Droop.
"Pant… Pant…"
We were soaked in sweat and smeared in grime, trudging forward like zombies after another relentless wave of monsters. There was no break. No breathing room. Just blood, footsteps, and fatigue.
"Ugh… I'm so tired," Dan groaned and collapsed onto the cold stone floor, his sword clattering beside him.
"I'm tired too, but you don't hear me complaining," I huffed. "So move your ass. It's not like your ass is as big as mine. Not to mention I've got two weights—front and back."
Dan blinked at me. "Oh… I see…"
"Stop bullying him," Isaac smacked the back of my head without missing a beat.
"Ouchie! I'm not bullying him!"
Isaac narrowed his eyes. "I know you're not tired. No one has stamina like yours. You're not human."
"Tch." I pouted and crossed my arms.
Growl~
A low, guttural growl echoed through the corridor.
Dan leapt to his feet, clinging to Isaac like a child. "A b-bear?!"
I tilted my head. "Oui… That sound is familiar."
"...Ah!" Isaac and I shouted at the same time. "Rona!"
We sprinted toward the noise, rounding a corner—
And there she was. Rona, chewing on a thick, sparking cable like it was a licorice rope.
"That's not edible," I sighed, pulling the cable from her mouth.
Isaac, however, locked eyes with the bloodshot-eyed boy standing nearby—and snapped.
"GET AWAY FROM RONA!"
He launched into a flying kick, straight at the stranger's face.
But the boy caught him mid-air. Effortlessly. Like swatting a fly.
"Huh?" Isaac's voice cracked as he was dangled upside-down, legs flailing. Dan and I exchanged glances filled with pure pity.
"Let me go, you monster!" Isaac shouted, squirming uselessly.
The bloodshot-eyed boy looked genuinely confused. "Was he trying to kick a monster behind me? I don't see one…"
"I was trying to kick you, you idiot!"
"Me? Why?! What did I do?!"
"You were touching Rona, you creep!"
"I-I was not! I was trying to stop her from chewing a live wire!" His face flushed red like he'd swallowed a chili pepper.
"As if! You were trying to take advantage of her!"
The two started bickering like grade-schoolers, even though one was still dangling mid-air. Dan looked like he was ready to crawl out of his skin and begged me with his eyes to intervene.
But I stood back with a smirk, enjoying the drama. "Oui… Isaac always loses his cool when it comes to Rona. It's tragic, really. If only I had popcorn…"
Meanwhile, Rona had fallen asleep. Standing up. Like a cow on power-saving mode.
With a long sigh, I rushed over and smacked Isaac's head.
"OW! What was that for?!"
I pulled on his ear. "Because you're an idiot! Why are you picking fights in the middle of a deadly maze?! You wanna die, shorty?! And how dare you yell at me?!"
"OW! OKAY! I GET IT! PLEASE STOP!"
I let go and turned toward the poor confused boy. "Sorry about that. I'm Llyne. That lunatic is Isaac, and the gentle giant over there is Dan. You are?"
"…Ronald," he replied, still holding Isaac by the leg like a backpack.
I smiled. "Nice to meet you, Ronald. Wanna team up? It'll be easier to survive and find the center together. Unless you've got plans?"
Ronald looked at Rona, hesitating. "Ermm… Is Rona okay with it?"
I shook her. "Wakey wakey, Rona. This isn't a nap zone."
Rona mumbled, "Don't run away…"
I leaned closer. "Hmm… What did you say?"
Suddenly, Rona lunged and grabbed me. Her mouth opened wide.
"My food!"
I froze. "Wha—?!"
Ronald reacted instantly, yanking me away before she could sink her teeth into my shoulder.
Thud.
I tumbled onto the floor, staring up at her. "Oui… Did Rona just try to eat me?! She's not… zombified, is she?!"
Rona blinked her drowsy eyes. "My food…"
The entire group took a few cautious steps back.
She stretched and yawned. "Nice sleep. Yum~"
Then she looked at us. "Rona has a feeling everyone is afraid of Rona… Why?"
I approached slowly. "Because you tried to bite me, Rona."
She tilted her head. "Rona tried to eat Lil? Rona doesn't remember."
"Let's just move," Isaac said, pushing between us. "We don't have time. Teams might've already reached the fifth level."
I nodded. We gathered up and started walking.
"With the five of us now, no monster can beat us!" I cheered.
Isaac glared. "That's enough. Stop talking."
"Booo~"
Ronald fidgeted beside me. I poked him. "What's wrong, Ronald? Need to do your No.2 business?" I laughed.
Ronald shook his head quickly. "N-No! Nothing like that."
"Chill, bro. I'm kidding," I grinned, patting his back.
But he looked tense. Nervous. His eyes flicked between Isaac and me.
"Stop staring," Isaac snapped. "It's annoying."
I elbowed Isaac. "Filter, dumbass."
Isaac ignored me. So I stretched his cheek.
"Don't ignore me, punk!"
"Serusey?! Sop zat—"
"I'M SORRY!!!"
We all froze as Ronald bowed so hard his forehead nearly cracked the floor.
I raised an eyebrow. "Raise your head, my child," I said in mock grandeur—only to get my leg kicked by Isaac. "OW! You pipsqueak!"
Ronald continued, sincere and flustered. "I'm sorry I caused trouble earlier."
"Took you long enough," Isaac muttered.
I smacked Isaac again. "No need to apologize. Friends fight all the time. That's how you get closer. No puppy eyes, okay?"
Ronald smiled awkwardly. I leaned in and whispered, "If that stinky shrimp bugs you again, let me know."
He nodded, smiling faintly.
Step. Step. Step.
But as we walked, a strange pressure pressed down on us. Subtle. Wrong.
I felt it first.
Something's not right…
Isaac frowned. "This doesn't make sense. We should've reached the central chamber by now."
Ronald ran his hand across the wall. "This isn't a mirror… it's brick. Solid."
Dan raised his sword. "Should I smash it?"
Isaac's eyes widened. "Wait—!"
BANG!
Dan swung with full force.
Dust exploded outward. I coughed and waved it away—
And then the silence hit me.
I was alone.
"Guys? Where are you?!" I spun in circles, heart racing.
The mirrors were different now. Angled. Warped. Alive.
An icy chill ran down my spine.
"I've got a really bad feeling about this."
I ran.
[Rona's Side]
Rona stared at the wall, unmoving.
"…Rona got separated from Llyne and Isaac?"
Ronald watched her carefully. Something was off.
Her eyes… were blank. Like a marionette with cut strings.
"Hey… You okay?" he asked softly.
Rona looked down. "Rona… doesn't know. What just happened?"
Ronald stepped forward. "I'm not sure either. But I think the walls here… they move. They trapped us. Split us up on purpose."
Not just the walls, he thought, clenching his fists. The air feels wrong too. Like we're being watched.
Rona's lips trembled. "So they didn't leave Rona because… Rona is a nuisance?"
"W-What?! No!" Ronald's heart cracked a little.
He knelt down. "I don't know them as well as you… but I do know they care about you. A lot. You're their light. Their joy. Mine too. So don't cry, okay?"
Rona wiped her tears. "Really? But… Will Rona see them again?"
"Of course," he said with a confident smile. "I'll sniff them out before you know it."
Rona blinked. "Ronald is a dog? Woof? Woof?"
He blushed. "I'm better than a dog."
"Really?" she giggled.
Ronald thought, Cringe overload… but it worked.
He patted her head. "You look tired. Want to rest? Leave it to me."
Rona shook her head. "Rona wants to help."
He hesitated. "It's okay. I'll protect you. I promise. Pinky swear?"
She stared at his hand, silent.
Ronald gulped. 'Oh no. Is she mad again?!'
But slowly, she lifted her hand. Locked her pinky with his.
"Pinky swear," she whispered.
Ronald exhaled in relief. "Alright then."
He picked her up gently.
And together, they walked deeper into the maze, unaware that something in the shadows was watching.
And waiting.