide things anymore. That’s why I’m telling you everything now.”

“Everything?” Veyron asks skeptically, his arms crossed. “Because if you’re leaving out anything else, now’s the time to spill.”

I clench my fists. “I’m not hiding anything else. You know everything now. About Shade, about what happened in the dungeon, about those creatures…”

Hrothgar leans forward, his voice gentle. “Artemis, no one’s saying we don’t trust you. But we can’t afford to have secrets between us. Not out here. Not with everything we’ve been through.”

“I get it,” I say, looking at each of them. “I promise. No more secrets.”

Lorien’s hand tightens on mine, and he looks at me with quiet determination. “We believe in you, Artemis. Just… don’t shut us out again.”

“I won’t,” I say, my voice firm this time. “I swear.”

Kaida lets out a long sigh, glancing at Veyron. “Well, guess we’ve got a shadow passenger along for the ride. Wonderful.”

“I mean, it’s not boring,” Veyron says with a smirk.

“Not the time,” Kaida snaps.

Hrothgar stands, his heavy presence calming the room. “For now, we know the truth. That’s what matters. Let’s focus on what’s ahead of us.”

“I also… ran into that knight,” I say, my voice quiet but steady.

The words immediately grab their attention. Lorien’s head snaps toward me, his hand tightening instinctively on his spear. Kaida freezes, her face going pale, and Veyron straightens, his smirk vanishing.

“What!?” Kaida says, her voice laced with panic. “You ran into him? Are you okay? What happened?”

“I’m fine,” I say quickly, holding up my hands to calm them. “He didn’t… hurt me. Not really.”

“Not really?” Lorien echoes, his voice sharp. “Artemis, what does that mean?”

“He… found me,” I admit, my gaze dropping to the ground. “When I fell off the sled, I ended up near his camp. He could’ve killed me, but he didn’t. He… let me go.”

“Let you go?” Veyron says, his disbelief clear. “Why would he do that? The guy’s been hunting us!”

I take a deep breath, trying to steady myself. “He wanted information. About the castle. About the orb. He said he didn’t know what the way out for us was, and he wanted me to tell him.”

Kaida’s jaw tightens. “And did you?”

I hesitate, then nod. “I told him the truth. That the orb said we’d have to give up a part of ourselves to escape. I figured… if he tried it and it worked, he’d be gone. And if it didn’t… well, we’d be far away.”

“That’s… risky,” Hrothgar rumbles, his expression grim.

“It was the only choice I had,” I say defensively. “I was tied up, exhausted, and unarmed. If I didn’t give him something, he probably would’ve killed me.”

Lorien steps closer, his eyes searching mine. “And you’re sure you’re okay? He didn’t… do anything to you?”

“I’m fine,” I assure him, though my voice wavers slightly. “Really. He didn’t touch me. He just… talked.”

Kaida crosses her arms. “And you trust that he’ll actually try the orb and leave us alone?”

“I don’t trust him,” I admit. “But if he’s as desperate to leave as he acts, then he’ll take the risk. It’s better than him continuing to hunt us, isn’t it?”

Veyron scoffs. “Better for now, maybe. But if it doesn’t work, he’s coming straight for us.”

“Then we’ll deal with him,” Lorien says firmly, his voice steady. He turns to me, his gaze softening. “You did what you had to, Artemis. Don’t beat yourself up over it.”

“Thanks,” I whisper, though the weight of it all still lingers.

Hrothgar stands, his expression resolute. “If he’s still out there, then we need to be prepared. Let’s get moving and stay ahead of him.”

“Oh, Kaida, here’s your… sash,” I say awkwardly, holding out the torn fabric to her.

Kaida blinks, taking it gingerly. Her eyes dart between the sash and me, her brow furrowed in confusion. “What happened to it?”

I glance away, rubbing the back of my neck. “He, uh… he tied me up with it. And then… well, he cut it off.”

Kaida stares at me for a moment before sighing, shaking her head. “Of course he did. Great. This was my favorite thing, you know.”

“Sorry,” I mumble, feeling a bit guilty.

“It’s not your fault,” she says, waving it off. “Not like you asked him to do that.”

Veyron smirks from where he’s leaning against a tree. “Wow, Artemis, first you borrow her sash, then you get it ruined. Real considerate of you. On top of everything else…”

“Not the time, Veyron,” Kaida snaps, glaring at him. “Seriously, learn to shut your mouth for once.”

Hrothgar chuckles, stepping between us. “Enough bickering. We’ve got bigger things to focus on.”

“Yeah,” I say, gripping the map tightly. “Let’s just keep moving. I’ll make it up to you later, Kaida.”

Kaida glances at the torn sash, then back at me with a small smile. “You’re already alive. That’s more than enough.”

End of chapter 28.