Naseria

Chapter 10

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. We are starting our descent. Please make sure that your seat is in the upright position and that your table is folded away. Ensure your seatbelt is fastened securely. Thank you."

The captain's voice, calm yet mechanical, echoed through the cabin, signaling the end of their mysterious flight. The group exchanged tense glances, their earlier discussions momentarily forgotten as the reality of their impending arrival set in. Everyone hastily fastened their seatbelts, their hearts pounding with anticipation and dread.

"Stay alert, everyone. We don't know what is waiting for us beyond this," Henric said as he fastened his seatbelt, his voice a low rumble that cut through the tense air.

As the aircraft began to tilt downward, the rhythmic sound of engines shifted to a low hum, a reminder that they were on the brink of an unknown landing. The faint scent of metal mixed with the sterile atmosphere of the cabin filled their senses, and with each passing second, anticipation coiled tighter in their chests.

"Do you think we'll finally find answers?" Sherry asked, her voice barely above a whisper. She glanced at Daniel, who had been unusually quiet since their discussions had begun.

"I hope so," he replied, his eyes reflecting the dim lights overhead. "But I'm not expecting anything easy."

The captain's voice crackled back over the intercom, interrupting his thoughts. "We are now preparing for landing. Please remain seated until the aircraft comes to a complete stop."

With a final jolt, the plane touched down, the sound of tires screeching against the tarmac reverberating through the cabin. The group instinctively leaned forward, anticipation mixed with apprehension as they awaited their fate.

As the aircraft rolled to a stop, a heavy silence enveloped them. The lights dimmed further, and the emergency exit signs flickered ominously. The moment of truth had arrived, and as the seatbelt signs turned off, they exchanged uncertain glances, bracing themselves for what lay beyond the door.

"Ready?" Henric asked, his voice steady despite the tension.

The others nodded in silence, their faces shadowed by the dim light. 

"I don't know what we're supposed to be ready for," Sherry muttered, folding her arms.

Henric stood by the door, his hand hovering over the release mechanism. "Alright, let's get this over with." He pulled the handle, and with a hiss, the door swung open.

A cold, sterile air swept through the cabin as the group stepped out one by one. They found themselves in a dimly lit corridor, the polished floor reflecting their uneasy expressions.

"This doesn't feel right," Andrew whispered, his anxiety bubbling to the surface.

"It never did," Osborne replied quietly, scanning the space.

"Let's move," Shen urged, taking the lead as they walked further into the unknown.

As the group stepped off the aircraft and into the corridor, they felt an unsettling mix of anticipation and dread. Each footfall echoed in the enclosed space, their minds racing with questions about what lay ahead. The atmosphere was thick with tension, each of them bracing for the unknown.

When they reached the end of the corridor, the sudden burst of light momentarily blinded them. The moment their eyes adjusted to the brightness at the end, the sight before them rendered them all speechless.

"This is...my room," Izek muttered, pointing toward his lavish bed. The room was undeniably his—opulent, draped in expensive fabrics, and adorned with branded trinkets. He ran his fingers through his disheveled hair, confusion twisting his expression. "But why? Why are we back here?"

Confusion spread through the group, their earlier anticipation turning to frustration. They had expected something new—an answer, a revelation—but instead, they found themselves returning to the very place they had started from.

"Always with the questions," Shen muttered under his breath, clearly irritated. "I don't care why. All I know is that this place reeks of a setup. It's just another part of the damn game." He scowled, his gaze catching a message scrawled on the wall: "Our misery begins."

"What the hell does that mean?" Shen grumbled, throwing a glance at the others, his cold demeanor failing to hide the spark of unease flickering in his eyes.

Beatrice approached the wall, her sharp mind already working. "It must be connected to whatever happened in our past. That's the point of this, right? Everything we've seen so far—it's like someone wants us to remember."

"Remember what, though?" Andrew's voice was shaky, anxiety written all over his face. "We don't know anything. What if... what if this is some kind of punishment? What if we did something terrible and don't deserve to know?"

Daniel tried to soothe the situation. "Let's not jump to conclusions. We don't know what's going on, but panicking won't help. We need to stick together and solve this piece by piece."

Isaac, who had been silently observing, finally spoke up. "The clues are clearly leading us somewhere. There's no point in going off on wild theories. We need to figure this out rationally." His voice was measured, though a hint of irritation surfaced when Izek kept muttering complaints under his breath.

"I just don't get why everything has to be so damn cryptic!" Izek exclaimed, gesturing wildly around. "We're stuck in some weird, twisted version of our lives, with no memory, and you're telling me we just have to sit here and play detective?"

"Yes, that's exactly what we have to do," Osborne replied coldly, his usually quiet tone filled with finality. "Complaining won't solve anything. The faster we find answers, the faster we can get out of here."

"Osborne's right," Beatrice added, her analytical mind already turning. "Let's focus on the clues we've found so far. If these rooms represent parts of our past, then we need to figure out what they're trying to tell us."

"Or who's behind all this," Ad chimed in, his usual nonchalance replaced with a rare hint of seriousness. "Whoever's pulling the strings is playing a game, and we're the pawns."

Sherry crossed her arms tightly. "And I'm guessing Mr. Mafia over there has no problem smashing his way through another wall if he feels like it, right?"

Shen shot her a glare. "Keep talking, and maybe I'll show you." His voice was a low growl.

"We don't have time for this," Daniel intervened before things could escalate further. "Let's just focus on what we have in front of us."

Osborne glanced around the room one last time before looking toward the others. "We're going in circles, and it's getting us nowhere. Let's regroup, focus on what's in front of us, and figure out our next move".