The Recall Trials Chapter 16: Her Soft lips Might’ve Just Saved Our Lives

"Huh? Vincent, are you even listening?" she asked, snapping out of it.

I scratched the back of my head, feeling like an idiot. "Yeah...yeah, sorry. I’m listening."

She sighed, then leaned in closer. "I’m only telling you this because, for so reason, you’re the only person here I feel like I can trust in here."

I nodded,still trying to focus.

"Rember last night—when Piper wouldn’t stop crying?" she continued. "She finally opened up to . Told so things. Things I couldn’t risk saying out loud in the dorm... not with all those caras watching."

"Oh," I murmured.

Zaara stepped in closer, almost brushing against . She leaned in and whispered directly into my ear.

And suddenly all I could only think of was her.....the scent of roses in her hair, the warmth of her breath against my skin. My heart rate kicked up, blood rushing a little faster.

I swallowed hard, struggling to keep it together... God, I needed to focus, but she was making it really damn hard. My thoughts were already a ss and she decided to make it worse when she shifted, just slightly between my legs, and that was it. I was definitely starting to lose control.

"Last night," Zaara began quietly, "Piper told what really made her scream during the playground ga."

I leaned in.

"She said that playground... it wasn’t just any playground. It was the exact sa one where she pushed her twin sister off the Ferris wheel a few years ago. Her sister died, Vincent. Piper went to juvie for it, and the place got shut down after."

I froze. "Wait—what?"

Zaara nodded. "Yeah. That’s why she freaked out. The entire setup was built to ss with her. That question during the ’Never Have I Ever’ ga? It was connected."

I felt a chill. "So... that rusted, broken playground... it was a real place. From her mory?"

Zaara nodded. "Exactly. That rusted, creepy playground was real. And it wasn’t for us....it was for her. Piper was the target in both gas, not just a random pick."

I felt my stomach drop. "Wait... you think they’re going to do the sa thing to all of us?"

"They’re using our pasts against us, Vincent. They know things. Stuff no one should know. It’s like they’re inside our heads... or mories. So kind of twisted tech maybe, I don’t know but it’s real."

"No wonder..." I muttered, thinking back. "That question they asked , about my stepmom. It kinda happened. She tried to kiss once when I was drunk. Ever since, she’s kept pushing boundaries."

Zaara looked at with sympathy and disgust. "That’s awful."

I sighed. "If they know things like that... no one’s safe."

"Then we need to get out of here. Fast. We need a plan, Vincent. Before it’s our turn,before they use our worst mories against us," she whispered.

As Zaara kept whispering, pouring out everything Piper had told her, I suddenly heard sothing , steady footsteps echoing just beyond the restroom stalls.

Then I saw them. Those sa black combat boots. Silent.. The kind worn by the n in black.

My heart dropped.

Shit...

Were they looking for us?

Did they know we were hiding here?

Did they hear what Zaara just told ?

My thoughts raced. I couldn’t take any chances.

"Hush," I whispered, gently placing my finger over Zaara’s soft lips.They were literally softer than I imagined. Her eyes widened as she fell silent. "They’re here," I whispered.

The footsteps grew closer.

I didn’t know what to do, but we couldn’t get caught like this....alone, whispering in secret in the restroom.

In a split-second decision, I grabbed her by the waist and pulled her close so close, I could feel her breath on my skin.

Then I kissed her.

Her lips t mine. Extrely soft. Warm. For a mont, I thought she’d shove away.

But she didn’t.

She kissed back.

It was desperate, like we both knew this was more than just a distraction. Maybe we needed it. Maybe we wanted it. Or maybe we were just trying to survive.

The restroom door creaked open.

And there they were two n in black, standing in the doorway, staring.

But all they saw was a kiss. Just two people tangled in sothing that looked like lust, not rebellion.

No questions. No warnings.

I pulled back slightly, breathing hard, eyes locked on hers.

We didn’t say a word.

One of them grabbed Zaara by the arm, the other another one grabbed and pulled us out of the restroom

"What the hell—?"

They didn’t answer. Just dragged us out into the main room like criminals. The mont we stepped in, the atmosphere shifted. All eyes turned to us. Everyone was already there, standing still, quiet, like statues.

There were six of them now. Fully ard. Posted at every corner of the room, their rifles ready, masks hiding whatever twisted emotions might be on their faces.

We were trapped.

"Contestant 001. Contestant 040," the deep, soulless voice echoed from the speaker. "What were you doing alone in the restroom?"

My pulse spiked. My throat dried up. Zaara’s hand was trembling beside mine.

Her lips were quivering, her eyes darting between the n with guns and the others staring at us. She was terrified.

So was I.

Did they know?

Did they hear us?

Did they sohow know we were piecing things together, uncovering their secrets?

"Answer truthfully," the voice growled. "Or face imdiate elimination."

Zaara looked like she might faint. Her eyes were wide, her mouth kept trembling.

I didn’t think.

I just reacted.

"We were making out," I blurted, loud and clear.

Silence.

The entire room fell into a suffocating hush. No one moved. No one breathed. Even the n with guns seed to pause.

Everyone was waiting. No reaction. No movent. Just eyes. Watching. Waiting.

Waiting for what would co next.

Waiting to see if we’d just signed our own death sentence.