In the darkness, an intangible pressure bore down on us like a physical weight—an invisible mountain crushing us until we could barely breathe.
The silence around us was deathly, as if the entire world had been swallowed by the abyss, sinking into eternal stillness. Only our heavy, ragged breaths echoed through the suffocating air, sounding like desperate whimpers.
Senior gripped my hand tightly, trying to offer comfort, but I could feel his fingers trembling ever so slightly. Yet he held on as if my hand were the only lifeline he could cling to in this endless dark.
"Senior, what should we do?" My voice trembled, laced with a sob, as fear coiled around my heart like a serpent, squeezing the air from my lungs.
Senior took a deep breath, forcing his voice to sound steady. "Don’t be afraid, little one. We’ll figure it out together." Despite his firm tone, I could hear the faint quiver in his words, betraying his own unease.
Just then, a chilling laugh echoed from the distance—a sound so sharp and ghastly it seemed to crawl from the deepest pits of hell, sending shivers down our spines.
"Who’s there?" Senior shouted, his voice reverberating through the darkness, unanswered. Only that bone-chilling laughter grew louder, mocking our helplessness.
But no reply came. Instead, eerie green lights flickered to life around us, casting an unnatural glow on our surroundings. To our horror, we realized we were trapped in a vast, twisting maze.
The green lights came from sinister runes etched into the walls, pulsing with an otherworldly glow—sometimes guiding, sometimes deceiving. Each symbol resembled a malevolent eye, watching our every move from the shadows, as if waiting to devour us whole.
Senior and I moved forward cautiously, every step laced with tension. The ground beneath us was cold and damp, a creeping chill seeping through my shoes and into my bones, making me press closer to him.
The maze was a labyrinth of confusion. After several turns, despair set in as we found ourselves back where we started.
"This maze is toying with us," I muttered, my voice thick with frustration. Tears welled in my eyes, threatening to spill.
Senior furrowed his brow, deep in thought, before his eyes suddenly lit up. "Look at the pattern of these runes—there’s a logic to them." A spark of hope colored his words, like catching a glimpse of light in the dark.
We studied the glowing symbols intently, our eyes straining as we searched for hidden clues. Minutes dragged by, our vision blurring from exhaustion, but neither of us dared to look away.
After what felt like an eternity, Senior finally pieced together a path.
"Follow me," he said firmly, pulling me along. His grip was unyielding, leaving no room for resistance as he led us through the maze with newfound confidence.
Just as we thought we were nearing the exit, a massive shadow loomed before us—a figure cloaked in darkness, its face obscured, save for two crimson eyes burning like embers in the night.
"Do you really think escape is so easy?" The stranger’s voice was a rasping whisper, as if dredged from the abyss itself, dripping with malice.
Senior immediately stepped in front of me, his voice fierce. "Who are you? Why are you stopping us?" His defiance rang clear, a challenge laced with raw courage.
The figure let out a hollow laugh. "You’ve trespassed where you don’t belong. There’s only death waiting for you." With a sweep of its hand, a wave of dark energy surged toward us, a force so vile it threatened to consume us whole.
Senior fought back, his body radiating a faint light as he clashed against the onslaught. But the enemy’s power was overwhelming. His strength waned, his body shaking, sweat beading on his forehead.
Just as he was about to collapse, I noticed a flickering rune beneath the figure’s feet—a pattern pulsing weakly, as if signaling to us.
"Senior, aim for his feet!" I screamed, my voice shrill with panic.
With a final burst of effort, Senior struck the ground beneath the enemy. A deafening explosion rocked the maze, and the shadowy figure vanished into the dark.
Senior slumped into my arms, breath ragged. I held him tightly, feeling the rapid beat of his heart against mine.
"Senior, are you okay?" My voice was soft, laced with worry.
Weakly, he smiled—then suddenly pulled me into a crushing embrace. "Little one," he murmured, his breath warm against my ear, "I won’t let anyone hurt you." The words sent heat rushing to my cheeks.
We pressed onward, hope and dread warring in our chests. After countless twists and turns, we finally escaped the maze—only to find ourselves in a desolate wasteland.
A barren desert stretched before us, sand whipping through the air in a furious storm, obscuring the horizon. The wind howled, stinging our skin with every grain it hurled at us.
"Senior, how did we end up here?" My voice was swallowed by the gale.
Senior’s gaze hardened as he surveyed the endless dunes. "No matter what, we won’t give up." Then, without warning, he pulled me against his chest, shielding me from the storm.
We trudged forward, each step sinking deep into the shifting sands, as if the desert itself sought to drag us under.
Hours—or maybe days—passed. Our water and supplies dwindled. My lips cracked, my throat parched, my body heavy with exhaustion.
Noticing my suffering, Senior leaned in suddenly, pressing his lips to mine in a fleeting kiss, as if trying to share what little moisture he had left.
Just as despair threatened to consume us, an ancient temple emerged in the distance. Its doors were shut, but a faint light seeped through the cracks—a fragile beacon of hope in the raging storm.
My Senior and I supported each other as we trudged step by step toward the temple. Each stride was filled with hardship and anticipation. As we approached the temple gates, they slowly creaked open, and a mysterious force instantly pulled us inside…
