Chapter 3 The Forest Haunting Trial

One hour slipped away in the blink of an eye.

Eli Walker raced through the academy's core grounds, Lia Carter, Erin Gray, and Junior White tight on his heels.

At the cafeteria, they each spent two of their starting Credits for bread and bottled water, enough to keep them alive for three full days.

They also claimed a four-person dorm in the residence hall. It was damp and cold, with black mold climbing the walls. The bedding was dirty and smelled terrible, but it was a safe zone, recognized by the rules of Blackwood Academy.

They found more rules posted on the bulletin board in the Administration Office.

Classes run daily from 8 AM to 6 PM. Unexcused absences result in a five Credit deduction.Failure to pass class evaluations results in a ten Credit deduction.Credits can be earned in three ways: completing class work, finishing Trials, and collecting from other students.Credit levels: one hundred Credits for Underclassman, one thousand for Upperclassman, ten thousand for Senior Council, and one hundred thousand for the Graduation Exam.

Eli stared at the words Graduation Exam for a long time.

No further information was written on the board. No details, no rules, no explanation of what the exam really was.

It was just like the warning written in blood on the blackboard.

No one ever graduates.

When the four returned to the classroom, the remaining students were already waiting.

Fifteen students had entered the academy. Now only thirteen remained. One was erased for breaking the rules, and another died from a heart attack caused by fear. Still, every face was filled with terror. Everyone sat stiff and silent, like prisoners waiting for judgment.

The Skeleton Homeroom Teacher, number 013, stood at the front of the room.

In his bony hand, he held a stack of black cards marked with dark vine patterns, just like their acceptance letters.

"Time is up," he said in a cold, metallic voice. "Now you will begin your first Off-Campus Trial."

He waved his hand. The black cards floated through the air and stopped in front of each student.

Eli took one. It was icy cold, like holding a piece of frozen glass. White words appeared clearly on the surface.

Trial Name: Blackwood EstateMission Objective: Survive seventy-two hours inside the estate and find the last will of Abraham Black.Mission Rewards: Twenty base Credits for each survivor. The student who finds the will receives thirty extra Credits and one random rare item.Failure Penalty: All group members will be erased.

Eli's heart sank.

All group members erased.

One wrong move, and everyone in the room would be gone.

"Each of you will come forward and wear a wristband," the Skeleton Teacher said.

The wristband shows remaining time, Credit balance, and health status. It cannot be removed. Damaging or tampering with the wristband will be considered mission failure and result in immediate erasure.

Students stepped forward one by one and put on the bands.

When Eli fastened his wristband, it locked tightly against his skin. A cold feeling spread up his arm. The screen lit up with bright red numbers.

Remaining Time: 72:00:00Personal Credits: 10Health: 100/100

"Now I will explain three extra rules for this Trial," the teacher said.

First: You may take Credits and items from others, but intentionally killing a teammate is forbidden. Violators lose all Credits and are erased at once.Second: The Trial area includes dangerous creatures, deadly traps, and cursed rules. Be extremely careful.Third: Survivors will return to Blackwood Academy when time runs out. If all students die early, the mission fails and everyone still alive will be erased.

He paused, his empty red eye sockets looking over every student.

"Any questions?"

The room fell completely silent.

No one spoke.

They all knew questions no longer mattered. Life or death would be decided inside that estate.

"Very well," the teacher nodded. "The Trial begins now."

As soon as he finished speaking, the classroom walls began to twist.

Thick black fog poured out from every corner, forming a violent whirlwind in the center. Screaming wind came from inside, mixed with distant cries and scraping sounds.

It was like a giant mouth leading straight into darkness.

"Enter the portal," the teacher said. "Good luck."

Kane Royce moved first. He stepped into the fog without hesitation, followed by his two followers. One by one, the other students hesitated, then entered.

Eli turned to Lia, Erin, and Junior.

"We stay together no matter what. Do not split up. Understand?"

He held Junior's arm as the boy nearly fell, then stepped into the vortex.

Violent dizziness hit him at once.

The world spun uncontrollably. Wind screamed in his ears, and cold wrapped around him like it was trying to tear his soul away.

Seconds later, it stopped.

Eli fell into the cold, muddy ground. Rainwater filled his mouth, tasting metallic and sharp.

He stood up quickly and looked around.

He was in a dark, thick forest. The sky was black, and heavy rain fell from the clouds, mixed with a dark red liquid that beat against the leaves.

Blood rain.

At the edge of the trees stood a broken Victorian manor.

Black dead vines covered its walls. Windows were boarded up, and a huge hole opened in the roof like a wound. The front doors stood wide open, showing only blackness inside.

It was a monster waiting in the dark for its prey.

This was Blackwood Estate.

Eli looked at his wristband. The countdown had already started.

71:59:59

"Eli!"

Lia's voice came from behind. He turned and saw her, Erin, and Junior landing in the mud one after another.

Junior dropped to his knees, vomiting, his face completely pale.

Lia stood quickly, lifted her camera, and took pictures toward the manor. The flashes cut through the dark.

"Where is everyone else?" Erin asked, helping Junior stand. She looked around carefully, but no other students were in sight.

"No idea," Eli said. He held the folding knife in his pocket, his only weapon. "We were separated when we came through."

At that moment, a scream burst from the manor.

It was sharp and terrifying, the final sound of someone dying. It cut through the rain clearly, reaching all of them.

Every muscle in their bodies froze. They could not move.

Eli tightened his grip on the knife and stared into the dark entrance of the manor.

He knew.

Their seventy-two-hour fight for survival had truly begun.

And the first victim had already fallen.