Chapter 7: A Predator in the Maze

**Chapter 7: A Predator in the Maze**

Ray's footsteps echoed softly as he moved through the ever-shifting corridors of the labyrinth. The walls breathed—he was sure of it now. He could feel the air pressing against his skin, the faintest sensation of movement, as if the maze itself was alive. The patches of light flickered unpredictably, making it impossible to trust what he saw.

He clenched his teeth and focused on walking. His body ached, the wound on his side a dull, throbbing reminder of how close to death he had already come. The tiny scraps of food he had scavenged had done little to ease the hollow pit in his stomach. He was still starving.

And something was following him.

The slow, deliberate tapping of claws against the ground had returned. It wasn't constant, nor was it rhythmic. Sometimes, it was distant, just at the edge of his hearing. Other times, it felt right behind him, vanishing just as he turned his head. The maze played tricks on sound, but one thing was clear—whatever it was, it was hunting him.

Ray exhaled through his nose and forced himself to keep moving at a steady pace. Running blindly wouldn't help. He had tried that before, and the corridors had shifted, twisting his path and leading him nowhere. He had to think.

It's waiting for something.

The thought sent a shiver down his spine. The beast could have attacked already if it wanted to. Instead, it was letting him wander, keeping just out of reach. Maybe it wanted him weaker. Maybe it was toying with him.

He tightened his grip on the shard of bone he had taken from the carcass earlier. It wasn't much of a weapon, but it was better than nothing.

Ahead, the hallway slanted downward, the ground becoming slick beneath his feet. He placed one hand against the wall to steady himself, ignoring the way it pulsed under his touch. The air grew colder.

And then—

Drip.

Ray stopped. His breath caught in his throat.

Water.

He barely dared to believe it, but the sound was unmistakable. He rushed forward, heart pounding, his thirst momentarily overriding all other concerns. The corridor widened into a small chamber, and at its center, a thin stream of liquid seeped from a crack in the wall, pooling in a shallow basin formed by the uneven floor.

It wasn't much, but it was water.

He crouched down and cupped his hands, drinking greedily. It was cold, metallic-tasting, but he didn't care. Each gulp soothed the burning in his throat. He splashed some over his face, savoring the coolness.

Then he froze.

The tapping sound had stopped.

Ray's breath came in shallow gasps. The labyrinth was silent. Too silent.

Slowly, he turned his head. The corridor behind him stretched into shifting darkness. No movement, no sign of anything. But the presence was there. He could feel it, waiting.

He swallowed hard and took one last mouthful of water before standing. His legs were shaky, but his mind felt clearer. He wasn't about to sit here and let whatever was hunting him make the first move.

He took a cautious step forward.

Then another.

And then—

A shape moved.

It was barely more than a shadow against the flickering walls, but it was there. A low, guttural breath rasped through the corridor, sending a chill through Ray's body.

He didn't wait to see what it was.

He ran.

The labyrinth twisted as he sprinted through it. Corridors stretched longer, then abruptly shortened, walls appearing where there had been none. His pulse thundered in his ears. The tapping sound returned, faster now, keeping pace with him.

He rounded a corner and—stumbled.

The ground wasn't solid. It had become soft, almost like wet clay. His feet sank slightly, and a horrible squelching noise filled the air. He bit back a curse and pushed forward, forcing his legs to move.

A deep, rattling growl rolled through the maze. It wasn't right behind him anymore. It was above.

Ray's eyes darted upward. The walls stretched into darkness, and for a second, he saw something move against the shifting ceiling.

It's climbing.

His stomach twisted. He wasn't just dealing with a beast on the ground—this thing could move through the maze however it pleased.

His foot caught on something, and he crashed to the ground. Pain shot through his body as he rolled onto his back, gasping for air.

And then he saw it.

A dark, skeletal figure clung to the wall above him, its elongated limbs wrapped around the shifting surface. Its face was wrong—too many eyes, too many teeth. Black saliva dripped from its mouth as it tilted its head, watching him.

Ray didn't think. He acted.

He hurled the bone shard with all his strength.

It struck the creature's shoulder, barely scratching it, but it moved. Its head snapped toward where the shard had fallen, giving Ray just enough time to roll to his feet and sprint down the corridor.

He didn't look back.

The walls blurred around him as he ran, the air thick with the scent of damp stone and something rotting. The corridors twisted, but he didn't slow. Every step was a desperate gamble, hoping the maze would lead him somewhere—anywhere—that wasn't straight into the monster's waiting claws.

His lungs burned. His legs felt like they were made of lead. But he didn't stop.

Somewhere in the distance, he heard the creature screech—a horrible, distorted sound that made his skull feel like it was splitting open.

The labyrinth pulsed around him, the flickering lights dimming. The air grew thick, almost suffocating. And then—

The ground vanished.

Ray's body lurched forward as he fell, weightless for a brief, terrifying second.

Darkness swallowed him whole.

And then—nothing.