||12||

It didn't take long before they'd been eventually introduced to one another by face alone.

But the silence that followed was deafening, no one after all was in here to be friends.

"Seems like you found a group of your own, I'm surprised" Erica said breaking the silence finally.

It was obvious that Zion was who she was talking to. Yet no one really looked up and addressed it, why talk to the competition?

"Oi, there's no way you're still ignoring me Volitum" she slightly leaned in comically as Zion sighed finally looking up.

"I would have thought you'd be an the third floor by now" although it came off as a snarky comment, it was the truth.

With her abilities and more, he figured she'd be at least on the third floor if not the fourth.

"Hah!" She faked laughed, who knew a kid could have such a personality. "I would of but this relentless rain is bad"

"Aren't you immortal?" Piped up May as she crossed her arms to get some body heat back. Seems like everyone had known her story but Zion himself.

"Tsk, yes however I'm still young, my body can't bare the toll cold weather poses yet. I may not die or become sick but my body will go into a hibernated state." Shrugged Erica, as Chris was busy sketching out the next plan of action with a stick on the cave floor.

Zion was curious about that, he hadn't felt anything with the outside temperature. Was he just thick skinned?

Mumbling to himself, Chris scratched out with the stick one of his plans. He'd accounted for Erica's words about her weakness. Although a foolish thing to say your weakness to potential threats. However with that said, it was clear no one in this space had the ability to take her on anyway- at least not on their own.

The other two that they'd briefly met were across from Zion and his team. Huddled further away from Erica, it seemed one of the two had an unpleasant experience with her kind.

The boy was around 6 and the girl was as young as they could come. His little sister, 5 years old in the boys arms keeping warm.

The boys eyes stayed trained to Erica like a hawk, Zion could see it, resentment.

His brown hair and green eyes were a soft combination on such a fierce face he had. While his younger sister, spotted strawberry blonde hair and brown eyes.

From what Zion remembered, the brother was called Fin, while his sister was Mary. But he could have been wrong, he wasn't ever the best at remembering names.

He would just remember them as siblings and that was that.

"What!?" Fin barked catching Zion staring for too long.

"Sorry" Zion immediately addressed as the brothers eyes narrowed.

He didn't say anything though, he simply kept a tight protective hug around his younger sister.

Seems like even among those who were taking on the Maze, everyone had something to prove.

But what about Zion? He didn't exactly have flashy abilities like May or Chris, couldn't pretend he'd be useful in a fight either. Because he simply couldn't unlike Erica. He had nothing really going for him except the words of Marcus.

The words promising that his mother would be taken care of and recieve the treatment she needed.

------

Outskirts, Zion's home:

"Why did you come here and why lie to him?" Said Willow, in a dejected voice. She knew deep down why, but didn't really want the answer, even with her question. "There's no cure for me, I'm going to die soon." She bluntly stated as her eyes laid fixed to the drink in her hands.

"I'm sorry for lying to him and for coming here without notice to you but you know as much as I do, he needs this. They'll come for him eventually Willow, you may not be there when that day comes-"

"-You're right, I won't." She cut off his words with a bitter-sweet disgust for herself and a mixed resentment for her past torments. They were coming to the light too fast, Zion was growing up too quick. She knew the decision had to be made but the past kept a firm grip to her delusions of a peaceful life.

"He's already taken my last name, you of all people should know what that means." Marcus said, as Willow, Zion's Mother, stared directly into his soul.

"Just because I'm on my death bed, doesn't give you the right to claim heritage." It sounded more confusing than it really was.

But the implications were there, Marcus and her were related. More so than just a godfather to kin of another, there was something more at play here.

"Just do what is necessary but I'm warning you Marcus. You know me better than anyone else. You bring misfortune to my son and I will not sit by. I have no bounds to anything but that boy." She spat.

It wasn't just a threat as she had slammed a dagger in the adoption papers infront of them. It was a promise that Marcus owed to her, he knew all too well he did.

He owed her more than any wealth or honour. He owed her everything that was his and his life beyond the grave. But there was no words behind their connected eyes. Simply the understanding of sincerity with the hidden but understood implications.

There was history neither of them wanted to say encase the walls had ears that betrayed them.

"You will always have my word Willow" his words sounded faithful but his face gave him away.

It was too late to change his mind, his goals were going to be pushed through her son.

But if Zion really grew within the Maze, how long would he last without knowing anything? How far would he go for a lie?

What was she thinking... it was HIS son just as much as hers.

"I hope you get the proper send off to your grave when the time comes" she said calmly with a small smile, as Marcus simply smiled back knowingly.

Standing up, Willow excused herself as her mind started played tricks on her. Yes, it was only a matter of time, there's no cure for the pure brutality of losing a Soul connector.

--------

The Maze, floor 2:

"Do you guys want any? We have some to spare" May waved around some fish on a stick as they had opted to make a stone stove of sorts with what was in the cave.

The others didn't say anything as they layers some rocks on top of the small fire and used a slab of stone that Chris was carrying.

The slab of stone was taken with them after cutting up their haul from floor one.

May with her abilities placed her hand on the slab, heating it up effectively from her palm. Zion was truly amazing by the versatile nature of her talent.

In a conversation on the way to the gate May proudly said that her family prided themselves on being the best archers. That May was in fact the best prodigy they'd had in over 40 years. According to Xliav family history, the use of lighting magic was bestowed upon them by an ancient hawk.

Zion kind of wished he could drop some lore of his own but it seemed like the comparison between him and everyone else was too large.

'Ah so, I lived on the Outskirts of Zone 3 and don't have a father. My mother is clinical insane almost and my nanny is deranged for staying. Oh- and I got adopted into the Volitum surname that haunts me already' sarcastically thought Zion as he looked over to May having succeeded in giving cooked fish to the siblings.

Sighing he then looked over to Erica who seemed to be uncomfortable.

Unknown to everyone else in the room, the burning in the back of her throat was getting worse. Erica was hungry, and even though she could partake in food. Blood was a necessity for her young age yet she hadn't been able to hunt anything with the weather.

The craving for warm blood down her sore throat was electrifying as she dug her nails into her crossed over arms.

Thinking of anything else but he eyes darted wildy around the cave instead. Instincts over morals, that was the one thing she hated the most about her nature.