Yeah, so I came up with this story idea while I was falling asleep (ironic) so that's what I sticking to as my alibi for why this story is so... weird...
Jesse slowly blinked awake, he was lying on the floor. He got up and saw the other three around him, waking up too. Jesse looked at his surroundings, everything was white. He was standing in blank, white, nothingness. He felt solid ground around him but it looked like he was floating in white space. There were no walls, there was nothing at all, just whiteness that stretched on for eternity. The others stood up too.
"Woah." Petra gazed around her.
"What is this place?" Lukas stared.
"I… I don't know." Jesse said, confused. Suddenly a feminine voice was heard. It was a little deep, calm, and icy. It could send chills down anyone's spine.
"Welcome to…" The voice said, "The Dream World!" It echoed from everywhere and to everywhere. It would've been impossible to pinpoint where it was coming from.
"'The Dream World'?" Jesse asked. "What the heck is that?" The voice laughed. "Sorry did we miss something? What's going on here!" Jesse yelled.
"The Dream World is a realm that very few see." The voice began, "You should consider yourselves blessed it witness this place. There is a thin but hard to cross line between actual dreaming and The Dream World. There is a ripple in space time. This ripple is what created this realm. It is impossible to come here by mistake."
"So, we were brought here or something? Why?" Jesse asked.
"To simplify it for your… thick minds: It is possessing consciousness while being inside the blank canvas of a dream. Yes, you can be summoned here, you can also get here yourself. Either way, there is only one way out. Through me."
"Um… where exactly are you?" Petra turned in circles.
"We don't really want to fight you." Lukas said.
The voice laughed more, "I don't mean it like that. If you kill me… which you can't… you'll be stuck here forever. I have to let you out. It's my choice when you leave."
"Could you show us the exit? We'll gladly get out of your hair." Ivor came into the conversation.
More laughter. "No," The voice came across as playful and innocent, "besides, I need you here."
"Why, exactly, to you need us?" Jesse questioned, "We'll happily help you with whatever you need."
"What I need isn't important."
"Then how are we supposed to he- "Jesse was cut off by a violent shaking. Everything around them trembled, knocking everyone to the ground.
"Is this some kind of earthquake?" Petra shouted over the rumbling. Suddenly it stopped.
"My, my, you do talk a lot, don't you? I apologize for the shock but I've heard enough of your gabber."
Jesse spoke up again, "Look, we really just want to go home so w- "More shaking. Jesse shut up. The voice excitedly gasped.
"I have an idea! Now what a spectacular idea! Simply marvelous." The voice enthusiastically said, still with the mysterious tone to it though, somehow the voice was calm yet eager at the same time. "A game! Yes, how wonderful! A trial, a test! Yes, this does sound delightful!" Lukas, Ivor, Petra, and Jesse glanced at one another, confused and suspicious. "Yes, yes! If you can pass, you can go home! That way you get your desperately wanted chance to go back to where you came from! This way we all get what we want!"
"Wait, how to you benefit from this?" Petra asked doubtful.
"That doesn't matter! Yes! Why, it'll be perfect! Three tests! Yes! They should be unique; don't you think?" The voice didn't wait for an answer. "A trial of envy, a trial of faithfulness, and a trial of fear!" The entire time that the voice was 'excited', it sounded a little fake, like she had this speech planned out. It had a tone that made it seem like she said this to many people.
"One day…" Petra grumbled under her breath, "that was all."
"Are we really going to do this, Jesse?" Ivor half whispered to Jesse.
"Do we have a choice?" Jesse responded.
"Well, we might be able to find a way out of here on our own. We don't have time for- "Ivor started but the voice cut him off.
"Time? Time is irrelevant here. There is no time. You could be in here for years without realizing it and without aging while in your world back home everyone you knew could be dead." The voice said this like it was normal, for her it was, but the others got a fearful look in their eyes.
"How long have we been here already?" Lukas asked, alarmed.
"Who knows?" Ivor yelled, he felt like it was a necessary time to shout.
"Shall we get started?" The voice, even though they couldn't see anyone, seemed to smile.
Warning: It only gets weirder...