Survival's Edge

"And remember, your goal for you, I'll recite in verse—
Return the jewel to break the curse.
If you wish to leave the game,
You must save Jumanji and call its name."

Nigel shut the door with a decisive thud, the engine of his jeep roaring to life as he sped off, leaving behind a trail of dust.

Sirius huffed, shifting his weight as the glowing green jewel pressed heavily against his chest inside his leather jacket. “Yeah, that explains absolutely nothing.”

He turned toward the others, raising an eyebrow, but before anyone could respond, realization dawned on him like a slap to the face. His eyes widened in sheer frustration, and with absolutely no hesitation, he whirled back toward the rapidly disappearing jeep, cupped his hands around his mouth, and screamed :

“THAT DOESN’T MAKE ANY SENSE!”

His voice echoed across the vast, empty landscape, startling a flock of nearby birds into the sky. The only response he received was the distant hum of the jeep growing fainter and fainter until it was completely out of sight.

Lily turned in a slow circle, taking in their surroundings. “And he really just… left us here?” Her voice was edged with disbelief. “In the middle of nowhere?”

The field stretched out endlessly before them, a vast expanse of golden grass swaying gently in the humid breeze. Tall, unfamiliar trees lined the horizon, their branches draped with vines that hung like curtains, whispering as they moved. The air smelled of damp earth and something sweet, almost intoxicating, like overripe fruit. In the distance, a faint roar echoed through the landscape, sending a shiver down Lily’s spine.

A flock of brilliantly colored birds burst from a tree, their cries sharp and urgent, as if warning of something unseen. The sky overhead was a deep, endless blue, but the sun seemed oddly larger, beating down with an intensity that almost made the air shimmer.

James adjusted his glasses and turned to Peter. “Hey, can I see that map?”

Peter fumbled through his shirt before producing a folded piece of parchment. “Yeah, right here.” He handed it over, looking relieved to have something tangible to hold onto.

James unfolded it carefully, expecting to see a layout of their surroundings or at least some kind of guidance. Instead, the parchment was completely blank.

“Uh… Pete?” James frowned, turning it over as if something might be hidden on the other side. “Your map is empty.”

Regulus stepped beside James, staring at the blank parchment with growing frustration. His lips curled into a sneer as he exhaled sharply. “Perfect. Just perfect. We’re trapped in a freaking video game, stranded in the middle of fucking nowhere, and now the only thing that was supposed to help us is completely useless. Brilliant. I knew this was a shitty idea.”

James tightened his grip on the parchment, jaw clenching. “Well, you didn’t have to play,” he muttered, barely sparing Regulus a glance.

Regulus scoffed, his annoyance flaring into anger. “I didn’t have to play?” He took a step closer, his voice rising. “If I remember correctly, I was the one who didn’t want to! It was you —” he jabbed a finger hard into James’s chest “—who begged me like a complete idiot. ‘ Come on, Black, it’ll be fun! Filch won’t be down for another 4 hours!’ ” His imitation of James dripped with mockery. “Well, guess what, Potter? We’re in a death trap. Is this fun? Are you having fun yet?”

James swatted Regulus’s hand away, stepping forward as tension crackled between them. “Oh, please. You didn’t exactly fight that hard. You could’ve walked away. You had the choice, same as the rest of us.”

Regulus let out a bitter laugh. “Right, because walking away from you actually works. You pester people until you get what you want! You don’t ask —you insist! ”

James threw his arms up. “Oh, I’m so sorry for trying to include you in something for once in your miserable, brooding life!”

Regulus’s eyes flashed dangerously. “Maybe I’d brood less if I wasn’t constantly dealing with your reckless, stupid decisions—”

“Alright, both of you, stop ,” Lily interjected, stepping between them, but neither so much as glanced at her.

“Guys, seriously, let’s not do this right now,” Sirius added, placing a firm hand on Regulus’s shoulder, but his younger brother immediately shrugged him off.

Peter fidgeted beside them, eyes darting anxiously between the two. “Uh—guys—” he tried, voice small and uncertain.

But James and Regulus were locked in.

“You always act like you know best,” Regulus pressed on, his frustration bubbling over. “Like you can just charge into things and everything will magically work out because you’re James Potter! Newsflash—it doesn’t work like that!”

James scoffed. “And what, you’re so much better? Acting like you’re above everything, like you’re just too good to—”

“GUYS!” Peter practically shouted this time. Both James and Regulus turned to glare at him, but Peter ignored it, pointing at the parchment in James’s hand. “I—I can see the map. It’s not blank.”

The tension between them didn’t disappear entirely, but it wavered just enough for James to tear his eyes away from Regulus and whip his head toward Peter. He squinted. “What do you mean, you can see the map?”

Peter blinked at him. “I mean… I can see the map?” He gestured to the parchment still in James’s hands. “There’s writing on it. And, like, landmarks.”

Regulus folded his arms, skeptical. “That’s not possible. It’s literally just a blank piece of parchment.”

Sirius leaned over James’s shoulder, eyes narrowing at the paper. “Yeah, Pete, unless you’ve developed some weird, highly specific hallucinations, I’m gonna have to call bullshit.”

Peter groaned, snatching the map from James and holding it up. “I’m telling you, there’s something here! I can see the paths, the terrain, and even markings for different levels—”

James eyed him warily. “Are you sure you’re not high?”

Peter threw his hands up. “Why does everyone think I’m high?!”

Sirius smirked. “Because you’re talking to a blank piece of paper like it’s whispering state secrets to you.”

Lily let out a sigh, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Or maybe, just maybe , this is part of his role in the game. You know, like how Nigel just told us that each of us has a specific purpose?”

Peter pointed at her. “Thank you! Finally , someone using logic.”

James still looked doubtful. “Alright, if you’re the only one who can read it, then prove it. What does it say?”

Peter looked down at the parchment again, scanning it carefully before nodding. “Okay, so—this part here shows where we are now.” He traced an invisible line, though to him, it was as clear as day. “And over here… looks like where we’re headed.” He frowned slightly. “We just passed through ‘The Deep’—which makes sense, considering the whole man-eating hippo incident —and we’re getting close to the next level.”

“So you’re the map guy,” Sirius comments dryly, a chuckle escaping his lips.

Peter shot him a glare. “Yes, I’m the map guy. Glad you finally caught up.”

Sirius smirked. “I dunno, Pete, feels a little suspicious. You sure you didn’t eat some funky jungle mushrooms while we were getting chased back there?”

Peter groaned, throwing his hands up. “For the last time , I’m not high! You think I’d be dealing with this ”—he gestured wildly around them—“if I was high?”

James snickered. “Fair point.”

Peter crossed his arms. “Oh, I see how it is. When Lily drop-kicks James, that’s normal. When James is literally invincible , that’s fine. But the second I can read a map, suddenly I’m on drugs?”

Regulus, who had been quietly watching the exchange with an exasperated expression, finally interjected. “No, he has a point.”

Sirius blinked at him. “Wait, what?”

Regulus ignored him, looking at the group instead. “If Peter can read the map, it’s probably because that’s his ability. Just like Lily has the ability to kick the shit out of people, and James is—” He sighed, glancing at James. “—somehow incapable of feeling pain.”

James grinned. “Damn right I am.”

Regulus rolled his eyes. “The point is, if this game is treating us like characters, then it makes sense that we all have some kind of power-up. We just haven’t figured them all out yet.”

Lily tilted her head, considering. “So you think we each have abilities? Something specific?”

Regulus nodded. “It’s the only explanation. Peter has the map. You have that insane kicking strength. James can survive a heel to the face. There’s a pattern here.”

James grinned. “So, what you’re saying is, we’re all superheroes?”

Sirius perked up. “Ooooh, do I get laser vision?” He squinted at a tree, willing it to explode. Nothing happened. “Damn.”

Regulus pinched the bridge of his nose. “God, I hope not.”

Peter, still annoyed, muttered, “Would explain why you’re so blind to logic.”

Sirius gasped dramatically, clutching his chest. “How dare you?!”

James, still grinning, turned to Regulus. “So what’s your power, then?”

Regulus shrugged. “Haven’t figured it out yet.”

Sirius draped an arm over his brother’s shoulders. “What if it’s being the world’s biggest killjoy ?”

Regulus shoved him off. “What if yours is being insufferable ?”

“Then I’d be overpowered as hell,” Sirius shot back smugly.

Peter groaned, rubbing his temples. “Okay, great . We all might have powers. But can we please focus? Because we’re still in a death jungle, and I’d like to get out of here alive .”

Lily nodded. “He’s right. We should figure out what the rest of us can do before we stumble into another disaster—”

“Holy shit! How’d you do that?” Sirius interjected, eyeing the hovering screen above Regulus’s head.

Regulus blinked, following Sirius’s gaze. A glowing golden panel hovered just above him, its shimmering text listing out his strengths and weaknesses.

Regal Shadowfang

Strengths: Stealth, Strategy, Persuasion, Knives

Weaknesses: Drowning

Regulus frowned. “I—I just tapped my chest, right here.” He motioned to the area just above his heart. 

Sirius waved a hand through the glowing text, but it didn’t react. “That’s so unfair! You get knives? Where the hell are my knives?”

James raised a brow. “That’s what you’re focused on? Not the part where his one weakness is drowning ?”

Regulus crossed his arms. “And how, exactly , is that shocking? I’m not a particularly strong swimmer.”

Peter squinted at the screen, then at Regulus. “But, like… why does it need to be listed ? Does that mean you’ll just immediately drown if you hit water? Like, no struggling, just sunk ?”

Sirius gasped dramatically. “Oh my god, you’re like a sack of flour ! Just plop —gone.”

Regulus shot him a murderous look. “I swear to god, I will—”

Before he could finish, another golden panel shimmered into existence above Lily.

Emerald Strike

Strengths: Flexibility, Kicks, Guns

Weaknesses: Venom

She blinked up at it, then let out a sharp breath. “Guns? Really? ”

James tilted his head. “Not exactly what I expected.”

Sirius let out a low whistle. “Damn, Evans, first-class jungle badass. You got a gun on you?”

Lily patted her pockets and scanned the area around her. “Doesn’t look like it.”

Peter hummed in thought. “Maybe you don’t start with one. You’ll probably have to find one somewhere.”

Lily sighed. “Great. Because that sounds so easy in the middle of a jungle.” She glanced at Regulus. “Looks like you’re in the same boat. You’ll need to track down some knives.”

Regulus crossed his arms, unimpressed. “Wonderful.”

James tapped his chin. “Alright, so we’ve got flexibility, kicks, stealth, persuasion… What’s next?”

Sirius grinned and thumped his own chest. “Oh, please let mine be awesome .”

A golden screen flickered into existence above Sirius’s head, casting an eerie glow over his face as he read the shimmering text.

Rogue Stormrider

Strengths: Motorcycles, Animal Communication, Charisma

Weaknesses: Wolves, Fear of Confinement, Cake

Sirius’s eyes widened, a slow grin creeping across his face. “Motorcycles?” He turned to the group, looking both delighted and confused. “Why the hell would that be my strength?”

James snorted. “I mean, you do love your bike. Guess Jumanji took that very literally.”

Sirius nodded in approval. “Yeah, I can work with this. Just need to find a motorcycle now.”

Peter, however, was frowning at the list. “Okay, but… let’s talk about this —‘Cake’? Your weakness is cake? ”

Lily crossed her arms, looking at Sirius skeptically. “What, does it poison you? Make you explode?”

Sirius scowled. “I hope not. That’d be the dumbest way to die.” He turned to Regulus. “Thoughts?”

Regulus gave him a deadpan look. “That you’re a moron.”

Sirius threw his hands up. “Helpful. Thank you.”

James tilted his head. “Maybe it just means you really love cake.”

Peter gasped. “Or you physically can’t eat it. Like, one bite and—boom—game over.”

Sirius went pale. “What if it’s both? What if I crave it but also die if I eat it?”

Lily sighed. “Well, there’s only one way to find out.”

Sirius pointed a dramatic finger at her. “Evans, if you try to force-feed me cake, I swear—”

James cut in, still eyeing the screen. “Actually, I have a better question… Why wolves ? You love dogs.”

Sirius frowned. “I do love dogs.”

Regulus smirked. “Maybe the wolves don’t love you .”

Sirius scoffed. “Tch, nonsense. Wolves love me.”

Lily gave him a dry look. “Are you sure about that?”

Sirius opened his mouth to argue, but Peter interrupted, still staring at the weaknesses. “Okay, but ‘Fear of Confinement’—that one makes sense. You do freak out in small spaces.”

Sirius shuddered. “Yeah, yeah, let’s not talk about that one.” He rubbed his hands together. “So, who’s next? Let’s keep the trauma train rolling.”

The group exchanged glances before all eyes landed on James and Peter.

James sighed. “Fine. Let’s get this over with.” He pressed a hand to his chest, and another golden screen flickered to life.

“Here we go,” Sirius muttered. “Let’s see what kind of absurd superhero skill set you got.”

A golden screen flickered into existence above James’s head, illuminating his face with its soft glow. He squinted up at it.

Jaxon Wildheart

Strengths: Combat, Speed, Smoldering

Weaknesses: None

The group fell into silence.

Peter threw his hands up. “Oh, come on!”

Sirius gaped. “What the hell? No weaknesses? That’s bullshit.”

Regulus crossed his arms, scoffing. “Even a dumb jungle game knows you’re an insufferable, overpowered meathead.”

Lily arched a brow. “And ‘smoldering’? What kind of ridiculous stat is that?”

James, however, just grinned and shot her a wink. “Pretty self-explanatory, don’t you think?”

Lily groaned. “I hate this.”

Sirius was still stuck on the injustice of it all. “Why do I have cake as a weakness, but James gets to be invincible?”

James shrugged. “I don’t make the rules.”

Peter scowled. “I bet you did. Somehow. I don’t trust it.”

Regulus rubbed his temples. “Alright, let’s just move on before Sirius explodes from jealousy.”

Sirius huffed. “I’m not jealous. I just think it’s wildly unfair that my biggest flaw is apparently a baked good.”

James clapped a hand on his shoulder. “Hey, at least you got ‘charisma.’”

Sirius rolls his eyes. “Oh, true. Guess I’ll just have to charm my way to victory.”

Peter snorted. “Yeah, good luck with that.”

Sirius ignored the comment. “Alright, Wormy, your turn. Let’s see what we’re working with.”

Peter hesitated before pressing a hand to his chest. A golden panel shimmered into existence.

Squeaky McRunfast

Strengths: Cartography, Plants

Weaknesses: Endurance

“Fuck me,” Peter cursed.

Sirius burst out into a fit of laughter, “Shit, and I thought cake was bad.”

Peter shot him a glare, but the joke hit its mark, and he couldn't help the small smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "Oh, don't even start," he grumbled, looking at the map again.

Lily snorted, rolling her eyes, “Nope, cake is definitely still worse.”

Regulus, who had been quietly observing, nodded in agreement. “I’d rather go out running than from a fucking birthday cake.” His voice was deadpan.

“Alright, but plants? That’s not... awful , I suppose. I mean, maybe Wormy can track down some food for us?” James chimed in.

“I’d literally rather starve,” Peter muttered.

The sound of distant engines reached their ears, low and rumbling, cutting off the conversation. At first, it was faint, a far-off vibration in the air, but as seconds passed, it grew louder.

“What the hell is that?” Lily asked, tilting her head as she looked around.

She barely finished her statement before from a steep hill just beyond their view, a man on a motorcycle launched into the sky, the roar of his engine filling the air like thunder. The rider soared briefly before coming back down with precision, heading straight for them.

Sirius’s eyes lit up the moment he saw the motorcycle. “It’s here,” he muttered to himself, a wide grin spreading across his face. “My power-up.”

Regulus’s expression darkened as he whipped around, “Sirius, I don’t think that’s for you…”

But Sirius didn’t move. He took a step forward, almost as if mesmerized. “No, Reg, this is definitely for me. Why else would it be here?”

The motorcycle soared through the air with frightening speed, cutting through the trees in a straight line toward Sirius. The rider’s helmet glinted in the sunlight, and the engine screamed, a clear signal that there was no slowing down.

Regulus’s heart pounded. “ Sirius. ”

Sirius stood firm, eyes locked on the motorcycle as though he were welcoming it. 

“Sirius!” Regulus’s voice cracked, desperation creeping in as the bike sped closer. “Fuck! Move now! ”

But Sirius didn’t listen. He was still grinning, waiting for the motorcycle to come to him, convinced it was some gift from the game itself.

The motorcycle closed in. There was no way it was going to stop in time. Regulus’s eyes widened as the rider aimed directly for Sirius, and with a sickening certainty, Regulus realized the bike wasn’t stopping for him—it was going to hit him.

He tried to call out once more.

But it was too late.

The motorcycle collided with Sirius at full speed. The impact was brutal, throwing him sideways with a deafening crash. The explosion that followed was blinding. The group screamed in unison, a chorus of horror and disbelief as a fireball consumed everything in its wake.

Sirius was engulfed in the explosion, his figure disintegrating into the chaos of flames and debris. The force of the blast sent shockwaves through the air, knocking them all back. They shielded their faces as the smoke and fire rose into the sky.

Then, in an eerie silence, the group stared at the spot where Sirius had been.

The air crackled with the sound of digital noise, a chime signaling the loss of a life. The group turned their eyes toward the sky.

Sirius’s body dropped from the sky with a thud, crashing to the ground with a heavy impact. He groaned as he pushed himself up, rubbing his head. “Nevermind, Reg,” he muttered, his voice tinged with pain. “You were totally right.”

“Sirius!” James yelled, his voice cracking as he dropped to his knees, his hands on his head in disbelief.

The group stood frozen for a moment, staring at the lifeless form of their friend, their hearts racing.

Then, as if to add insult to injury, the roar of more motorcycles filled the air. One after another, they came, rising over the hills and crashing through the trees like wild animals, their engines loud and menacing.

Regulus’s eyes narrowed as he took a deep breath, his chest tight with frustration and fear. He didn’t wait for anyone else to react. “RUN!”