FATAL - The End and The Beginning

Almost There

Athena and Urikynn were back at the metallic ground part of the labyrinth again. Although unlike before, which is hallway-like, it’s still in a tunnel form. And as both of them passed every tunnels, they noticed that the traps set were twice as many as before and twice deadly.

            They’ve never felt more restless and tired than before. They duck at double-blades, parried robot warriors’ swords, crawled muddy tunnels, escaped metal spider’s web, nearly died at a sudden falling stones, and bolted at different unknown tunnels.

            Their clothes were now so hard to make out. It looked ragged and trashed due to the hundreds of traps and challenges they already faced. Athena bet she already looked like a lion on loose. She can almost smell her own smell! But she didn’t care anymore. Urikynn seemed to never mind it after all.

            They didn’t risk stopping though, they just continued on walking and running. They think they are almost near the exit. That’s what motivates them to always move forward. That, and the frozen treasure that they hold.

“What’s that?” Athena asked as they stopped, watching curiously at the something that is moving towards them.

“Fog,” Urikynn noticed. And of course he’s right. It was fog that filled the tunnels, nearly reaching their spot.

“I don’t think that is just ordinary fog,” Athena muttered and Urikynn was thinking of the same thing too.

“Run?” he suggested.

“Run,” she said with a nod.

            Urikynn took Athena’s hand in his before they started running. He doesn’t even know why he did that. He just felt it’s the right thing to do.

            Athena was distracted because of Urikynn’s hand on her. She even almost tripped because of that distraction. Unfortunately for them, they were too slow. The fog has seemed to be picking up speed and it did catch them.

            Some of the fog touched little of Athena’s skin and she cried in pain. Urikynn, upon hearing this, dragged Athena faster than before. The fog is still right behind them, almost catching up again.

            Urikynn finally saw a new turn to the left and quickly ran towards it. He pulled Athena harder then pushed her towards the tunnel. Unfortunately, the fog caught his hand as he did that. He struggled in pain as he quickly went inside the left tunnel. Luckily, the fog just moved forward and they were safe.

“You’re hurt,” Athena noticed Urikynn’s burned hands.

“And so do you,” he replied, eyeing the burned spot of Athena’s right arm.

“We’re lucky it’s just our arms. What are those anyway?”

“Acidic fog. Come on, let’s continue. Can you walk right?” Urikynn inquired.

“Yuri, it’s just my arm. The fog’s not poisonous anyway and I’m not disabled,” she said jokingly, moving her body to show her point.

            Both of them advanced again.

“Athena I have something more to tell you,” Urikynn suddenly said. Athena just raised an eyebrow as a response.

“After I uhm… stole Mart’s battle wear and his slot at the conquest… I left a note for him. I kind of instructed him to do something for me and if he’s smart enough, he’ll probably do it. That’s why I want you to take care of the treasure,” he explained.