Emery's POV 
The room was already filling with people. I sat quietly, listening to the low hum of voices, but I wasn’t paying attention to any of them. My brother, Noah, sat to my right, as silent as ever. And on the other side of him, our father. His presence always loomed large in these gatherings, but tonight it felt heavier. The ‘Garden of Life’—a grand name for what was essentially a gathering of puppets pretending to be powerful. 
I glanced around the room, watching as more Elites filed in. The air was thick with tension, though everyone was trying their best to mask it. This wasn’t just any celebration. Tonight, something bigger was happening, something only I had planned for.
"Emery," my father’s voice broke through my thoughts. His tone was low, stern. "Remember to keep it professional tonight. We can't afford any mistakes for the sake of our title."
I leaned back in my chair, closing my eyes briefly, a sarcastic smile tugging at my lips. "For ‘our’ reputation?" I muttered. "Or for ‘your’ title, Father?"
There was a beat of silence, and I could feel his eyes burning into me. Noah, as always, said nothing. He just sat there, indifferent, while the tension between me and our father simmered.
"Watch your tone, Emery," my father warned, his voice dropping even lower. 
I opened my eyes and met his gaze, unflinching. "I don’t need you to keep reminding me. I know how to handle this. Better than you and Noah ever could."
His jaw tightened, but he didn’t reply. He didn’t need to. The truth was, all they did was play pretend—putting on their stupid masks in front of the students, pretending to be these pillars of kindness and strength. It made me sick. It was all a lie. Even our mother wouldn’t be proud of the man my father had become. He was a walking disappointment, and I could barely stand to sit beside him. 
My thoughts were interrupted when the doors opened again, and I saw Lucas and Finn enter the room. Not late, but not early either. I narrowed my eyes in their direction, the familiar feeling of disappointment bubbling inside me again. They should’ve known better. Everything needed to be perfect tonight, and that included their timing.
Just then, James approached me, leaning in close. His voice was barely a whisper, meant only for my ears. “Everything’s set. Your plan will start right after the occasion.”
I didn’t respond at first, just gave him a slight nod. Then I raised my hand a little, a subtle signal. That was all he needed. I had no time for long conversations, not with everything I had on my mind. 
The celebration followed its usual schedule. Every Elite had their own role to play tonight, but mine was something none of them could even begin to understand. Not even my father or Noah knew the full extent of what was about to happen. They were clueless. My plan, the one I’d spent so long preparing, was finally about to unfold. The satisfaction of that thought was enough to make the corners of my mouth twitch upward.
The lights dimmed slightly as the occasion began. Mr. Aurorium stood, giving the same speech he always did, welcoming the Elites, praising them for their dedication and strength, telling them to enjoy the night. The usual, empty words. 
But tonight, I couldn’t help but smile to myself. This was a night none of them would forget. Not after what I had planned.
As the formalities dragged on, my thoughts wandered back to my mother. The memories of her, before everything changedz were still sharp in my mind. The way she used to look at me, with pride in her eyes. She would never have approved of what this family had become. But what I was doing now? This was for her. All of it. No one understood that, not even Noah.
The speeches ended, and the room broke into murmurs and soft clinking of glasses as the Elites mingled and pretended to enjoy themselves. But I stayed seated, watching, waiting. The real event was about to begin, and it had nothing to do with the celebration.
I felt Noah shift slightly beside me, but he still said nothing. He never did. Maybe he knew, maybe he didn’t. It didn’t matter. Tonight was already set in motion, and nothing could stop it now.
I caught Lucas’s eye from across the room. He looked tense, more than usual. I could see the way his jaw clenched, the way he kept glancing around like he knew something was coming but couldn’t quite put his finger on it. Good. Let him feel the pressure. He wouldn’t know what hit him.
Finn, on the other hand, seemed calmer, but I knew better. He was always calculating, always watching. He thought he could outsmart me, but he was wrong.
As the night continued, I felt my pulse quicken, but not from nerves. No, this was excitement. The kind that builds right before something incredible happens. The kind that made my blood race and my heart pound. Everything was going exactly as planned. 
Soon, everyone in this room would see the real ‘Garden of Life’. Not the pretty picture painted for them, but the truth beneath it. And when they did, none of them would ever forget this night.
Not Lucas, not Finn, not even my father.
The time was coming.
And it was going to be glorious.
The occasion had begun, just as expected. The Elites, dressed in their finest, gathered around the long, polished table, laughing, eating, drinking, like they had no care in the world. The soft clinking of glasses, the murmurs of conversation—it was all too peaceful. Too easy.
I leaned back in my chair, eyes wandering toward the sky. The half-moon hung there, almost in the center above the massive garden of trees that surrounded the gathering. The air felt thick, heavier than usual, as if the night itself was holding its breath.
I closed my eyes, feeling the tension start to build deep inside. This was the moment I had been waiting for—the moment the moon would cast its glow just right, and everything would begin. I had planned it so carefully, right down to the second.
And then, as the moonlight poured down on the garden, it started.
One by one, the students began collapsing. Some slumped over at the table, their heads hitting their plates with a dull thud. Others fell to the floor, limbs twitching uncontrollably. The gasps and groans turned to screams. A few of the Elites had bubbles foaming from their mouths, like they had been poisoned.
My eyes shot open, a smirk pulling at my lips. ‘They think they can get away?’ I thought, watching the chaos unfold. ‘Not my game.’
The room was erupting in panic. Students were screaming, scrambling for the exits, but the doors—I had made sure—were already locked. No one was leaving.
My father slammed his fist against the table, his voice booming across the room. “Emery! What the hell are you doing?! This wasn’t part of the plan!”
I didn’t even bother looking at him. What was the use of answering someone who had no control over anything anymore? I could hear his voice, his anger, but it didn’t matter. I had the power now, not him.
Noah, my brother, was seated beside me, watching me silently. His gaze was cold, calculating, but he didn’t speak. He didn’t need to. His eyes alone commanded me to stop this madness. But he should have known better by now. I didn’t take orders, not even from family.
“Shut up,” I said quietly, my voice cutting through the noise. “Just watch.”
I glanced around the room. Lucas and Finn were rushing between the fallen Elites, trying to wake them, trying to calm the ones who were still conscious. Nathalie was kneeling beside Abigail, who was trembling, her face pale as a sheet. 
I watched them, my smirk growing wider. ‘Impressive’, I thought. They hadn’t eaten any of the tainted food, which meant they were still standing. But the way they let their emotions rule them? Pathetic. They were letting their fear, their worry for others, get in the way of their roles. 
“What a disappointment.”
James and Amara stood off to the side, watching the chaos with blank expressions. They knew what was happening. They knew better than to interfere.
‘Perfect.’ This was exactly how I had imagined it. The weak had fallen. The strong remained. And now, the real game could begin.
Slowly, I stood up from my seat, my eyes scanning the room as the last of the Elites who had been affected collapsed to the floor. Only the ones I needed for the game were left standing. The rest? Useless.
My gaze shifted to my father, who was still staring at me, his face twisted in rage and disbelief. His fists were clenched so tight his knuckles were white. He wanted to stop this. He wanted to end my game. But he couldn’t.
I locked eyes with him, my expression unreadable. “Why don’t you join us for this game, Father?” My voice was calm, almost mocking. “The same game you played with Mother and your friends all those years ago.”
His face paled. And I could see the fear flicker in his eyes, just for a second. He didn’t think I knew. He didn’t think I would ever find out. But I had. I knew everything now. His connection to Lucas’s parents, to Abigail’s father—it all led back to this.
I smirked, giving him a look of pure satisfaction, the kind of smile I had never given him before. The kind of smile that told him I was in control now, not him.
“Let the game begin,” I whispered, my eyes glinting with dark amusement.
The room was in chaos, but I could feel it, the excitement building, the tension rising. This was what I had planned for. This was my night. I had waited so long for this moment, and now, it was finally here.
As the moon hung high above us, casting its eerie glow over the garden, I watched with cold satisfaction. This was the ‘real’ Garden of Life—a place where only the strongest survived. And tonight, I would see just who was strong enough to make it through.
My father stood frozen, unable to speak. Noah sat back, still calm, still watching. Lucas and Finn were on edge, still trying to save the fallen, still trying to keep control.
But me?
I was just getting started.
My eyes darted toward Amara, who was standing silently behind the commotion. With a subtle nod from me, Amara pressed a button on the back wall. Instantly, the room began to tremble, the floor shifting beneath them, rising and falling like waves. It felt as if the ground itself had come alive, moving them into another dimension entirely.
The Elites who were still conscious clung to whatever they could, trying to steady themselves—Lucas, Finn, Abigail, and Nathalie all braced against the violent shaking. Meanwhile, some Black and Blue Elites who were still standing fought to keep their balance. The large tree remained at the center of the room, still glowing under the moonlight, now the centerpiece of mine twisted game.
Father, Noah, and myself—each of us had now officially become players in this game, though it was me who held all the cards.
As the room finally settled, the air thick with tension, Father stood up, fists clenched, clearly rattled. But he didn’t say a word. His eyes burned with rage, but there was something else there, too. Fear.
I waited, giving him a chance to speak, to introduce the game he had once played. A sick game from the past, one only a few survived. But when he remained silent, unwilling to admit his sins, so I stepped forward, my voice loud and clear.
“Welcome to the Garden of Life,” I began, a twisted smile curling at my lips. I looked directly at Abigail and the others. “A game of survival, one that few can win.”
Murmurs rippled through the remaining Elites, their confusion growing. Some were already shouting, demanding to be let go. A few begged, their eyes wide with terror. But I remained unmoved, my eyes gleaming with dark satisfaction.
“It’s too late for that,” I said, dismissing their pleas. “None of that will do anything for you now.”
With a flick of my wrist, a large screen appeared to the side of the room, displaying ten injections lined up neatly. The room fell silent as everyone stared at the screen in horror.
“These are the rules,” I continued, my tone chillingly calm. “There are ten injections. Some of them are cures. Some are fatal. The game is simple. Win, and you move on to the next level. Lose, and the loser gets injected. That’s where the real fun begins.”
I paused, letting my words sink in. “You’ll have ten minutes to find the cure before the poison spreads through your body. After that? Well... you’ll be dead.”
Panic filled the room as the Elites began to shout again, but I ignored them, my voice cold and detached. “You can ask for help, but if the person you ask refuses, well… spend your ten minutes enjoying the view before you die. Oh, and you can only ask for help twice. Any more than that, and you’ll be automatically disqualified. Which, of course, means death.”
A Black Elite boy stood up, his face red with anger. “What if we don’t wanna play your sick game?!” he shouted, his voice trembling with fear.
My smirk just get widened. “Then death will take you all the same,” I replied coldly. “But it’ll be much slower. Much more painful.”
Before I could say more, the sharp sound of a gun being drawn echoed through the room. Father had pulled a pistol from his jacket, and now, he was pointing it directly at me, the barrel only inches from my head.
The room went still. Even I didn’t flinch. I didn’t even bother to turn around. My father was still powerful, still trying to use his authority. But I always knew better. His power didn’t compare to me after all, not anymore.
“Do you really wanna do that, Father?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. I glanced toward Finn and Nathalie, their faces pale with shock. “What do you think Mother would say if she found out you killed her daughter?” I added with a bitter laugh.
His hand shook, but before he could pull the trigger, another sound cut through the tension—the unmistakable sound of a gun being loaded.
James, standing in the shadows, had drawn his own weapon and was now pointing it directly at him, his eyes cold and steady. Just as I had planned.
For a moment, no one moved. Then Noah, ever the loyal son, began to reach for his own weapon, clearly preparing to defend our father. But before he could act, my voice rang out.
“If I were you, Noah, I wouldn’t do it,” I said softly, my words dripping with sarcasm. “It’s pathetic, really. How loyal you are to a man who’s done nothing but manipulate you.” I turned to face my brother fully, my eyes hard. “Following his orders doesn’t make you stronger, Noah. It makes you weaker.”
Noah hesitated, his hand hovering over his gun. His loyalty to our father was etched across his face, but so was doubt. I could see it—the struggle in his eyes.
“Pathetic,” I repeated, my voice filled with disdain. “It’s what makes you weak.”
Then, turning to the rest of the room, my voice softened, but the danger still lingered. “I promise you this—every second of this game will be unforgettable.” My eyes flicked back to Noah and Father. “For all of you.”
Without another word, I nodded toward James, giving him a silent command. He moved quickly, disarming both Father and Noah, pulling the weapons from their hands and tossing them far out of reach.
“Well, then,” I said, my voice cutting through the room like a blade. “Let the games begin.”
The room was silent, the tension so thick it was suffocating. As music began to play softly in the background, a haunting melody that filled the air with dread, my smile returned. 
No one had seen this coming.
Not even my own family.
I then closed my eyes for a moment, listening to the silence. The fear in the room was like music to my ears. They didn’t know what was coming next, but I did. And it made me feel... powerful.
Opening my eyes again, I slowly stepped forward, letting the anticipation build. “Now, let me explain the rules of my game,” I began, my voice low but clear enough for everyone to hear. “There will be seven different games. Seven chances to survive... or to die.”
I could see the panic already starting to set in. Some of the Elites were still trying to understand what I just said. Others... they looked like they were ready to fall apart.
“The first game,” I continued, walking slowly as I spoke, “is simple. It’s a test of endurance.” I glanced around the room, watching their faces. “You’ll be tied up in chains, and the key to unlock yourself is hidden in the room. Find it, or let the chains slowly tighten around your neck.”
A gasp came from the back of the room. I smiled to myself. They weren’t ready for this.
“The second game is a bit more... physical.” I paused, making sure to catch their eyes. “You’ll be placed in a room filled with water. There’s only one way out, but the door will be sealed until the room is full. Let’s see who can hold their breath the longest.”
A few Elites whispered to each other, trying to make sense of it all. They still didn’t understand that there was no escape. Not this time.
“For the third game,” I continued, my tone growing darker, “you’ll be in complete darkness. Your only goal is to find the light. But be careful. The wrong step could be your last.”
I watched as their faces turned pale, their fear growing with every word I said.
“The fourth game will test your strength... against each other.” I let the words hang in the air, watching the confusion spread across their faces. “You will fight. The winner moves on. The loser... well, you know the drill by now.”
A few gasps echoed through the room again, and I almost laughed. These so-called Elites were terrified, but they should’ve known better than to expect mercy from me.
“The fifth game is a game of trust.” I tilted my head slightly, my eyes scanning the room. “Two of you will be partnered together. One of you will have a weapon, the other won’t. Only one person can walk out alive. Which is a great chance, this round won't need injection to we over lose.”
I felt the tension rise even more, their fear now turning into something darker. Suspicion. Doubt. I could see it in their eyes as they started looking at each other. This was exactly what I wanted.
“The sixth game,” I said softly, “is a test of your mind. You will be given a puzzle, but the pieces won’t all fit. Some of you will solve it. Others... will break under the pressure.”
I watched as their faces grew more desperate, more terrified. They didn’t know how to handle what was happening. They were so used to being in control, but now... now they were at my mercy.
“And finally,” I said, my voice dropping to a whisper, “the seventh game. The final game. The game where everything is decided.” I looked directly at them, letting the weight of my words sink in. “It’s a simple choice. Live or die.”
Silence filled the room once again. The Elites were trembling, their eyes wide with fear, their breaths shallow. They didn’t know what to say, didn’t know how to react. 
I stood there, smiling, waiting for them to understand. Waiting for them to accept their fate.