Apart from the severely damaged condition of this room, the most striking thing was that the majority of the candidates were indeed there, though not all alive. Even Brice, whom he imagined to have failed miserably, was in this new hall, fresh and dashing.
However, his pupils and skin pores were dilated and his breathing was shallow and erratic. His hair and clothes were soaked and he reeked of a putrid ammonia smell. To escape from the previous trap unscathed had not been so easy and he had obviously paid a heavy price.
At the very least, he had lost his ethereal presence. Jake had no trouble focusing his attention on him anymore, just like the other Players, who were now carefully watching his every move in case he felt the urge to disappear again.
Will and Enya had also gotten there before him and were keeping a close eye on Hakkrasha, not daring to venture any further. Except for their pale faces and the heavy dark circles under their eyes, they didn't seem to have suffered.
