Unwrapped

Chapter 6: The Outsider

As we stared at Lirael’s trembling body sprawled in the hallway, the air was thick with panic. Thorne, Selene, and Caius were all talking over each other.

“Why the hell is she here if her trial’s not over yet?!” Selene snapped, pacing frantically.

“I don’t know!” Caius was pulling at his hair, his voice edged with hysteria.

“I wasn’t asking you—it was rhetorical!” Selene shot back, her tone sharp.

“Okay, guys, let me just—” Thorne tried to intervene.

“NO!” they both yelled at him, cutting him off in unison.

Selene dropped to her knees beside Lirael. “Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god. She’s not breathing!” she cried, shaking her. Then, as if on instinct, she jumped to her feet and started pounding on Lirael’s door. “Open the door, you damn bastards!” she screamed, kicking at it with growing desperation.

Meanwhile, Caius was biting his nails furiously, and Thorne stood frozen, his eyes darting everywhere as he struggled to make sense of the situation.

I knelt beside Lirael, my heart pounding. “Lirael? Can you hear me?” I asked softly, shaking her gently. My fingers pressed against her wrist. Relief flooded through me when I felt a faint pulse.

Minutes passed like hours.

“I thought we were doing the challenges together,” Selene said, her voice trembling. “One moment she was running, and then there was this glitch... her behavior changed after that.”

Thorne nodded grimly. “It wasn’t until the last task—‘Shattered Trust’—that we realized something was wrong.”

“That NPC wasn’t Lirael,” Caius muttered, his tone bitter.

“We know,” Thorne said quietly, his gaze fixed on Lirael’s motionless form.

Suddenly, red marks began appearing on her neck.

“What... in... the...” Thorne’s voice trailed off as we all stared in horror.

Her struggling intensified, her body convulsing as if battling some unseen force. Acting on instinct, I took her hand, squeezing it tightly. I didn’t know if it helped, but I couldn’t do nothing.

Then, with a sudden jolt, her body arched, and she gasped, her eyes snapping open.

Selene and Caius flinched back, startled, but I stayed close, helping her sit up.

“Hey, it’s okay,” I murmured, my voice steady. “You’re fine now.”

Lirael trembled violently, her wide eyes darting around until they landed on me. Without a word, she threw her arms around me, sobbing into my shoulder. I froze for a moment, then wrapped my arms around her, gently patting her back.

“You’re safe now,” I whispered.

The others stayed silent, giving her space. Thorne’s gaze lingered on us, but he didn’t say a word.

Eventually, Lirael pulled back, wiping her tears with the sleeve of my coat. I didn’t mind—it was already dirty from everything we’d been through.

“Do you feel better?” I asked, immediately regretting the question. She still looked shaken, but she nodded anyway.

Her red, swollen eyes moved to the others, who smiled at her encouragingly.

“What... happened to me?” she croaked.

Thorne hesitated, but Selene jumped in without missing a beat. “You were out cold for ten minutes, having some kind of nightmare. Then these marks showed up on your neck, and we realized your trial wasn’t over, even though we finished the challenges without you. Yeah, that’s the gist of it.”

She paused, clearly tempted to mention something else but decided against it.

Caius rolled his eyes. Thorne, meanwhile, looked as though he wanted to say something but held back.

Lirael turned to me, her gaze steady. “Thanks,” she said softly, her voice laced with sincerity.

I nodded and stood as Selene helped her up. The others began inspecting the faint marks on Lirael’s neck.

I stayed quiet, a growing sense of unease building within me. I wasn’t used to being the center of attention, and the idea of it made my skin crawl. I sighed, glancing at the door.

I’d spent so long being a background character in my own life that I’d learned to accept it. But now, this game seemed determined to shove me into the spotlight, and I hated it.

While the others were focused on Lirael, I slipped away, my footsteps echoing softly as I stepped outside.

The cold night air greeted me as I emerged onto a rooftop overlooking Central London. Glass railings surrounded the space, and faint blue LED lights bathed the area in an eerie glow.

In the corner, a girl stood alone, her long hair swaying in the breeze as she gazed out at the city below.

Sighing, I approached her hesitantly, unsure of what to say or do. But before I could figure it out, she turned to face me, a faint smile playing on her lips.

Was she...future Lirael? I squinted, furrowing my brows in confusion. She chuckled softly.

“You’re late,” she said, walking toward me.

I stiffened where I stood.

“You said you’d bring me a present,” she continued, leaning against the railing and gazing out at the city below, a faint smile on her lips.

I hesitated but reached into my pocket, pulling out the necklace. Her eyes lit up with excitement as she took it, her giggle light and airy.

“Oh, it’s our group photo!” she exclaimed, opening the locket. Curiosity got the better of me, and I leaned in to see.

Inside was a picture of all five of us. When I first found the necklace, the photo had only included the four of them. Now, I was in the center. Caius had his arm slung tightly around my shoulders, Selene stood beside him, pulling a silly face, and Lirael was grinning brightly next to me. Thorne stood on the edge, laughing and pointing at Caius and me.

A strange tug pulled at my chest.

“Do you remember that day? It was so fun hanging out over the weekend,” Lirael sighed, putting the necklace on. “Thanks, dork. I thought you’d forgotten my birthday.”

She smirked, and before I could stop myself, I whispered, “I would never.”

She laughed, grabbing my wrist. “Come on, let’s go.”

I hesitated, glancing at the armed guards lining the railings and the lounge area. A lavish spread of drinks and desserts covered the glass table in the center.

“Who are they?” I asked, frowning.

She laughed again, her expression amused. “Stop messing around, Nyx. I’ve waited far too long to start this party.”

She tried to pull me forward, but I stepped back, unease crawling over me.

“I don’t get it. Why...the guns?”

She sighed, exasperated, raising a brow as if I’d asked the most obvious question in the world. Then, I noticed the handgun holstered at my waist.

Impossible.

I scanned the room, searching for answers.

Lirael rubbed her temple. “Why else? We never know when Caius’ men will show up to massacre us. We need to be prepared.”

Caius’ men? Massacre?

Before I could process her words, the wall beside me exploded. The force hurled me through the air.

“LIRAEL!” I screamed, but when I opened my eyes, I was back in the hallway.

“Oh, you’re done already? Great!” Selene chirped, her tone unnervingly cheerful.

I blinked, disoriented.

“Finally!” Caius cheered, darting down the hall and bounding down the stairs. Thorne patted my shoulder once, muttering, “Good work, everyone,” before following Caius. Selene skipped after them, leaving me standing there, gaping.

“You’re not coming?” Lirael’s voice made me jump.

She stood beside me, pressing a water bottle to her neck. I gulped, remembering the scene I’d just witnessed.

Before I could respond, a loud crash echoed from below. Lirael bolted, panic flashing across her face.

“Wait!” I shouted, but my voice faltered.

At the top of the stairs, we froze.

Thorne lay sprawled on the floor, blood pooling beneath him from a wound in his abdomen. Selene’s lifeless body was crumpled nearby, her neck twisted at an unnatural angle. Caius clung to the front door, whimpering, his eyes wide with terror as he stared at something unseen.

A gasp escaped Lirael, and she dropped the water bottle. Without hesitation, she rushed down the stairs.

“Lirael, no!” I reached for her, but my voice was trapped in my throat.

She didn’t make it to the bottom. Her body jolted once before crumpling to the floor, her brains leaking through her nose and ears. She didn’t even scream.

Caius let out a soul-wrenching cry, but then he was gone too.

I was next.

Terror consumed me as I fled back to the hallway, slamming the door to my room behind me.

Inside, the four of them were arguing around a billiards table, their faces illuminated by the dim light of a single hanging bulb.

Confusion overwhelmed me.

“You betrayer!” Caius snarled, lunging at Thorne and knocking him to the ground. He straddled him, fists flying.

Thorne retaliated, his hands wrapping around Caius’ neck, cutting off his air.

Selene dragged Lirael by her hair to the far wall, pinning her there with a dagger. Lirael’s screams pierced the air as she struggled to free herself.

“Jesus Christ!” I exclaimed, rushing forward.

I planted my feet against the wall, gripping the dagger with both hands. With a grunt, I yanked it free, stumbling back from the force.

Lirael fell to the ground, gasping.

Selene turned back, wheeling a trolley filled with strange, cruel-looking weapons. Her expression darkened when she saw Lirael free.

I pushed Lirael behind me, swallowing hard.

“Selene,” I began, my voice shaking, though I had no idea what to say next.

 "Out of my way, you pathetic and miserable loser," she growled, her voice unnaturally feral, like a wild beast deprived of its prey. I exhaled a shaky breath, trying to steady my nerves, though they felt like they were on fire.

"Why are you after her?!" I shouted, flinching as she hurled a small knife straight at my head. I ducked just in time, narrowly avoiding a fatal blow.

"Because outcasts should be dead," she spat through gritted teeth.

Across the room, Thorne and Caius were battered and bruised, locked in a brutal fight. I cursed under my breath. What kind of trial was this?! My mind raced for a solution.

"EVERYONE STOP!" I panted, my voice cracking under the strain. Either I was hallucinating, or actual steam was rising from my body. I must have looked like I'd just stepped out of a shower, though I was drenched in sweat.

To my surprise, they paused. Caius froze mid-punch, his fist inches from Thorne’s jaw, while Thorne hesitated, teeth poised to sink into Caius's arm. Both turned to glare at me, their eyes blazing with irritation at being interrupted. Selene, poised to throw another dagger, squinted at me suspiciously but lowered her hand.

"Listen, I..." I hesitated, glancing around and behind me as if seeking an escape. Exhaling deeply, I continued, keeping my gaze fixed on the ground to avoid distraction. "I don’t know why all of you are fighting, but... I don’t want to go through any deaths—especially not of my friends."

I swallowed hard and looked up. They were listening—probably a good sign.

"I didn’t want to get involved at first. I’m always suspicious, always detached from connections. I’m scared that caring for someone will make me vulnerable. When you have something to lose, it’s so much easier for someone to use it against you," I admitted, sighing.

"I never saw the point of forming new relationships or being part of a group. But even then..." My voice softened. "Even then, I always hoped someone would reach out to me. That someone would tell me it’s okay to let others have my back. That not everyone is out to hurt me. That someone would hug me, wait for me... maybe even tell me they’d be there for me, even if they gained nothing from it."

I let out a bitter laugh, my fists clenched at my sides.

"A bunch of random strangers connected through a shared past?" I ran a hand through my hair. "I don’t care. I’ll take it. I don’t want to run anymore. If someone disappoints me, I’ll deal with it. If someone betrays me, fine. I’ll grow stronger from it. I’ll endure every betrayal and every heartfelt conversation until the day I leave this earth. I won’t stop myself from enjoying life—even if my friends become strangers the very next day."

The room shifted, and suddenly, they were gone.

I held my breath, waiting to see what would happen next. Out of the shadows stepped Elliot, illuminated by a soft, blue glow that seemed to radiate from her. She emerged from a corner I hadn’t even noticed, the light casting away the surrounding darkness. It felt like we were suspended in a starless void.

I kept my eyes on her as she approached steadily.

"Lirael’s very pretty, isn’t she?" Elliot chuckled, her tone light and uncharacteristically serene. She looked nothing like the figure I’d seen in others’ trials. In this moment, she almost seemed like a guardian angel.

"I... suppose," I stammered, uneasy. "What happened to you?"

"Me?" she asked, tilting her head thoughtfully. "Let’s just say, you humans failed me big time." She grinned—a grin so out of place it made my eye twitch.

"Nyx, no one’s a saint," she continued, her head tilting like a curious child. "You know that better than anyone, right?"

I sighed. "I guess. But... I want to hear your story."

She raised an eyebrow, intrigued. I shifted nervously.

"Not because I think I’m a saint," I clarified quickly. "I just... want to understand what happened to you. Maybe I can bring you justice."

"Justice?" she echoed, bursting into laughter. "Sure, Nyx. If that’s what you want."

Her laughter faded, and she straightened, her expression softening. "At least now you’re willing to be there—after all these years."

I frowned, unsure of what she meant, but I decided not to press. Instead, I followed as she turned and walked through the door, the darkness giving way to a familiar hallway.

"WOAH! Woah, woah..." Caius pressed himself against a painting as she passed him silently. I felt their eyes on me, brimming with questions, but I focused on Elliot.

"Should we follow him?" Selene whispered to Thorne.

"I will," Lirael declared, and I heard footsteps behind me—then several more.

A faint smile tugged at my lips as Elliot stopped before the last door, one that didn’t belong to any of us. We lined up side by side, watching as she stepped inside.

"What’s going on?" Lirael whispered.

I shrugged, just as curious.

Elliot stood in the center of the room, staring at her feet. Then, with a flick of her fingers, golden light spiraled into the air, twisting and shimmering until it formed shapes. We watched in awe as the scene unfolded before us.

A young girl, strikingly similar to Elliot but much younger, appeared. She walked to school with someone who looked like...

"Lirael," I heard a whisper beside me.

Here’s the revised version with British spellings:

The dust settled, and a new scene emerged. Elliot was bawling her eyes out, sitting next to a shattered photo frame of her and Lirael hugging. Judging by their younger appearances, this must have been from their primary school days. Lirael stiffened beside me, forcing herself to watch, as though willing herself to feel Elliot’s pain through sheer presence.

The dust swirled again, forming a new image. Elliot was starting her secondary school life, standing uncertainly at the entrance of her classroom. She looked terrified. Lirael wasn’t there with her. Just then, Selene brushed past her, oblivious to Elliot’s presence.

But the next scene shifted. They were inside a counselling room, Selene and Elliot sitting together. Notes on the desk revealed it was for speech therapy. “Selective mutism,” I murmured, realisation dawning.

Selene nodded enthusiastically at the counsellor while beaming at Elliot, who shied away but had the faintest hint of a smile. The dust painted more moments—Selene helping Elliot through her speech exercises, their bond growing. Then, the scene darkened.

Selene was alone in a school hallway when one of the girls from the group that bullied Elliot stopped her, whispering something in her ear. Selene hesitated. In the next scene, Elliot was cornered, surrounded by the group. Selene stood with them, looking away as Elliot was falsely accused of something.

I glanced at Selene, who shifted uncomfortably but kept her eyes on the unfolding scene.

The dust rebuilt, showing Elliot leaving her house to knock on a neighbour’s door. Thorne answered, letting her in. They were soon painting and sketching together in his room. The next scene showed Thorne warning Elliot about making questionable friends or hanging out with boys she didn’t know.

Then, there was me. I stood at a distance, focused on my phone, earphones plugged in. Elliot was crying at the end of the hallway. I hesitated but quickly walked away. She watched me leave, as though she’d expected it.

A sharp pang of guilt clawed at me.

The dust shifted again, this time showing Elliot on a rooftop with Caius. She offered him chocolates and gifts. He laughed, accepting them. They spent time together, but Caius’s reckless nature soon took over. He urged her to keep up with his pranks, pushing her out of her comfort zone.

One moment stood out starkly—Caius running across a busy street against a red light, laughing. He turned back, urging Elliot to follow. She hesitated but smiled and stepped forward. Halfway across, Thorne’s voice roared her name, frantic and furious.

Time slowed.

A red London bus sped toward her, the driver hesitating. Tyres screeched, but it was too late. Blood pooled around Elliot’s head as her lifeless body lay in the street.

Beside me, Thorne flinched. Lirael’s face twisted with sympathy, though her eyes burned with something darker.

The dust settled, falling like ash, and Elliot’s glowing form reappeared. She stood before us, her expression unreadable. I wanted to speak, to offer comfort, but the guilt was suffocating. My vision blurred as I fought to hold back tears.

I wasn’t the only one.

Caius stared at his feet, silent tears streaming down his face. Selene swiped angrily at her eyes, refusing to look anywhere for too long. Thorne looked utterly lost, mourning in a daze.

Lirael, though? She looked like she was planning a hundred ways to tear apart the universe for what had happened.

As for me, I didn’t know what to do with myself.

Moments passed.

Elliot stared at us, and I forced myself to meet her gaze since no one else could. Then, out of nowhere—

“Caius, you bloody son of a—!”

Thorne’s fist collided with Caius’s jaw, sending him sprawling to the ground.

I straightened, alarmed.

This time, the fight was real.

Before I could intervene, I realised Caius wasn’t fighting back. He lay there, his expression hollow, as Thorne raged above him.

Selene covered her mouth, her eyes shimmering with fresh tears.

“Hey, knock it off!” I barked, trying to stay calm despite the chaos.

Thorne let out a guttural scream, clutching his head as he stumbled back.

“I’m a murderer,” Caius whispered, his voice breaking.

I huffed, stepping between them. “All of you, listen right now!”

No one looked ready to hear me, but I had to try.

“I know this is terrible—what happened to Elliot is unforgivable. But don’t you get it? If she wanted us to drown in guilt, she wouldn’t have made us face our deepest insecurities through these trials. She’s giving us a chance to make things right. To move forward without causing more harm.”

I ignored Elliot’s tilted head, her curious gaze.

“We need to forgive ourselves,” I continued. “And we need to accept the consequences of our actions if we want to stop hurting people—if we want to honour her.”

“Elliot, I’m sorr—” Thorne began, but I cut him off.

“Don’t apologise,” I said firmly. “Promise to make amends.”

Thorne turned to me, his eyes searching mine, and I nodded.

 “Elliot... I promise to let go of things I can’t control. I... promise I won’t try to cross the limits, and I will help everyone learn to protect themselves and not rely on someone else,” Thorne stared at her with pleading eyes. Before Elliot could even think about responding, Selene dropped to her knees.

“I’m—I'm so sorry, El... I... I don’t know why I did it to save myself... I... shouldn’t have, so I promise I’ll be better. I’ll take accountability for everything I do from now on and face the consequences. I’m so sorry.”

Lirael stepped forward next. “I won’t disappear without an explanation ever, I promise. I used to think it didn’t matter whether I stayed or left... whether I died or just barely made it through another day, but...” she looked up at Elliot. “Thank you... for being so amazing and helping me out of my miserable shell,” she smiled softly.

I glanced at Caius before starting, “It was very terrible of me to just leave you there, thinking it was none of my business when I could’ve informed a teacher or found out if you needed any help... I promise from now on, I’ll always help everyone around me and make sure to include everyone so no one feels left out,” I looked at her with resolution. I wasn’t going to back down from my words, and I needed her to know that.

Everyone looked at Caius. He was still zoned out.

“Caius...” I gently whispered.

“You didn’t mean for her to die,” he looked up slowly.

“Why did I...” he choked on his own words, and I patted his back sympathetically.

“You have to let yourself be free of the guilt that is tying you, and all of us here,” he exhaled a shaky breath and got to his feet, staring at Elliot.

“You’re really pretty...” he started. “I... I should’ve been very honoured that you felt any sort of interest towards me at all. Thorne was right to warn you of stupid boys like me. I’m the reason why...” he faltered, gulped, and forced himself to keep talking. “I promise I won’t let your death be in vain. I’ll make sure I cherish you, and in the future, whoever comes to me, I’ll give them the love they deserve. I’ll even make sure I raise my kids to always respect others’ choices.”

We chuckled at how determined he looked to raise his kids right. Elliot was smiling softly.

“I don’t forgive you, but you all better keep your words,” I felt emotional all over again, and this time, Lirael smiled through her tears and nodded.

But then the mansion started vibrating. I could feel it reverberating deep inside my skull. Another glow appeared. This one was much brighter than Elliot’s, and even she looked shaken.

“No one’s getting out of here,” a male voice boomed, and oh dear, was it angry. Angry was an understatement, actually.

“Run!” Elliot barely had time to command that single word before the room started collapsing in on itself.