(Ryan's POV)
I sat cross-legged on the bed, the comforter stiff and scratchy under my legs, my hands resting on my knees as I stared at the board in front of us. The swirling gold patterns pulsed slightly under the dim hotel lighting, and the crystal ball in the center seemed to breathe, its glow casting eerie shadows against the cheap beige wallpaper. Amelia sat across from me, curled up with her knees tucked under her hoodie, fingers twisting nervously in the hem. Clarissa leaned against the headboard, arms crossed tight over her chest, her expression unreadable but skeptical as always. Stacey, of course, was practically vibrating with excitement, bouncing on the bed and shoving a figurine into my hand.
I rolled the tiny wooden piece between my fingers. It was smooth, cool, and completely featureless—just a blank, genderless figure. "You sure this thing isn’t cursed?" I asked, smirking as I glanced at Stacey.
She grinned. "Only one way to find out."
I sighed, setting the figure down on the starting square. The others followed suit, our miniatures standing in place, lifeless. For now. I grabbed the dice, shaking them in my palm, feeling the plastic edges click together. "Alright, let’s get this over with."
I rolled.
The dice tumbled across the board, finally landing on a crisp 10.
(Amelia's POV)
The moment the dice settled, the entire atmosphere in the room shifted. My heart jumped in my chest as a soft hum filled the air, vibrating through the mattress beneath me. The crystal ball brightened, glowing in slow pulses, each one making my stomach clench tighter. I watched in wide-eyed horror as our figurines trembled and... changed.
My mouth went dry as Ryan’s once featureless figure stretched and molded, the blank slate transforming into something undeniably him. The messy hair, the slouched posture, even the way his T-shirt hung loosely on his shoulders—all there in tiny, unsettling detail. I swallowed hard, sneaking a glance at Stacey’s figure—now perfectly capturing the playful smirk she wore in real life.
"Uh... guys?" I whispered, clutching the hem of my hoodie tighter.
Stacey just giggled. "Oh, this is so cool."
Clarissa groaned beside me. "I knew this was a bad idea."
Before I could say anything else, Ryan’s figurine moved. It slid forward on its own, stopping on a red square marked with an ominous glow.
(Ryan's POV)
I felt a chill creep up my spine. The board vibrated under my fingertips, and then, the crystal ball flickered, casting a strange, dancing glow across our faces. A voice—low and whispery, like wind through old trees—filled the room.
"The root of power lies beneath, where unseen strength grows thick and deep;
Expand the core, let presence swell,
Through girth and length, your fate will tell.
A gift, a burden, a secret untold,
What once was modest, shall now be bold."
A heavy silence fell. My throat felt tight, my palms suddenly clammy against my knees. I looked at the others, hoping for some reassurance that I wasn’t losing my mind, but Clarissa’s grim expression and Stacey’s wide grin didn’t exactly help.
"Did... did that just say what I think it said?" I muttered, my voice lower than I intended.
(Stacey's POV)
I couldn’t hold back the laugh bubbling in my chest. "Oh my God, Ryan," I teased, nudging Amelia playfully. "Looks like the game thinks you need a little boost down there."
Amelia squeaked and buried her face in her hoodie, her ears turning bright red. Clarissa just sighed, rubbing her temples. "Of course, it’s that kind of game."
I leaned closer to the board, inspecting Ryan’s figurine, which now stood a little... taller? I grinned, loving every second of his discomfort. "So... feeling anything yet?"
(Ryan's POV)
I shifted in place, a slow heat creeping up my neck, pooling low in my gut. My jeans suddenly felt snug, the denim pressing in ways that made me hyper-aware of myself. It had to be in my head—just nerves or something. Sitting here with three girls, the tension in the room thick enough to choke on, it made sense my body would... react.
I swallowed hard, pressing my palms against my thighs, trying to act casual. But every small shift made me more conscious of the space I was taking up, the uncomfortable sensation lingering, making my skin prickle. It felt... different. Bigger. But that was ridiculous, right?
"Yeah, okay, this is weird," I muttered under my breath, adjusting slightly, willing the feeling away. It wasn’t real. Couldn’t be. Just my mind playing tricks, amplifying everything because of how closely Stacey was watching me, that damn smirk tugging at her lips.
Amelia peeked up at me from behind her sleeves, cheeks still flushed. "Maybe it’s just... you know, psychological."
I shot her a look, trying to play it cool. "Yeah, tell that to my jeans."
Stacey burst into laughter, clutching her sides, and Clarissa let out a long, exasperated sigh. I groaned, running a hand through my hair, desperate to change the subject. "Let’s just move on," I grumbled.
But no matter how much I tried to convince myself it was all in my head, the heavy, persistent presence remained. I couldn’t exactly check, not with them all sitting here, watching. And yet... a nagging doubt settled deep inside me, making me second-guess.
Was it really all in my head?
(Clarissa's POV)
I watched Ryan fidget with mild amusement. Stacey was practically in tears, and Amelia looked like she wanted to disappear into her hoodie. Typical.
"Alright," I said, voice firm. "Enough joking around. Let’s just keep playing, okay? It’s just a game."
Stacey winked at Ryan. "Oh, sure it is."
I rolled my eyes. This was going to be a long night.