Trapped In Elysium: A Virtual Reality Nightmare-Chapter 110: This Is It

After a long moment of silence between them, with only the sounds of the crackling fire and the distant calls of the jungle filling the night air, Liam finally spoke again. His voice was quiet, almost hesitant, but the question had been gnawing at him since Sophia first confronted him.

"Is that why you said I hurt you?" he asked, his eyes staring off into the darkness. "Because I slept with Mariel?"

Sophia didn’t lift her head immediately. She shifted a little, her fingers brushing the fabric of his sleeve in a nervous, unconscious movement. Then she gave the smallest nod against his shoulder.

"Yes," she whispered.

Liam exhaled slowly, a long breath that seemed to carry the weight of everything they hadn’t said to each other. He closed his eyes for a second, trying to sort out the storm of emotions crashing through him.

"Hmmm," he hummed thoughtfully, then finally said, "I’m not going to apologize for having sex with Mariel."

The words came out steady, not cruel, but honest — and they hung heavy between them.

Sophia tensed slightly against him. He could feel it, the way her body stiffened for a second like she was holding herself together. But she didn’t pull away. She didn’t argue either. She just went quiet, swallowing whatever hurt might’ve risen to the surface. Maybe she understood that he wasn’t trying to hurt her now — he was just being real.

Sophia lifted her head slightly, her eyes catching the faint light of the fire. "I just wanted to make my feelings known before we venture into the ru—"

She didn’t finish.

Before the word could even fully leave her mouth, Liam leaned in and kissed her.

It wasn’t rough, wasn’t hurried — it was soft, tentative, but full of meaning. The kind of kiss that spoke all the things neither of them had been able to say out loud. Sophia’s eyes fluttered closed, and for a moment she melted into him, the world outside their small circle of warmth and firelight fading into nothing.

It felt good. God, it felt good.

For Sophia, it was the best feeling she had known since they first stepped foot into this strange, dangerous world. Better than the rush of escaping death. Better than the rare moments of laughter they managed to steal from the chaos.

When Liam finally pulled away, just slightly, Sophia’s eyes were still closed. She leaned her forehead gently against his, breathing him in.

"Is that a yes?" she asked quietly, a faint smile pulling at her lips.

Liam chuckled low under his breath, his hand reaching up to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear.

"Hmmm..." he mused. "I’m not sure... not yet."

Sophia opened her eyes then, confusion flickering across her face.

"I have to settle things out with Mariel first," Liam added, his voice soft but firm. "It wouldn’t be right otherwise."

Sophia hesitated, searching his eyes for any hint of betrayal or cruelty, but she found none. Only honesty. Only the kind of brutal, painful honesty that came from a man who was trying to do the right thing in a world that had given them nothing but wrong choices.

She nodded slowly, accepting it even if it stung a little.

They sat like that for a while longer, talking quietly. Nothing heavy anymore. They spoke about Earth, about memories of home, about stupid things they missed like the taste of pizza, the feeling of a real bed, the smell of rain on concrete streets. They laughed a little, the sound small and fragile but real.

And as the night wore on and the fire burned lower, Sophia’s head gradually drooped back against Liam’s chest. Her breathing slowed, her body relaxing completely for the first time in what felt like forever.

She fell asleep in his arms.

Liam sat there, not moving, not daring to disturb her. He simply held her, feeling the steady beat of her heart against his side, feeling the peace that had finally settled over her.

He liked that she felt safe with him. In a world as savage and uncertain as this one, that meant something. It meant everything.

Liam stared up at the stars again, but this time, the weight pressing down on him didn’t feel quite as heavy.

He would protect her. He would protect all of them.

No matter what waited for them in the ruins.

Von and Gorr took the night’s watch, their figures silhouetted against the dim light of the dying fire, their weapons close at hand and eyes sharp. The jungle beyond the small clearing was alive with sounds, distant howls and the rustling of unseen creatures. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

Soon, the first light of morning began to creep into the sky, the darkness softening into a deep gray. The chill of the night slowly lifted, replaced by a humid, heavy air that clung to their skin. The fire burned low, little more than embers now.

Sophia stirred where she slept against Liam. Her eyes fluttered open, and for a moment she was disoriented — caught between the remnants of sleep and the harsh reality they were about to face. Then she remembered the night before... remembered Liam’s kiss, his arms around her, the brief feeling of safety she had clung to.

A small smile crept across her lips, soft and fleeting, but it was real.

Liam stirred too, feeling her shift. He opened his eyes, tired but steady, and when he saw her smile, he couldn’t help but reach out and ruffle her hair gently. It was a small, affectionate gesture, one that spoke volumes without a single word. Sophia leaned into it for a second before they both stood up, brushing off the dust and leaves clinging to their clothes.

The camp was stirring now — one by one, the others rising, gathering their things, strapping on weapons and tightening belts. There was a nervous energy in the air, almost tangible. No one needed to say it out loud — it was written all over their faces. Fear. Anxiety. Resolve.

They were about to walk into something that none of them could fully prepare for.

And they knew it.

When everyone was ready — packs slung over their shoulders, weapons sheathed but within easy reach — Liam stepped forward, placing himself in front of the group. The rising sun cast his shadow long and tall across the clearing, the light catching the ruined city in the distance, its broken towers and crumbling walls standing like ancient, jagged teeth against the sky.

He looked at each of them — Von, Gorr, Borik, Sera, Jason, Eleanor, Marcus, Mariel, Sophia — meeting their eyes one by one.

"This is it, guys," Liam said, his voice steady and strong, carrying through the heavy morning air. "We’re going in there. We have to face death in the eyes."

He paused, letting the weight of the moment settle in.

"We’ve faced death a few times before," he continued, his voice hardening with every word. "And we’ve prevailed. We’re still standing. Still breathing. This time... we do the same. No matter what’s waiting for us in there."

There was a murmur of agreement, faint but growing. Liam pressed on.

"Let’s keep our heads together. No distractions. We watch out for each other, always. We stay silent as much as possible — use signals, hand gestures, whatever it takes. If we’re loud, we’re dead."

Everyone was listening, the fear in their eyes now tempered with determination.

"And one more thing," Liam added, glancing toward the looming city. "Watch out for traps. Old ruins like these... they’ll have plenty of them. Some meant to scare you. Some meant to kill you. Don’t trust anything you see. Don’t trust any easy path."

He turned back to them, his gaze burning with a quiet fire.

"We’re not just fighting for ourselves anymore. We’re fighting for everyone who tried before us... and failed."

A heavy silence followed his words, the only sound the faint, mournful whistle of the morning wind through the trees.

Marcus stepped up beside Liam then, resting a heavy hand on his shoulder. It was a silent gesture, one of respect, of loyalty. A simple I’m with you.

Liam gave a small nod of gratitude, then turned away for a moment, scanning the group again.

His eyes found Sophia and Mariel, and he motioned them over. They approached quietly, still carrying that faint tension between them, the wounds of jealousy and confusion still not fully healed.

Liam stood between them and spoke in a low, serious tone meant just for their ears.

"I want you both to put your differences aside," he said. "At least for now."

Sophia’s jaw tightened slightly, but she nodded without hesitation.

"Please," Liam continued, looking directly at Sophia, "look out for her. I promised her father nothing’s going to happen to her."

Sophia glanced at Mariel, then back at Liam. She could see how much he meant it. How heavy that promise weighed on him.

She sighed softly and nodded again. "I will," she said.

Mariel, to her credit, nodded too. "Me too."

It wasn’t a complete healing of whatever rift existed between them, but it was enough for now.

It had to be.

Liam gave them both a small, grateful smile before turning back toward the ruins, his jaw set, his fists clenching at his sides.

Ahead of them lay the broken remnants of a lost world... and whatever fate waited for them inside.

Without another word, the group started moving forward, one cautious step at a time.

And the shadow of the ruined city swallowed them whole.