Enchanted University of Magemenos

Chapter 76:Mirror Maze

"Move aside," the blonde snaps, shoving her aside with little regard. She hits the opposite door with a loud thud.

"You asshole!" she yells, her temper flaring. In a flash, she sprints toward him and shoves him back, her anger overcoming any concern for her nails. He stumbles and bangs against the door, clutching his ears.

"You bitch!" he shouts, his face twisted in rage, ready to retaliate.

"Wait!" another guy interjects, eyes wide. "The sound—it was different! Both doors sounded different. The one she hit was silent, but the one he banged on made a lot of noise."

In a frenzy, he starts hitting each door in quick succession, listening intently. "There's only one door that makes sound," he declares, pointing to the door with the loud echo, indicating there's definitely a room inside.

The puzzle indicated that only one door would resonate, and it also had a green tick marked on it. It was clear: this was the door we needed.

With renewed energy, we all sprint toward the door, driven by hope and the promise of escape. Together, we reach for the handle and swing it open, bracing ourselves for whatever lies beyond.

We arrived back at the left loop, only to realize we still didn't have the right half of the key. In a rush, I sprinted toward where I'd seen it fall, praying I could reach it before the loop reset. Just as the familiar sensation washed over me, I managed to grab the key from the ground and raced back to the left loop, clutching it tightly in my hand.

"Give me the key," the blonde demanded, his voice dripping with impatience.

"You wish! I've got the key, and it's mine now," I shot back defiantly.

"Ouch! Why are these thoughts coming into my head?" he yelled, slamming his fist against the door behind him in frustration.

"That's the mistake," I replied, feeling a surge of confidence.

"Damn it, girl! Just give me the key!" He lunged toward me, desperate to snatch it away.

"You can't do anything until you find the left half of the key," I said firmly. "Once you find it, I'll hand it over to you. But do that first."

"Once I find it, I won't be asking you for it. I'll just cut your wrist and take it with me to the exit," he snarled, his eyes glinting with menace.

I could feel the tension thickening in the air. It was clear that he was willing to do anything to get his hands on the key. But I wasn't going to let him intimidate me. "You really think I'd let you get away with that? You're not the only one fighting to survive here."

With that, I took a step back, holding the key closer, my heart racing. The power struggle was on, and I was determined not to be his next victim.

The moment we stepped into the left loop, we were surrounded by mirrors on every side. It felt like a path leading nowhere... a maze—a disorienting mirror maze. Pillars stood at every corner, holding the mirrors in place, reflecting endless versions of ourselves.

Awestruck, we stood frozen, staring at each other. The dim, eerie lights bathed the room in an unsettling glow, casting shadows around the towering bluish-green brick pillars. It felt like we'd walked into a haunted house.

A gnawing feeling crept into my chest—this was no good. My mind flashed back to the anchor's ominous warning about the '8-minute curse'. It could strike any one of us.

The air grew thick, and then—swish! A knife cut through the space beside me, too close for comfort, embedding itself with deadly precision into the guy next to me. His eyes bulged in terror as he crumpled to the floor, a pool of red forming beneath him.

I turned to where the knife had come from and froze. The brunette girl stood there, her once-familiar face twisted into something monstrous. Her bloodshot eyes glowed unnaturally, veins snaking across her temples like roots of corruption. She wasn't herself anymore—something else had taken over.

Her hand tightened around another knife, and her gaze locked on me.

Before I could think, the short girl grabbed my arm and screamed, "Run! It's the curse! Don't stop—just run!"

The walls seemed to close in as I stumbled backward, her words barely registering over the pounding of my heart.

We scattered in all directions, panic driving our every move. But no matter where I turned, all I could see in the mirrors was her—knife in hand, eyes blazing with unearthly rage, closing in on me like a predator.

I bolted in the opposite direction, my breath ragged, feet pounding against the maze floor. In my desperation, I misjudged a turn and slam! I collided headfirst into a mirror. The impact echoed through the maze as a jagged crack splintered across the glass.

Pain seared through my forehead, and I felt warm blood trickle down, but there was no time to stop. The brunette's reflection loomed closer, her twisted grin now mirrored on every side.