If the raven-haired man had expected the scenery to change after sprinting into the passage, then he would have been disappointed.

Besides densely clustered black leaves and crimson thorns sporting beads of light of a similar—if slightly lighter—hue, bone white strands of ankle-high grass still concealed the ground, flowers lacking petals still standing throughout.

What’s more, contrary to his hopes, the volume of the footfalls coming from behind hadn’t lessened a jot.

Lucian huffed out a heavy breath, focusing back on what lay ahead instead of what was coming from behind. Like he had predicted earlier, the lefthand break in the Bloodthirst Briars was an entrance of a path leading deeper into the maze.

While the minimap off the second floor had indicated it would be so, he was still taken aback by how short the passage proved to be; Julia having already covered about two-thirds of the way to the exit at the other end of the straight path.

It was a good thing too, he supposed, as it facilitated their exploration deeper into the concentric maze – and flight from the approaching Apostate Wraith too, incidentally enough.

“Remember to turn left after exiting the path!” Julia reminded loudly, one Lucian was hearing for the first time.

Shouting out a single worded affirmative, he watched as the honey blonde swiftly covered the remaining bit of distance before turning and disappearing out of sight. In rapid succession, Boris, Tsumiki, then Cherub did likewise; leaving himself and Transient Cardinal as the last occupants of the connecting passage.

Tossing another look over his shoulder, he confirmed the Apostate Wraith had yet to make an appearance before facing back forward and putting on a burst of speed – crimson-tinted brown eyes darting here and there as he filed away all in sight, Transient Cardinal kept in his peripherals constantly.

In what felt like no time at all, Lucian came up on the path’s end and immediately turned left – ignoring the right fork without a thought.

Speed decreasing a smidge as he blasted around the turn, he took advantage of the opportunity and checked the area behind him for a second time, letting out an internal sigh of relief when he failed to see anything concerning.

Up ahead, the four frontrunners had slowed down a tad, allowing Lucian and Transient Cardinal to catch up after a couple of seconds.

As they approached, Tsumiki tilted her head to the right slightly, focusing on them with a single purple eye; an obvious question swimming in their crystalline, expressive depths.

Taking a stab in the dark at what she wanted to know, Lucian answered with a slight wheeze, “The wraith hasn’t caught up yet, don’t worry.”

Seemingly satisfied, Tsumiki turned to fully face forward once more; though not before mouthing a clear, if wordless, ‘thank you’ his way.

He reflexively bobbed his head in acceptance—even though she wouldn’t see it—glad to know he had understood her unspoken question.

Sweeping a quick look over the area around him, he took in every topographic feature, making sure he wouldn’t be taken off guard by something innocuous.

Just as he was done with that, Transient Cardinal’s panicked voice right next to his ears, alongside Boris’s tension-filled call from up ahead, snapped his mind into an alert state.

“Danger incoming!”

“Brace yourselves everyone, something’s coming.”

Lucian swept his eyes over the area quickly, trying to spot whatever the two had detected with their Instinct implants.

The raven-haired man needn’t have bothered.

Before he could check the area behind him—which, by all rights, should’ve been completely empty—an eruption of high-pitched squeaks and malicious chitters joined the regular thud-thud-thudding of the still unseen Apostate Wraith.

Cold sweat drenched his back immediately after he threw a panicked glance over his shoulder, a result of the sight greeting his eyes.

Completely concealing the bone white grassy carpet was a veritable tidal wave of dog-sized rats, each one covered in a thick coating of matted pitch black fur and sporting beady, scarlet eyes as well as tails that looked like they had been chewed up and spat back out.

“Whatever you do, don’t fucking stop running!” Even as Lucian pumped his arms and put on an even greater burst of speed, he didn’t forget to voice out a warning – even if one admittedly sparse on details.

Spotting Transient Cardinal about to turn around to see what was happening, Lucian’s hand, without conscious input, snaked out in a flash before clamping down on the nape of her neck and kept her head pointed forward. Even as he was doing so, however, it became clear others up ahead had spotted what he had.

“What the flying fuck?! How the fuck did rats get behind us?!?!” While crass, Cherub’s exclamation neatly summed up the situation.

Feeling the white-haired waif’s neck tense under his fingers, Lucian hissed out a quick warning. “You really don’t want to see what’s chasing us right now.”

Transient Cardinal huffed, nonplussed. “That’s my choice to make, isn’t it?”

Chastised by her tone while wondering about his reflexive course of action, Lucian released his grip and left the young woman to her own devices, unable to disagree with what she said.

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The instant his hand retracted, she spun on her heels, curtain of white tresses whipping about her body as she took a look at what had Lucian so spooked…

Only to spin back around even faster and put on an even greater burst of speed, chants of “Ewww. Ewww. Ewww!” slipping out from between plush lips.

Lucian’s mouth quirked up into an involuntary grin even as he threw another look over his shoulder. “I told you s—”

“Not. Now.” Just from her tone, he could easily imagine the kind of expression on the young woman’s countenance, even though he wasn’t looking in her direction per se.

While Lucian’s brain registered her words, most of his attention was focused on the tidal wave of rats bearing down on him. Because call him crazy, but he could have sworn they were further away, last he checked.

A shudder raced up and down his spine as light brown eyes locked with a sea of malice-filled scarlets , the incessant sound of chittering filling the air becoming more pronounced in terrifying concert.

“Uhm, guys? I think we need to speed the fuck up! The rats look like they’re catching up?!” Without missing a beat, Lucian voiced out his suspicions loudly, fully willing to look foolish if his judgment proved erroneous.

At the raven-haired man’s words, some of the others at the front turned back, likely to confirm for themselves if what he said was true.

Conspicuous amongst the bunch was Julia, who increased her pace without questioning Lucian’s claim; obviously trusting what he said without verification.

Leaving them to do as they would, Lucian put on another burst of speed and caught up to Tsumiki after several long strides – Transient Cardinal having overtaken the petite purple-eyed girl mere seconds before.

Glancing down at the ebony-haired girl, he checked out her situation, concerned by her lack of speed. Judging from the copious amount of sweat dripping from her brow, it became clear she wasn’t doing too well.

“Need any help?” Lucian asked reflexively, uncertain if he could do anything but willing to inquire all the same.

She shook her head tiredly, not missing a step throughout. Before he managed to ask again, a flash of white in his peripherals heralded Transient Cardinal appearing, seemingly out of nowhere, on Tsumiki’s other side; the young woman having slowed down a touch after running past only seconds ago.

Without a word, the snowy-haired waif grabbed onto the ebony-haired girl’s wrist and begun dragging her along bodily, increasing her speed by a fair amount while creating more distance from the slowly gaining wave.

Lucian nearly missed a step at the display, but recovered with aplomb – only slowing down a tad bit.

Taking advantage of the fact, he voluntarily took up a position at the rearguard while slinging his backpack off one shoulder; free hand immediately getting to work and zipping it open before he started rooting around.

Seconds later, his hand emerged, gripped around a can of preserved peaches. Knowing he didn’t have time to secure the compartment back properly, Lucian hoisted his backpack back into place, hoping the other canned fruits wouldn’t spill out as he ran.

Colour drained from his face as he took advantage of the chance to throw another quick look over his shoulder. Part of him regretted he had.

Unlike before, when he still wasn’t certain, it was as clear as crystal, now, that the tidal wave of rats were gaining on them.

At a guess, not more than five metres separated him from the rat wave’s vanguard – a distance far too close for comfort.

Looking down at the can of peaches grasped in bandaged fingers, he supposed there was no better time than now to do some trial and error – even as aforementioned peaches and his end table swapped hands.

Whipping around as the thought flashed through his mind, Lucian flung the can with an underhand toss; squat, cylindrical metal tearing through the air furiously… and disappearing without a trace, tidal wave of rats ripping the can apart and causing metal shards and peachy chunks to go flying.

While Lucian only caught the beginnings of the can’s demise, it was more than enough to tell him that tangling with the rat wave was a horrible idea.

Speeding back up after turning back around, the raven-haired man was ready to put 120% effort into making more distance when a shout from up ahead entered his ears.

“Run faster people! There’s an alcove to the right up ahead!” Eyes tracking over to the right, it took Lucian less than a second to spot the indicated alcove; one whose entrance was only wide enough to allow a single person entry at a time.

While such a sudden break in the Bloodthirst Briar was bloody suspicious, to put it mildly, the fact that it was Julia, of all people, to suggest ducking in alleviated any of his suspicions to a significant degree.

Moments after her shouted warning, the buxom beauty flashed into the alcove, dishevelled cascade of blonde hair shining like flaming strands of amber under the firelight spilling out from the alcove’s depths.

Lucian couldn’t help but wonder about the presence of fire, but all thoughts of such were dispelled at what happened next. While Boris had been running right on Julia’s heels, the bald giant had paused right at the alcove’s entrance.

Lucian couldn’t be certain, but it looked like the behemoth of a man had been willing to let others proceed ahead of him; a noble act to be sure.

Clearly picking up on the fact, Cherub leapt past, a word of thanks ringing through the air in his wake. The moment the brown-clad man’s entire body disappeared into the alcove, a pristine white wall of tangible energy sprung into existence without any prior warning, blocking off the entrance completely.

Just about to dart into the alcove, Transient Cardinal was forced to veer off course, dragging Tsumiki along with her as a consequence.

“What even?!” Aforementioned young woman exclaimed, speed decreasing from the surprise. Wasting no time, Boris smashed a clenched fist into the forcefield and got nothing as a result; his extremity feeling zero pain, while not even a ripple appeared on the energy field’s opaque white surface.

“Let’s go Boris! Don’t bother with it! The rats are catching up!” Brain churning as he took it all in, Lucian hurried Boris along even as he sprinted past without slowing down.

Judging from the loud crunching of grass underfoot, it was clear Boris had heeded his advice unhesitatingly.

Part of him expected either Julia or Cherub’s voice to come ringing out from behind the forcefield, but no such luck – only the increasing volume of chitters, alongside the consistent thud-thud-thud of the still unseen Apostate Wraith accompanying their flight further and further away from the blocked off alcove.

“What, do we do, now?” Transient Cardinal’s question, rushed out in between panted breaths, brought Lucian back into the here and now.

Before he could say a thing, Boris answered, “All we can do is keep running and hope another alcove appears soon.”

“We’ll be rat food if it doesn’t though, right?” Lucian jumped in, mouth quirked into a sardonic smirk as he tried to make light of their perilous predicament.

Judging from the stifled giggle from Transient Cardinal’s direction, it seemed like his spur of the moment dark humour had hit the mark, somehow.

“Precisely.” Boris’s voice was level as he ran past. “Let’s hope none of us face such a grizzly fate.”

Lucian remained silent at that, having nothing to say in response.

Checking the curving passage ahead, he failed to spot the orangey tint of firelight in his line of sight; the pristine white forcefield of the previous alcove having already disappeared when he threw another glance over his shoulder.

Simultaneously, he took advantage of the opportunity to take quick account of the wave’s progression…

Only to nearly miss a step and stagger when he realised they were a mere three metres or so away.

Catching his footing immediately, Lucian scanned the nearby area frantically and took account of everybody’s position before he heaved out a sigh of relief; confirming that none of the three ahead would be tiring anytime soon, even if Tsumiki was close to it, judging from the sheen of sweat on her exposed nape.

He had a gut feeling that if not for Transient Cardinal, the ebony-haired girl would’ve slowed down enough for the wave’s foremost vanguard to start nipping at her heels.

Almost as if he had picked up on the same observations he had, Lucian watched as Boris slowed down a touch until he was in-line with the two petite females before without any prior warning, he scooped up Tsumiki into a princess carry.

An undignified squawk slipped out the ebony-haired girl’s lips at the action, one that resulted in another stifled giggle from Transient Cardinal; even as she continued running smoothly, not unbalanced by Boris’s sudden action.

Lucian whistled appreciatively at the strength on show. While sort of reluctant to admit it, he seriously doubted he was capable of doing something similar even if he had wanted to.

He cut off any idle musings after noticing a warm orangey-yellow glow up ahead, a relief-inducing break from the omnipresent scarlet hue tinting the nearby area for the last while.

Knowing what it signified, Lucian sped up once more until he was running right alongside the white-haired waif; Boris somehow ahead of them both by a couple of strides even with Tsumiki weighing him down.

Catching the young woman’s pale blues with his light browns, he checked, “You cool with letting Boris go first? I don’t think it’s a good idea to let him run for too long, what with Tsumiki and all.”

Unsaid was the fact that agreeing to this would heighten the danger she was exposed to substantially, let alone the simple fact that there might not be another alcove after the upcoming one.

She bobbed her head a touch hesitantly, drops of sweat flying from her cheek with the motion. “I… suppose so.”

While uncertain if Transient Cardinal had considered all the ramifications, Lucian didn’t feel like now was the time to question her. Sending a quick nod and –hopefully?—reassuring smile her way, he cupped his free hand around his mouth and hollered, “Boris! Head on in to the alcove and don’t worry about us!”

“Got it.” Gruff tone carrying in the relative stillness, Boris turned his head slightly and offered them a focused dark eye in further acknowledgement. “Good luck to the both of you.”

Without another word needing to be said, the bald giant squeezed his way through the righthand alcove’s entrance; Tsumiki mouthing an obviously grateful ‘thank you’ around Boris’s beefy arm before both of them were protected behind an opaque, shining barrier of soft white light.

The raven-haired man hoped he wouldn’t regret this – and more importantly, that he hadn’t just dragged his white-haired partner down with him.