"Think fast!' Jaspreth encouraged. He was bribing Beatrix to think on her feet. The latter felt the burden on her shoulders. But their lives were on the line if she made the wrong choice.
The sharp blade was hanging from the hole in the ceiling. Jaspreth and the others were safely standing on the other end while Beatrix hesitated. Astherielle was right behind her, ready to push or pull.
The blade would swing in opposite directions every two minutes, finding a target. At every interval of two minutes, it would come to a stop. It was when they could duck and cross the other side.
However, the floor was also split in half. For every interval, the divide was going wider. Right now, if Beatrix and Astherielle remained where they were, it would be impossible to tell how much it would move.
The whirring sound of a machine brought the blade to life. It had Beatrix and Astherielle stepping back.