The three of us quietly stepped through the ruined library.
Not a word between us. What we just witnessed... it didn’t need to be said out loud. We all knew. We’d each seen sothing personal — too personal to share, even with each other.
Without needing to speak, we started walking back the way we ca, heading to where we were supposed to regroup with the others.
Though... Sela’s light was starting to drift farther away.
What are they doing? Did sothing happen? Are they caught in sothing? Is the mist affecting them too?
As those thoughts ran through my head, Sela’s light suddenly flickered — erratic, then gone. And the silence that followed felt... heavier. Heavier than anything we’d felt since returning from the illusions of the mist.
Like sothing had happened.
Realizing the possibilities — that sothing might’ve gone wrong — none of us said a word. Farren’s hand shot to his sword, unsheathing it in one swift motion. Ronan grabbed both his daggers, eyes sharp, already on the move.
I followed close behind, trying not to lose them.
But before we could get far, a flickering glow lit the edge of the hallway. We froze. We all knew that light.
Sela.
Only Sela.
She stumbled out of the shadows, breathless, eyes wide. Then — She pointed behind her. "Quick! Help — they disappeared!" she gasped, barely getting the words out.
Disappeared?!
How?!
Is it even safe to go back there?!
"On it," Ronan and Farren said in unison, already breaking into a run.
"Can you get the light back on?" I asked, catching up.
Sela didn’t respond — just held out her hand, reigniting the glow of her magic. Then she flew ahead, leading the way.
***
We finally arrived — and standing before us was a massive gate.
Too big to be just another doorway.
This wasn’t the entrance to a room.
It felt more like the place where the labyrinth continued.
But... why here?
Shouldn’t the path have been sowhere else?
Are there multiple ways forward? Did we take a wrong turn?
My thoughts spiraled into the wrong places — pointless guesses and confusion — until Sela’s voice broke the silence, snapping back to reality.
"We just walked here," she began, her tone shaky. "Orin said this might be where the labyrinth continues. He just wanted to step in for a second, get a closer look. But the mont he walked through..."
She took a breath. "The gate shut behind him. He vanished. When it opened again — he was gone."
My chest tightened.
"So Althea and I went in after him," she continued. "But the gate started closing again. Althea told to get out — quick — so I flew back without even thinking."
Her eyes t ours, wide with fear.
"What do you think happened?!"
Ronan spoke up first.
"Sounds weird... but if they just disappeared, I don’t think they’re dead. At least, I hope not. The only way to find out is to go in ourselves. And if we do... we should go together. That’s all I’ve got."
He glanced around, clearly hoping soone had a better idea.
"Well... sure, but is it really worth the risk?" Farren muttered. "I’ll go in. You guys wait here."
Like it was the most obvious answer in the world.
"No," I cut in. "Ronan’s right. Sacrificing one person at a ti doesn’t help anyone. If you go alone, it won’t make finding Orin or Althea any easier."
I knew Farren ant well. He always did. But going in one by one...? That never ended well.
"...Do you really think it’s a good idea for all of us to go in?" Sela asked quietly, her voice trembling. "Isn’t there any other way?"
Farren shook his head. "Not that we know of. Right now, the only path forward is straight through that gate. Besides..." —his eyes narrowed with determination— "no one said they died. They just vanished. We’ve heard stories before — people disappearing and being found later. If that’s the case... we just have to find the way back."
Sela hesitated. Then nodded, still nervous. "I guess..."
Without another word, we stepped forward — together.
I tried not to think about what might happen. Tried not to let the fear wrap itself around my chest, but...
It did anyway.
A heavy weight sank into . Heavier than before.
Darker.
Colder.
Are we going to die...?
Am I going to die again...?
Am I going to lose these people I’ve finally started to grow close to...?
Please...
Tell we’ll make it back.
Tell I’ll see them again.
A loud thud echoed through the corridor as the gate slamd shut behind us.
Darkness swallowed the room. Sela’s light vanished.
And then — A pale white glow appeared.
A calm light female voice reached from the light.
"Look at you. Cracked, crawling... like so broken little mutt, pawing at the gates of divinity. Tell , Vice of Desire... what is it you hope to find here?"
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