You suck in a ragged breath, hyperventilating and try and try to get calm and-

The pain roars through you, and then the snakes disappear. You yell and rub your arms and body, trying to get rid of the snakes...

A hand touches your shoulder.

"Don't touch me!" you scream, jerking away, and Four's hand shifts awkwardly to your hair.

"Y/N, I'm going to take you back to the dorms, okay?"

"No!" You shout, blinking back tears. "I'm not ready. They can't-"

Your whole body shakes, trembling. Four grabs your arm and lightly hauls you out the door. "How long do you think that was?"

"I don't know," you mumble, swiping at your eyes as he drags you back to the dormitory. "An hour?"

"Eighteen minutes," he says, nodding to you. You stare back, stunned.

"Tomorrow you'll be better, you'll see." He touches your back, guiding you towards the dormitory. You feel his fingertips through your shirt and shiver.

"What was your first hallucination?" you ask.

"It wasn't a 'what' so much as a 'who'," he mutters, then shrugs. "It's not important."

"Are you over that fear now?"

"Not yet." You reach the dormitory door. "I may never be. But it's not about being fearless, it's about not letting that fear control you."

You nod. That makes sense.

"Do I look like I've been crying?" you ask, pushing your hair back, trying to catch a glimpse of your reflection in the metal.

"Hmm," Four says, leaning in close to you. His breath blows across your face. "No, Y/N. You look strong."

With that, you go inside.

Advance to 92.

Make a note of how long your simulation was. At the end of initiation, you'll add them up, and it will show you your rank!