The dimly lit corridors felt endless as Lex and the others moved cautiously through the darkened maze. Every corner, every shadow felt alive with danger, and the Ex-Marine’s voice continued to reverberate through the mall’s PA system, taunting and goading them with chilling precision. His words were a reminder that, despite all their careful planning, he had the upper hand.

The static crackled again, and his voice came through, calm and cold. “You’re a long way from safety now, aren’t you? You thought you could just wander in here, take over my territory, and walk out?”

Lex clenched her fists, her grip tightening on her crossbow. “Ignore him,” she whispered to the others. “He wants us to respond, but we won’t give him the satisfaction.”

Beside her, Maya nodded, her face pale but resolute. Sophie kept her eyes on the tablet, scanning through the feed in hopes of picking up even a faint glimpse of his position.

“Nothing,” Sophie whispered, her voice tense. “He’s blocking his movements on every camera I can access. It’s like he knows exactly where we’re looking.”

“Of course I know,” the Ex-Marine’s voice interjected smoothly, as though he could hear their every word. “This is my territory, my rules. You’re just stumbling around like lost little lambs, waiting to be picked off.”

They moved faster, every taunt from the Ex-Marine pushing them forward, heightening the tension between them. The corridor twisted and turned, lined with abandoned kiosks and debris. Shadows seemed to shift with every step, creating the illusion of movement, but Lex forced herself to stay focused, to keep her breathing steady.

Then, without warning, the Ex-Marine’s voice sharpened. “Damien,” he said, his tone a mix of amusement and disdain. “How long do you think you’ll keep up this act? The brave protector, the fighter. You’re just a scared little boy hiding behind a tough facade.”

Damien’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t respond. He kept his eyes forward, focusing on the path ahead.

“Struck a nerve, did I?” the Ex-Marine continued, his voice almost taunting. “You’re all just playing soldier, pretending to be brave. None of you know what it means to face true fear.”

“Stay with me,” Lex whispered, keeping her focus steady. “We’re not letting him pull us apart.”

Sophie checked the feed on her tablet again, frustrated. “I don’t understand how he’s moving like this,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “He’s everywhere at once, and I can’t track him at all.”

“He’s using the PA system to throw us off,” Lex said, her voice low and determined. “If we let ourselves get distracted, he wins. We need to keep our focus.”

The Ex-Marine’s laugh crackled through the speakers, low and mocking. “Oh, Lex. Always so sure of yourself, aren’t you? The fearless leader. But can you really protect them all? Can you even protect yourself?”

A chill ran down Lex’s spine, but she kept her expression calm, refusing to let him see how his words affected her. She glanced back at her friends, nodding for them to keep moving.

“You can’t hide from the truth,” the Ex-Marine continued, his voice dripping with mock sympathy. “You can keep pretending, but I know what drives you. That fear. That need to be in control. But deep down, you’re as scared as the rest of them.”

Maya glanced at Lex, her expression concerned. “Lex, are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” Lex replied, her tone steady. “He’s just trying to mess with our heads.”

They moved down another hallway, stepping lightly and keeping to the shadows. The Ex-Marine’s voice followed them, relentless and taunting.

“And Sophie,” he said, his tone almost mocking. “Always hiding behind a screen, thinking you can hack your way to safety. But what will you do when there’s nowhere left to run?”

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

Sophie’s face hardened, and she clenched the tablet closer to her chest. “I’m not afraid of him,” she whispered, though her voice wavered slightly.

“He knows exactly what he’s doing,” Brandon muttered. “He’s picking at every single weakness, every fear. It’s like he’s been studying us.”

“Probably has,” Damien replied. “The guy’s a psycho, and from the looks of it, he’s been waiting for a long time.”

A sudden click echoed through the hall, followed by a soft, metallic hum. The friends stopped, glancing around, tense and alert.

“What was that?” Maya whispered, her eyes scanning the darkness.

“Trap,” Lex said, keeping her voice low. “Stay sharp.”

A loud, piercing siren blared through the speakers, filling the air with an overwhelming sound that rattled them to the core. Sophie covered her ears, grimacing as the noise echoed through the mall. Then, almost as suddenly as it had started, the sound cut off, leaving only a tense silence in its wake.

“Just a reminder,” the Ex-Marine said, his voice dripping with amusement, “that I’m in control here. Not you.”

Lex gritted her teeth, her frustration building. They couldn’t keep wandering in circles, letting him toy with them like this. They needed to find him, force him out of hiding, and take control of the situation.

“We’re not going to get anywhere if we keep playing his game,” she said, her voice firm. “We need to turn the tables on him. Make him come to us.”

Brandon frowned. “How are we supposed to do that? The guy’s got the upper hand.”

Lex thought for a moment, her mind racing. “If we set off one of his own traps, maybe we can force him out. He’s bound to come check on it if he thinks we’re stuck or injured.”

Damien nodded, catching on. “So we spring one of his traps, lure him in, and then we take him down.”

“It’s risky,” Maya murmured, glancing around the darkened hall. “But we don’t have a lot of options.”

They continued forward, moving cautiously as they searched for signs of one of the Ex-Marine’s traps. The corridors twisted and turned, leading them deeper into the mall, until they finally found what they were looking for—a tripwire stretched across the floor, almost invisible in the shadows.

“Perfect,” Lex whispered, motioning for the others to step back. “Everyone, take cover.”

They scattered, hiding behind the debris and broken shelves that lined the hallway. Lex picked up a small piece of metal from the floor and tossed it toward the wire, setting it off.

The trap activated with a loud, echoing clang as a metal grate dropped down from the ceiling, blocking off the hallway. For a few tense moments, they waited, barely daring to breathe.

Then, the faint sound of footsteps approached, slow and deliberate. The Ex-Marine emerged from the shadows, his expression calm and unreadable as he scanned the area.

Lex held her breath, her crossbow ready. She watched him closely, noting every movement, every subtle shift in his stance. He was a formidable opponent—trained, calculating, and completely unfazed.

The Ex-Marine moved closer, inspecting the trap with a practiced eye. Lex could tell he wasn’t entirely convinced that they’d been caught by it; his gaze flicked around the room, searching for any signs of movement.

Damien glanced at Lex, waiting for her signal. She gave a small nod, tightening her grip on her crossbow, her heart pounding as she prepared to strike.

But before she could make her move, the Ex-Marine’s head snapped up, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the shadows where they were hiding.

“I know you’re here,” he said, his voice low and menacing. “You really thought you could trap me? Cute.”

He raised his weapon, aiming it in their direction. Lex’s pulse quickened—he’d seen through their plan, and now they were the ones caught off guard.

“Move!” Lex shouted, and they scattered, each friend darting out of the shadows as the Ex-Marine opened fire.

Bullets tore through the shelves and walls as they ducked and weaved, scrambling to avoid the hail of gunfire. Lex rolled behind a stack of crates, catching her breath as she loaded an arrow into her crossbow.

Brandon managed to flank the Ex-Marine, firing his own weapon to draw his attention. “Over here!” he yelled, trying to keep the Psycho’s focus away from the others.

The Ex-Marine turned, his eyes cold and focused as he fired a shot at Brandon, forcing him to dive behind a counter. Damien took the opportunity to rush in from the other side, swinging his machete in a quick, precise arc, but the Ex-Marine was too fast. He dodged, countering with a swift strike that sent Damien stumbling back.

Lex aimed her crossbow, her fingers steady as she targeted the Ex-Marine’s leg. She fired, the arrow piercing his calf, and he let out a low grunt of pain, his stance faltering.

“Now!” Lex shouted, signaling the others.

They moved in, surrounding the Ex-Marine, their weapons raised. But even wounded, he was relentless, fighting back with a ruthless determination that forced them to stay on high alert. Every strike, every movement was calculated, and it was clear that he was far from defeated.

The battle raged on, each friend giving everything they had to hold their ground. But as the Ex-Marine retreated into the shadows once more, his taunting voice echoed through the PA system, as if he’d been barely fazed by the encounter.

“You think you’re getting somewhere?” he sneered. “This was just the beginning.”

And with that, his voice faded, leaving them alone in the dim, empty corridor once more.