James

The door opened and I took in the room? Hall? White space?

The entire room was pure white, clean, and...flat? No...not flat I could see shadows outlining the corners of the room, and the floor tiles texture. Thanks to the shadow I could at least tell it was like a big...hall?...room? At least 60ft deep and at least 20ft wide long The hall was blinding compared to the dark dungeon we were sitting in. I looked back to inside and found the dungeon just as dark as before, it was like something was completely blocking the light from coming in. "What is going on?"

The rest of the group looked at me. "It's a white room." Bay said.

Do they not see? "There should be some type of illumination from this room. But.." I pointed to the dungeon, opening and closing the door with no change. "Nothing. Everything is exactly the same."

Bay was calm at my observation. "Oh, I thought you meant the symbols on the tiles."

"How are you so calm. Physics is broken!" I nearly shouted.

"James. We officially live in a world of magic. We are going to run into odd things like this." She gestured over to the hall. "I would be much more worried about the white room, with the strange symbols, and the FACT that we have to GO through this STUPID HALL with NO IDEA WHAT IS IN THE HALL. AND I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF YOU DIDN'T YELL AT ME!" Bays voice grew louder as she spoke until she was yelling and getting uncomfortably close.

I stood there growing more and more ashamed as her voice rose. Until my face was probably crimson. Something about being yelled at like that by someone you trust just brings you back to childhood. Especially, a...friend. "Sorry, I yelled. I am just frustrated."

"I'm sorry I yelled to. I think we are all a little short. That and being cut off from mana is...painful."

Violet concerned said "Bay why didn't you say something."

"I didn't want you guys to worry. Its just since becoming a mage, mana is constantly flowing through me. It's like I'm trying to inhale but something is blocking me...it's just not pleasant."

Concerned I asked. "Is there any way to help?"

Bay held up her manacles almost pleadingly. "Not until these are off." She looked up at me.

I felt helpless looking over at her "I'm sorry Bay.I'm not quite strong enough to rip thick chains like these apart...maybe some day but I would need...something." Maybe when I level up more or get a stronger word but not now.

"Had to see. Maybe I can figure it out." Bay stayed behind us and observed her chains as we all turned back to the hall.

"Can anyone see any obvious traps or magic?" I asked aloud hoping for something.

Surprisingly Violet answered "I see a big trap."

"Really?"

"Yeah. The entire hall screams trap." She stared out into the hallway

Furrowing my eyes at Violet. "That's not what I meant."

"You asked."

Confidently, I spoke my thoughts. "Someone else might have a way of finding something."

At this Violet turned to me and shook her chains in my face. "That might be the case if any of us could access the energy outside of ourselves, but only rogues are really trained in identifying traps."

"And we left our rogue behind." I could here Bay curtly add.

I let out a long sigh. "Look. We would have brought him if we had time to wait. He was going to be out for 2 weeks anyway. We'll be done and back before he notices."

"We didn't even look for him. How do we know the mayor really did what he said he did?" Bay's attention was fully on me and I could feel the past argument. I didn't know what else to say and was saved by Violet. Softly and with a surprising amount of care.

"Bay, I know. It was a rough thing we did to him, but we must trust that what the mayor said was true."

Bay just looked at Violet incredulously. "How can you say that? That guys is definitely not on the level."

"I agree." Wait. What? Bay looked just as confused as me. Violet continued "Of course he's fishy. First thing he did was call Aster a fool and attempt to have us turn against him." Then in a lower tone. "Despite how much he deserves it."

"I heard that." Bay said annoyed.

"I know. But the think about it even if he wasn't teaching him something. They would probably keep him for the 2 weeks to prove...something. Blight, even if we got back and he could tell us, and he is not stupid enough to make him disappear. I mean you and Jame's would probably tare the place down just to make sure he's safe."

"Of Course I would." Who would leave there friend behind in a fire.

"But, we left him behind without any real knowledge." Bay said angrily.

I winced at that realizing we really did leave our friend behind, possibly in a not so go situation.

Violet deflated. "Yeah. I know."

"You Know." Bay began to grow angrier as the conversation went on.

"Yeah. It didn't really hit me till we were almost here. Then...I began to really think. I don.t know why I didn't before."

Seeing Violet shrink at her own words trailing to become quieter as she spoke, Bay calmed and placed a hand on her friend.

"At least now we know what we need to do when we get out of here."

I nodded at her. I don't really know why they are so suspicious of the mayor he seems nice and Trustworthy. No reason for him to build distrust. I bet he's just the suspicious type, lots of warriors in my guild are, but there actually pretty nice.

I decided to change the subject. "Ok, everyone I think it might be time we all had a discussion we all really need to have."

Violet and Bay were consoling each other when I spoke ignoring me.

Rowan must have seen what I was trying to do so he asked. "And what is that?"

"Something we've been putting off, but given the situation. We might need to."

Rowan didn't really get what I was trying to say. "That doesn't really answer my question James."

"We need to talk about our Words."

"Hey my language isn't that bad." Violet nearly shouted.

"Thats not what I mean."

Bay looked up thoughtfully. "He's talking about our Words, special skills. Something very personal...but he might be right."

"Oh." Violet fell silent.

This was a big thing to ask. We had all been friends for a long time but to learn another's words was both dangerous and something you would only do with people you trust absolutely. Everyone had fallen silent knowing we would have to discuss this, and no one wanting to go first.

Not wanting the silence to go to long I spoke. "Since you all know one of my Words. I guess I'll start." I paused for just a moment to gather myself taking a step forward with my team. "In no particular order I currently have 4 Words. Dance, Honor, Rain, and Moment. Yes dance. I also chose Dancer as my subclass." I stood there looking at there faces as they took in what I said. My heart was racing and butterflies flew through my stomach. What if they think I'm weird. They are gonna think I'm useless or make fun of me. My thoughts kept looping on this until someone spoke.

Hesitantly, Rowan spoke into the silence. "Interesting, did not expect that subclass. But now that Mr. fancy feat went I guess I'll go next." In his pause I felt a wave of relief flowed through me. If he was joking like that then I knew they didn't think any different of me. "I have 3. Feel, Run, and Surprise. And I believe you all know my subclass is Cooking"

Violet was the next to speak. "Well , thats surprising." She suppressed a giggle at her own joke, as we waited for her "...My words are...Blunt, Understand, and Silence. My subclass is Alchemist.

"Bl" I was about to comment about her Words thinking they fit her, when her glare cut me off.

Bay was focusing on the chains again when she offhandedly mention her Words. "Move, Victory, and Stop. Subclass Alchemist."

With just that short exchange our team had become much closer. Words of another were a secret to be guarded, and treasured. Those words we would all hold and protect like the gift they were. We would need to work together to get out of this place and the words are a first step.

"Ok. Everyone keep in mind everyone's Words. If you run into an idea or something you think they might be able to do speak to them. See if its possible. We will need to work together to get out of here." I wasn't sure if anyone was listening, after we all spoke everyone looked a little shy and off in there own worlds.

The silence lasted for some time before, my mind wandered back to the room ahead. I looked back to the dim dungeon. There was nothing left for us to do here, no other path but forward. I lift my chains to examine them, but I don't know what I am looking for and know I can't do anything with them now. Looking over to Bay who was still examining her chains, with a frustrated look, means that she must have come to the same conclusion.

Calmly I said. "Guys."

Everyones heads rose to meet my face.

"We need to keep going." Everyone looked nervous. Even Violet didn't have anything to say. "I'll go first. I can take the most damage if there is a trap right at the entrance. Once I'm in and safe we will all slowly make our way through."

Everyone looked a little unsure as Rowan spoke up/"It's your show James. We will follow your lead."

I knew they would grow to trust my plans. "Thanks. Everyone good with the plan?"

Everyone looked wary but nodded.

"Lets go." With nothing left I stepped through the door prepared for anything.

The world was so white it hurt my eyes. Something about the dungeon protected them from the light. I was forced to squint as I walked slowly in. Nothing. Nothing but the white and odd shadows. I was about 5ft from the door when I gave the all clear.

Everyone cautiously moved into the room. When we were all in the room *Slam*

"That is the most cliched thing that could have happened." Violet Exclaimed. "How the FUCK did we not see it coming?"

"Well" I began

"That was rhetorical."

I raised my hands in supplication. Turning back toward the room. With the door closed the hall felt more...dangerous. The air was this with something, and the hairs on my arms were starting to stand up. "Do you guys feel that?"

Rowan answered "Yeah."

"This can't be good." Bay was frantically looking around for something.

That's when it began.

A wave of rolling thunder came from above. We all looked up to see what was making that noise when black arrows started to fall like rain. That thought spurred me to guiding my energy into my Words. "Dance in the Rain." With each word spoken I felt the pull from my energy flow into me. Dancing in the rain, hearing only music I could hear. I could never describe the music when it began to play, just that it was rhythm itself. Every genre...changing to my need. I sometimes wonder if there is any music at all. Time felt distorted and slow in the dance, always giving me time to move to the next position. I began to move. A step here, a brush here, a quick but smooth kick-ball-change into a spin, pivoting my body to the side, then gracefully lunging backwards. In the distance I could hear the darts impact and my friends screams. I couldn't help them yet, they would need to endure until the rain had stopped.I focused on the dance and into the finals moves ducking and pivoting sideways into a spin.

The whole thing felt like it lasted minutes but the darts quickly passed by. The music stopped letting me know to end my dance. I looked around and could see the floor covered with...nothing. There were no darts, if I didn't see my friends covered in arrows I would have thought I imagined the whole thing.

The first of my friends I noticed was the one farthest away closet to the door, Bay. She was lying nearly motionless twitching on the ground. Her back was covered in small black darts. I could see her attempting to move but every time she did she seemed to involuntarily twitch. She must have been trying to figure out the floor symbols and was hit before we knew what was going on.

I noticed Rowan next he looked relatively fine except for his arms and shoulders. Rowan must have been able to stay calm and somehow stay standing straight covering his head and body with his arms. I can't imagine what that could possibly have felt like. He didn't have a lot of darts in him but it still looked painful based on the amount of twitching he was doing. Rowan looked like he was barely able to stand.

Violet had darts along her back just like Bay but had less then half. They also looked like they barely pierced her skin. How did she do that? Then I remembered her Words. She must have blunted the tips of the darts with her words. She must have only had only a single moment to turn blunt the edges when they came in contact with her. Wow what control.

A groan from Bay brought me back from my thoughts, and I rushed to help her. I slid to her side grabbing for the darts, only to be jolted by the dart itself. That explains the twitching. Now knowing what to expect I was able to grab the dart finding the jolts only came in pulses. *Squee* I yanked the first dart out, with a squeal from Bay. I took a quick look and finally got a look at the dart. It wasn't really a dart just a long black...Stick? With needle points. I had under estimated the depth of the dart as I pulled 3 inches of needle out. I went to grab another when *Pow* "OW" I felt a Strong hand smack the back of my head.

I looked over my shoulder to see twitching Violet "DooON'T PULLlll ThHEM OOUUTtt! YouU'll mAke it wORse." Violets word were being broken twitching along with her movements. She fell next to Bay. "This is my job. Check on Rowan." She placed her hands on bay and I could see needles being pushed out.

"Maybe I can"

"Go AwAY."

How could I forget that removing pointy things don't work the same way for non-warriors. If it was me I would heal faster with them out since I can control my bloods flow to the area. They on the other hand might bleed out. Embarrased I Slunk away over to Rowan.

"Saw tHAt."

"She could have been nicer about it."

Rowan gave me a look. "When has SHEEEE evEr been nice wHEN someone was being stUPid."

"..."

"It could HAave beEn worSE."

"How?"

"I could have missed your graceful dance."

My face began to turn red. "So you saw?"

"Yup. It was interesting. Honestly, seeing you MOve lIke that helped me fOOOCus on not moOving. ProaBbBbly kept me from BEEcoming like." Rowan pointed to a barely conscious Bay."

"Glad I could help?"

Rowan just laughed and twitched.

The dangerous air we had felt before the rain of darts was gone. We both just sat and watch Violet heal Bay. Each needle being forced out until there were none left. I was so focused on Bay I didn't notice Violet had also removed all of her needles. Violet stood giving Bay a hand but she waved it away. "I think I'll lay here for a minute."

Violet Shrugged and made her way to us.

"Your turn."

I could see Rowan wince. He knew this was probably going to hurt...A lot. She placed her hands on Rowan and I could see his face tense as he let out a low growl.

It took a minute for the darts to be fully remove, but the wave of relief on Rowans face when she let go made it seem worth it.

"Well that sucked. What do you think is next?"

Violet looked angrily at me.

"What?"

"Says the only one who didn't get hit."

I shrugged "It's not my fault I'm awesome."

"You Tried to yank out all her spikes!"

"I was trying to help!"

"Are you sure you weren't trying to finish her?"

I was about to retort when someone started laughing. We looked over and saw Bay chuckling on the ground, laughing at her chains."I Got it!."

Great. Now Bay has gone crazy.

"Bay?" I hesitantly asked "What have you got?"

"The Chains!"

"You figured out how to get them off?" I as excited about getting these off, although I bet everyone else is much more eager to be free.

"No. I figured out why we can't access outside mana. They have a Gem inside, with the word Intercept active!"

"How in blooming blight do you know that?" I asked.

"Those darts!"

"How?" Violet asked concerned.

"I Moved it."

"No. That was Violet." Violet nodded at my comment.

Bay shook her head. "No, I Moved the energy from the darts into my body, but doing so let me focus the mana around the cuffs and into them. Letting me see the items description." She had made it onto her knees at this point.

"How do you move...Oh! Your Word." It understood what she meant halfway through my question.

"Exactly!"

"Didn't know you could do that."

"Neither did I, but I needed to do something about the pain...but I think it's only a stop gap."

"So it intercepts any drawing of mana?"

"Or expulsion. I think it just disperses it into the air."

"That explains a few things." Violet commented.

I wasn't sure it did, but I got the idea. The real question is "Do you know how to get these of?"

She sighed. "I'm working on it."

"Guys?" Rowan's tone was fearful. Which drew my attention back to the room. I darted my eyes all around hunting for danger.

"What is it?"

"That pressure is building again." At his words I felt that building of danger again. Like joining a fight.

"Shit! Everyone group up, in-case its those darts again."

"No. This time its something from the front." As soon as Rowan finished speaking an invisible for struck him across the shoulder knocking him to the ground. "Fuck!"

"The blight was that?" I yelled, my eyes darting around looking for a source. There was nothing but the room. I couldn't see anything had changed. The pressure was gone. I put 2 and 2 together and realized what was going on. "The presure is a prelude to these whatever is going on."

"No Shit!" Violet was over examining Rowan."Let me see."

Rowan pulled his shirt showing a large red spot that looked like a fist on his shoulder.

That must have hurt.

Violet put her hand on his shoulder. "Its just a bruise I'll fix it real quick."

"No yet. I think I feel more coming." Everyone became wary

I stopped and focused searching for that pressure. Nothing...Wait no its starting.

"How'd you feel it first." I was looking everywhere for something as the pressure built, as did everyone else except for bay who was still just trying to get up.

"I can feel them. There like waves of solid emotion. BAY!" Rowan started to run to Bay but wasn't fast enough as she was knocked down by the invisible force.

"OH, COME ON!" Bay yelled as Rowan reached her and scooped her up.

"It's coming again." Rowan took a position facing forward, while helping Bay to stand. He looked forward waiting for something.

I felt the pressure again. This time it as building at a faster rate. "It's speeding up!"

"James Jump Right!"

Without thinking I jumped. I felt something invisible pass by me. "That was close." The pressure was building again. "Everyone move forward we need to get ahead of this! Rowan guide us through."

Everyone started to move forward. "James left." I jumped. Not getting hit.

The next wave of pressure began almost before the last. "Vi! Right!" Like that we followed Rowan forward. The built faster and faster until we didn't have the time to fully dodge. I took a few glazing blows to my chest and face. The others fared about just as well. Rowan's leg was knocked out from under him and had to be dragged forward with Bay by Violet until he could get his feet back under him. Thats when most of us took a few blows.

We were all bruised when *Slam*. We walked into an invisible wall. We were only 10 feet away from the end of the hall, and could see the door. "So close."

I braced myself for the next strike now that we were stuck by a wall.Nothing came, or happened. "Rowan, whats going on?"

Rowan was calm as he closed his eyes. "I can still feel them but they're behind us now."

"So we are safe?"

"As safe as we can be against an invisible wall."

"Oh this is good." Bay push herself off of Rowan and placed her hands on the invisible force.

"Bay, What are"

"Shush. I'm thinking."

"Best not bother her. I know that look she has an idea." Violet shuffled up next to me healing her bruising. I admired her fortitude to be able to heal herself like that. I could heal myself but that accelerated healing had to be bad.

Bay smiled wickedly. "Everyone place your chains in my hands." We all followed her instructions.

"Is this gonna hurt?" I asked.

"Most definitely." Bay closed her eyes with on hand on the wall and the other holding our chains.

Shit.

"Move" Bay screamed moving the power from the wall and into the shackles Pure power flowed into our chains, becoming a full power energy conductor. We were all feeling electricity flow through us locking our muscles tight, letting out involuntary noises. It hurt but not as bad as healing. But looking t Bay scream, she must be going through something so much worse.

*Clink* 4 chains fell from our arms.

With the last of Bays screams the chains unlocked and fell from our wrists. Bay fell forward passed the wall unconscious.

"Bay" Violet cried running to her side. When she reached her, I could her an audible sigh come from her. "She's fine just a little burned out."

"Yeah. I'll be fine." Bay lifter her head giving a small thumbs up.

We were right next to the door now, and I could see an egg by the door hidden behind an opaque white glass.

"Guys lets check out the egg. Maybe there is a clue."

We all turned to the egg and a screen popped up.

Mission Rank: ?? Type: Escape

Time Elapsed: N/A Time Remaining: N/A

Details:

Open Door. Use whatever method necessary.

"That is pretty bare-bones" James said.

Violet stared at the screen intensely.

Whats so hard to figure out we just need to escape why."What is it Vie? Why are you staring so hard at 2 sentences?"

Violet shook her head appearing to give up. "I get Time Remaining being unknown, but why is time elapsed?"

I saw Rowan's expression change at this but I didn't understand. "Why is that an issue?"

"Have you ever seen time elapsed like that?"

I thought back to when selecting my missions. "...Well...Only when the mission hadn't been accepted yet."

"Exactly."

"I'm still not following."

"Its like we never accepted the mission but...merely by clearing this room we complete it."

"That makes no sense why would someone do that? I mean we can't even collect the egg." I poked the glass that was surrounding the egg.

"See that right there is the right question." Violet excitedly exclaimed.

Rowan Interjected "So then what do we do?"

We both looked at Violet expectantly.

She shrugged. "Don't know."

Wait what? "What do you mean you don't know."

"I know as much as you 2. The only thing we can do is move forward. So..." Violet gestured to the door. "We solve the puzzle and move forward, and keep gathering info on what the Keepers is going on."

We looked incredulous at her.

Violet held up her hand. "1 take in the situation. 2 figure out what you can do. 3 move forward. Don't dwell on what you don't know when your are on a time crunch. Worry about it later."

Without any better ideas, and the fact she was right, we turned back to the problem at hand.

Looking over the door gave us no information. It was 10ft hight, and white like the rest of the room. Except there were no random symbols. Just a smooth white door. The door frame on the other hand had 4 symbols locate in each corner each looking like slightly different scribbles a child made. So something with theses symbols then.

I walked and touched one of the lower symbols to see if I could do something...anything with them. When I touched the symbol nothing happened. I found myself unable to feel the symbol. It was as though it was painted under a sheet of cold glass. "I guess thats not it" I mumbled to myself.

"There is no way it's that easy." I heard Violet exclaim. When I looked I noticed her on the other side of the front hall looking at something.

"What?" Curious now.

"Look." She pointed up revealing a larger version of one of the symbols on the door and below it was a hook about 8ft up.

I stared speechless at the obviousness of the puzzle and looked around. Yup there they are 3 more symbols and 3 more hooks.

"Well, we know what to do now." Bay said as she slow shuffled over twitching slightly.

"How was your nap?" I couldn't help myself.

Bay looked at me annoyed and flipped me off.

"Everyone grab your chain and pick a hook." I grabbed my shackles. "I wanna be done with this place." Everyone agreed with my notion as we all grabbed the chains on the ground. Violet helping Bay by grabbing her chain and helping her over to the hook.

With everyone in place. "Ok. Everyone on 3."I paused to make sure everyone was ready. Here we go. "1..2..3!" Everyone slung there chains over the hooks and pulled.

When we pulled I found something was pulling back on my mana. I felt the energy flow out of me and into the chains. Feeling this I knew it would work. I looked over and was satisfied with what I was seeing. The door was opening. Slowly, but still opening. I couldn't see anything beyond it just darkness, but it was our way out.

We all held on as long as we could until Bay let go to drain to move on. The door had risen only 3 foot but slammed shut when she let go. Seeing this the rest of us fell to the floor exhausted. Not making any more progress out of the room.

"Now what?" I asked the room.

"Hahaha" A crazy laugh came from the prone position of bay.

Concerned at Bays new behavior Violet cautiously asked. "Bay, whats with the crazy laugh?"

"I know how to keep the door open." Bay's laughing stopped and she lethargically sat up giving us a mocking smile.

The way she answered did nothing to alleviate our concern. "How?"

"While we are pulling the chains. One person just needs to walk through"

"And how do you know that?" Violet continued to question.

"Magic."

"That explains nothing." Violet now appeared annoyed.

Violets manic smile left her face as she explained. "I've been pulling the ambient mana through me. When it pulled back I could feel the door have 2 words connected Open and Close. When you walk through with mana flowing through it locks on Open. When the flow stops any other way it jumps to Close."

"How in blight did you figure all that out in...what was it a minute?"

"Training."

"That doesn't explain the laughter." I cut in trying to get back to the root of the conversation.

"Thats because we need one more person."

"Oh." It finally clicked.

"Yeah. We can't move forward without Aster." Bay let out one last crazy laugh that echoed deep into the hall. "We should have waited."

"Well, we didn't." Violet said as a matter of fact.

"It would be better if we gad waited but we didn't." Surprisingly, Rowan cut in and he looked to be annoyed at the way the conversation was going.

I couldn't think of anything to say. I had never seen Rowan like this. Is he really that angry with Aster? Before anyone could speak I added. "He's right, but we need to get out of here. Anyone have any ideas?"

Everyone fell silent. We were all tired and after our first attempt quite literally drained.Slowly but surely the cogs began to turn, and the beginnings of an idea started.

"Bay can you stop the door at all when its open."

"After being drained?" Bay's slumped form went quiet thinking. " Maybe, but only for a second at most."

Good. Then. "Rowan, Can you use run to get to the door in that time?"

Rowan took a bit longer to answer looking back and forth between the hooks and the door. "I think I could make it, but the door would probably crush me...Unless."

"Unless?"

Rowan looked toward Violet. "Violet, could you blunt the damage from the door?"

Violet looked over the door. "I could but that wouldn't do anything for the weight. You would still be hit. There would most likely be a single moment where the weight didn't crush you."

Yes! that could work. "A moment would be all I need." I interjected

"What are you thinking James?" Violet asked.

I explain my plan to everyone.

"This might work...I'm not sure we'll get another chance at this." Bay said hesitantly

"We'll take a few minutes for everyone to recharge. I don't think this room will let us rest for much longer." Everyone looked nervous with good reason.

- 10 Minutes Later -

Everyone is standing in-front of a hook. "Everyone ready?" I looked at everyone receiving confirmation. With everyone ready we slung our chains over the hooks and pulled. Again when we pulled down our mana was pulled out, and we watched the door rise.

I looked around seeing the strain on everyones face. Rowan and Violet looked fine, but I could see Bay slipping. Looking back to the door, it had only risen 5ft. "Thats going to have to do! BAY NOW!"

Bay looked to the door, let go of her chains and spoke "Stop!"

The door moved a mear inch before stopping, the rest of us let go of the chains and ran. I heard Rowan speak his word "Run" blurring past me toward the door. At his word the door moved again. I could tell he would just make it.

I still didn't hear Violet and was growing worried when Rowan reached the door, but right as the door would hit "Blunt."

Rowan was stuck by the door. I could hear something break but he was able to hold the door. I gather and reinforced myself to grab and hold the door. "One more Moment." The world appeared to stop giving me another moment of time to get under the door pulling it off of Rowan.

This is gonna work! The thought shot through my head when I saw Bay fall. My heart dropped. No! We are so close. I was only just able to see Rowan limp past me and picking up Bay. Violet reached the door looking back, she looked relieved at seeing Rowan and Bay moving to the door.

"Just a few more seconds James. I'll see you guys on the other side." Violet did a quick wave passing into the darkness.

I watched the 2 getting closer and closer, but I was fading fast. Not sure how long I could hold it."Move faster guys!"

I could visibly see the frustration on Bay's face, when she spoke. "Move to Victory."

Bay and Rowan moved visibly faster quickly making it to the door, Bay using all her energy barely stays conscious as they reach me.

All my muscles were burning and I could feel my bones splintering. If I wasn't constantly mending and reinforcement I would have been crushed. "GO!! I can't hold it to much longer." This is going to hurt when I really heal.

I held the door and as Rowan pulled Bay through the door I visibly saw the egg change.

Mission Rank: ?? Type: Escape

Mission Status: Completed Time Remaining: N/A

Details:

Open Door. Use whatever method necessary.

Completion Details:

Entered room. Argued. Came together to learn each others weaknesses. Struck by dart trap one unscathed. Made through pummeling field. Opened door using 4 people.

This did not fill me with relief it filled me with dread at what might come next.

The energy was quickly draining from me. I could not hold for much longer. I took one final look at the room.

The room was immaculate, and pristine. The pure white room was still just that, pure white. No Evidence we had passed through. Even the blood from the challenges was no where in sight. No evidence of what had happened to all of us. It was like we where never there. "What is going on?"

"Come on James!" Rowan Yelled back to me. Snapping me back to the situation at hand.

I didn't know what was waiting for us, but I knew if we worked together nothing could stop us. Except we weren't all here. How much easier would this have been if we all were? Probably, would have made it harder. It's a good thing Aster isn't here. I wouldn't want anyone to go through...whatever this is.

With one last shove I pushed the door and ducked inside.