Have you ever experienced true pitch black darkness? A dark where you can feel yourself walking, one foot in front of the other, yet you are unaware if you are actually moving anywhere. This true darkness was the kind that trapped the majority of the Mana-Script team.

There were the occasional bumps and shoves from those around them that informed the members that there were actual people surrounding them and not disembodied voices. Or they could follow the lights in front and behind them that faintly guided their paths.

Zoe, the person with the most importance in this test was feeling the pressure. The inescapable pressure of potential failure. To her the darkness did not exist, she could control darkness. She could not control anxiety. Each step was a step closer to the exit. Though that was not necessarily true in a maze it was a fallacy that she kept telling herself so she could keep moving.

If her thoughts slipped for a moment, a loss of concentration, a lapse of judgement or an overwhelmingly strong feeling of doubt, then the true umbrella she kept over the candle would waver. But luckily for her whenever that happened that was someone who had her back.

Rin had been shaken at the start of these exams, bit he slowly brought himself back to reality. It definitely helped having someone as worried as Zoe to make him realise he needed to help someone else. He spent the time talking to her, softly yet not condescendingly. He made small talk rather than trying to make her feel good or bad about herself.

In the huddle behind them was a conversation between two future housemates. “So there was a house we were looking at, if you said yes, that’s quite close to Uni and Norfield center.”

“As long as I’m close enough to the University to walk there, I am fine with the distance.” Merissa replied.

“Ah, super! So it’s ninety-six pounds a week, bills included. It’s near a shop and the bedrooms are a decent size. The only problem is we have to share a garden with the neighbours and obviously we don’t know who that will be yet.”

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“That’s fine. I do not care who it is, I probably will not interact with them.”

Behind the two conversations was two bumbling idiots doing what they do best. “Rafe, could you go invisible and scare everyone?” Connor asked naively.

“What would be the point, no one can see anyone anyways. Uhhhh.”

“Mmmm, I’m not dumb.”

“Sure, do act like it.”

“Outside. Me and you, right now.”

“We can’t leave. Are you actually stupid?”

“Alright then. Throw down. Here and now.” The two began to tussle there and then. Luckily and unluckily they were at the back of the group. They did not inconvenience anyone else but they did get lost from their light until they were picked up by the rear guard.

It was quite a miracle they missed Damian and X, a fact that Damian would have hated since he was very uncomfortable. X had been closed to him the whole time. She wanted to be there. Her stare pierced Damian. Not only creeping him out but putting him on edge of what she would do. He was usually quite an optimistic person, yet the vibe she gave off was not a safe nor inviting one.

“I like you.” She said, the instant she did a little scream came out of Damian’s mouth. He clasped his right hand over his mouth. She spoke with a raspy tone. Every word sounded unnatural. It was almost as if she had never used the word ‘like’ before. Everyone had heard the scream and snapped around to see what had caused such an ungodly sound.

Damian did not have much time to explain himself before an even bigger shock came to them all. The wall next to them exploded open. Sending the group flying. Well all except Nerissa, Zoe, and Rin. Rin stood his ground and held Zoe in place.

As the dust cleared and their attackers came into view it was clear there was no danger. “Hello” said a familiar voice. “Would you like to join us?” came the voice of Archie. His team had managed to breakdown the walls and we’re carrying on until they got to the middle.

Most of them were huddled around Archie, who obviously had the flame. The guy with pale skin stood next to him and was increasing the light of the flame. At the front were the guy I met red jumper and girl with massive muscles. They both had broken the walls. They stood back into position as if resetting from a large attack. They seemed unphased by the inches of concrete they had just obliterated.