Chapter Seven : The First victim

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[Inside the Corridor – The Attack Begins]

The strange creatures attacked quickly! Their forms were somewhat human-like, but their glowing red eyes and sharp teeth told a different story.

Youssef (screaming as he strikes one of them with a burning torch from the wall): "Stay away from me!!"

The creature screeched in pain as it burned, but it didn't die immediately. Instead, it twisted in agony and attacked even more ferociously.

Zain (fearfully): "Fire hurts them, but it doesn't kill them!"

Nadia (breathing heavily, retreating): "So what does that mean? We'll just keep fighting until we tire out while they never die?"

Adam (gripping the hunter's weapon he had stolen): "No, there must be a weak point. We have to find it!"

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[The Fight Continues – The First Fall]

The creatures were faster than they expected. One of them suddenly lunged at Lamar, knocking her to the ground, its fangs inches away from her neck!

Lamar (screaming, trying to push it away): "Somebody help me!!!"

Youssef (charging at the creature with his torch): "I won't let you die!"

But before he could reach her, another creature pounced on Youssef, sinking its teeth deep into his shoulder.

Youssef (screaming in pain): "AAAHH!!!"

Nadia (crying out with tears in her eyes): "Youssef!!!"

Lamar (her eyes trembling as she stares at the creature above her): "Not… like this!"

And in an instant… the creature sank its fangs into her neck.

Zain (horrified): "Lamar!!!"

Blood splattered, and Lamar's scream was suddenly cut off… Her eyes widened—then, in a single moment, life left her body.

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[The Impossible Escape]

Adam (wounded, his face covered in scratches): "We have to get out of here now!"

Zain (his eyes filled with tears): "We left her to die! We should have saved her!"

Youssef (panting from his injury): "If you don't run now, we'll all die!"

Nadia (grabbing Youssef, struggling to move): "We are NOT dying here… We won't!"

Instead of continuing the fight, they started running as fast as they could.

The creatures chased them, and the stone walls seemed to shift and close in on them as they ran, as if the maze itself was moving along with them.

Adam (shouting as he spots a small opening at the end of the corridor): "There! That's our way out!"

They reached the opening, but just before they could go through… a strong hand yanked Nadia backward!

Nadia (panicked, struggling to break free): "Adam! Youssef! Help me!"

Adam (grabbing her, trying to pull her back): "Hold on to meee!!"

But in the last moment… Zain pushed her away.

Nadia (staring at him in shock): "Wha…?"

Zain (with a cold smirk): "The game isn't over yet, Nadia…"

And suddenly… he leaped straight into the creatures.

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[The Betrayal is Revealed]

Youssef (panting, his face pale with shock): "He… What did he just do?!"

Nadia (her voice trembling): "He betrayed us…"

Adam (glaring towards Zain with fury): "He was with them from the beginning."

At that moment, the creatures didn't attack Zain. Instead, they stood around him as if he were one of them.

Zain (grinning smugly): "What did you think? That we all ended up here by coincidence?"

Nadia (her eyes filled with disbelief and tears): "You were deceiving us from the start?!"

Zain (staring at her blankly): "I didn't have to die like the rest of you… But unfortunately, the game doesn't spare anyone."

Adam (his voice sharp as he grips his weapon): "Then you'll have to pay the price."

And in a flash… a gunshot echoed.

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[The Traitor Falls]

The bullet hit Zain right in the chest. For the first time, his eyes widened in shock… then, slowly, he let out a small, knowing smile as he fell to his knees.

Zain (his voice weak): "Looks like… I lost."

His body collapsed to the ground… And just like that, the first traitor became the second victim.

Nadia (her voice shaking, tears streaming down her face as she looks at his lifeless body): "We have to get out of here… before we're the next ones."

Adam (his gaze dark and determined as he looks ahead): "There's still a long way to go… and death is everywhere."

But they had no idea that the third level was waiting for them… and it would be the hardest of all.

To be continued...