This chapter is dedicated to xxRazmatazxx (AKA: Sensei)

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Aquaphobia ~ Fear of water

It's only been a few minutes since the portals vanished yet the seven strangers have made an almost miraculous recovery from near death. What once was a floundering pile of bodies covered in scratches, bruises, wrinkles and other heeby-jeebies has turned into an almost youth group sort of thing and the déjà vu has been overwhelming.

You see, I only arrived here a few days ago - 16th of May to be exact - but before that day, I have no recollection. Obviously, I know who I am, how to speak, write, read, eat... but it's the other memories that I have lost. It's sort of like 'the box' from the Maze Runner-

I blink in surprise. Where did that come from? Up till now, I've never heard of 'the box' or 'Maze Runner' yet with every passing second it becomes clearer and clearer. It's strange like that. Memories just sort of come and go. It's scary. How much knowledge have I lost? How much have I yet to gain?

"Hey Drac," A voice interrupts my thoughts. "What are you thinking about now?"

"Oh... ummm..." I purse my lips. Should I tell them? I mean, I know that I like to be ambiguous but knowledge is power. I need all the answers I can get. "Just about how I got here and what happened before the 16th of May."

"Well, I can't really help you with the first part but-" Miss Kiwi, or rather Ranger_of_the_North taps a finger against her chin. "I'm pretty sure on the 16th of May we all made it to the black belt round of the Write to Rank challenge-"

"Yes! Of course." I say excitedly.

The memory comes rushing back to me. I was on Wattpad, the action profile had just published the new round for Write to rank but before I could read it, a golden portal sucked me through and I ended up in this cage with no recollection of anything. A cage, isolated in the centre of a massive room with only a dim ceiling light illuminating the fear etched on my face. A room with only a single door that-

The alabaster door at the end of the room suddenly opens and the familiar click of high heels echo in the open expanse. Strange. She only comes three times a day but I only ate breakfast an hour ago. Why was Sensei here now?

"Well done! Well done everyone." Sensei claps as she approaches the cage. "My name is Sensei-"

"But your name card clearly says 'Hi, I'm xxRazmatazxx ' on it." Shreya_VA points out.

Sensei covers the badge faster than a lightning strike. "What badge?"

"The one under your hand."

Sensei lifts her hand to reveal... nothing.

"W-what! How?"

"Never mind." Sensei shakes her head. "I'm not here to explain magic tricks but I am here to congratulate you on passing your Fear tests."

"Fear tests?"

"Well, yes, KlaraSofe. It is an action challenge after all and the last time I checked, staring at a screen and typing words with or without your forehead isn't exactly an 'action-packed' lifestyle. We aren't exactly authorised to just hand out black belts you know."

JoeRover2 raises an eyebrow. "But our greatest fears? Wasn't that going a bit too far?"

Sensei shrugs. "Look, I just work here. I'm not responsible for what the Wattpad Gods do. At least you aren't stuck in a My Little Pony episode on repeat."

"Thank the Wattpad Gods for that!" Meghana_violet sighs.

"I'm glad you can see the positive side." Sensei nods. "But the tests aren't over yet-"

"What?" JenniferJonnes blurts out.

"I mean, you all are authors aren't you? Maybe not featured yet but you were all chosen for a reason. I'm sure you'll figure something out. After all, if you can create universes with a scratch of a pen or a tap of a button I'm sure you can pass another test."

"Yeah. Sensei's right guys, how hard can it be?" frostwingak beams and I start to worry slightly about the knucklehead ninja's overwhelming positivity. This isn't the white belt anymore.

The ground suddenly starts to rumble and for some reason, I don't think it's Sensei clearing her throat.

"Alright, that's all the advice I can give you. I have to go check out the other contestants so good luck and do me a favour - try not to die. "

With that, Sensei briskly walks out of the solitary room, the door slamming shut behind her. The ground starts to crack and suddenly a massive crater appears beneath us. The cage along with us falls into the abyss and I shut my eyes and plug my ears as Ranger_of_the_North screams bloody murder. I await a thud but it never comes. We free-fall and free-fall but then there's a splash.

I slowly remove my hands from my ears as Shreya_VA calms everyone down, searching for signs of possible heart attacks or seizures but even in the darkness of the abyss, I would recognise the nightmare anywhere.

The Abyss was filling up with water.

We were going to drown.