The group trudged through the next corridor, their footsteps echoing in the eerie silence. The faint hum of the Maze's shifting patterns lingered around them, a constant reminder of its ever-changing nature. Damon led the way, his jaw set tight as he studied the glowing lines on the walls. Behind him, Zara stayed close, her sharp eyes scanning for danger.
"We need to rest soon,"
Liam muttered, his voice low but strained.
"We've been walking for hours. Who knows when the next trial will hit us."
Kai snorted.
"Rest? In this place? Yeah, great idea. Let's just set up a picnic and wait for the next monster to show up."
"Enough,"
Zara said sharply, her voice cutting through the tension.
"We'll rest when we find a defensible spot. Not before."
Julie stayed silent, her gaze fixed on the ground. Her shoulders slumped as though the weight of the Maze and everything that had happened pressed down on her. Damon noticed but didn't say anything. He wanted to reassure her, but he didn't have the energy to offer comfort when his own mind was weighed down by questions.
"Up ahead,"
Damon said, pointing to a large chamber that opened before them. The room was vast and circular, its walls covered in intricate carvings that shimmered faintly. In the center stood a raised platform, glowing faintly with a pale blue light. It looked peaceful — too peaceful.
"I don't trust it,"
Kai said, his arms crossed.
"Since when does anything here just sit there and not try to kill us?"
"Good instinct,"
Zara said, stepping forward cautiously. Her eyes swept over the room, taking in every detail.
"Stay back. Let me check it out."
"Hold on,"
Damon said, moving to her side.
"We're better off if we work together."
She glanced at him but didn't argue. Together, they stepped onto the platform. The moment their feet touched the glowing surface, the light intensified, and a low hum filled the chamber. Damon felt a strange warmth spread through him, as though the Maze itself was watching.
A voice, deep and emotionless, echoed through the room.
[Two paths lie ahead. One demands sacrifice. The other promises safety. Choose.]
Damon's stomach twisted. He looked to Zara, who met his gaze with a steely determination.
"What does that mean?"
Julie asked from the edge of the platform. Her voice was soft, trembling.
"It means the Maze wants us to decide,"
Zara said, her tone cold.
"And I doubt either choice is as simple as it sounds."
"Sacrifice?"
Liam asked, his face pale.
"What kind of sacrifice?"
"It doesn't matter,"
Kai said quickly.
"We're taking the safe route. No way we're risking lives."
"And what if the safe path leads to a dead end?"
Damon countered. His voice was calm, but his words carried weight.
"This is the Maze. Nothing is ever free. If we don't take risks, we'll be stuck here forever."
"You don't know that!"
Kai snapped.
"We've lost enough people already. I'm not throwing myself into some death trap because you feel like gambling."
"No one's asking you to,"
Zara said sharply.
"But Damon's right. Playing it safe isn't going to get us anywhere. If the Maze is giving us a choice, we have to think beyond the obvious."
"Easy for you to say,"
Kai shot back.
"You're not the one who has to live with this on your conscience."
"Enough!"
Damon's voice boomed, silencing the argument. He turned to face the group, his expression hard.
"We're wasting time. If you have a better idea, let's hear it. Otherwise, we need to make a decision."
The group fell silent, tension thick in the air. Julie shifted uncomfortably, her hands clutching her sleeves. Her lips moved slightly, as though she wanted to speak, but no words came out.
"We need to vote,"
Liam said finally, his voice barely above a whisper.
"It's the only fair way."
"Fine,"
Zara said, crossing her arms.
"Let's vote."
One by one, they cast their votes. Damon and Zara chose the path of sacrifice, their eyes locked in silent agreement. Kai and Liam chose safety, their faces pale with fear. Julie hesitated, her gaze flicking between Damon and Kai.
"Julie,"
Damon said softly.
"It's your choice. No one will force you."
She looked up at him, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. For a moment, it seemed like she might speak, but then she shook her head and stepped back.
"I can't,"
she whispered.
"I don't know what to do."
The hum of the Maze grew louder, as though impatient. Damon sighed, turning back to the platform.
"Then Zara and I will make the call,"
he said.
"If something goes wrong, it's on us."
Kai opened his mouth to protest but stopped when Zara shot him a glare. Damon placed his hand on the glowing pedestal at the center of the platform, Zara following suit. The light around them flared, and the chamber began to shift. The walls rippled like water, and the platform sank, leaving them standing on solid ground.
A new passage opened before them, dark and foreboding. The voice returned, colder this time.
[Sacrifice accepted. Proceed.]
The group hesitated, staring at the passage. Damon turned to face them, his expression unreadable.
"Let's go,"
he said.
"We're not turning back now."
As they stepped into the new corridor, Julie lingered at the back, her hands trembling. She didn't look at Damon or Zara, her gaze fixed on the ground. The silence between the group was heavy, broken only by the faint echoes of their footsteps.
Kai walked beside Liam, his voice low.
"They're going to get us all killed. You know that, right?"
Liam didn't respond, but the look on his face said enough. Damon glanced over his shoulder, catching the exchange. He didn't say anything, but the knot in his stomach tightened. The group was fracturing, and he wasn't sure how much longer they could hold it together.
Ahead, the corridor widened into another chamber, its walls covered in glowing symbols. Damon stepped forward cautiously, his eyes scanning for traps. Zara stayed close, her blade drawn.
"This place feels different,"
she said quietly.
"Like it's watching us."
"It's always watching,"
Damon replied.
"The question is, what does it want this time?"
The answer came in the form of a low growl that echoed through the chamber. Damon's blood ran cold as a hulking figure emerged from the shadows, its eyes glowing with malice. The creature towered over them, its jagged claws scraping against the stone floor.
"Everyone, get ready!"
Damon shouted, raising his weapon. The group scrambled into position, their earlier arguments forgotten in the face of the new threat. As the creature lunged forward, Damon felt a surge of determination.
They weren't ready for this. But ready or not, the Maze wasn't giving them a choice.