Kenji seized the moment of distraction, generously provided by the sound of the drums, and pulled the girl with all his might, getting her out of Oliver's grasp. The politician growled at the salaryman, through gritted teeth. He was about to save his ass, and now the opportunity was gone since the girl was safely in Kenji's hands.
„Enough of this nonsense! We have no time. The monster is coming," said Evan. „Somebody has to go down there, and as far as I'm concerned, this girl just volunteered."
„Yes, she did! She should be punished for what she tried to do!" Oliver immediately jumped on the opportunity. „You agree, don't you?" He glanced at Jordan.
The jock was shocked by everything that happened, but the question pushed him out of this state, making him give a firm nod.
„You got what you deserve," Oliver said with a smirk on his lips.
„Are you serious? Do you want to throw her into this pit? Are you insane?!" Kanji raised his voice.
„Please, save me," Mia squealed, hugging him tightly, and pressing her wet from tears face against his chest. „Please."
„She is a criminal! She just tried to push me! She has to be punished," the politician observed with a voice laced with outrage.
For a moment Sam considered shoving him into the hole. Not to end the argument or save the girl, just because he was irritating. So full of himself, when he was only an obstacle in everybody's way.
„Come on. We have no time!" Evan urged.
„Yes. Move," Jordan agreed, waving the sword in the air, and hurrying the girl.
She wasn't even looking at him, but Kenji was. With teeth gritted from frustration, holding Mia with one hand, he broke. „I'll go. I'll be the man, and I will go pull the leaver," he announced.
Everybody was surprised, including Sam.
'Why?' he asked himself, but the answer came naturally. He didn't know much about the salaryman, but he heard what the man said about his family. Wife and two daughters. 'He sees a daughter in her. What a fool,' he shook his head. „Wait! If you want to go down, I won't stop you, but I have an idea of how to help you get back up."
„What do you have in mind?" Kanji asked.
The answer didn't come as something slammed into the black door – the entrance to the trial room. The drums were already so loud, that it was undoubtedly the monster. In shock, they waited, convinced the stone wings wouldn't stop the terrible creature, but after a second slam, which sent tremors through the ground, their opinion changed.
„Quickly, take off your clothes. We will make a rope for him, and pull him back up" Sam shouted, taking off his sweatshirt.
Evan donated his grey hoodie, showing that underneath it he was wearing only a white T-shirt. Oliver took off his jacket, although he was not happy about it, then added the tie. Kenji took off his tie too, and then helped Sam with making the rope. It was not long enough to reach the bottom of the hole but was something that could assist the salaryman in his climb.
The gasp of the mechanism, followed by the walls sliding forward yet again, only made them go faster. Now the monster was not the only problem, as they were also running out of time.
Kenji didn't waste more of it. He crawled down in the hole, soon hanging on the edge by his fingers. That was the maximum he could lower himself, to ease the impact of the fall, before he dropped.
Sam watched as he hit the ground, falling on his ass, only to hit the leaver with his head. It looked painful, but no blood appeared and Kenji was able to pick himself up. Groaning from pain, rubbing his head, he got up, only to freeze in spot, as a loud scraping of nails against the stone reached them all from the outside. It was the monster, trying to somehow dig through the door.
„Hurry," Sam urged, holding the makeshift rope.
The salaryman nodded, while Evan came to assist with pulling him back up. The rest stayed in place, intently looking at the exit door.
Kenji grabbed the leaver and pushed it. The mechanism didn't surrender easily, so the man had to put some force into it, slowly moving a solid metal bar from one side to the other, which was finished with a dull click. The mechanism underneath their feet gasped, and then with a loud metallic clang, the locks on both doors were released.
„Hurry!" Sam repeated.
The salaryman didn't need additional encouragement. He grabbed the improvised rope, using his legs to climb the wall, and entrusting carrying his weight to those who pulled. It was only the two teenagers, but Jordan and Oliver were nearby. They moved to aid the others, meanwhile, Mia sprinted to the exit.
At the same moment, a loud scraping from the entrance reached them. The doors moved, under the immense strength of the creature.
The politician noticed this movement as his attention was focused on the source of the noise, which was enough for him to make an easy decision to abandon the rest. He rushed after the girl. Seeing that, Jordan did the same.
„Hey!" Sam screamed. He and Evan were able to help Kenji cover half of the distance, just by themselves. With the help of others, the salaryman would, in seconds, get out of the hole, but they didn't have this support.
The entrance burst open right after the monster realized the door was moving. He slammed into it, pushing both wings, then wailed. The noise was deafening.
Kenji had to realize what was happening, as his face went pale. „Run. Run! Save yourselves!" he urged.
Sam was confused, but Evan didn't need more encouragement. He abandoned the rope, sprinting to the exit. Mia was already pushing the door open, with Oliver only a few steps away from helping her. Her strength was surprising, as she managed to slowly move the heavy wing.
The scraping, thundering sound filled the chamber. The monster was charging. Sam noticed it by briefly glancing toward the entrance, then his gaze returned to Kenji. Both were still holding the rope. To the teenager's surprise he was easily able to support the weight of the man, but pulling him was harder. He could do it with time, time he didn't have.
„Go!" Kenji said, releasing his grip, only to fall on his back.
„No!" Sam protested, but the thunder of the charging creature made him look again. The strange, horrifying monster was close. Too close. If he was to escape, the decision had to be made now.
Gritting his teeth to the point they erected an unpleasant, grinding sound, he bolted to the exit, abandoning the improvised rope. He sprinted with all his might to the exit. The door was opened enough for the people to slide through. Mia was already gone, and the rest were pushing one another to escape.
Second later the creature leaped over the hole, only to land on the floor, sliding. It pivoted, as it noticed the tasty meal hiding at the bottom of the pit. This gave Sam enough time to slide through the gap. The rest was already gone, but he could hear them running through the labyrinth. Only for a moment, as a horrible scream of Kenji escaped the trial room, reaching his ears.
With tears pearling in his eyes he ran after the rest, trying to escape for his life, while the salaryman was getting eaten alive by the accompaniment of the drums.
The horrible noise was interrupted by the loud announcement. „Congratulations!" Said the soft, high-pitched voice. „You cleared the third trial. As a reward, you all receive Timoris Repellentia. Congratulations!"
It came just in time for the screams of dying Kenji to pass, so the only left noises were the snapping bones and wet munching.