The Recall Trials Chapter 107: Who Breaks Next?

The Aetherion’s POV

Sowhere deep beneath the arena, far from the fluorescent lights and echoing screams of the Trials, an obsidian door slid open into silence.

In a chamber where no sunlight ever reached, twelve figures in black robes sat in a circle round marble table. Their faces were hidden behind expressionless golden masks, each etched with a unique sigil: a fla, an eye, a serpent, a star.

The Aetherions.

At the center of the table hovered a vast holographic display. It cycled through live cara feeds, and captured every angle. The audio was on, low but clear: Vincent clutching Zaara, contestants pacing anxiously, and Nomi’s pale face as Kira worked over her unconscious body.

The Voice, that sa robotic voice that spoke to contestants, resonated through hidden speakers:

"Subject Nomi Harper. Status: Unconscious. Vital signs unstable. Confird positive for pregnancy."

One by one, the Aetherions turned their heads toward the largest screen.

A cold silence hung in the chamber.

The Aetherion with the serpent mask spoke first. "A pregnancy. Inside the Recall Trials. How... inconvenient."

At the head of the table, the figure with the star sigil nodded.

"It is regrettable, but not unexpected. You feed young creatures enough desperation, and they breed more desperation."

Another Aetherion scoffed, voice muffled by their mask. "She should be eliminated imdiately. She compromises the experint’s integrity. It’s a distraction. A liability."

"Premature," said the serpent mask. "If you remove her, you rob us of narrative leverage. Consider the alternative: let her survive, let her decay in real ti. Her weakness will infect the group. It will feed jealousy.

Another Aetherion with a lion leaned closer. "Exactly... it’s an opportunity."

A ripple of subtle movent went around the table.

Am Aetherion with a fox sigil tapped on the table. "Explain."

Lion Aetherion flicked a finger, and the holographic feed zood in on Vincent and Zaara locked in an embrace. Nomi’s faint figure lingered just behind them.

"Zaara Harlow. Her emotional thresholds remain higher than projected. She’s still clinging to hope, to love. Introducing Nomi’s pregnancy introduces a potent variable—jealousy. Guilt. Rage. It could push Zaara over the edge. Imagine the girl Zaara watching Vincent’s attention split. Loyalty tested."

Fox Aetherion tilted their head. "And Vincent?"

Lion sigil Aetherion continued: "Vincent Aston is unstable. His loyalty is split. We’ve observed elevated cortisol levels every ti Nomi and Zaara interact. Guilt from the prior aphrodisiac exposure will consu him further."

Aetherion Six hissed, "Or it turns into chaos that ruins the narrative. And the audience hates chaos they don’t understand."

Aetherion Nine finally spoke, voice airy as silk: "Chaos they don’t understand... or chaos they’re dying to watch?"

The table humd as several Aetherions exchanged silent nods.

Aetherion One lifted a hand, quieting the others. The leader’s mask bore no number, only a shimring silver surface reflecting the glow of the screens.

"The question," One said evenly, "is not rely the ga. It is the spectacle. And this developnt... is a spectacle."

Serpent Aetherion gestured, and new feeds sprang open across the hologram—social dia comnts, viewer trics spiking, threads exploding with theories.

OMG NOMI IS PREGNANT??

I bet it’s Vincent’s baby. Zaara’s gonna flip.

This is the best twist ever!!

Protect Nomi and the baby at all costs.

Kill her before she ruins the Trials.

Aetherion One’s voice was soft but lethal. "We are not here to protect anyone. We are here to test humanity... and deliver a show."

They drumd their fingers lightly on the marble. "We vote."

A hidden panel slid open in the table before each Aetherion, revealing a single crystal button: one red, one green.

"Red," the star sigil Aetherion broke the silence, "ans eliminate her. End the problem. Green ans... let her remain. Let her beco a new variable in the Trials."

A pause. Then the votes blinked into life.

Red. Red. Green. Red. Green. Green. Red. Green. Green. Green. Red. Green.

They surveyed the results.

"Seven to five," they said.

The star mask raised their hand, for a final decision.

"It is decided. She remains."

Another Aetherion slamd a palm onto the table. "This is madness. She’ll disrupt the Trials!"

Another answered, "Or she’ll make them legendary."

Star Aetherion waved a hand. The feed shifted again to focus on Nomi, still unconscious.

"Prepare the next trial," the voice commanded. "Nomi Harper remains. The child remains. And ensure Vincent Aston

knows the stakes."

Their collective attention shifted to the next screen, already bored of Nomi’s fate.

The serpent mask’s voice was the last to echo in the darkness.

"Let Zaara watch her world fall apart. Let’s see who breaks next."

I stepped out of the room, the door clicking shut behind .

And the silence hit first.

Twelve of us left. Only twelve.

Six were gone after the escape room trial...so taken away bleeding, others simply... not returning.

The survivors were scattered across the main chamber, sitting on bunks or pacing the floor. When they saw co out, their conversations died mid-sentence.

Eyes darted toward , then quickly away.

I felt the weight of their stares. Like acid on my skin.

A whisper floated across the space as I walked past:

"That’s him... the one caught up with both girls."

Another voice:

"Bet it’s his kid. Who else would it be?"

I kept my head down, jaw clenched, my pulse hamring.

Another laugh:

"Nomi."

"I heard she fainted because she’s pregnant."

"Pregnant. In this place?"

"...Zaara’s still with him though?"

"She’s crazy if she is."

I pushed past Carter’s empty bunk. Past the flickering lights. Past Theo sitting with his arms crossed, watching with unreadable eyes.

My feet carried into the corridor, toward the restroom.

I shoved the door open, and the sll of industrial soap and damp tiles rushed at .

I stumbled to one of the sinks. Gripped the cold tal edge so hard

For a second, I couldn’t look up. Couldn’t face my own reflection.

But finally, I raised my head.

The mirror showed a man I barely recognized.

Dark circles under my eyes. Hair wild, sweat drying on my skin.

My eyes looked sunken, bruises blooming purple along my jaw from the fight with Theo earlier.

Water trickled in the background where one of the showers leaked.

I turned the faucet on and splashed icy water onto my face, trying to scrub away the whispers, the looks, the questions I didn’t have answers to.

Nomi’s pregnant.

It might be yours.

My stomach twisted.

The voices in my head wouldn’t stop.

Zaara. The way she’d hugged . I couldn’t stop thinking about it.

Was she really okay? Or was she pretending...for ? Pretending so I wouldn’t fall apart?

But I kept hearing the crack in her voice when she said: We’re okay... right?

I fucked up, I promised her a family and I didn’t keep my promise.

I pressed my palms against the cool porcelain and squeezed my eyes shut.

What if she wasn’t okay at all? What if I was too much weight for her to carry?

And Nomi. Pale and shaking, a life growing inside her in this place.

I splashed cold water on my face, hoping it would snap out of this spiral. It didn’t.

I stared at my dripping reflection, chest heaving.

What if the Aetherions use this to destroy Zaara?

What if you can’t save either of them?

My hand curled into a fist as I slamd it into the sink’s edge.

Another mory rose, vivid: Nomi’s body in that room, the night of the aphrodisiacs, how my brain felt half-lted, not sure what was happening... whether I’d pulled away in ti...

My breath hitched.

I wiped my face roughly with a paper towel.

Then I peeled off my shirt, skin prickling as I turned toward the showers.

I stepped under the spray, let the water pound over my head, scalding hot, until my skin turned red.

But the voices in my head kept whispering.

She’s pregnant.

Nomi is pregnant.

You’re going to have a baby.

You’re going to be a Dad.

I dried my hands on the hem of my shirt, and pushed the restroom door open.

The hallway outside still buzzed with whispers, but they felt distant.

And there, leaning against the wall across from the door, was Zaara.

She looked up the instant she saw . Her hair was still damp at the edges, framing her tired eyes. For a second, we just stared at each other, like neither of us knew how to start.

I stepped toward her.

"Heyy.. Zaara... are you... mad at ?"

Her lips parted, she let out a shaky little laugh and shook her head.

"I’m not mad, Vincent." She rolled her eyes a bit. "You think I’d still be here if I was mad at you?"

I was relieved.

"But... what about the life we promised we’d have after all this?" My voice broke. "The dog. Our ho. You said we’d decorate the kitchen with ugly tiles so we’d always rember this place and laugh about it."

Zaara’s smile softened, though tears sparkled in her eyes. She reached out and took my hand, squeezing my fingers tight.

"I still want all of that, Vincent."

I searched her face. "But... Nomi having a baby... that won’t stop us from being together, will it?"

Zaara blinked at , brows knitting.

"Vincent... you don’t seriously think that changes how I feel about us, do you?"

"I... I don’t know," I stamred. "I don’t want to lose you."

Zaara gave a soft snort and tugged closer, pressing her forehead to mine.

"It won’t stop us. It doesn’t an I’m leaving you." She let out a shaky breath. "We’ll figure this out. Together."