Survival's Edge

Regulus woke up running.

The sound of crunching leaves filled his ears, the cool air biting at his skin as he tore through the unfamiliar forest. His heartbeat pounded against his ribs, his breath coming fast and uneven. The golden light filtering through the trees blurred as he moved, his legs carrying him forward with a speed that felt both foreign and instinctual. His body was responding as if it had done this a hundred times before—but he hadn’t.

Something wasn’t right.

His foot caught on an unseen root beneath the layer of leaves. A split second later, the ground was gone. He fell hard, the impact rattling through his bones as he hit the earth, sliding a few inches before coming to a stop. The world tilted around him, his pulse thrumming in his ears. He lay there, momentarily stunned, staring up at the canopy above. The leaves swayed gently, golden light flickering between them like something out of a dream. But this wasn’t a dream.

Regulus pushed himself onto his elbows, wincing slightly. His hands dug into the damp earth beneath him, fingers curling into the unfamiliar terrain. His mind scrambled to piece everything together—the basement, the game, the pull—and now this. Wherever this was.

A voice broke through the daze, sharp and unmistakable.

“Regulus?”

His head snapped toward the sound, and he froze.

James Potter stood a few feet away, but something was different. His posture was familiar—relaxed but self-assured, an easy confidence in the way he carried himself—but the details weren’t quite right. His hair was still a mess, windswept like he’d just stepped off a battlefield instead of out of detention, and his face had the same annoyingly cocky expression Regulus had spent years trying to ignore. But his clothes—his whole appearance—didn’t belong in reality.

Regulus's fingers dug into the dirt, his breath coming slow and measured as he tried to make sense of it.

James’s smirk widened. “You look thrilled to see me.”

Regulus sat up, ignoring the way his body adjusted too easily to the movement, as if it had done this a thousand times before. He exhaled slowly, trying to fight off the creeping unease crawling up his spine.

“Tell me you’re seeing this too,” he said, his voice low.

James—whoever, whatever he was now—glanced down at himself, then back at Regulus. He lifted his hands, flexing his fingers experimentally. “Yeah,” he said, the usual playfulness in his tone undercut by something more serious. “Something tells me we’re not in the basement anymore.”

Before Regulus could process anything further, the sound of hurried footsteps crunching through the leaves caught his attention. He turned sharply, instincts screaming at him to be on guard, though he wasn’t sure why. His body felt wired, like it was already prepared for some kind of fight.

A figure burst through the trees—a red-haired woman in green and gold, moving with precision that shouldn’t have been possible in the uneven forest terrain. Regulus barely had time to react before she skidded to a halt in front of them, her chest rising and falling with controlled breaths.

Lily.

Her hair was pulled back into a loose braid, and there was something sharper about her now—her stance more rigid, her expression intense. Her arms were crossed, like she was already done with whatever was happening, despite the clear disorientation in her eyes.

She looked between them, exhaling hard. “Okay,” she said, voice clipped. “Someone needs to explain what the hell is going on.”

James grinned, hands on his hips. “Nice of you to join us, Emerald Strike.”

Lily’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t call me that.”

Regulus finally stood, ignoring the strange weight of his movements. His mind was still racing, trying to bridge the gap between before and now, but nothing made sense. He looked at Lily, then at James, then at the forest around them.

“This isn’t real,” he muttered, more to himself than anyone else.

James spread his arms. “Feels real to me.”

Lily took a slow breath, fingers twitching slightly, as if itching for something—Regulus wasn’t sure what, but he had a feeling she was used to having some kind of weapon. Her gaze flickered to James’s back, where a glowing sword was strapped securely over his shoulder, before settling on Regulus.

Her expression softened slightly, but only for a moment. “Where are the others?”

As if they had heard them, the sound of footsteps resurfaced again, loud and thumping. Two figures emerged from between the trees, walking side by side—one looking smug, the other considerably less so.

Sirius was grinning like he'd just won a bet, his shoulder-length hair tousled by the wind. He looked entirely at ease, hands tucked into the pockets of his worn leather jacket, the tattoos on ‘his’ arms shifting as he moved. Peter, on the other hand, looked like he was two steps away from having a full-blown meltdown. His ill-fitting armor clanked awkwardly with each step, and the map he was holding—upside down, Regulus noted dryly—was absolutely no help to him.

“Well, that was weird,” Sirius announced as he approached, glancing around at the trees before nodding in approval. “I mean, I’ve had stranger wake-ups, but this one’s definitely in the top three.”

Peter shot him a withering glare. “This isn’t normal, Sirius.” He waved the map dramatically. “This thing doesn’t make any sense, I don’t know where we are, and I—why do my hands look like this?” He held them up, as if expecting some answer from the universe. “My fingers feel too long. Are my fingers too long?!”

Lily let out a slow exhale, rubbing her temples. “Alright. Fantastic. We’re all here. Now, does anyone know what’s happening?”

Silence.

James cleared his throat. “We… might be inside the game?”

Sirius raised a brow. “Might?”

Regulus sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Of course we are.”

James, ever unbothered, spread his arms. “I don’t know, I think we look pretty cool.”

Lily turned toward him sharply. “Oh, do you?” Without thinking, she swung her leg up, intending to lightly shove him away.

Unfortunately, "lightly" did not exist in this world.

Her foot connected with James’s face in a sharp, clean kick. He flew backward, landing hard on the ground with an audible thud.

Silence.

Regulus blinked. Sirius let out a strangled gasp. Peter dropped his map.

Lily’s hands flew to her mouth. “Oh my god.”

James lay there, wide-eyed, as if processing the betrayal. His fingers touched his jaw, testing for damage. He sat up slowly, brows furrowing, a confused look spreading across his face “Huh.”

Sirius rushed over, immediately dropping to his knees beside him. “Oh no. Oh no, no, no—James, stay with me, don’t go toward the light, I swear if you start monologuing about seeing your ancestors, I’m going to lose it—”

James frowned at him. “Sirius, I’m fine.”

Sirius gasped dramatically. “Oh god, he’s in denial.”

Peter crouched beside them, staring at James like he was an artifact in a museum. “You should be unconscious.”

Lily, still reeling, took a hesitant step closer. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

James rubbed his jaw again, then grinned. “Didn’t even hurt.”

Everyone stared at him.

Lily’s brows shot up. “What do you mean it didn’t hurt?”

James shrugged. “It just felt like... I don’t know, like a shove? A light breeze, maybe?”

Sirius looked personally offended. “Evans just launched you into next week with her foot, and you’re calling it a breeze?”

James nodded, still looking amused. “I’m telling you, I feel fine.”

Regulus crossed his arms. “That’s not normal.”

Peter, still staring at James like he was a science experiment gone wrong, waved a hand in front of his face. "So... what? Are we invincible? Do we have superpowers? Is this, like, a dream where nothing hurts?"

Sirius snorted. "If this is a dream, it's a weird one. And no offense, Wormtail, but your dreams usually involve significantly more talking animals."

Peter ignored him, looking down at his own hands as if expecting them to glow. "Well, we’re obviously not in the real world anymore. We don’t know the rules here. Maybe James is just... really durable now?"

"Or maybe we’re all like this," Lily suggested, rolling her shoulders like she was testing out the feel of her own body. She flexed her fingers before balling them into fists. "I mean, I don’t feel any different, but I also wasn’t the one who just took a kick to the face like it was nothing."

James perked up at that. "There’s only one way to find out—"

"Do not hit me," Regulus interrupted sharply, narrowing his eyes.

James sighed, clearly disappointed.

Sirius, still kneeling dramatically beside James, finally stood up and dusted off his clothes. "Okay, so we’re in a game, James is built like a tank, and Evans has terrifying leg strength. That still doesn’t explain how we got here or how we’re supposed to leave."

Peter frowned. "Maybe we should get help."

There was a beat of silence.

Regulus blinked. "And how exactly do you suggest we do that?"

Peter hesitated, glancing between them like he hadn’t fully thought that part through. "I don’t know," he admitted, shoulders slumping. "But we can’t just stand around here forever."

Sirius sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Brilliant. A real revolutionary idea, Wormtail."

Peter huffed. "I am trying to help, you know."

Lily crossed her arms. "Alright, does anyone actually have a real plan, or are we just going to stand here arguing?"

"Maybe we should find civilization," Regulus said dryly. "You know, people? Roads? Signs of life?"

James brightened. "Oh! Or maybe we have quests! We could find an NPC—"

Regulus groaned. "Potter, I swear—"

"Alright, alright," Lily cut in before the argument could spiral. "Let’s just move while we talk, okay? Standing here isn’t helping."

With a collective sigh, they all started walking, still caught up in their debate as they wove through the trees.

As they walked, the dense forest surrounded them with towering trees, their thick branches weaving together overhead like a natural canopy. Sunlight filtered through in scattered beams, painting patterns on the mossy ground. The air smelled fresh—earthy, damp, and rich with the scent of pine and wet leaves. Every so often, the distant chirp of birds or the rustling of unseen creatures echoed through the underbrush, but aside from that, it was eerily quiet.

The sound of rushing water interrupted the silence, gradually growing louder, though no one paid much attention at first—too distracted by their conversation—until Sirius glanced up and grinned.

"Hey, a river," he said. "At least we won’t die of thirst if we’re stuck here."

James perked up at that. “Oh! Does anyone have a water bottle?”

Everyone paused, glancing at one another. Regulus patted his pockets, coming up empty. Sirius checked his jacket, then shrugged.

Peter sighed. “Great. So we have a river, but nothing to drink from.”

“Hold on,” Lily said, frowning as she ran a hand along her side. There, clipped to the waistband of her pants, was a small, sleek water bottle—one she was certain hadn’t been there before. She unhooked it, turning it over in her hands. “That’s... weird.”

Sirius raised an eyebrow. “You carry a water bottle on your hip now?”

“No,” Lily said slowly, turning it over to examine the material. It was lightweight, almost metallic, but flexible. “It’s like it just—showed up.”

James leaned in, eyes lighting up. “Wait, wait, wait—so you thought about needing a water bottle, and then poof, you have one?”

Regulus exhaled sharply. “That’s ridiculous.”

“Is it?” Peter asked, tilting his head. “I mean, we already know this isn’t the real world. Maybe the game did hear us.”

“That doesn’t make sense,” Regulus argued. “We’ve been talking about all sorts of things. Why didn’t we get a way to call someone? Or—better yet—a way out?”

“Maybe it only works for small things,” James suggested. “Like inventory in a game.”

Sirius narrowed his eyes. “So you’re saying if I think really hard about a sandwich, one will appear?”

James grinned. “Only one way to find out.”

Sirius closed his eyes dramatically and clasped his hands together, as if concentrating with all his might. Everyone watched, waiting. A moment passed. Then another.

Nothing happened.

Sirius peeked one eye open. “Well. That’s disappointing.”

Lily rolled her eyes. “So it works sometimes. Or it works for useful things.”

“Debatable,” Regulus muttered.

Peter, meanwhile, was still staring at the bottle. “So… are we just ignoring how creepy that is?”

“Creepy or not, we need water,” Lily said, gripping the bottle more firmly. “We might as well use it.”

Peter hesitated for a second longer before reaching out. “Here, I’ll fill it up.”

Lily handed it over, and Peter knelt by the river, unscrewing the cap as the others crowded around, watching as he dipped it into the water. The liquid inside shimmered unnaturally under the light, clearer than any water he’d ever seen.

“Are we sure this is safe to drink?” Sirius asked, eyeing it warily.

Peter hesitated. “Uh… probably?”

Lily groaned. “Not reassuring.”

Peter shrugged. “Look, if this is a game, then there’s a chance it works like one. Water’s probably safe, right?” He lifted the bottle, watching the liquid slosh inside. “Only one way to find out.”

James clapped him on the shoulder. “That’s the spirit.”

Regulus muttered under his breath. “This is a terrible idea.”

Sirius crossed his arms. “Well, at least if he dies, we’ll know not to drink it.”

Peter gave him a flat look before taking a cautious sip. The others held their breath, watching as he swallowed.

“…Well?” Lily prompted.

Peter blinked, licking his lips. “Tastes normal. Really fresh, actually.”

James held out a hand. “Alright, pass it over. I’m so thirsty—”

Before he could finish, a strange sound broke the stillness of the forest. It was faint at first, like a low rumble, and then grew louder, almost like something massive was moving through the water. Everyone froze, listening intently.

"What... is that?" Lily whispered, her eyes darting to the sound’s source.

"I don’t know," Sirius said slowly, squinting at the river. "It sounds like… something big."

The water started to ripple, and the trees surrounding them seemed to shudder in the air. The distant chirps of birds and rustling of leaves fell silent, and all that could be heard was the low growl from the water.

Peter glanced at the others. "Uh... maybe it’s a fish? Or a big animal?"

But as the sound grew closer, it became clear that whatever it was, it wasn’t just a fish. The ground beneath their feet vibrated slightly, the air suddenly thick with tension.

Then, with a violent splash, the water exploded, sending a massive wave into the air. A huge, terrifyingly large hippo surged from the water, its enormous mouth snapping open wide, revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth. The creature’s body was a massive, writhing mass of muscle, and it was coming straight for them.

Sirius’s eyes went wide, and he stumbled back, a startled curse escaping his throat.

The others froze, too shocked to react at first. Regulus’s jaw hung open, and James’s face was frozen in a wide-eyed stare. Lily instinctively took a step back, her heart racing, but no one could tear their eyes away from the charging hippo.

Peter’s mouth hung open in disbelief as the massive beast lunged forward. There was no time to think. The hippo’s powerful jaws snapped shut, and in a swift motion, Peter was swallowed whole. One moment he was standing there, and the next, he was gone.

The group stood frozen, eyes wide, staring at the spot where Peter had just been swallowed by the water. Silence hung heavily over them, each of them processing what they had just witnessed in disbelief.

Sirius was the first to speak, his voice strained with confusion. "What the hell was that?"

James shook his head in sheer bewilderment, rubbing his temples as if trying to clear his head. "I—what just happened? Was that a—? Did a hippo just...?"

Sirius blinked, eyes flicking to the water, still rippling where Peter had been. "I don’t even—"

Lily was standing still, her arms crossed tightly over her chest, her face pale. Her eyes were wide, locked on the water where Peter had disappeared. She didn’t say anything, her mind too overwhelmed to form words.

Regulus, equally speechless, stood next to her, his arms at his sides as if unsure what to do. His gaze was fixed on the spot in the water where Peter had vanished, the silence between them suffocating.

Sirius turned to James, still trying to make sense of the situation. “I’m... I’m not imagining that, right? That really happened?”

James let out a frantic breath, his hands still pressed to his forehead. “No, Sirius, you’re not imagining it. I saw it too. A freaking hippo! Swallowed. Peter. Whole.”

Sirius threw his hands up, looking around in sheer panic. “What the hell is going on? This isn’t even real! We’re in some kind of weird... weird—dream, world, I don’t even know anymore!” His voice was rising, his frustration noticeable.

James took a deep breath, trying to regain some composure. He glanced at the river again, his eyes darting nervously. “And what happens now? Does Peter come back? Is he—?”

The sky above them seemed to respond with an odd, clear ding, echoing through the air like the sound of an invisible bell. The sound made them all look up instinctively.

A second later, they saw a figure falling from the sky, tumbling end over end, before landing with an unceremonious thud in the middle of the forest floor. The impact created a soft thump, and Peter lay there, blinking in confusion, as if he had just woken from a nap.

Everyone remained silent for a moment, still processing the absurdity of it all.

James was the first to move, rushing over to Peter, his voice shaking as he crouched down beside him. “Peter? Are you okay?”

Peter groaned, lifting a hand to his head. “I—what the hell just happened? I was in the water one second, and now I’m... falling?” He blinked at them, disoriented.

Lily ran a hand through her hair, her breath catching as she gave a small laugh, almost in disbelief.

"Shit, we thought you were dead," she muttered, her voice full of exasperation.

Peter sat up slowly, still rubbing his head, blinking as if trying to process everything. "I mean... I was dead, right? I got eaten. I felt myself get eaten. That’s—" He exhaled sharply. "That’s not normal."

Regulus, who had been staring at Peter with narrowed eyes, suddenly stepped forward, noticing something on his arm. “Peter.” His voice was oddly serious, the usual irritation giving way to something closer to suspicion. "Roll up your sleeve."

Peter blinked at him. “Huh?”

Regulus’s gaze darkened. "Your sleeve. Roll it up."

The others exchanged glances, but Peter hesitated before carefully tugging up the sleeve of his jacket. As the fabric bunched up around his elbow, a strange marking was revealed on the inside of his forearm. It glowed faintly against his skin—a dark, swirling tattoo in the shape of tally marks, each line crisp and precise. Two distinct marks stood out, etched into his skin like they had always been there.

“What the hell is that?” Sirius asked, his voice laced with curiosity.

Lily glanced down at her arm, turning it toward the group. “I’ve got them too—well, three lines.”

James quickly followed suit, rolling up his sleeve to reveal his own markings. “Same here,” he said, his tone casual.

Regulus nodded in acknowledgment, glancing down at his own arm. Sirius did the same, frowning slightly as if trying to make sense of it.

Peter, still bewildered, took a step forward, his gaze shifting between them. “So, these lines… what do they mean?”

Regulus glanced up at the others. “It’s a counter,” he said, voice low and steady. “A life counter.”

Sirius let out a sharp breath, rubbing a hand through his hair. “A what?”

James, still crouched next to Peter, leaned in to get a better look. “Wait, wait, wait. You’re saying he lost a life?” His voice wavered between disbelief and nervous laughter. “Like in an actual game?”

Regulus gave him a pointed look. “He just got eaten alive by a monstrous river hippo and dropped out of the sky two minutes later. What do you think?”

Lily’s jaw tightened. “That means…” She inhaled sharply. A heavy silence settled over them.

“So what happens when you run out?” Sirius asked, his usually lighthearted tone edged with unease.

No one answered.

Peter pulled his sleeve back down, his face pale. “I—I really hope we don’t have to find out.”

James forced a grin, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Well, good news, then! We’ve got three lives! That’s, you know, plenty.” He clapped Peter on the back, but the gesture lacked its usual playfulness.

“You’ve got three lives, Potter,” Regulus said with a dry tone, his gaze sharp as he glanced around. “Pettigrew, on the other hand, only has two. That means we need to be more cautious. And for the love of God, let’s move away from the water.” His voice was laced with warning.

Before anyone could respond, a deep, guttural grunt echoed from the tree line behind them. The sound sent a shiver up Regulus’s spine.

James stiffened. “Tell me that was the wind.”

Regulus didn’t even bother dignifying that with a response.

A heavy thud followed—then another. The ground trembled slightly beneath their feet as something massive pushed through the trees, branches snapping under its weight. And then, emerging from the shadows, was the last thing any of them wanted to see.

Another hippo.

Its thick, gray hide was streaked with mud, its nostrils flaring as it huffed out a hot breath. Beady eyes locked onto them, and its massive jaw shifted as if testing its bite. For a moment, no one moved. No one even breathed.

Then the hippo opened its mouth—wide, impossibly wide—showcasing teeth that could crush bone.

Regulus didn’t wait. “Run.”

The group scattered.

James yelped as he bolted across the field, Sirius right beside him, his breath coming out in panicked gasps. Lily grabbed Peter’s wrist, practically dragging him along, while Regulus sprinted ahead, barely ducking as a low-hanging branch nearly clotheslined him.

Behind them, the hippo charged, its massive feet pounding the earth with terrifying speed. It wasn’t just running—it was hunting.

Regulus’s breath came fast and sharp. He risked a glance over his shoulder, just in time to see the beast closing the distance, its massive bulk deceptively fast. “It’s gaining!” he shouted.

James, still gripping the sword on his back, gasped between breaths. “Brilliant observation, Regulus! Just brilliant!”

Sirius, for once, wasn’t laughing. “What the hell is happening?” he shouted, voice tight with fear. “That thing is going to kill us!”

“This is so much worse than detention!” Peter wailed, tripping over his own feet before scrambling forward again.

Just as Regulus was debating whether he should shove James into the beast as a distraction, the sound of an engine cut through the chaos.

A jeep—an actual, honest-to-God jeep—came speeding through the tall grass, bouncing over the uneven terrain. A man in beige clothing stood in the driver’s seat, his hands gripping the wheel tightly as he expertly maneuvered toward them.

“Well, don’t just stand there!” he called, voice carrying over the roar of the engine. “Get in!”

Regulus didn’t need to be told twice. He sprinted toward the vehicle, grabbing onto the side just as James vaulted into the back. Sirius practically shoved Peter in ahead of him before scrambling up himself, his face pale, hands shaking as he gripped the edge of the jeep.

Lily clambered in, eyes wide with shock. “What—who—?”

“No time for questions!” the man barked, slamming his foot on the gas.

The jeep lurched forward, tires kicking up dirt as they sped away from the furious hippo. It gave chase for a moment longer before finally slowing, watching them disappear with what Regulus could have sworn was a look of pure rage.

Regulus, seated in the front, turned to the driver. “Who the hell are you?”

The man straightened proudly. “Regal Shadowfang—”

Regulus, his black armor gleaming in the dim light, frowned. “That’s not my name.”

Unbothered, the man carried on, voice booming with flair. “Silent as the night! Deadly as the fang of a serpent! A master of stealth and strategy, striking from the shadows at just the right moment! Nigel Billingsley, at your service! Welcome to Jumanji!”

Lily folded her arms, eyeing him suspiciously. “How do you even know who we are?”

“Ahh, the brilliant and unshakable—Emerald Strike!” Nigel gestured toward her. “A fierce warrior, unmatched in intelligence and combat precision! The tactical mind that holds the team together! Jumanji is in great peril, and we are counting on you to lift the curse!”

Regulus raised an unimpressed eyebrow, while Sirius leaned forward suddenly. “Curse? What curse?”

Undeterred, Nigel pressed on. “And you, Rogue Stormrider! Famed for your agility and sharp instincts! A true warrior of the wild, a free spirit—”

The group exchanged looks, their skepticism only growing.

Lily leaned toward James. “What is wrong with this guy?” she muttered.

James exhaled through his nose, watching Nigel dramatically wave his arms around. “I’m pretty sure he’s an NPC,” he said dryly.

Nigel showed no signs of stopping as he turned toward James with a dramatic sweep of his hand.

"And here! The legendary—Jaxon Wildheart!"

James blinked, glancing at the others.

Nigel continued, undeterred. "A name whispered in awe across Jumanji! Master of combat, leader of the pack, and wielder of the fabled Blade of the Tempest!"

James suddenly remembered the sword strapped to his back and reached for it, unsheathing it slightly. The blade gleamed with a strange, glowing energy.

"Okay, that’s actually kind of cool," he admitted before shaking his head. "But I don’t know how to use a sword."

Nigel grinned. "Nonsense! Jaxon Wildheart is unmatched in battle!"

James turned to the others. "That’s definitely going to be a problem."

Nigel barely paused before turning his attention to Peter.

"And last, but certainly not least—the ever-elusive, ever-resourceful—Squeaky McRunfast!"

Silence.

Peter’s eye twitched.

Nigel continued, his voice brimming with excitement. "Small in stature but quick on your feet! A master of reconnaissance and navigation!"

Peter looked down at himself—the ill-fitting armor, the upside-down map, the overall lack of anything that suggested competence.

He turned to the group. "I am not calling myself that."

Sirius smirked. "Oh, but we will."

"I swear to God—"

"Well then!" Nigel clapped his hands, completely ignoring the argument. "Now that introductions are out of the way, we must press on! Time is of the essence!"

Regulus pinched the bridge of his nose. "Right. And what exactly is this ‘curse’ we’re dealing with?"

Nigel’s expression grew serious. "Jumanji is in great peril! The sacred gem has been stolen, throwing the land into chaos! You must return it to its rightful place before darkness consumes us all!"

James sighed. "Classic video game plot. Love that for us."

Lily exhaled sharply. "And let me guess—there are a million obstacles in our way?"

"Precisely!" Nigel nodded enthusiastically. "Treacherous terrain, deadly creatures, and foes who will stop at nothing to prevent your success!"

Peter groaned. "This just keeps getting worse."

Nigel grinned. "Oh, my dear Squeaky, you have no idea."

Without warning, the jeep jolted, and the jungle scenery around them darkened unnaturally. The trees twisted into eerie silhouettes against a blood-red sky, and suddenly, none of them could move.

Sirius’ head snapped around in panic. “What—what the hell is happening? I can’t move! Guys, I can’t move!”

James, frozen in place like the rest of them, managed to tilt his eyes toward him. “It’s a cutscene.”

Sirius blinked. “A what?”

“A cutscene,” James repeated, deadpan. “You know, like when the game decides it’s time to force-feed us plot, and we just have to sit here and take it.”

Sirius looked horrified. “That’s a thing?! That can happen in real life?”

“We’re not in real life!” Peter reminded him.

Before Sirius could start yelling again, a deep, foreboding voice rumbled through the air.

"Jumanji is in grave peril..."

The scene shifted before them, their vision pulling toward a shadowy figure emerging from the mist. The man stood tall, cloaked in tattered black robes, his face partially hidden beneath a hood. His eyes glowed an unnatural, piercing green, and in his hand, he clutched a large, pulsing gemstone that radiated an eerie energy.

"Professor Russel Van Pelt," Nigel’s voice narrated. "Once an esteemed archaeologist and protector of Jumanji’s sacred relics... now, a man consumed by greed and darkness."

The cutscene flashed to Van Pelt standing before an ancient altar deep within the jungle, his hand reaching out to snatch the gemstone. The second his fingers closed around it, a pulse of dark energy surged outward, turning the rivers black, the trees lifeless, and the wildlife into monstrous, twisted versions of themselves.

"With the theft of the Eye of Jumanji, the balance of the land was shattered, plunging our world into chaos."

The scene shifted once more—Van Pelt now lounged on a crude stone throne, nestled deep within the ruins of an ancient temple. Shadows clung to the decaying walls, flickering in the eerie green glow of the cursed gem. Surrounding him stood an army of men clad in tattered armor, their eyes burning with the same unnatural light. Snakes coiled and slithered at his feet, rats skittering through the cracks in the stone, their movements unnatural, like creatures long past their time.

"Now, with an army at his command and the power of the Eye in his grasp, Van Pelt seeks to rule Jumanji... and destroy any who dare stand in his way."

The camera zoomed in on Van Pelt as he slowly lifted his gaze, a chilling smirk creeping across his face.

"And that… is where you come in."

Just like that, the jungle snapped back into focus, the sky returned to normal, and the group suddenly found themselves back in the jeep, able to move again.

Sirius let out a startled gasp, clutching his chest. “Never. Again.”

James burst out laughing. “I don’t know, I thought it was pretty cool.”

Peter, still pale, shook his head. “That was not cool. That was terrifying.”

Regulus rubbed his temples. “So, we’re up against some evil archaeologist turned jungle warlord?”

“Pretty much,” James muttered. “Classic villain energy.”

Nigel beamed. “Indeed! The fate of Jumanji rests in your hands!”

Sirius groaned, slumping against the seat. “This game sucks.”

“Aw, come on, Stormrider!” Nigel said cheerfully. “It’s all part of the grand adventure!”

Sirius glared at him. “I am going to throw you out of this jeep.”

As Sirius grumbled about throwing Nigel out of the jeep, the man continued, completely unfazed. "Now, as I was saying, the fate of Jumanji rests in your hands!"

Regulus, arms crossed, frowned. “And how exactly are we supposed to stop a man with an army and a magical rock that controls the jungle?”

Nigel’s grin widened as he reached into his satchel. “Ah! That, my dear adventurers, is where things get interesting.”

With a dramatic flourish, he pulled out a glowing gemstone—the exact same one they had just seen in the cutscene. It pulsed faintly in his hands, radiating an eerie green light.

Silence fell over the group.

James blinked. “Hold on. You have the cursed gem?”

“Yes! Splendid observation, Jaxon Wildheart!” Nigel beamed. “I managed to retrieve the Eye of Jumanji before Van Pelt’s forces could secure it completely! Which means—”

Sirius threw his hands in the air. “—Which means we’re now being hunted by the terrifying warlord guy with an undead jungle army! Brilliant! Fantastic! Love that for us!”

Peter looked like he was about to pass out. “We—we have the thing he wants?”

Lily pinched the bridge of her nose. “Of course we do.”

“Precisely!” Nigel said cheerfully. “And that is why you must return it to the sacred Jaguar Shrine at the heart of Jumanji before Van Alden catches up with you. Only then can the balance of the land be restored!”

Regulus exhaled slowly, dragging a hand down his face. “I hate this game.”

James, despite the situation, grinned. “Come on, Regal Shadowfang, where’s your sense of adventure?”

Regulus shot him a glare. “Buried under my overwhelming sense of impending doom.”

Sirius, arms crossed, muttered under his breath, “I still don’t get why we can’t just chuck the gem into a river and be done with it.”

Nigel gasped as if Sirius had just suggested setting the entire jungle on fire. “Absolutely not! The Eye of Jumanji is bound to the land! It must be restored to its rightful place, or the curse will remain unbroken!”

Peter swallowed hard. “So... we don’t really have a choice, do we?”

“Nope,” James said, popping the ‘p’ for emphasis.

Nigel turned forward and gripped the wheel. “Then we’d best be off! There’s no time to waste!”

As he gripped the wheel, he suddenly turned to Sirius with a bright grin. “Ah! Almost forgot—this belongs to you.”

Before anyone could react, he tossed the glowing gemstone straight at Sirius.

“What the—?!” Sirius barely managed to catch it, fumbling for a moment before securing it in both hands. The gem pulsed ominously, casting a green glow over his face.

Everyone else immediately leaned away from him.

“Why—why would you give that to him?” Regulus demanded, looking personally offended.

Sirius, ignoring his brother, inspected the gem with curiosity. “Huh. Kinda cool, actually.”

“Put it away!” Lily hissed, eyes darting around like something was about to jump out and steal it.

“Fine, fine,” Sirius muttered, stuffing the gem into the inside pocket of his coat. “Not like I was gonna drop it or anything.”

James gave him a pointed look. “You almost did drop it.”

“Details.”

Nigel, blissfully unaware of the group’s rising panic, nodded in approval. “Splendid! Keep it safe, Rogue Stormrider. The fate of Jumanji depends on it!”

Sirius blinked. “Wait, me? Why am I the one holding it?”

Nigel merely smiled and faced forward again. “Because that is how the game is played, and because you are the only one with a coat pocket.”

Regulus groaned. “I hate this game.”

The jeep barreled forward, the jungle stretching endlessly before them.