Chapter 5: Awakening the Keeper

The shadow lunged.

Elliot barely dodged in time.

Its distorted form twisted mid-air, claws stretching unnaturally as it swiped at him. The air rippled where its hand passed, as if reality itself was bending around it.

"Stay back!" the girl barked.

Elliot would've loved to follow that advice.

But the shadow had other plans.

The moment Elliot's feet touched the ground, the creature was already there, moving like a smear of darkness across the floor. It lashed out, and before he could react—

Pain.

Elliot gasped. His vision blurred as a burning sensation sliced across his arm. He staggered back, clutching the wound.

Blood.

His blood.

It was real.

This thing wasn't just some illusion meant to scare him.

It could kill him.

"Focus!" the girl shouted. "It feeds on doubt! If you hesitate, it'll rip you apart!"

Great. Just fantastic.

Elliot gritted his teeth. His pendant throbbed against his chest, its silver surface glowing faintly.

For the first time since entering this maze, he reached for it.

The moment his fingers touched the pendant—

A shockwave pulsed through the air.

The shadow froze.

Elliot felt something shift. The symbols on the labyrinth walls flared to life, pulsing in rhythm with his heartbeat.

The girl's eyes widened.

"You—" she started.

The shadow screeched.

It launched itself at Elliot, faster than before, its entire form melting into pure darkness. It was going to hit him. He had no time to move.

His pendant burned.

And suddenly—

The ground rose up.

A jagged wall of blue energy erupted from the floor, slamming into the creature with a deafening crack. The shadow shrieked, its form splintering as if it were being torn apart.

Elliot stumbled back, gasping.

The girl stared at him.

"You used it," she whispered. "You actually used it."

Elliot had no idea what she was talking about. His whole body felt like it was on fire.

But before he could say anything—

The shadow let out a final, guttural scream.

Its body shuddered. Twisted. Collapsed inward—

And then—

It was gone.

Only silence remained.

Elliot stood there, panting, heart hammering against his ribs.

His blood was still dripping onto the stone floor.

His arm ached. His head spun.

But he was alive.

The girl exhaled sharply. Then, after a long pause—

She smirked.

"Not bad, keeper."

Elliot groaned. "Can we—" He wiped sweat from his forehead. "Can we save the compliments until after I stop bleeding?"

The girl chuckled. Then, finally, she lowered her dagger.

"Come on," she said. "Let's get out of here."

Elliot let out a long breath.

Yeah.

That sounded like a really good idea.

Elliot limped forward, every step sending a sharp sting through his wounded arm.

The girl—who still hadn't bothered to introduce herself—walked ahead without hesitation. It was like she knew exactly where she was going, even though the labyrinth constantly shifted around them.

Elliot, on the other hand, was barely keeping up.

"So…" he muttered, wincing as he pressed his hand against the cut. "You wanna explain what just happened back there?"

The girl didn't stop.

"You used your inheritance."

Elliot blinked. "My… what?"

She sighed. Finally, she turned, golden eyes studying him like he was a particularly dumb puzzle.

"Your pendant," she said. "It's a Keeper's relic. And just now, you activated it."

Elliot looked down at the silver pendant hanging from his neck. It had always been warm to the touch, but now—

Now, it hummed against his skin.

Like it was… awake.

"Okay," he said slowly. "And what exactly is a Keeper supposed to be keeping?"

The girl raised an eyebrow. "You really have no idea, do you?"

"Not a clue."

She exhaled, rubbing her temple. "Unbelievable."

Elliot rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah, I'm clueless. Welcome to my life."

The girl hesitated. Then, after a moment, she sighed.

"A Keeper," she said, "is someone who maintains the balance. Between this world… and the things that don't belong in it."

Elliot frowned. "That's vague and ominous."

She smirked. "That's because the truth is worse."

Fantastic.

Before Elliot could respond—

The ground rumbled.

The air shifted.

The girl whirled around. Her dagger was in her hand before Elliot even processed what was happening.

Then—

A voice echoed through the labyrinth.

Low. Cold. Ancient.

"Ah… So the new Keeper has finally awakened."

Elliot froze.

The girl cursed under her breath.

And from the shadows—

A figure stepped forward.

Tall. Cloaked. Watching them.

Elliot's pulse pounded.

Whoever they were…

They had been waiting for him.

Elliot's breath hitched.

The figure stood motionless, shrouded in a cloak that seemed to drink in the light. Their face was hidden beneath a deep hood, but Elliot felt their gaze, sharp and heavy, like a weight pressing down on his chest.

The girl beside him tensed. Her fingers curled tightly around the hilt of her dagger.

"You," she muttered. "What do you want?"

The figure didn't answer immediately. Instead, they tilted their head slightly, as if studying Elliot.

Then—

"I am here for the Keeper."

Elliot's stomach dropped.

The girl shifted, subtly stepping between them. "He's not ready."

A pause. Then—

"That is not your decision to make."

Elliot swallowed hard. "Okay. Great. Love being talked about like I'm not here." He exhaled sharply. "Who the hell are you, and why does everyone keep calling me 'Keeper' like it means something?"

The figure's hood shifted ever so slightly, as if they were… smiling.

"Because it does mean something, Elliot Morgan."

Elliot stiffened.

His full name.

He had never told them his name.

The girl's grip on her dagger tightened. "We're leaving."

She grabbed Elliot's wrist, ready to move—

But the figure simply raised a hand.

And the entire labyrinth responded.

The walls shook. The air hummed. The torches lining the corridor flickered violently, casting long, twisting shadows.

Then—

The walls began to close in.

Elliot's breath caught. The path behind them was gone.

The girl cursed.

And the figure stepped closer.

"Running will do you no good," they said, voice smooth as silk. "The labyrinth has already chosen. And so have you."

Elliot's pulse hammered. "I didn't choose anything."

"Didn't you?"

The figure lifted a single, gloved hand—

And Elliot's pendant burned.

Not just warm. Not just pulsing.

It was on fire.

A searing, electric heat that shot through his veins, making his vision blur and his knees buckle.

He gasped, staggering.

The girl grabbed his arm. "Elliot—"

But she didn't get to finish.

Because the moment Elliot's pendant flared to life—

The shadows swarmed.