The next morning, my head still ached.
I spent the early hours sitting on a garden bench near the Main Building, staring at the gently flowing fountain. Morning sunlight shimmered across the clear water. A small fish swam in the middle, its fins moving lazily, as if it didn't have a care in the world.
The same fish MonoGaru had caught and given me with that coy little laugh.
I watched it for a long time, my thoughts drifting back to last night.
Anya's recording.
Her cold voice still echoed in my ears. The old photographs. The criminal records. Haris Vermana's name. The revelation that Harapan Jauh Island had been built before the Twin Catastrophes even happened.
An artificial island. Not a natural one.
That meant... someone had seen the world's destruction coming long before it happened. They hadn't cared about saving the ordinary people left suffering in its aftermath. They'd simply built themselves a luxury lifeboat, reserving places for themselves and everyone they considered important.
And left millions of others to starve, be killed, or drown in the chaos.
My hands clenched in my lap. Hatred rose in my throat.
They were the reason for all of this. Our country's collapse. All those deaths. This insane game that forced us to kill each other.
All because a handful of people had the ambition to call themselves the "saviors of humanity."
"Bastards," I muttered.
A little later, I spotted Dion walking from the dorms toward the Main Building. His steps were heavy, his shoulders slumped.
I raised a hand.
"Dion."
He flinched, then turned. His eyes were still red and tired, as though he hadn't slept all night.
"Oh... Reno." His voice was flat. "Morning."
"Where are you going?"
Dion let out a long breath.
"Trying to clear my head. I still can't believe what we saw last night. That recording... all of it... It's too much."
He hesitated, then sat down beside me. His gaze went straight to the fountain.
"A fish...?" He frowned, bewildered. "What's a fish doing here? I was sure there weren't any animals on this island. We barely even see birds."
I managed a faint smile, though it felt bitter.
"MonoGaru gave it to me. One day, he just fished it out of the fountain and handed it over. Said our minds were still innocent. Like this fish, swimming around without a clue."
Dion made a low, angry sound. His jaw tightened.
"There are too many things on this island that don't make sense. Too much they're hiding. Every day, there's another secret. Seeing how hard Anya tried to expose it all... it pisses me off. I want to know the truth. But... I'm not sure I could handle facing it."
He watched the fish swimming peacefully in the fountain, his voice dropping.
"Maybe Bima was right. Being confronted with the truth over and over could drive someone crazy. I don't know if I could take it."
Dion lowered his head. His shoulders sagged, and his hands curled into fists in his lap.
I looked at the fish, still gliding through the water, and sighed.
"I might say the same thing," I said quietly. "And what about everyone else? They probably couldn't get a decent night's sleep either. Maybe nothing's going to be the same after this."
Dion said nothing. He kept watching the fish.
I went on, the words heavy in my mouth.
"Now we know every Ultimate has committed a crime. We're no better than the people who've killed on this island. Maybe we're even worse. We did it before any of this started."
Dion gave a short, bitter laugh.
"I can't believe I'm a criminal, too. I honestly thought I'd never done anything like that. That I never would. I just wanted to help people... the way my dad always told me to."
I stared down at my own hands, scarred and calloused from years of building things.
"Same here. I never imagined it. That I... was a murderer, too."
Silence settled between us again. The morning breeze carried the scent of sea salt and damp leaves, but none of it helped.
Then the MonoWatches on our wrists vibrated at the same time.
A tiny hologram of MonoGaru appeared above each screen, wearing his usual enormous grin.
"Good morning, everyone! What a beautiful day, my dear students~!"
His singsong voice drifted through the garden.
"Starting today, the Main Building will be temporarily closed for major renovations. Don't even think about going near it~!"
There was movement by the building. Several MonoGaru robots in yellow-and-orange construction gear appeared, carrying heavy equipment. They began putting up temporary fencing and a huge barrier across the entrance.
One of them, wearing a hard hat, waved at us and called out in a cheerful mechanical voice.
"Hey, you two! This area's off-limits for now! Keep your distance, okay~!"
Dion grumbled under his breath. The holographic MonoGaru giggled.
"To make up for it, I've opened access to another island. You can get there using the bridge near the Sacred Forest. Oh, and I'll be holding a little event to celebrate the fact that you're still alive! I've noticed most of you look absolutely exhausted~ I can't have my potential murderers getting weak and careless. Where's the fun in a killing game like that?"
He gave us a playful wink.
"I'll explain everything once you've all arrived on the new island. Have fun~ And keep those spirits up!"
The hologram vanished with a soft pop.
Dion and I exchanged a look.
The Main Building, the place everything had revolved around until now, was already being sealed off by the robots. The distant sounds of hammers and heavy machinery reached us.
A new island had opened up. Who knew what other secrets were waiting there?
Dion slowly got to his feet.
"Guess... we should go."
I nodded, but the unease in my chest only grew.
We still hadn't worked through the truth Anya had left us last night. And now MonoGaru himself was inviting us deeper into his game.
What would we find on that island?
How many more truths would break us?
I stood and took one last look at the Main Building as the barriers closed around it.
Today... everything really was going to change.
We headed for the bridge connecting the main island to the new one. The morning air was still cool, but the mood among us was heavy and awkward. Barely anyone spoke. All I could hear were our footsteps and the sea breeze.
I walked in the middle of the group. Krisna strolled beside me, his ink and brush hanging at his waist. Behind us, Dion kept his head down.
Up ahead, Adi and Aulia walked side by side. Lira and Selena kept some distance between them. Sinta and Zahra, usually inseparable, were several steps apart. Rian and Nova walked off to one side.
Krisna suddenly broke the silence. As usual, his voice was flat and a little hard to read.
"What mystery does MonoGaru intend to offer us this time, I wonder? Now that everyone knows what Anya uncovered."
That surprised me. Krisna usually preferred to keep quiet, especially after yesterday's Trial, when he'd been accused and abruptly pulled his little "zipping his mouth shut" act. It was rare for him to start a conversation.
"No idea," I said. "I just hope it isn't anything dangerous."
Krisna smiled faintly, his vacant eyes fixed ahead.
"Ever since we learned we were involved with this island... everyone's been rather awkward with each other, haven't they?"
I looked at the others again. He was right.
Sinta and Zahra used to walk close together, joking around. Now they kept their distance, as if an invisible wall stood between them. Lira and Selena, who usually got along so well, linking arms or teasing each other, wouldn't even meet each other's eyes.
Adi occasionally glanced back, but no one said a word. Even Dion, usually so optimistic, walked like the living dead.
Krisna continued, his tone almost as though he were sketching something in the air.
"What a shame. This makes another murder all the more likely. And all because we insisted on uncovering the mystery."
I turned to him.
"The truth deserves to come out."
Krisna smiled again. This time, there was something darker in it.
"If uncovering it means more people die... I'd rather leave it buried."
I had no answer. His words hung between us like a thick fog.
We finally crossed the bridge. The view was beautiful: gentle waves below us, turquoise water glittering in the sunlight.
The new island came clearly into view. The buildings were modern, with a tropical touch. Neat rows of residential complexes lined the streets, though most were still closed off.
There was a shopping street, too, with souvenir shops, trinket stalls, tropical restaurants beneath colorful umbrellas, and all the other stores you'd expect in a vacation spot.
The moment we stepped onto the island, our MonoWatches vibrated together. A notification appeared on the screens.
A new area has been added to the map.
Beyond the shops was a beach with a bar, lounge chairs, and decorative lights that hadn't been switched on yet.
We stopped to look around.
Zahra slowly shook her head.
"This... feels more like somewhere people actually live. Not a resort or a tourist spot."
Sinta nodded, her voice small.
"Like it was built for a lot of people to stay here. For good. Not just for a vacation."
Adi narrowed his eyes as he scanned our surroundings.
"Is this where they lived? The people who created all of this?"
I felt it, too. This new island didn't feel like another one of MonoGaru's playgrounds.
It felt like... a permanent home. A small town, ready for people to move in.
Somehow, that only made my stomach twist harder.
Following the directions on our MonoWatches, we gathered in a wide plaza at the center of the island. In front of us stood a large classical building, like an old government office or museum, with tall columns and an elegantly curved roof.
The air felt fresher here, but the tension between us hadn't eased.
Suddenly, MonoGaru sprang into the middle of the plaza with a dramatic leap. His wings flared grandly, and his wide grin radiated fake delight.
"Welcome to the new island, my darling children~!" His singsong voice echoed around us. "This is Nirwana Island! What do you think? Will it do as a replacement for the Main Building? Does it get you all excited? Make your little hearts race?"
For a moment, no one spoke.
Then the complaints came pouring out.
"This is just some fake tourist trap!" Zahra snapped. "We're not tourists. We're prisoners!"
Adi shook his head sharply. "Just get to the point. We're tired of your games."
"Yeah, hurry it up." Rian pushed his glasses up. "We don't need a welcoming ceremony."
Zayn folded his arms, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "You just want to watch us have fun before we start killing each other again, right?"
MonoGaru grumbled, shaking his little head. His wings creaked softly.
"Young people these days. You never appreciate what you're given. Hmph. So ungrateful."
He gave a little hop, then brightened his tone.
"Oh, fine. Straight to business, then~ You're welcome to explore and enjoy everything on this island to your hearts' content. Except the old residential buildings. Those are closed. They're completely empty. Nothing inside at all. Really. Besides, you should probably stay away. They might be haunted~!"
He cackled.
"But just because you're free to enjoy yourselves doesn't mean you can help yourselves to things or steal whatever you want. Anyone caught taking things or making a mess of my island will be punished immediately!"
Adi spoke up at once. "How are we supposed to enjoy anything if we're free to use it, but not actually free?"
MonoGaru beamed.
"You'll receive currency—a kind of money—on your MonoWatches. You can use it to buy things here."
Zayn scoffed. "Playing government this time? Planning to make minors work?"
MonoGaru giggled.
"Isn't that perfectly normal in this world? Nothing comes for free, you know~!"
"And how exactly are we supposed to get this currency, or money, or whatever?" Selena asked irritably.
MonoGaru explained with obvious delight.
"I'll give you some free currency as a reward for surviving this long. Though that allowance will only cover food and a few small supplies. To earn more, you can take part in the little minigames scattered around the island."
Rian frowned.
"Like quests... in a video game?"
"Exactly!" MonoGaru clapped his little hands. "And there'll also be a big event at the beach, with a huge, thrilling prize up for grabs. You'll be divided into teams, and swimwear will be mandatory. So make sure you buy yourselves swimsuits before the event!"
Lira shook her head, sounding gloomy.
"You're so cheap... Why can't you just give them to us?"
MonoGaru shrugged.
"I told you. Nothing comes for free~!"
Nova, who had been silent until then, finally spoke.
"Will we be allowed to return to the main island?"
MonoGaru shook his head, putting on a sorrowful expression.
"Unfortunately, it looks like I'll have to restrict access to the main island, too. A few too many things have been slipping past me."
Everyone went still. A few faces broke out in a cold sweat. Panic flickered through the group.
My heart started beating faster.
Anya's tape... The recording was still in the Recreation Room. Had MonoGaru caught on to what we'd been doing?
Aulia's voice was firm.
"What about our accommodation?"
MonoGaru smiled broadly.
"There are cabins near the beach. You'll be split between two of them: one for the boys and one for the girls. You can spend some lovely time together~!"
He leaped high, his wings fluttering.
"Enjoy yourselves on Nirwana Island, my children! And don't forget... stay alive~!"
Then he disappeared, his teasing laughter lingering in the air.
We remained in the plaza, none of us moving. A breeze carried the scent of salt and sweet tropical flowers, but the mood stayed just as heavy.
Neat rows of palm trees and new-looking stone benches surrounded the square, as though everything had been designed to feel "friendly" and "fun." Ahead stood the grand classical building, with towering columns, an ornate curved roof, and white marble walls gleaming in the midday sun.
MonoGaru was gone, but his words still hung over us like poisonous smoke.
Zahra reacted first. She kicked a pebble at her feet, the wind ruffling her short, reddish-brown hair.
"What kind of island is this...? It looks like some cheap tourist attraction. I hate it. Are we seriously being forced to take a vacation? Beach cabins? A big event? Swimsuits? Seriously? We're not tourists. We're prisoners being forced to play a sick game!"
Selena hugged herself as she stared toward the distant beach.
"I'm tired, too... So tired. There's nothing fun about any of this."
Adi shook his head and snapped his notebook open, his fingers tapping against a blank page.
"Currency, minigames, an event... What is that psycho doll planning?"
Zayn folded his arms, his leather jacket shifting sharply. His voice was rough with anger.
"I hate this. MonoGaru's pushing us around like pawns again. But if those shops have anything useful, I'm taking it. I'm not starving just because he wants me to play his stupid little games."
Sinta kept her head down, clutching her woven bag to her chest. Her voice trembled.
"I'm tired... I just want to sit in the cabin. I don't want to play any more games."
Behind her, Dion nodded, his eyes still red and empty.
"I'm with Sinta. I'm sick of all this. I just want to rest."
Nova said very little. He gave a slight nod, his black coat stirring as he turned away.
"I'll take a look around first."
Then he slipped silently toward the trees, like a shadow dissolving in the daylight.
Krisna wore his usual faint smile, his brush hanging loosely at his waist.
"I think I'll try that building."
Rian wiped his glasses, damp with sweat.
"I'm curious about those apartment buildings he said were abandoned. They look interesting."
After that, everyone split up quickly, as though none of us wanted to spend too much time around the others.
Dion, Lira, and Sinta decided to check out the cabins right away. The three of them seemed the most fed up: shoulders drooping, steps slow, without the slightest enthusiasm for MonoGaru's "new games."
Zahra, Selena, Zayn, and Adi headed for the shopping area to see what was there and find out more about the currency system. Zahra was still grumbling as she walked, while Adi checked the updates on his MonoWatch.
Krisna went into the government building by himself without looking back.
Nova had vanished completely.
Rian headed straight for the tall apartment buildings in the distance.
With everyone gone, I started toward the building beside the plaza. Then I paused as Aulia caught up with light footsteps.
"Where are you going, Reno?" she asked gently.
"Thought I'd check the nearest place first," I said. "Want to come?"
Aulia nodded, her batik shawl swaying in the breeze.
"Yes. I'd like to see what's inside, too."
We stepped into the huge building. The interior was magnificent. Polished marble floors reflected our silhouettes, and tall columns rose toward a ceiling decorated with faded frescoes. Old reliefs depicting island scenery covered the walls.
Apparently, this had once been a government building that doubled as a museum.
On the first floor, we found a diorama of all three islands. The miniature was incredibly detailed, with the main island right in the center. Tiny buildings, trees, even waves made from clear resin—everything looked so lifelike that the islands almost seemed real.
Krisna was already there, standing quietly in front of the display. His usually vacant eyes had narrowed with interest.
"Such detail," he said in that flat, unreadable voice. "But... this diorama appears to be unfinished."
Aulia and I moved closer. Krisna pointed out several blank or incomplete sections: a roughly modeled dock, a hidden beach that had only been half drawn in, and a few little buildings without roofs.
"Oh... So the dock wasn't there yet." Krisna indicated the dock and hidden beach on the main island. "But it's there now. Which means... someone finished it."
Aulia stood very still in front of the display. Her large eyes slowly widened as something else seemed to dawn on her. She rested her hand carefully against the edge of the protective glass, as though afraid of damaging the exquisite model.
"It seems so..." she whispered, her gentle voice trembling. "This diorama was made years ago. Before the Twin Catastrophes. Which means it was most likely made before the island was abandoned."
My throat went dry.
If that was true, this island hadn't been an emergency shelter built after the disasters. It was a project planned long in advance. A kind of "archaeology" of the future, built before the world fell apart.
The three of us moved into the room on the right, our footsteps echoing across the floor. Glass display cases filled the space, with soft spotlights illuminating prehistoric objects and ancient artifacts.
What shocked us most was how many of them were famous, important pieces of our country's history. Ancient statues. Carefully preserved palm-leaf manuscripts. Heirloom kris daggers. Even fragments of stone from a temple.
I stepped up to one of the cases, hardly able to believe what I was seeing.
"Are these all real?"
Krisna came closer and studied the objects. He even touched the glass with his fingertips, his vacant eyes narrowing.
"Real," he said calmly. "The materials, the textures, even the tiny cracks... All genuine."
Aulia looked around, her face pale.
"Who brought them here? And why?"
I kept my voice low.
"Maybe someone brought them here to keep them safe before the disasters. Like... an emergency museum."
But Krisna, who was studying a large picture on the wall, shook his head.
He pointed at the photograph. A group of formally dressed adults posed at what looked like an extravagant gala, in a hall that resembled this building.
"Quite the opposite. They bought them. There was an auction. These objects weren't rescued... They were bought and sold."
Disgust washed over both of us. Aulia covered her mouth, her voice shaking.
"Someone... traded historical artifacts that easily? Just to gather them into a collection? How could they?"
Krisna merely smiled, as though he were enjoying our revulsion.
We continued into another section to the left. This room documented the island's construction: the search for a location, the laying of the foundation stone, photographs of the founders, and detailed records of the building process.
To our shock, some of our country's once-famous figures had been involved. Senior officials, powerful businesspeople, leading scientists—all smiling in old photographs as though they were celebrating something noble.
At the far end of the room hung a large photograph of people lined up in front of this very building.
Among the island's founders stood someone we knew all too well.
Haris Vermana.
His features were firm, his glasses familiar. He had the same commanding presence Aulia had so often described. He stood in the front row with a faint smile, surrounded by the other founders.
Aulia recoiled. Her hand flew to her mouth, her eyes widening with disbelief and anguish.
"My brother... Haris... Why... is he here...?"
Her voice broke on the last word. Tears welled in her eyes.
Even Krisna hadn't expected it. For the first time, his faint smile briefly disappeared.
"So even someone as heroic as Haris... a man hailed as a savior... really did help create this insane island."
Aulia immediately shook her head, her voice trembling.
"No... I don't believe it. There has to be a reason. My brother must have had a reason. He... couldn't have..."
I didn't want to believe it either. After the Twin Catastrophes, Haris Vermana had been a hero to all of us. His ideals had given hope to people who'd lost everything.
"Haris... isn't that kind of person. He gave all of us hope."
But Krisna only smiled cynically, his empty eyes suddenly sharper.
"Perhaps Haris played the hero because he and his people had arranged everything. The Twin Catastrophes, the country's collapse... all of it. Which means, Aulia... you might have had a hand in all those deaths, too."
Aulia went silent. Every trace of color drained from her face. Her hands shook violently at her sides.
Anger flared through me. I stepped forward and grabbed Krisna by the collar.
"That's going too far, Krisna! Haris isn't a monster!"
Krisna only chuckled. He didn't resist.
"I'm simply stating the truth. You like the truth, don't you? Am I wrong?"
My temper snapped. I shoved him back hard enough that his back struck the wall.
"You should've just kept your mouth shut like you always do!"
Krisna smiled faintly again, then shrugged as if nothing had happened. Without another word, he turned and strolled off toward another part of the floor, leaving Aulia and me alone in front of the photograph.
Aulia hadn't moved. She couldn't take her eyes off Haris Vermana's faintly smiling face among the island's founders. Her hands were still trembling. The tears that had gathered in her eyes began slipping silently down her cheeks, one after another.
"I... I can't believe it," she whispered. Her voice was as soft as ever, but it shook. "My brother was always so kind to me. He always gave me hope... How could he have created all of this? This island... and everything on it?"
Her face grew paler, her shoulders sagging. The pain in her eyes was so raw, as though the world she'd believed in was collapsing right in front of her.
I couldn't bear to see her like that.
"Aulia..." I tried to keep my voice reassuring. "Maybe MonoGaru made all of this. You know how advanced the technology on this island is. They could've made realistic fake photos. Voice recordings. Even this diorama. Maybe it's all just meant to confuse us. Turn us against each other. It has to be fake."
Aulia slowly shook her head. Her voice remained gentle, but despair seeped through it.
"If there's something that can fabricate all of this... then what about everything I've seen? Everything I've felt? Was none of that... real either? Was the brother I knew... just an illusion?"
I fell silent.
I had no answer for her. All I could do was stand beside her as her expression crumpled, her shoulders trembling while the tears kept falling without a sound.
My words felt hollow. The truth we'd just found was too heavy, too sharp. Like a knife driven straight through the heart.
Eventually, we decided to keep going. I nodded toward the stairs at the far end of the room.
"I'm going upstairs," I said. "If you want to come..."
Aulia wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and nodded.
"Yes... We should keep going."
An extraordinary sight greeted us at the top. Skeletons of prehistoric animals and species long vanished from the world hung from the high ceiling. Huge white bones floated on nearly invisible wires, as though the creatures were still alive, soaring above our heads.
We stared up at them, awed and unsettled at the same time.
"That's... a tiger, right?" I murmured, pointing to a large skeleton with sharp teeth suspended directly above us.
Aulia nodded, her eyes still red.
"And that one... looks like an elephant. And that... a giant bird. I think they said it went extinct before the Twin Catastrophes."
We walked slowly beneath the skeletons, guessing at each one. The room grew stranger with every step: silent, cold, and filled with the long shadows of ancient bones.
Aulia suddenly stopped, confusion crossing her face.
"An island this big... and there aren't any animals or insects. It's so strange. We barely even see birds. How is that possible?"
"If that's true... where does the meat we eat in the cafeteria come from? Or even the vegetables?"
We continued through the second floor. Most of the rooms were offices: something like a mayor's office, meeting rooms with long tables, rooms full of old computers with dead screens, and rows of filing cabinets packed with thick, dusty documents.
I opened one of the cabinets at random. Inside were stacks of yellowed paper bearing classified stamps and dates from years ago.
Every room we opened only added to the confusion. Empty offices with dusty desks. Dead computers with cracked screens. Filing cabinets full of documents stamped CLASSIFIED, containing nothing but numbers and codes we couldn't understand.
No answers. Only more questions.
My head felt ready to burst. Every step grew heavier, as though the air inside the building were pressing against my chest.
"Aulia," I said at last, quietly. "Let's get out of here. We've got too much in our heads already. If we keep going, we'll just get more confused."
She looked at me for a moment, her eyes still red from crying. Then she nodded, her voice courteous even through her exhaustion.
"Yes... You're right, Reno. Let's go outside. I need to clear my head, too."
We left the government building and museum without looking back. Following the map on my MonoWatch, we headed for the shopping district marked Bazaar.
The atmosphere changed the moment we arrived. Small shops lined a long, orderly walkway beneath brightly colored roofs and unlit tropical decorations.
Souvenir shops were packed with short-sleeved tops, beach accessories, shorts, skirts, and light, colorful women's clothes. Other stores displayed neatly arranged canned food and drinks, though it was obvious we'd need currency to buy any of it.
At a swimwear shop, I spotted Zahra and Selena browsing the racks.
Selena noticed us at once, her eyes lighting up.
"Aulia! Reno! Over here!"
She hurried over and pulled Aulia toward the shop before she could object. Zahra laughed and waved us in.
"Come on! We need a guy's opinion!"
I tried to make my escape, but Zahra caught me.
"Oh, no you don't! We need an honest male opinion!"
In the end, I found myself standing outside the changing rooms, scratching my head even though it didn't itch.
Aulia was their first victim. She stepped out shyly in a soft ocean-blue one-piece with floral detailing along the edges. The design was simple but elegant, showing the slender figure her formal clothes usually hid. Her cheeks were bright red as she awkwardly tried to cover her chest and stomach with her hands.
Selena clapped in delight.
"Oh, Aulia! You look gorgeous! That blue looks so good with your skin!"
Zahra nodded enthusiastically.
"Seriously, it's adorable! You look like a beach princess. What do you think, Reno?"
My cheeks heated up. I swallowed hard before answering.
"Um... it really suits you. You look... even prettier, Aulia."
She blushed harder, lowering her head and biting her lip.
"Thank you... but it's so... revealing."
A moment later, Selena stepped out in something far more glamorous: a glossy burgundy bikini with thin straps and tiny beads along the edges. The bold cut emphasized her curves and full bust.
Zahra immediately called out.
"Wow, going all out! Showing off, Selena?"
I clapped a hand over my eyes, my face burning.
"I'm... I'm not looking! Seriously!"
Selena just gave a teasing laugh.
"Well, Reno? Be honest~!"
Zahra came out last, wearing a sporty army-green swimsuit that covered more skin but still fit snugly. The tankini and shorts suited her active personality. Clear tan lines marked her shoulders and thighs from all the time she spent working in the garden under the blazing sun.
I nodded, still embarrassed.
"Zahra... that's cute. It really suits you."
She laughed loudly.
"Thanks! Though I look pretty tanned, huh? That's what working in the garden does to you."
I'd had enough. My face was hot, my heart was racing, and I couldn't handle standing around while three girls tried on swimsuits.
"Um... I'll wait outside," I said quickly, backing away. "You guys take your time."
I escaped without waiting for an answer, slightly out of breath. Zahra and Selena's laughter followed me out, along with the image of Aulia blushing in her ocean-blue swimsuit.
I shook my head hard, trying to clear it.
Focus, Reno. This is not the time to think about swimsuits.
The Bazaar was bigger than I'd expected. The little shops formed a long, S-shaped passage beneath bright canvas awnings that swayed in the sea breeze. The smells of canned food, spices, and cheap perfume mingled in the air, making my stomach growl despite my spinning head.
Strings of small decorative lights remained unlit. In the midday sun, everything looked too neat. Too perfect. Like a toy town built to distract us from the ugly truth.
I turned right, away from the clothing shops, and headed into the food section. There, I found Zayn standing alone outside a small store labeled "Provisions." He was studying the canned and dried food neatly arranged behind the display glass, his leather jacket slightly open as usual, his hands in his pockets and a frown on his face.
"Zayn," I said, walking over.
He turned, giving me a faint, slightly cynical smile.
"Reno. Thought I heard the girls laughing back there. What've you been up to?"
I scratched the back of my neck and said nothing. Zayn chuckled, then pointed back at the display. He raised his MonoWatch, showing the currency MonoGaru had given us that morning—a small, tempting balance that looked far too easy to lose.
"Look at this." He pointed to the prices. "One can of premium meat costs 45 currency. A big bottle of mineral water is 20. That decent-looking packaged bread? Thirty-five. Compare that to the cafeteria on the main island, where almost everything's free."
He paused.
"Though the stuff here... is way better. Fresher meat, fancy packaging. Just the smell makes me hungry. But those prices are insane."
He slowly shook his head, his eyes narrowing with suspicion.
"I can't tell if it's expensive or cheap, because the quality really is that good. But... where's MonoGaru getting food like this? Who cooks it? Who packages it? Who delivers it? We're isolated in the middle of the ocean. No ships, no helicopters, nothing."
Zayn looked straight at me.
"And even if we only spend our currency on food, it'll be gone in three days, no matter how careful we are. Then what? We have to play those crazy games he promised? I'd really like to know if there's a way to earn more without playing along with MonoGaru."
I nodded, trying to steady myself.
"There has to be a way, Zayn. MonoGaru wouldn't just let us starve. But... I hope you're not actually planning to break into this place and take whatever you need."
Zayn let out a loud, rough, genuine laugh and clapped me on the shoulder.
"Relax, Reno. I'm not that desperate. Though... the old me wouldn't have thought twice about breaking in. Now... I'm trying to learn some patience. Hard as that is."
For a moment, we stood in silence, staring at the tempting display. The faint smell of canned meat drifting from the shop made my stomach rumble. Zayn let out a long sigh, then patted my shoulder again.
"I'm gonna keep looking around. Be careful, Reno. This island... has way too many traps that look like treats."
I nodded and continued through the Bazaar alone. The air was getting hotter, but my thoughts remained cold.
Before long, I spotted Adi outside a shop tucked away at the end of a passage. Two medium-sized MonoGaru robots stood rigidly at the entrance, guarding it closely. Small red lights burned steadily in their eyes.
Adi noticed me and raised a hand.
"Oh, Reno."
"Hey, Adi." I walked over. "What's going on?"
He tipped his chin toward the shop, his voice low and suspicious.
"This place is really suspicious. Look at all that security. I tried getting closer, but those robots blocked me right away."
As if it had heard us, one of the robots stepped forward. Its mechanical voice was curt.
"This area will only be open to the winners of the beach games. Please step away."
Adi shook his head, his eyes narrowing.
"See? What's actually in there? Why guard it like this if it's just a normal shop?"
I lowered my voice as I offered a guess.
"Whatever it is, it can't be good. Maybe something dangerous. Or a prize we only get if we win their event. We need to stay alert, Adi."
He nodded, his notebook already open in his hand.
"Right. Especially after the last Trial. We need to learn from it. Someone here wants to mess with us. Someone who wants to destroy us one by one. It's possible... the mastermind is one of us."
The hairs on the back of my neck rose.
I wanted to dismiss it, but the words wouldn't come. I'd been thinking the same thing. After everything we'd heard on Anya's recording, after that photo of Haris, after all the lies we'd uncovered... the possibility was too real to ignore.
* * *
The sun was climbing higher, and I'd been walking around the island long enough to need something cold. Something to refresh my body and clear my head.
Beside the path stood a sleek white vending machine, its little lights glowing. I walked over, raised my MonoWatch, and scanned the QR code. My balance dropped a little. A cold can fell into the slot with a satisfying clunk.
I cracked it open and took a long drink. It was crisp and sweet, with a hint of lemon that soothed my throat. For a moment, the chill chased the heat out of my head.
Taking another sip, I looked into the distance. Beyond the shops and palm trees rose the outline of a luxurious apartment building, its large windows reflecting the sun.
It looked magnificent, but eerily quiet and empty, like an abandoned haunted house. MonoGaru had said no one had lived there for a long time.
Then I noticed someone at the entrance.
Rian.
He was trying to approach the large glass doors, but several MonoGaru guard robots moved to block him with their solid metal bodies.
I hurried over.
"Rian? What are you doing here?"
He turned, sweat glinting around his glasses, and wiped his forehead with his sleeve.
"Reno... I really want to know what's in there. But these robots won't let me through."
He turned back to them, irritation creeping into his voice.
"Hey, what are you hiding in there? Why block the entrance? If there's really nothing inside, why guard it so closely?"
One of the robots answered in a cold, flat mechanical voice.
"This building is dangerous and has been abandoned for a long time. It may collapse at any moment. Hazardous objects are also present inside. Please step away."
Rian grumbled. I stepped closer and noticed a small plaque beside the entrance. I read it quietly.
NIRVANA RESIDENCES
Established immediately after the completion of Nirwana Island. Intended as permanent accommodation for the island's residents. This building can house several hundred people and was once fully operational.
"So people really did use it... It wasn't just left empty from the start."
Rian finally sighed and raised his hands in surrender.
"Fine. I'll find another way."
I gave his shoulder a light pat.
"Don't do anything dangerous, okay? We don't know what's really in there."
Rian smiled faintly, his voice as casual as ever.
"Yeah, yeah. Relax."
Then he turned and headed off, still holding the little screwdriver he always carried in his pocket.
I continued exploring on my own, my thoughts drifting back to the plaque.
Nirvana Residences... A place meant to be home to hundreds of people. Now it stood empty and heavily guarded.
I wondered about the bridge connecting the islands. Maybe there were more clues there. Following the marker on my MonoWatch map, I headed toward it.
When I arrived, I found Nova standing at the end of the bridge. His long black coat stirred in the sea breeze. He was fiddling with the access panel, which appeared to have had its wires cut, leaving it useless.
"Hey, Nova!" I called as I approached.
He glanced back, his expression calm.
"Reno."
"We crossed this thing just this morning... And it's already closed."
Nova nodded slowly, his voice as philosophical as ever.
"Someone deliberately cut off access. Even if we tried swimming... there are armed guard robots on the other side. They'd shoot us with tranquilizer darts and bring us back here."
I frowned.
"How do you know?"
Nova was quiet for a moment. Then he turned slightly, revealing a small, fresh red mark on the back of his neck, just below his coat collar. It looked like the mark left by a needle or a tranquilizer dart, barely healed.
He gave a thin, cold smile.
"You're better off not knowing."
It was late afternoon by the time I decided to stop exploring. The sun had begun its descent in the west, washing the sky in soft shades of orange and pink.
I took the path to the beach alone. After a whole day of the new island, Haris's photograph, mysterious buildings, and theories that made my head spin, I needed somewhere quiet to breathe.
The evening view that greeted me was beautiful.
Fine white sand stretched along the shore. Small waves broke gently against it in a soothing rhythm. Overhead, the sky glowed orange as the sun slowly sank toward the horizon, scattering golden light across the water like thousands of jewels.
I sat on a large rock near the waterline, hugged my knees, and simply stared ahead. For the first time since yesterday's Trial, the weight in my chest eased a little.
The madness of the killing game. The truths beginning to surface. The shadow of the mastermind and all the secrets we still hadn't uncovered.
For a moment, beneath that evening sky, it all felt far away.
Before long, the others began arriving one by one, as though the beach had drawn us together without a word.
Zahra came first, her short hair tangled by the wind. She sat on the sand nearby and let out a long sigh.
"This island's way too pretty for this messed-up game. We found some interesting shops in the Bazaar, but I think it's all bait. MonoGaru just wants to keep us 'happy' so we won't stop playing his sick killing game."
Selena arrived shortly after and sat beside her, hugging her knees.
"Yeah. The cabins, the shops, the beach... It's like he's scared we'll get too stressed and stop playing. But we all know what happens if no one plays... He'll execute all of us on the spot."
Lira approached slowly, the bell on her necklace chiming softly. She settled onto the sand and watched the sunset.
"Forced to have fun when we know there's nothing to enjoy... And if we don't, we all die. What the hell?"
Rian appeared, wiping his glasses, and sat on the rock beside me.
"There are too many strange places under heavy guard here. Too many secrets this island doesn't want us to see."
Adi arrived with his notebook, sat on the sand, and immediately began writing.
"The currency, the minigames, the beach event... It's all designed to keep us busy. MonoGaru doesn't want us sitting still and thinking too hard. But we know what's at stake. If we stop... we die."
One by one, they shared what they'd found and what they thought it meant. Quiet conversation slowly filled the beautiful beach, but the worry never left their voices.
No one was truly happy. We all knew Nirwana Island's beauty was only a thin cover for something much darker.
Aulia arrived last and sat beside me, her batik shawl fluttering gently. Her voice was still polite, but tired.
"All of this... feels like a beautiful trap. But we don't have any choice except to follow the rules. At least for now."
Eventually, we fell silent. Only the soft crash of waves and the evening wind sweeping over the sand remained.
The sun sank lower, turning the sky a breathtaking blend of purple and gold. One by one, the torches along the beach lit automatically, their warm golden light spilling across the sand and surf.
We stayed together in that silence, watching the sun disappear beneath the horizon.
No one dared say what we were all thinking.
If we didn't play MonoGaru's game... we would all die.
And now we had to stay in the cabins prepared for us near the beach. Two cabins: one for the boys, one for the girls. We'd spend our nights there together until the main island reopened.
One by one, we stood and headed for our cabins.
I glanced at Aulia as she walked toward the girls' cabin with the others. She looked back for a moment, gave me a faint, tired smile, then kept walking.
Night was falling on Nirwana Island.
And I had no idea how much longer we could survive in this fake "paradise."