EQUINOX || The Catalysts Series, #3

XXV

The 'star' is now further away, growing smaller as Lena falls—

Something loops around her arm and stops her fall, the yank pulling taut and she feels the whole weight of her body with one arm holding on to the source that prevented her free fall.

"You're crazy, you know that?"

Lena looks up. Her arm is pulled up by a taut chain that forms a complex network crossing over two walls. Leviathan hangs midway, clutching her arm. It hurts.

"Anytime you want to help yourself up?" Leviathan prompts.

Dazed, but unwilling to be put in such a position, Lena takes a chance and swings, tossing a glass shard near the cliff where she'd stuck her knives.

She looks once more at Leviathan. The 'star' hovers just within reach, and yet he effortlessly decides to save her from plummeting, not taking any chance that the immediately change in scenario may or may not slow her fall. Embarrassment wells up within her—for wanting to use petty tricks just to win all while Leviathan was playing his best sportsmanship. And yet, it was all she could do. But it doesn't matter now.

"Thanks for saving me," Lena says as she takes another leap of faith. She disappears.

"What"—Leviathan's eyes widen—"Not again—"

Lena appears a blink later near the side of the cliff, her daggers already out and ready this time. She plunges them into the surface to stop her fall, and she skids to a stop after dropping a few feet. She climbs a bit back up, toward where she'd initially stuck all her dagger handles. Hanging there, she calls, "You've won this."

As if still unable to believe her unpredictability, Leviathan huffs out a barely managed laughter as he swings up to balance himself precariously on the taut chain. Lena realises then that he could've won anytime if he really tried; he was just taking his time and letting Lena give it her all.

"That's some spirit," he commends, his single eye alight with something different, before closing his hand over the glowing 'star'.

It's over. The scene flashes before disappearing, the darkness melting away to afternoon light of the real world.

Back in the maze path extremely close to the centre of the maze, Lena and Leviathan are on the ground, leaning against opposite walls. They share a look; Lena realises with disappointment that there can only be one winner and she doesn't receive the congratulating message of getting a 'star'. But instead...

Wait. Lena rubs her eyes then looks again.

Leviathan's head hovers more than three 'star's. He has four.

"What?" Lena asks in disbelief. And more importantly, why did he still challenge Lena?! "How?"

A mischievous yet charming smirk is her only reply. "The system told us to collect three of these so-called 'star's..." He gestures airily toward the ones above hers and his head. "But it never did specify we aren't allowed to exceed that number."

A loophole; a chance that any smart student may see fit to use as they please. But still, it doesn't change the fact that they just need three to pass, given that they are one of the top ones to reach the centre. Speaking of which, is filling fast last Lena noticed. She doesn't afford to turn her head and look for the counting numbers, because her curiosity is already leashed by the senior before her.

"What are you playing at?" she asks, settling into defeat. She knows—the game hasn't ended because the signal of the end of the games hasn't sounded—that even if by any crazy chance she manages to stumble across and win another challenge, she'd be out of time. Luck is not on her side—it never was, really.