Sohee's steps are heavy, and her soles burn from running, so do her lungs. And despite her heavy breathing, she doesn't feel like she is getting enough oxygen and by the look of the others, they feel similar. She has ripped her socks; she can feel the contrast between the ground and textile. They just don't fit quite right anymore, and one of her toes stands out. She doesn’t understand why they have to run, but somehow after they found themselves on their legs again, they came to a silent mutual agreement that it is best to leave this place as fast as they can.

When they started running each of them thought the way back would be the same as they have entered the maze. But it turns out that there is no such luck.  She can't tell how far or how long they have run, or how many turns they have made. But there is no gateway nor are there any lantern, it's all different. 

She can see how Chorong and Irene from time to time frantically turn around to see if someone follows them. At last, Sohee has lost her way, and she is sure the others don't know where to go either because by now they should have reached the exit long ago if they were right. That's what he meant with, "take the challenge" wasn't it? Was there a time limit? Would other dangerous things be lurking? There must be, according to Ciel at least.

Sohee stops dead in her tracks, holding out her arms. “Guys, maybe we should go the other way?" But none of the others reacted to her suggestion. It’s the realization and fear that creeps up and slowly grows in everyone. Leading to the almost panicky must-flee-reaction and need just to move forwards and away. If they walk long enough, somewhen somewhere must be a Gate. Even Chorong just gives her an urgent glare to not joke with her right now.

She sighs. What other choice does she have as to follow what the majority decides? At least they finally settle down to a more bearable pace, and walk speedily. Hoya leads the little group on now, and from time to time he punches the bushes to check if they might be able to slip through them. But the branches were entangled and woven together to be an impenetrable wooden construct. It takes a good while till Sohee has caught her breath again, but feels dry, and she would do quite a lot for a sip of water. But of course, none of them thought to bring water bottles with them. This was supposed to be a short trip after all. Find Krystal and return to their beds before a teacher catches them missing.

But by now she is pretty sure this will have some serious consequences. If they will ever find a way and miraculously make it back, how should they explain what had happened to Krystal? Krystal... she tries not to think of her shock parted red eyes and her gaping open mouth, as if a scream would escape her lips any given moment. It's better not to think of her as her stomach still feels weak. Sohee's hands are still jittery, and for some odd reasons her fingertips start to feel tingly as well, but she ignores the feeling as she has no time to worry about it.

Purposely, Sohee drags her feet along, it's debilitating, but she starts to feel like they have been here before. And she would have further proof to confirm her assumption if she came along her own footprints. As long they were missing they were all good? Right?  

No of course not. Or at least not for very long. Irene hears it first, a rumbling sound, stomps of really heavy footsteps. The ground shakes with each dooming sound. At first, it’s just creepy, but she doesn’t think of it as anything more because they were far away. The others seem to feel the same way, as no one voiced out concern. But the pacing of their steps picks up slightly on speed again. Just to be sure. They weren't running but definitely walking as fast as they could, close to jogging. The problem is that their follower seems to speed up too and apparently, has longer legs then they have. Judging by the sound, it catches up fast.

The ground is now vibrating constantly, almost as if hit by tiny earthquakes. Sohee is surely not the only one distracted by the noises behind. Part of her doesn’t want to know, but she can’t help it. Ever so often she has to turn around and see and every now and then, behind a turn she can get a glimpse of something moving. Just a tiny bit above the bushes, a shadow that reminds her of horns. To be more specific of cow horns? But a cow doesn’t have two legs, and the creature behind clearly has two legs, and must be enormous bulky and quite weighty. Given by the sound and trembles, it creates.

They all were distracted and so it happens all so much faster than Sohee, or anyone else could have reacted.  She has turned around yet again just to snap her head forwards when she hears a terrifying scream. High pitched and loud, shaking through her soul. And then Chorong or Hoya, she isn’t sure who but someone grabbed her arm, and if it hadn't been for this gesture, her screams would have been the next to hear. She hasn't seen the accident occur, but she sees now that just a step ahead of her there is a pit. A pit Sohee would have fallen into if not for the steady grip on her wrist. But oddly enough when she turns around to see her, savior, no one stood next to her, and the hold is gone. Turning her head towards the other side, and counts three. Chorong, Sulli, Hoya and …Irene? Irene is gone.

Deep down Sohee knows, she has heard a dull sound of a body hitting the ground, and she is also almost certain she has also heard bones break. But it's hard to tell as the echoing of her final scream has drowned every other sound.