Instinct (English version)

Chapter 9

You are striding across the dark corridors with a strength boost, searching for your companions. Within a bifurcation, you almost bump into someone. Your face lights up. FF2/N! Your friend, first startled, then radiant, throws herself into your arms.

"Y/N! I missed you so much! Are you okay? Have you been hurt?"

She has not changed: she is still so voluble! You are laughing as you see her worrying about you, relieved that she is in great shape. Johan is next to her. The latter nods his head as a hello.

"Glad to see you again, Y/N."

Your friend is energetically shaking your arm, feverish.

"Johan helped me so much! I would've never made it without him!"

"Nah, I didn't do anything extraordinary."

Despite his emotionless look, you know that he has been moved by these words. His slightly pink cheeks are proving it.

You are enquiring about your other friend, FF1/N. FF2/N's face darkens immediately, as she lets go of your arm. Her voice breaks down.

"I... I swear I tried, Y/N! But she was losing too much blood, I didn't manage to- "

The young woman cannot finish her sentence, and bursts into tears. Johan is clumsily patting her back, trying to comfort her. At least he is trying! You take your friend in your arms, as melancholy takes over. One more loss to grieve. But you will mourn later. For now, there are more important things to be concerned about.

You inform your companions of your discovery. Your friend is stunned whereas Johan does not seem that surprised. The latter is already thinking about a counter-attack strategy, his brain quickly analysing the situation.

"Good, let's find the others first. Y/N, you said there was a huge room in the middle of the maze, am I right?"

You nod. Johan continues.

"Everyone will certainly try to reach it, thinking that the next step is there. We just need to pray for the killer to still be stuck in this maze. If he pre-empted us, it would be way more difficult to reunite in these corridors."

Without wasting your time, you start walking in single file, Johan leading you. The latter is using an infallible method to find the room: he is following expeditiously the wall on his right. This method -even if it may take you on a horribly long route- will eventually get you out. While FF2/N is struggling to keep up, you finally reach "The Beast's Lair". Your friend is shuddering as she sees the board, but you post yourself near her. With you by her side, she is immediately reassured.

In the room, you meet all the other survivors again: Jade, Clara, Anna and Benjamin. You are thus forming a good little group of seven people. This should be enough, especially with Ben among you. Your friend's shoulder span is almost able to compete with the killer's.

You quickly brief the others about the latest news, then you all sit down in a circle in a corner in order to set a ploy up. You are exulting: now is the time to teach those maniacs a good lesson. Johan takes the floor.

"The only way for us to beat him is to take him by surprise. Ideally, we should bring the killer here cause the corridors are way too narrow and could annoy us, especially if we attack him all at once. I can see curtains over there: we could throw them on him to make him lose his bearings."

Did he really think about all of this during your walk in the maze? Johan is indubitably discerning. No one objects his plan. It remains to be seen who will be the bait.

"I've no stamina..." deplores FF2/N.

"In case you're all blind, I'm not really able to run" spits Jade with a cutting tone.