Isaac Woodman
T2 2025 - The room seemed to grow larger as more and more people began to fill it, unlike that time during the first trial, the people here weren't regular people. They looked strong, both physically and mentally. Their attire was also slightly less restricting, loose fitting trousers and tracksuit bottoms, some still wore Jeans but those that did seemed like a different breed of human. Jason's being here surprised me, I needed to convince him to stay with us, like with Levin and Harold, I could think of two ways to convince him. Use his history to convince him of the truth, or slowly gain his trust, perhaps save his life. He was standing above someone I didn't recognise and I wandered over.
"Is everything alright ?" I asked as I neared.
"He's been like this since we got here," Jason replied as he looked up, seeing me standing there. I've seen this happen a few times before, hmm, do I show my hand ? I looked at Jason's face, remembering my friend. A wave of guilt ran through me as I thought of the deceit that went through my head, no, he deserved more than a lie.
"I've seen this happen before," I crouched beside the unconscious man who seemed a few years older than Jason, his hair was black but a few were greying, small scars could be seen along his skin, which was coarse. Jason had stated that he used to be in a special German army unit, perhaps he's a friend from that same unit. "He will be fine, how long has passed since he became, like this?"
"About ten minutes?" Jason replied with uncertainty, I nodded.
"He will wake shortly, the power he was given as he came here is settling down."
"What power?" Jason asked. He tried to hide his expression, but I knew him well enough to know that he was at least aware of what I was speaking of.
"Similar to one that we all have, I don't know what that will be though, I would suggest asking him as he wakes."
"HELLO EVERYONE!" a lone figure shouted from the center of the room, conversations died down as we all turned to face him. Unlike the others in the room who at least attempted to hide their job and affiliation, this figure wore a green camo uniform, a beret adorning his head. He stood with his hands behind his back, his chin tilted up slightly to make him seem more important. "I am Sergeant Major Hemwell, I believe that the best course of action in this situation is to come together and discuss what is going on and how to best leave with our lives. Who among you here has any idea what is going on ?"
"We need to escape," Jacob's voice rang out, his tone blunt, as if what he had said was both obvious and not worth stating.
"Hemwell is correct in saying that we need to come together to overcome this adversity, but who among you were present during the first trial?" Henry asked from his place beside Jacob. People looked about uneasily, but hands slowly rose after I raised my own. About three quarters were survivors of that first trial, which made things easier, they understood the horror of the situation. "That's good, we need to split up into four groups."
"Why ?" one voice rang out, "wouldn't it be better if we all stick together?"
"Normally, yes, but we don't know how wide these corridors will be. If we can't move around freely because it's too crowded, then we all die. Simple as that." Henry locked eyes with me for a second and I nodded for him to continue as planned. "We need to split up, and as Me, Jacob, Levin and Isaac-" He pointed at each of us as he said our names, "know about this situation more than anyone else, we should be the leaders." Multiple voices rose up in defiance of Henry's statement which caused the more neutral of people to join in. Amber fire shot at the ceiling as Jacob released a torrent of flames, no smoke followed the plume of fire which spoke volumes of his control. There was no heat either, just a bright beacon of fire.
"Everyone shut up." Jacob ordered and all of the conversations died, everyone's eyes looking upon him with different emotions, some anger, some intrigued, some outright concerned. "Those of you present during that first trial should know of the horrors of what we plan to face. Henry here is correct in the presumption that we should lead this charge, and if any of you have any issues, feel free to pick it up with me." He held out his hands, igniting a ball of fire on each, this time, the heat could be felt in the room. Sweat dripped down from my forehead and as I looked about, the others were obviously becoming uncomfortable. "Nobody?" He extinguished the fire and the room seemed to chill instantly. I saw a few who looked ready to object, the fire in their eyes hungry. But as a few seemed about to step forwards, the four doors around us slid open. Four different coloured lights poured into the room, each of which the same colour as the door that had opened. "Is everyone ready ?" Jacob asked, his voice breaking the silence of the room.
"I pick red," Levin's youthful voice shouted over the confused mutterings.
"Blue," Henry stated.
"Isaac ?" Jacob asked and I simply pointed at the green door.
"That one seems less foreboding." I stated as I made my way over to the door that I had just picked.
"Black it is th-" Jacob started saying before a panicked shout stopped him short.
"WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT?" one of the strangers stated, pointing at a silhouette that was charging towards us. The silhouette was human-like in appearance, it had legs, arms, a wide torso and a head, but the upper body was where the similarities to a human ended. Thick fur spread outwards from its shoulder blades, covering its musculature. Two massive spikes sprouted from its head which was bovine in appearance. A wooden club dragged along behind him, the weapon easily as large as the beast was. As it drew closer, Jacobs' voice shouted out.
"EVERYONE RUN!" A few moments of hesitation was plastered on the strangers faces before they complied, picking one of the three remaining corridors.
"Levin, change of plan," I quickly made my way over to him. "Jason, come here also."
"What's the plan?" Levin asked.
"You will need to distract him, Jason, you go that way," I pointed at the corridor where the minotaur was approaching, its guttural grunting and thunderous footsteps growing ever louder.
"What?" Jason replied, bemused.
"Yeah, What?" Levin replied also.
"Don't try to fight it, just keep his attention on you for as long as possible." Levin's gaze went dark as he seemed to understand my thoughts.
"No, no no no, that thing will kill me, I don't want to-"
"You are our only hope," I grasped his shoulders, digging my fingertips into them hard and placing his attention on me. "I wouldn't ask this of you if I didn't believe that you could've done it." Levin looked hesitant, before resigning to a nod of agreement. "Jason, you will have to go that way, at the far end of the maze, there will be a question, the answer is one. While Levin is distracting the beast, you will have to make your way to it and then come back."
"But Hans-"
"Don't worry about him, Levin will keep the minotaur's' attention on himself." The footsteps got louder. "Got it?"
"Yeah."
"Good, Levin, you ready."
"No." The minotaur roared, making us all turn to it, it had entered the room. It grunted and snarled, laying its eyes on us. It hefted its club, readying another charge. "FUCK!" Levin screamed as he charged at the minotaur, who simply looked at him with confusion. It swung, the club hitting its mark, sending Levin crashing into the wall.
"Now." I turned, bolting into the corridor that neither Jacob, nor Henry had gone down. I turned, seeing the Minotaur looking at me, before another battlecry consisting of the same word caught its attention.