The Recall Trials Chapter 14: Never Have I Ever… Fked My Stepmom

The screen lit up with number #056.

It was Piper.

The sa girl from yesterday. The one everyone had yelled at. The one Zaara had defended.

She looked like she hadn’t slept all night....her face pale, eyes swollen,puffy and red. Honestly, it hurt just looking at her. She looked completely wrecked, like she hadn’t slept a second. I could only imagine how the blinding spotlight must’ve felt on her eyes as she slowly walked to the center of the room and stood beneath it.

"Contestant 056," the voice echoed.

"Never have I ever... killed my own twin sister."

The whole room gasped.

What the hell kind of question was that?

I turned instinctively to Zaara. She was already staring at in shock. Her eyes said everything...pure disbelief, horror.

The countdown tir started ticking on the wall behind Piper.

She didn’t speak. Not a word. Just stood there like she was sowhere else entirely. Her lips moved, barely, maybe whispering sothing. A prayer? A mory? I couldn’t tell.

"Piper, say sothing!" Zaara yelled across the room.

Still nothing. Piper just stood there, lost in whatever storm was tearing her apart inside.

The tir hit zero.

The lights in the room started flashing red...fast, harsh, dizzying..

Then the unthinkable happened.

The floor beneath Piper split open, just like that, and she dropped straight down into the water tank below. Right into the aquarium we thought was so beautiful just monts ago.

We all rushed forward to the glass.

We could see her struggling in the tank, her body floating, she was struggling

Everyone held their breath. We couldn’t help her, no one could do anything.

Then the horror really began.

I thought maybe they’d rescue her. Maybe this was just to scare us. But then....

A dark shadow moved in the tank.

A freaking shark.

It ca out of nowhere and lunged at her. Blood spilled out instantly as it tore into her arm. Piper scread, but it was muffled by the water. She was drowning. Thrashing. Dying right in front of us.

Zaara dropped to her knees, screaming in tears. "PIPER! NO!"

She sobbed uncontrollably. I knelt and pulled her into , holding her, covering her face so she wouldn’t have to see the rest of it.

The water turned red.

"I don’t want to lose you," I whispered into her hair. "Please, Zaara... answer the questions right."

I held her tighter as the nightmare unfolded behind the glass.

This was only Day Two.

It kept going, one after the other...Carter went next, then Nomi, and more contestants followed.

Each spotlight felt heavier than the last.

And then... it was Zaara’s turn.

The mont her number lit up on the screen, my chest tightened.

I was scared. Scared of what they might ask her..

She stepped into the spotlight.Her hands were trembling at her sides. I could tell she was scared. Anyone would be.

The voice ca through the speaker again

"Contestant #040... Never have I ever...tried to murder soone."

The room went silent. Like completely still. Even the hum from the aquarium dimd, or maybe it was just in my head.

Zaara didn’t move at first. She just stood there, frozen. Her mouth parted slightly, but no words ca out.

The tir appeared on the screen.

30 seconds.

I could see her shoulders trembling.

15 seconds.

Her lips moved. "I have."

The light above her flickered once... then held steady.

No red lights. No trap doors. No sharks.

She was safe.

I let out a breath I didn’t even realize I was holding.

Zaara stepped away from the spotlight, her eyes glassy like she was holding in tears, but she kept walking like nothing had happened.

But I knew it did.

I saw it in her face, whatever story was behind that answer, it broke her a little.

She ca to stand beside , not saying a word. I didn’t ask her anything either. Just being next to her felt like the right thing to do.

The ga kept going, but I wasn’t even focused anymore. My eyes were still on her, trying to figure out what pain she was hiding behind that strong face.

Then I heard it—my number echo through the room like a death sentence.

"Contestant 001."

My whole body tensed. My palms were sweaty , and my legs felt like they could give out any second. Still, I forced myself to walk slowly toward the spotlight. Every step felt heavy. My breath was uneven. I stepped into the circle of light, and suddenly, all I could see were silhouettes. Everyone else vanished into shadows.

I was alone.

"Never have I ever... fked my stepmom," the voice said.

My heart stopped. My blood turned cold. What the actual hell?

I swear I forgot how to breathe for a second. My ears rang. My knees almost gave in.

Honestly , what the actual hell?

My mind went blank for a second. Like the words didn’t even co. Then the panic ca crashing in.

How the hell did they know?

Was this a guess? A trap?

What kind of sick setup is this?

We’re they watching my whole life?

What if people I know were watching this right now?

I could barely move my lips. I was frozen in place, and the tir ticked on rcilessly.

25 seconds.. 20 seconds

I didn’t even look at it until the last few seconds.

6 seconds

I turned my head slightly and saw Zaara’s silhouette shift. She looked tense. Nomi too.

5 seconds

I swallowed hard.

4 seconds.