Was that really my mother ?

  I felt my cheeks against the cold floor, my vision was blurred it seemed as if I was in another white room , but with people inside.

  They all looked like clones of each other . I realized I was wearing the same thing as them . My body trembled as I struggled to stand, my ears kept ringing and the sharp headache didn't make it any better.

  "Greetings fellow warriors ", a robotic sound spoke.

  The sound pierced through my ear . I couldn't trace where it came from it filled the hollow room and bounced back like an echo .

  "Each of you have different codes written on you overalls "

  333

  I stared at mine .

  "We shall begin the natural selection of life . Each of you have 300 hours to raise your Warrior Status Level to atleast 666 failure to do so will result in termination "

  All my senses heightened after hearing that word , I could even feel my heart bit . Voices mumbled.

  "By...by termination do you mean death ?!", a man shouted in fear .

  "No you shall be sent to Ecardwark where your life will be put to better use , death is a gift not meant for the weak "

  The man collapsed on his knees and began to laught with tears .

  His WSL was

  222

  So this is the cost of choosing the red gate , I thought .

  "You are dismissed "

  I stood there for a while until I was alone . Had the system abounded me? Why ?how ?

  I saw a crowd gathered at a near by corner. I pushed through to see what had amused them . My blood ran cold as I gazed at the man .

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  777

  That was his Warrior Status Level. His name was Lucen , the System's replacement son.

  I clenched my fists tighter. So the system had found my replacement.

  It had always watched me - a silent presence above, cold and constant. I told myself it loved me, that if I worked hard enough, it would smile.

  I wanted to make it proud. Like a child performing tricks for a parent who never clapped.

  Now, I couldn't feel it at all.

  That absence hurt more than anything.

  That night, as I lay staring at the ceiling, I whispered to no one, "It's cold."

  Though there were no windows, I closed my eyes.

  "My son... be strong."

  Training became my world.

  While others laughed and feasted on processed food, I ran.

  500 meters became 5 kilometers.

  30 push-ups became 250.

  No audience. No applause.

  I trained alone. Ate alone. Not because I was noble.

  But because I was afraid. Afraid they'd see how weak I really was.

  Still, I told myself:

  I will gain the System's approval again. I would make it be proud of me even if it kills me.

  I would survive.

  I would not die in a place like this.

  I would meet my mother.

  Twelve days later.

  A silver orb hovered in the courtyard. One by one, the trainees stepped forward. They touched it.

  The orb pulsed. Their level appeared in red light above them.

  The boy before me was Lucen. My "replacement."

  Girls whispered his name. He stepped forward. Hand on the orb.

  WSL: 1000.

  Roars. Applause. Of course, he was the chosen one.

  I closed my eyes. I had bled for this. I stepped forward. Heart hammering.

  My hand met the orb.

  WSL: 33e.

  Silence.

  Then, laughter.

  "Trash."

  "Unblessed."

  I dropped to my knees. Everything I worked for was all in vain.

  No one cared. Their eyes were on him.

  Lucen. Perfect stance. Sharp jawline. That infuriating, untouchable smile.

  He walked past me like I wasn't even real.

  Something inside me cracked.

  I snapped. I grabbed his collar. Yanked him back.

  "You think this is funny?! I trained. I bled for this. What did you do?! Smile?!"

  Lucen looked at me, calm, detached.

  "You're angry," he said softly, "because you gave everything... and still feel empty it ok you can join m-."

  "Shut up!" I roared.

  I swung. My fist connected. Nothing.

  He didn't flinch. Didn't blink.

  He raised a hand and tapped my shoulder. The weight dropped me.

  Lucen walked away, unbothered.

  "Try again, 333," he said.

  Not mockery. Just truth.

  The world blurred. The air turned static. My hands shook. My chest ached.

  I ran. Through corridors, upstairs, to the rooftop.

  Wind hit me like ice. Below, the crowd roared at the gate.

  I reached out. My vision blurred. My hand shook.

  "I love you," her words came like a whisper.

  Stupid. Stupid dream.

  She's dead! My mother... gone.

  I slammed my head against the rails. Blood mingled with tears, bitter, coppery, real.

  My voice broke into the void.

  "Why did I believe in her voice?! Why!? WHY!?"

  Then - a voice behind me. Smooth. Measured. Dangerous.

  "If dreams are stupid... then what does that make us? A reflection of nothing?"

  I turned.

  He leaned casually against the railing. Hands behind his head. One eye hidden in shadow.

  I chuckled bitterly.

  "I disobeyed the system. Threw away a perfect life... for a lie."

  He shrugged.

  "Life's a game. You don't choose the rules. But you can break them. Me? I hack it. Face the creator. Flip the table."

  He stepped onto the ledge.

  "If this is your limit, kid... maybe you really weren't built for this."

  And then, without warning, he jumped.

  I froze. Heart in my throat.

  But in that instant, I saw myself in him. Like when I fell from the bridge.

  I reached out.

  "Wait-!"

  He grabbed my wrist. Grinned.

  "You want to prove your worth? Then do it."

  Steel beams above the gate. Chaos below. Screams. Sirens. Officers scrambling.

  He laughed - wild, unfiltered.

  "Fly, my little raven.", the words came back to me, so I jumped

  Dark feathers colored the sky as ravens flew like spilled ink .

  I closed my eyes for a moment. The wind carried away my tears, my blood, my shame.

  And then I saw her again, my mother , smiling.

  For a heartbeat, I felt... whole.

  I stepped forward. And jumped.

  Straight into the gate.