I motion Leonardo to follow me out the door, holding it open for him as the winter wind stirs the remaining coats hanging on the row of hooks. "You know, I personally don't think they want any of us dead," I agree as we crunch our way across the frost-covered lawn. "The whole time I've been here, three people have died. Every time, it felt like an accident. Something beyond their control, unaccounted for. Rogue animal attacks, lightning." Although it does make me wonder now whether Karen and Ren had really been real to begin with.

"We're not being pitted against each other, and they give us these little gifts, these parties like they're trying to improve morale. Like we're an investment. But I honestly have no idea why they'd force people to go through that, or why it was only some of us and not all of us. Is it supposed to harden us? Or is it just sadistic?"

Because we've been through similar situations before, people disappearing and ending up somewhere far-flung, having to work through the unique challenges presented by this place. But this feels like some next-level shit.