Erhling's eyes remained locked on the darkened sky above, where swirling clouds of dust and shadow had begun to converge, as if the very atmosphere of the labyrinth was responding to the malevolent presence of the Phantoms. It hadn't been long since they had appeared, swift and vicious, tearing through the contestants that had sought refuge in the Common Area. The chaos was fresh in his mind, the screams of the dying and the sight of bodies turning to vapor still vivid.
Now, as Erhling stood outside the walls of the labyrinth city, staring into the unknown, the lingering dread of the attack clung to him like a second skin. Behind him, Kara and Karl were catching their breath, the reality of their situation sinking in. They had managed to escape—barely—but he could still feel the tension in his limbs, the lingering ache of a fight that had left them all on edge.
"Are we sure this is a good idea?" Karl muttered, his voice light despite the gravity of the situation. He wiped sweat from his brow and looked over at Erhling, his grin faint but unwavering. "I mean, running into the unknown didn't exactly go well the last time we tried it."
Kara didn't respond, her lips pressed into a thin line as she stood a few feet away, surveying their surroundings. Erhling could see the thoughts racing through her mind, though she said nothing. She hadn't been the same since the Phantoms had attacked—since she had been forced to fight them head-on. Something had shifted in her demeanor. She was quieter now, more calculating. He wasn't sure if it was fear or something else.
Erhling let out a breath, turning his attention to the path ahead. "It's our best option," he said, his voice calm but firm. "The Common Area isn't safe anymore. We need to find a place where the Phantoms can't follow us."
"And you think that place is out here?" Karl gestured toward the darkened horizon, where twisted trees and jagged rocks jutted from the landscape like the teeth of some great beast. "No offense, but this doesn't exactly scream 'safe.'"
Erhling didn't have a good answer for that. He wasn't even sure if there *was* a place that could keep them safe from the Phantoms. But staying in the city wasn't an option either. After the attack, it was clear that the Common Area had become a hunting ground for the creatures, and the longer they stayed, the more vulnerable they would become.
"The temple," Kara said suddenly, her voice quiet but resolute.
Both men turned to look at her. She was still staring ahead, her eyes fixed on something they couldn't see. Her hands were clenched into fists at her sides, her posture rigid with tension.
"What about it?" Erhling asked.
Kara hesitated for a moment before speaking. "There's a temple outside the city walls. I heard some of the other contestants talking about it before the Cull. It's supposed to be a sanctuary, a place where the labyrinth's influence is weaker. If the Phantoms can't follow us anywhere, it's there."
Erhling frowned. He hadn't heard about any temple, but Kara seemed convinced. And considering their current options, it wasn't as if they had much to lose by checking it out.
"Alright," he said finally. "We'll head for the temple. It's better than wandering aimlessly."
Karl let out a sigh of exaggerated defeat. "Guess that means we're going into the creepy woods after all," he muttered. "Just when I thought this day couldn't get any worse."
Erhling ignored him, his focus on Kara. She hadn't moved, her gaze still distant. Something about her had changed since the Phantom attack—something subtle, but significant. It was as if she was carrying some kind of weight now, a burden she hadn't borne before.
"You okay?" he asked quietly, stepping closer to her.
She blinked, her eyes snapping back into focus. For a moment, she seemed surprised by his question, as if she hadn't realized he'd been speaking to her.
"I'm fine," she said, though her voice was strained. She glanced at him, then quickly looked away. "Just... thinking."
Erhling didn't press further. He could sense that something was on her mind, but whatever it was, she wasn't ready to share it yet. And truthfully, he had enough to worry about without prying into her thoughts.
They set off toward the temple, the journey slow and tense. The further they moved from the city, the darker the surroundings became. The trees were twisted and gnarled, their branches reaching out like skeletal fingers. The ground beneath their feet was uneven, rocks and roots threatening to trip them with every step. And all the while, the oppressive presence of the Phantoms seemed to linger just beyond the edges of their vision, a constant reminder of the danger they were fleeing.
As they walked, Erhling found his thoughts drifting. He couldn't stop thinking about the Cull—the way it had stripped so many lives away in an instant. He had barely survived it himself, and if it hadn't been for the Architect's intervention, he knew he would have met the same fate as the others.
The memory of that moment—standing on the edge of oblivion, feeling the weight of the Architect's power pulling him back—still sent a shiver down his spine. It had been a reminder of just how fragile life was in the labyrinth, and how easily it could be snatched away.
But more than that, the Cull had brought back memories of his sister—memories he had tried to bury deep within himself. He hadn't thought about her in years, not since the day she had died. But now, as he glanced at Kara, he couldn't help but see the similarities. The way she carried herself, the determined set of her jaw—it reminded him so much of his sister.
He clenched his fists at his sides, trying to push the memories away. This wasn't the time to dwell on the past. He couldn't afford to let his emotions cloud his judgment, not when their lives were on the line.
"We're almost there," Kara said suddenly, breaking the silence. She pointed ahead, where the outline of a large structure was just visible through the trees. "That's the temple."
Erhling squinted, trying to make out the details. The temple was ancient, its stone walls cracked and weathered by time. It was surrounded by a low wall, with large iron gates standing open at the entrance. The place looked abandoned, but there was an eerie stillness to it that made Erhling's skin crawl.
"Looks... inviting," Karl said dryly, though there was a hint of unease in his voice.
Kara didn't respond. She moved forward without hesitation, leading the way toward the gates. Erhling and Karl exchanged a glance before following her.
Inside the temple, the air was cool and heavy, the scent of dust and decay hanging in the air. The walls were lined with faded murals, depicting scenes of battle and sacrifice. In the center of the main chamber stood a large altar, its surface stained with what looked like old blood.
Erhling felt a chill run down his spine as he surveyed the room. There was something wrong about this place—something dark and foreboding. But it was quiet, and for now, that was enough.
"We'll rest here for the night," he said, though his voice sounded hollow in the empty space.
Karl sighed in relief, dropping his pack to the ground and stretching his arms over his head. "Finally, some good news," he said with a grin. "I was starting to think we'd be running forever."
Kara, however, didn't seem to share his relief. She stood near the altar, her eyes fixed on the symbols carved into its surface. Erhling watched her for a moment, his brow furrowing. There was something about this place—something that was drawing her in.
"We should set up camp," he said, his voice low. "I don't know how long this place will stay safe."
Kara nodded, though she didn't move. Erhling could see the tension in her shoulders, the way her hands were clenched at her sides. She was holding something back, but whatever it was, she wasn't ready to share it yet.
As the night settled in, Erhling couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. The temple might have been a sanctuary once, but now it felt like a tomb. And the shadows that danced at the edges of the room seemed far too eager to swallow them whole.