A second staircase led downward from the platform, spiraling into the depths of the maze.
The moment Simon's foot touched the first step, the walls moved.
The maze reacted.
The path behind them sealed instantly, cutting off their way back. The stone groaned as new walls rose, forming corridors before their eyes.
"Well," Kayla muttered, knife in hand. "That's reassuring."
Daniel studied the motion of the walls, muttering calculations under his breath. "It's directing us. Forcing us into a specific path."
"That's not better."
Simon moved forward. No choice now.
The air grew thicker as they walked. The maze's walls weren't just stone—they were alive with shifting glyphs, pulsing with a faint, rhythmic glow. Occasionally, he swore he could hear something in the distance—other people, maybe? Or something else?
Then, they heard the first scream.
Simon's heart clenched. It was distant, distorted, but unmistakably human.
Kayla tensed. "That didn't sound like a success story."
Daniel's expression darkened. "We're not alone in here."
They kept moving. The corridors twisted unpredictably, forcing them through narrow spaces before opening into wider passages, where the floor seemed too smooth, too perfect—like a trap waiting to be sprung.
Then, they found it.
The first puzzle room.