Midnight, the campus was silent and empty.
The moon was obscured by thick dark clouds, leaving the ground in complete darkness.
Tong Yang stood inside a circular marker, glancing left and right. The distance was too great—she could barely make out two shadowy figures in the distance.
"During the exam, all examinees must remain silent. Any communication must be conducted in Group Chat 1209."
Tong Yang opened her phone. Group Chat 1209 was buzzing with activity. Since the group was in anonymous mode, every participant’s nickname appeared as a random object, making it impossible to tell who was who.
[What are we even supposed to do?]
[It’s so dark! I keep feeling like there’s something in the hallway…]
[Ugh, you think you have it bad? I’m sitting right in the middle of the classroom, too scared to blink or turn around in case someone—or something—appears out of nowhere.]
[Ahhh! I’m so nervous but also kind of excited! What’s the point of this?!]
[What about the people on the field? It’s gotta be better out there, right?]
[Not at all! I can’t even see my hand in front of my face, and it’s freezing!]
[I swear I feel someone breathing down my neck—goosebumps everywhere.]
…
Tong Yang skimmed through the messages. Nothing useful, though judging from the user named "Acrylic," it was probably Sun Ye, the only one assigned to the classroom.
"First column examinees, starting from the first in line, move upward to a staircase."
"Second column examinees, move from left to right to a marked point."
"Third and fourth column examinees, starting from the first in line, move upward to a staircase."
The broadcast repeated the instructions.
"Remember, absolute silence is required during the first round of the exam."
Moving left to right meant clockwise.
Tong Yang looked toward her left. Chu Shiyu stood at the front of the line, but the distance was too great to see what was happening over there. The cold wind howled across the field, muffling any footsteps.
Soon, the examinee fifty meters to Tong Yang’s left began moving forward. Following the rules, she stepped toward the marker on her left. The examinee fifty meters to her right, seeing her move, also stepped toward her original marker.
Before this, whenever something terrifying happened, everyone had stuck together. But tonight, the exam had scattered them all apart. No one knew the rules, couldn’t see each other, couldn’t hear each other—fear and isolation were magnified tenfold.
[What the hell is this?!]
[This reminds me of that Four Corners game from that creepy post—where an extra person shows up out of nowhere.]
[No way!!! I’d rather have one less person than one more!]
[This isn’t Four Corners, though… right?]
[But the dorm and academic buildings both have five floors, meaning ten staircases total. We’re only using eight. What about the other two?]
[Stop making it even creepier, damn it.]
…
Once all examinees had moved to their assigned staircases or markers, the broadcast issued another instruction.
"First in line for each column must now move forward to at least three, but no more than five, staircases or markers."
[It’s so dark!!!]
[Why couldn’t we do this in daylight?!]
[My legs are shaking.]
[Is everyone done? What’s next?]
Tong Yang frowned as she read the sporadic messages. Something felt off.
The Third High School’s academic and dorm buildings both had five floors, with staircases on either side—ten in total. Their positions on the field mirrored this setup: the first in each column stood at the fourth-floor staircase, the last at the opposite fourth-floor staircase, leaving the fifth-floor staircases empty. After the first move, the first in line would ascend to the fifth floor, while the others moved clockwise, with the last descending to the third floor.
That left the opposite fifth- and fourth-floor staircases unoccupied.
The second instruction required the first in line to move at least three positions forward. That meant they’d cross the fifth-floor hallway to the opposite staircase, then pass through the empty fourth-floor staircase to reach the third floor—where the last examinee would be waiting. They were bound to meet there.
But Tong Yang’s column was spread across half the field, with eight people spaced fifty meters apart. Even if Chu Shiyu moved the maximum five markers, she wouldn’t end up in the same spot as the last examinee.
Ice Cola: [Is anyone near you right now?]
Tong Yang typed.
[???]
[What kind of question is that?!]
[Don’t tell me you’re not alone!!]
[No…]
[Me neither.]
[Help…]
Ice Cola: [Logically, after this move, the first in Columns One, Three, and Four should’ve run into the last in line.]
[No way??]
[She’s right. Ten staircases, two empty. If the first moves at least three positions, they’d definitely collide with the last.]
[Is anyone standing in the same spot right now? If you are, say something. This isn’t funny.]
[Would that count as revealing our identities?]
[Please… no one’s here. It’s empty.]
[Same here…]
[AHHHH I’M LOSING IT! Where’s the monster?! Bring out the white-eyed freak! I’d rather be chased by something I can see!]
[Damn it!! What kind of exam is this?! I quit!]
Just then, a user named "Garlic Chicken" sent a message: [There’s someone here… but that’s impossible.]
"Examinees standing near another must now stand back-to-back. No sound is permitted during this time."
The broadcast crackled again.
Acrylic: [HELPHELPHELP—there’s an extra person in the classroom!!]
Acrylic: [Who? Who is it?! It’s one of you, right? It has to be!]
That had to be Sun Ye, alone in the classroom. Even through the screen, Tong Yang could feel his panic.
[What?!]
[Stop joking, I’m begging you.]
[What did we do to deserve this?]
[If I’ve sinned, let the law punish me—not this.]
[Push me too far, and I’ll… I’ll kneel and beg you to let me go.]
[Just end this already. I can’t take it.]
…
"Odd-numbered examinees, move forward or backward one position."
Tong Yang was number twelve—even. She stayed put.
After about ten seconds, no one approached her. The examinees who had been fifty meters to her left and right were now gone.
"Examinee thirty-three, move to the front row."
[NOOOOOO!!!]
[What the hell is this?! Just kill me already!]
[Finally, someone’s with me!]
[Still alone here…]
[At least I’m not by myself anymore. Feels safer.]
Garlic Chicken: [I moved back one spot. There’s someone here… but no one was there when I passed earlier.]
Ice Cola: [Can you see who it is?]
Garlic Chicken: [They’re facing away. I’m too scared to look.]
Ice Cola: [Wave your phone.]
Tong Yang peered across the field. Sure enough, on the opposite side, barely visible through the darkness, was a faint flicker of light. If she hadn’t been looking for it, she would’ve missed it entirely.
She’d guessed right. "Garlic Chicken" was Chu Shiyu, in the same column as her.
Chu Shiyu had moved forward about four markers in the second round—a place where there absolutely shouldn’t have been anyone, hence the term "shouldn’t." Now, stepping back one marker, she realized there shouldn’t have been anyone beside her either, yet here they were, on the field, with at least one extra "person" present.
"All examinees standing on odd-numbered markers, please close your eyes. Another person will guide you to randomly move forward or backward one position."
This round of movement still had nothing to do with Tong Yang.
About a minute later, a faint figure approached from the right. The darkness made it impossible to discern their features.
"Please stand back-to-back. Do not look directly at each other’s faces."
Tong Yang and the approaching figure formed a triangle, standing back-to-back within their markers.
"Examinees whose numbers end with 'two,' please move forward to find a solitary examinee. Tap their left shoulder to signal they should stay, or their right shoulder to instruct them to move forward one position."
Tong Yang walked ahead. The first two markers were empty. At the third, someone stood inside the circle. Following the rules, Tong Yang had to keep going until she found a marker with only one person.
By the fifth marker, a girl stood with her back turned, her hair loose and flowing. Tong Yang stepped forward and tapped her shoulder, signaling for her to stay.
[How’s it going? Does everyone have someone beside them?]
[I haven’t seen anyone since earlier. The stairwell I passed was empty, and the one across from my floor was too.]
[What’s the point of this exam? I don’t get it.]
[What the hell! How many people are actually in your senior-year building?]
[Number 33 is in a first-floor classroom. There are eight people in the building.]
[...From what I can see, there are at least twelve of you. One on the first floor, five on the second, one on the third, one on the fourth, and one on the fifth.]
[Seriously? Who are the extra four?]
[Forget who—I want to know if they’re even human.]
Tong Yang frowned at the group chat, baffled by the purpose of this nighttime exam. Was it just meant to unsettle them with this eerie four-corner game?
And then what? What’s next?
Yakeli: [Is anyone paying attention? There are four things sitting next to me right now. I’m shaking as I type this.]
"Examinees standing with others, please choose whether to trust the person beside you. If you trust them, remain still. If not, move forward or backward one position at random."
The male voice crackled through the broadcast again.
The person behind Tong Yang stood rigid, back-to-back with her. After a moment’s hesitation, Tong Yang chose to move forward—but the other person in the marker made the same choice.
Tong Yang paused mid-step, catching the faint tremble in the other’s body from the corner of her eye. She raised a brow.
She’s scared? Must be someone from the second column.
But with no way to communicate or reveal identities in the group chat, Tong Yang could only walk alongside the increasingly shaky girl to the next marker.
In the dim light, a boy in a white shirt stood with his back turned.
The girl beside Tong Yang seemed to see him as a lifeline, quickening her pace toward him.
Tong Yang matched her speed, studying the boy in the marker. Given the circumstances, every spot seemed to have extra "people." The girl beside her was likely another examinee, but the boy up ahead? Hard to say.
His posture was unnaturally stiff, arms limp at his sides.
[Oh god!! I’m sure the girl next to me isn’t human! She’s way too calm—not even breathing. Everyone else I’ve passed has been panting like crazy!]
[Good point. The ones breathing heavily are probably human, right?]
[I moved forward at the same time as her. Thank god there was someone else at the next marker.]
"If you still don’t trust those around you, you may continue moving forward."
The broadcast cut in again. Tong Yang didn’t hesitate—she kept walking.
But after a few steps, she noticed the girl beside her slowing down. When she saw Tong Yang wasn’t stopping, she froze entirely.
Tong Yang: "..."
So you don’t trust me either?
She arrived at a new marker, this time alone.
Pausing inside the circle, she opened the 1209 group chat.
[That was close! Almost walked off with that thing. Good thing I stopped in time.]
Tong Yang: "..."
IceCola: [Really? You think you’re clever?]
[???]
[What do you mean?]
IceCola: [Guess.]
[Come on, don’t be cryptic!]
IceCola: [Want to know? Consultation fee: five bucks.]
[...That tone sounds familiar. Sis, is that you?]
[No way?? Were you the one next to me just now?]
IceCola: [What do you think?]
IceCola: [Here’s a tip: If you see someone standing with their back to you, check their clothes. If they’re neat and spotless, don’t hesitate—move to the next marker.]
[Makes sense. After scrambling around all night, none of us are clean.]
[Not necessarily. My sis is pretty clean, so I thought she was…]
IceCola: [Did you not notice that guy was cleaner than me?]
GarlicChicken: [Wait.]
GarlicChicken: [Cola, how many people are with you?]
"GarlicChicken" was Chu Shiyu, from the same column as Tong Yang.
IceCola: [Just me.]
Tong Yang’s money-grubbing vibe was unmistakable, so most in the group recognized her. Since "GarlicChicken" had singled her out, others from the second column chimed in.
[Two here.]
[Same.]
[I’m so scared. I didn’t go with my sis, so the thing behind me probably isn’t human.]
[One here.]
[Just me too.]
IceCola: [What’s up?]
GarlicChicken: [I’ve got five…]
[How many???]
[What??]
[You’ve got five??]
[My sis is alone, two might be together in the middle, so that’s three. If you count the one doubting my sis, plus two more in separate spots, that’s six total. You’ve got five??]
[No way! If the middle two aren’t together, then all four around you aren’t human??]
Tong Yang’s frown deepened. Chu Shiyu had terrible luck—how could so many people around her be normal?
IceCola: [Stay calm and observe.]
Tong Yang offered the advice.
"The final round of movement will now begin. All examinees must move forward three to five positions. Note: You may only move forward, not backward or stay in place. Additionally, you must make the same choice as those beside you."
The group chat fell silent as the announcement ended.
With movement restricted to three to five markers forward and everyone forced to move simultaneously, the chances of regrouping plummeted.
Tong Yang had already struck a deal with Chu Shiyu. She needed to find a way to reach her, but if the distance between them exceeded five markers, no amount of movement would bring them together.
After a moment’s thought, Tong Yang stepped forward. Whatever the case, staying put wasn’t an option.
At the first marker, as expected, no one was there.
Tong Yang continued moving forward. When she reached the second marker, she saw a person standing there. Since Chu Shiyu was surrounded by four people, it couldn’t possibly be her.
So, Tong Yang pressed on.
At the third and fourth markers, there was no one. Tong Yang had no choice but to keep walking. If there was no one at the fifth marker either, it would mean she and Chu Shiyu had drifted too far apart to catch up.
As she approached the fifth marker, the dim light revealed shadowy figures—more than one.
Upon getting closer, she saw five people standing back-to-back inside the marked area, with a gap deliberately left open for her.
Only Chu Shiyu’s group had this many people in the second column, so one of these five had to be her.
The broadcast had mentioned this was the final chance to move. Though she didn’t know what lay ahead, staying near Chu Shiyu seemed like the safest bet for the 50,000 RMB reward. Besides, there were no more opportunities to move forward.
Tong Yang stayed at the fifth marker, taking her place in the gap they’d left for her.
When she reopened the group chat, the admin had lifted the mute.
[How many people are around you?]
[Just me.]
[Three here.]
[Ugh, I’ve got three too.]
[No idea if they’re human or not. I’d rather be alone right now.]
[What’s the point of this? Are they making us stand with these freaks all night?]
[Standing all night is whatever, but I’m scared they’ll make us play games with them.]
[AAAAAHHHH HELP! The thing next to me is definitely NOT human!]
Garlic Chicken: [+1 I’d rather stand alone than have anyone near me. Thank god I ended up at empty markers the last few rounds.]
Icy Cola: [?]
Icy Cola: [You’re alone??]
[?????]
[Didn’t you say there were five people around you earlier?]
Garlic Chicken: [Huh? My phone lost signal after the fourth round—I thought it was the same for everyone!]
[What the hell? Then who was posting earlier?]
[No wonder the proctor warned us to verify the info in the chat. They set us up!]
[What’s even the point of this?]
Tong Yang’s face darkened, her teeth grinding. Oh, there was a point alright—a point tailor-made to screw her over. Who else would be dumb enough to chase after Chu Shiyu like this?
So now, none of the five behind her were alive?
If she hadn’t realized it before, she sure did now. An icy chill crept up her spine.
This was a rip-off! That 50,000 RMB wasn’t worth it! She should’ve haggled for more!
"Congratulations to candidates No. 1, 4, 9, 13, 17, 21, 26, 30, and 32 for passing the exam. Please leave the venue immediately."
The man’s voice echoed through the broadcast.
Tong Yang clenched her jaw, mentally cursing the proctor to hell. If not for Chu Shiyu’s trickery, her name would’ve been on that list!
Most of the candidates who passed had ended up alone after the final move.
The nine successful candidates were promptly kicked from the group chat.
In other words, this exam was all about luck. You could control your own thoughts and movements, but you couldn’t predict others’.
"Remaining candidates, take a one-minute break before continuing the exam."
[I think I get it now—if you end up alone, you pass!]
[Wait, my friend was alone earlier. Why didn’t they pass?]
Icy Cola: [Surprise! Bet you didn’t see that coming.]
[Did they bump into someone in the last round?]
Tong Yang scoffed. Not "bumped"—more like "forced" to collide.
A minute later, the broadcast resumed.
"Candidates and their companions must now choose a position to move to together. In case of disagreement, the majority rules. Note: discussion is permitted this round."
Majority rules? That meant Tong Yang had zero say in the matter.
Frustration gnawed at her as the figures behind her began moving forward. She had no choice but to follow.
The moon peeked out from behind thick clouds, casting enough light for Tong Yang to see the stiff, unnatural movements of the figures ahead. From the back, they looked like ordinary students—but if movies were anything to go by, their faces were probably anything but intact.
Tong Yang wasn’t scared, though. After everything she’d been through, the absurdity barely fazed her. What pissed her off was the feeling of being manipulated, like a puppet on strings.
"If candidates return to their starting position, they may choose to abandon one companion."
"After discussing with your companions, freely choose to move forward or backward five steps."
With no companions to negotiate with, Tong Yang was at the mercy of the others’ decisions.
Five people surrounded her now, meaning she’d need to pass the starting point at least four times to gain any agency—and even then, she might overlap with others.
If she kept failing, would she be stuck walking in circles all night?
[This round seems easier.]
[Does it? Feels like there’s someone everywhere. So annoying!]
[What even are these things? I’ve got three here, and at least one’s definitely not human. I have no choice but to follow them back and forth! God, I’m so tired. I’m past fear—I just wanna rip their heads off!]
[It’s been hours. We’ve got another exam tomorrow morning!]
[This exam’s a joke. The daytime survival test and answer-checking were way better.]
[Honestly, without your girl’s cheat-level skills, half our class would’ve been eliminated.]
By the end of the second exam, a few more candidates passed—but Tong Yang’s group of five remained unchanged.
They’d moved back and forth multiple times, yet not once had they crossed her starting point.
Trailing behind them, Tong Yang seethed, her patience wearing thin. It felt like the proctors were punishing her for her earlier rule-bending—even though she’d stayed within the lines.
When the third exam concluded, the broadcast announced more passing numbers. Staring at the five motionless idiots still surrounding her, Tong Yang’s mood hit rock bottom.
She was certain now: this was deliberate. If she didn’t do something, she’d spend the night marching around the field like a fool.
"The fourth exam begins now. Candidates and companions must discuss and decide whether to move forward or backward. In case of disagreement, majority rules."
Since communication was now allowed, Tong Yang saw her chance. As the five figures moved forward again, she strode ahead and grabbed the nearest one’s shoulder, teeth gritted.
"Let’s talk."
The five halted, slowly turning to face her. Under the cold moonlight, Tong Yang saw their pallid faces—and her pupils shrank.
Her blood ran cold.
She knew these faces.
Tong Yang wasn’t blessed with a photographic memory, but she remembered the faces of classmates she’d spent time with.
These "people" looked exactly like the examinees in the second row—so much so that she even spotted the most familiar face among them: Chu Shiyu.
Just like the assailant who had tried to harm her that night, they bore faces eerily similar to those of people she knew.
So, this must be the so-called parallel world, huh?
"Move back three positions. Understood?" Tong Yang lowered her gaze, her expression dark.
The five figures ignored her, turning their heads away as if to press forward.
"Hey." Tong Yang unzipped her bag and pulled out a weapon studded with spikes from the gap. "The rules don’t say we can’t lay hands on our companions. Dragging each of you to where I want might be a hassle, but it’s not impossible."
She pressed the spiked club against one of their necks and growled, "I’ll say it once. Move. Back. Three positions."
The creatures stared at her blankly for several seconds—then, just as she raised the club to strike, they all turned around in unison!
Tong Yang narrowed her eyes, slinging an arm around one’s shoulders and ruffling their hair as a reward.
"Good boy."
