Morning breaks on the eighth day, the artificial lighting of the house dimming to a soft, golden hue that mimics dawn. The atmosphere is tense, heavy with the weight of the previous day's revelations. The teens emerge from their rooms slowly, their faces marked with exhaustion and unease. Sam is the first to step into the central room, her blonde hair pulled into a haphazard ponytail. Her eyes scan the space, lingering on the big screen's dormant state, the red lens above it dark and lifeless... for now.

Henry follows, clutching his laptop against his chest like a lifeline. His dark skin glows faintly under the artificial light, but his shoulders are hunched, and his glasses are slightly askew. He glances nervously at Sam before taking a seat on the couch. Maddie appears next, her movements timid as she hugs her oversized sweater tightly around her small frame. She avoids everyone's gaze and sits at the far end of the couch, her eyes fixed on the floor.

In the shared bathroom, Austin—shirtless and wearing sweatpants that hang low on his hips—leans over the sink, brushing his teeth aggressively. His reddish-blonde hair is disheveled, and a dark shadow of stubble lines his jaw. He spits into the sink, rinsing his mouth just as Lynne's piercing scream shatters the silence.

"EEK!"

The sound sends a jolt through all of them. Austin drops his toothbrush, and Maddie freezes mid-breath. Sam and Henry exchange a wide-eyed glance before sprinting toward the source of the scream. They find Lynne standing near the hallway by the artificial front door, her warm brown skin pale, her dark eyes wide with shock. She's pointing at the spot on the floor where Keith's body had been. And what makes things interesting, that Lynne saw that even the kitchen spot where they moved Keith's body—is now clean, eerily so.

No blood, no trace of what happened.

"He's gone. Everything about his death has disappeared," Lynne whispers, her voice trembling.

Austin joins them, his bare chest rising and falling rapidly as he stares at the empty floor. "What the hell?"

"Who moved him?" Sam demands, her voice sharp and steady despite the racing of her heart.

"It wasn't me," Maddie says quickly, stepping back into the room with her arms wrapped around herself. "I didn't... I couldn't..."

"None of us did," Henry says, his voice barely above a whisper. "It has to be..."

"Mother," Sam finishes grimly. Her gaze shifts to the circular camera lens above the big screen. The dark glass reflects their tense, confused faces. Stepping forward, Sam plants her hands on her hips and glares at the lens. "Mother! Did you do this?"

For a moment, nothing happens. The house is silent except for the faint hum of electricity. Then the red light at the center of the lens flickers to life. The teens tense as Mother's velvety voice fills the room.

"Oh, my dear roommates." She says with mock concern. "You seem upset."

"Don't play games with us!" Sam gets pissed. "What did you do with Keith's body?"

Mother's tone is smooth, almost amused. "That information is insignificant."

"Insignificant?" Austin repeats, his voice rising. "You think we don't deserve to know?"

Mother chuckles softly. "What you deserve and what you need are two very different things. What matters is the truth... the truth about Keith's killer."

Lynne's hands tremble as she clutches the edge of the counter. "We don't know who killed him. None of us did it."

"Ah," Mother says, her tone sharpening. "But someone did. And through this experiment, the killer will be revealed."

"Experiment?" Henry repeats, his voice incredulous. "You keep saying that. You're saying this is all some kind of... test?"

"More than a test," Mother replies. "An opportunity. An opportunity to break you down, to mold you into something new. The truth will surface, whether by confession or by my careful weaving. And if you're not careful, one of you will be next."

Her words hang in the air like a dark cloud, suffocating and inescapable. Maddie lets out a soft sob, her small frame trembling. Lynne places a reassuring hand on her shoulder, though her own face is pale with fear.

"Next?" Austin says with his voice cracking. "What do you mean, next?"

Mother doesn't answer directly. Instead, she says, "The faster the killer is revealed, the faster you can survive... if you survive."

Austin's fists clench at his sides. "You're insane."

Mother chuckles again, the sound cold and mocking. "Insanity is subjective, Austin. Shall we move on to the first challenge?"

The teens exchange stunned glances. Sam's stomach twists as she stares at the lens. "What challenge?"

"A game," Mother says, her voice brightening with faux enthusiasm. "A simple game of truth or dare. But with a twist, of course."

Henry's brow furrows. "What kind of twist?"

"An extreme version," Mother explains. "The classic game, reimagined. Instead of a bottle, the nation will decide. Votes are pouring in as we speak. The chosen roommate must either reveal a painful truth or endure a dare of my design."

The room falls silent as her words sink in. Maddie's breathing quickens, and she shakes her head. "No. I can't... I won't..."

"What about our families?" Lynne asks suddenly, her voice breaking. "Are they watching this? Do they know we're here?"

Mother's tone turns almost pitying. "Oh, my dear, your families are quite occupied. As far as they know, you're on a delightful summer school trip. They won't know anything unless you succeed in communicating with them... and that opportunity comes only after the first challenge."

Henry's jaw tightens. "I want to talk to my mom. And my sister."

"And I want to talk to my sister," Maddie says, her voice small but firm.

"Then you know what to do," Mother says smoothly. "Play the game. Or refuse and forfeit any chance of communication. The nation grows restless, my dears. Decide quickly."

The teens huddle together, their voices low and urgent. Sam stands slightly apart, her arms crossed as she listens to their frantic whispers. She has no family to worry about, no one waiting for her return. The thought stings, but she shoves it aside, focusing on the others.

"We don't have a choice," Henry says finally. "If we want to talk to our families, we have to do this."

Lynne nods reluctantly. "I hate this, but... he's right."

Austin steps forward, his jaw set. "I hate it too, yet we have to."

They look over to Maddie, who eventually concedes, and then to a still reluctant Sam. While Sam doesn't feel bother regarding familial communications, the others are the contrary. As they stare directly for her inclination. She tries to fight but with the others' fervent gazes, she slowly nods.

"Fine." Sam says with a dissatisfied tone. She turns to the camera lens. "We'll do it."

Mother's red light pulses brightly. "Excellent! Let the games begin."

Mother soon instructs them to sit like how they normally play spin the bottle. The teens sit on the floor in a circle, their legs crossed awkwardly. The tension is palpable, each of them avoiding the others' eyes. The red lens flickers, and Mother's voice fills the room once more.

"The nation has decided." She announces, her tone gleeful. "And the first participant is... Lynne."

Lynne's breath catches, her brown skin paling. The others look at her, their expressions a mix of relief and sympathy. Maddie reaches for her hand, but Lynne pulls away, her eyes wide with fear as she waits for Mother's next command.