Even after six hours of driving, the canyon showed no sign of ending. The same jagged cliffs, the same twisted trees, the same narrow road looping back on itself. Jake's hands were slick with sweat on the steering wheel. Mia kept checking the map, but every landmark they passed looked hauntingly familiar.
"We're going in circles," Mia said, her voice tight with frustration. "This isn't possible. We should've reached the highway hours ago."
Jake glanced into the back of the jeep, where Dirty Joy lay still, his eyes closed. "Hey," Jake called, voice sharp. "You know this place better than anyone. How do we get out?"
Dirty Joy didn't respond at first. The silence in the jeep was thick, broken only by the rumble of the engine and the crunch of gravel under the tires.
Mia turned around, her patience wearing thin. "We're not playing games anymore. Show us the way out, or you'll never see daylight again."
Then, to their utter shock, Dirty Joy sat up. He wasn't frail or weak anymore. His movements were smooth, his posture strong. He grinned, his teeth flashing in the dim light.
"You're not getting out," he said, his voice calm and mocking. "You never were."
Jake slammed on the brakes. The jeep skidded to a halt, dust swirling around them. He and Mia stared at Dirty Joy, their hearts pounding.
"What do you mean?" Mia demanded.
Dirty Joy leaned forward, his eyes gleaming. "The settlers knew about you from the start. They've been playing with you, just like they play with everyone who stumbles in here. You've been trapped for months, wandering in circles. You just didn't realize it."
Jake felt a cold sweat break out on his forehead. "That's impossible. We've only been here a few days."
Dirty Joy laughed, a sound that sent chills down their spines. "Time doesn't work the same way here. You've forgotten your own names, haven't you? Think hard. What's your real name? Can you remember?"
Jake tried to recall, but his mind was blank. Mia looked panicked, her hands trembling. "I—I don't know," she whispered.
Dirty Joy nodded, as if expecting this. "Most of the settlers were kidnapped from all over the country. I arranged it all, but not by my own will. The aliens orchestrated everything. They're studying us, watching how we act, how we survive in this closed loop."
Jake's mouth went dry. "Aliens? You're insane."
Dirty Joy's grin widened. "Am I? Look outside."
At that moment, the jeep's headlights flickered and died. The world plunged into darkness. Shapes moved in the shadows..... tall, thin figures with elongated limbs and featureless faces. They surrounded the jeep, their presence radiating an eerie, unnatural calm.
Jake and Mia froze, their breath coming in short gasps. Dirty Joy watched them, his expression almost pitying.
"Welcome to the experiment," he said. "There's no escape. When new policemen or criminals fall into the trap, they become settlers. They play their roles, as the aliens direct. And the cycle continues."
The creatures drew closer, their movements silent and precise. The air grew colder, the darkness absolute. Jake reached for Mia's hand, but he could barely feel her fingers.
The last thing he saw was Dirty Joy's smile, fading into the blackness.
And then, everything turned dark.