The Recall Trials
Chapter 35: The Wildcard Among Us

Chapter 35: The Wildcard Among Us

It was Jojo.

Her face was red...not just from embarrassment, but like she’d been crying in there for hours. Her eyes were puffy and red.

She stared at us for a second, blinking like she wasn’t sure if what she saw was real. Then her lips twitched.

"Get a room, guys," she muttered, forcing a small, dry smile.

Too late. She saw everything.

Zaara immediately pulled away from me and rushed to her. "Jojo, are you okay?"

Jojo tried to laugh it off, but her voice cracked. "I’m sorry about Charles," Zaara said softly.

Jojo looked down. "Charles was like family," she whispered. "We grew up together. We were always close."

She paused. "When I saw him in that game, I froze. I couldn’t believe it. He wasn’t like the others. He had autism. He always struggled... socially, emotionally. But he had a good heart. Always tried to be brave even when he was scared."

She wiped her face. " He hated loud sounds, sudden changes. I always protected him... I should’ve done something. But I didn’t, I was scared too.. I let him die in front of me. Like a goddamn coward. I’m going to take matters into my own arms."

"Jojo," I said softly, taking a careful step closer to her. "I know what you’re feeling right now. I know how it feels to lose someone you love....to stand there, helpless, while they’re taken from you and there’s nothing you can do to stop it. That kind of pain... it cuts deep. But please, I’m begging you, don’t let that pain push you into doing something you’ll regret. Don’t act out of rage. Please."

She looked up at me. "I’m not stupid, Vincent. But I am furious. And I’m done pretending this place doesn’t make me want to set everything on fire. They chose the wrong person to mess with, I’m done playing by their rules."

"I actually have a plan. A real one. A way we might be able to get out of here."

Zaara and I looked at each other, surprised.

Jojo wiped her eyes with her sleeve. "I’m not in the right headspace to talk now, but... tomorrow night. Same spot. Meet me here. Just the two of you."

We both nodded.

Jojo took one last breath, steadying herself, then walked off into the corridor, leaving us behind in a silence that felt heavier than before.

Zaara stood next to me, quiet. We both knew something had shifted.

"So...you wanna go in now?" I asked softly, nodding toward the restroom door.

Zaara gave me a small nod. "Yeah," she said, but she didn’t move just yet. Her fingers played with the hem of her sleeve like she was working up the courage to say something else.

"Soo...I’ve been thinking," she said softly. "I might be able to convince Theo to join us. If we can get him on our side, it could shift the odds. I don’t trust him fully, but I think I can reach him."

It caught me off guard as I blinked. "You’re seriously considering that?"

"At this point?" She let out a breath. "I’ll try anything. I just want to survive, Vincent. I’m looking my mind.. What happened to Charles...it’s more than I thought we’d ever go through. I thought Piper’s trial was the worst it could get... but after today?" Her voice broke slightly. "It feels like we’re hanging on by a thread. One wrong move, and any of us could be next."

I didn’t know what to say right away. I just stood there, staring at her, watching the way her shoulders rose and fell with each shaky breath.

Then I stepped closer.

"Zaara," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "I promise you... as long as I’m here, no harm will come to you. I’ll protect you with everything I have. No matter what."

She looked up at me, and I swear, something softened in her eyes...like maybe, for a second, she believed me.

Then, without a word, she leaned in.

And kissed me.

It wasn’t rushed, or wild, or desperate like before. It was calm. Like she was placing her trust right on my lips.

She walked into the restroom, just as someone else was coming out, I used the other one. By the time I finished and stepped back into the hallway, she was already gone. Not a trace of her anywhere.

I made my way back to the room and saw she was already asleep. I climbed into my bed, hoping I could do the same.

But sleep never came. It was hell.

My mind was still stuck...shaken. I kept imagining the halls filled with the dead, with spirits lurking in the shadows, watching from corners I couldn’t see. The weight of this place, the death soaked into its walls.....it wouldn’t let me rest.

.......

The next morning came too fast.

The loud, grating alarm that buzzed through the walls like something designed to wake the dead. We all jolted up like we’d been electrocuted. No masked guards barging in this time. No boots stomping or guns aimed at our faces. Just that damn alarm.

The room felt...off.

Some people sat up in their bunks slowly, blinking, waiting for the usual chaos. Others rubbed sleep from their eyes, looking around like, Wait...are we not being dragged out today?

Theo was already on his feet, stretching like a soldier prepped for a mission, while someone in the far corner groaned.

It was too calm. That was the first red flag.

Everyone just... waited.

The announcement came in the usual cold voice.

"Congratulations contestants. You’ve made it through another round. The next trial begins now."

Everyone froze.

"This time, no one will be taken to any arena. There will be no physical tasks, no weapons, no elimination... not yet."

A pause. We all stared at each other.

Your challenge is simple. Among you, there is a wildcard. Someone planted into this game by us. Your job is to find out who that person is."

Murmurs broke out. People looked around. Eyebrows arched. Eyes darted. What the hell are they talking about?

"You have seventy-two hours. During that time, you’re free to speak to anyone. Observe. Manipulate. Question. Lie. Trust. Betray. Whatever you must do. At the end of the timer, you will each write one name in the ballot."

"A wildcard?" someone whispered aloud.

"What the hell does that even mean?" another voice shot back.

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