Cairo, Egypt

Tarren's footsteps were the only sound they could hear as they made their way through the next hallway that awaited them. Taking a heavy, deep breath before taking that first step and into the darkened hallway. As they did so, Tarren retrieved the other remaining flashlight they had with them. Thankfully that had brought a second one, and well, who the hell knew where the last one was. Seeing as it was dropped when Tarren had pushed Sol back into the alcove. "Sol…" the words fell from Tarren's lips before they even fully processed what they were saying. "I'm gonna find you...Wherever you are…We'll get out." they said with a small nod of their head. Trying to give themself somewhat of a pep talk. Ren had to remind themself they weren't doing this for nothing. Someone else was relying on them and Tarren would be damned if they didn't at least help her get out.

The only sound Tarren could hear aside from their footsteps, were the sound of their own breathing and their heart that beat heavily in their chest. So much they could feel the pressure in their ears. Over the years, Tarren had been through so much but nothing like this before. And it terrified them. And if this was scaring Tarren? They could only imagine how the others were feeling. Eden. Nova. Charlie...God this was all messed up.

Tarren kept their flashlight ahead as they looked around as they proceeded forward. Trying to see if they recognized any of the markings. But none of this made any sense. Was this all really just some sick idea from Price with a weird Escape Room? Testing to see if his students would be able to pass whatever this was? If so, why? What was the point of any of this? If Tarren hadn't been as fast as they were back when they were with Sol, they both could have died. Was Price really this crazy to bring them into a real life death trap? Ren was only taken out of their thoughts when a scent hit their nose. It was an all too familiar smell. It was clean. All too clean. Sterile even. Tarren blinked, looking around for anything that could clue them on where the smell was coming from. It just logically made no sense for it to smell like a- Tarren stopped walking once more and listened. It was faint..But they could hear it from further down the pathway. a very faint beeping sound . Like a monitor. But, that didn't even make sense. They were in an old and ancient tomb. Why would something electrical be in a place like this? It must have been their mind playing tricks on them after they picked up the all too familiar scent of sterilization.

After taking a deep breath, Tarren continued walking down the corridor cautiously. None of this made sense. Why were they imagining these sounds and smells? Was this all part of some really fucked up joke? If so, every line was being crossed at this moment. It was only then that Tarren finally heard it. It was muffled and distant, but they could hear it. As almost if it was in their mind, What are you looking for, child? It was a voice, but not their own. And one Tarren had never heard before. "Who...Who’s there?” they finally called out. A lump forming in their throat. ”No need to be afraid.” a voice spoke up, stepping out from behind the shadows in the direction Tarren was walking towards. It was a man, there was something familiar about him, but not at the same time. "Who are you?” Tarren questioned as they took a step back. Keeping their eyes and flashlight on the man who stood opposite of them.

He gave Tarren a small, coy smile. ”Just someone to help. Now, come with me?” he beckoned them with his hand as he turned on his heels and began to walk back the way he came. Tarren took a deep breath and began to follow the man. Staying back a bit, that if he tried anything, Tarren would have enough time to react. Tarren kept their eye on the figure that walked alongside them, "Are...Are you somehow stuck in here too?” they questioned. The man nodded, ”Not everyday someone stumbles into these tombs.” he side eyed Tarren. "-And not everyday you come across someone in an abandoned tomb like this, without a flashlight, nevermind supplies. So what are you really doing here?” Tarren pressed. The man chuckled. ”Same as you. Stuck in a place that we need to figure our way out together. Isn’t that right, Tarren?” he questioned. Tarren took a moment to slowly nod.

"How long have you been in here?” Ren asked. There was a brief pause, ”About a day. Maybe two.” he answered simply. "And you’re still alive?” Tarren scoffed. The man chuckled, hands held neatly behind his back, ”Yes. But death...Death is a process we all must one day face. Whether our own...Or another’s.” Tarren side eyed the man at that comment, to see his eyes staring at them intently. The stare sent a shiver down their spine. Something didn’t feel right about this whole ordeal. A pit forming in their stomach. "What do you mean?” Tarren questioned.

The man chuckled once again, shaking his head. ”You have ones you love, no? Friends, a partner, family, father…Mother?” his eyes flickered over to Tarren. Ren hadn’t realized that their hands had been shaking this entire time. It was subtle, but their breathing was also labored by the slightest bit as they could feel their heart-beat racing. They didn’t know if this man knew or not, but this entire encounter began to become more and more uneasy as time went on.

Tarren swallowed hard as they took a deep breath, "Yes. I...I have friends. And my family. It’s why I need to get out of here.” Tarren said rather abruptly. As more of a fact and statement than anything else. The man nodded once more, ”Of course. It’s why I’m here, to help you get out. So you can see your mother again.” he eyed Tarren once more as they continued to walk. Tarren eyed him back, "How do you-” the man chuckled, ”I know a great many things, Tarren. I know of your past struggles and pain. The torment, countless losses. The heartaches and heartbreaks. Every ounce of pain you have endured over the years. Everything has brought you here, to this moment.” he stopped walking, and stood beside Tarren. Looking down on them now. Tarren eyebrows knitted together, "What does that even mean? Why am I here?” Tarren was done playing games, and they wanted answers. Their jaw were locked tightly, eyebrows furrowed tightly together. ”There are things you need to understand, that are far out of your control, my dear.” he said as he stepped forward, gently tucking a few strands of Tarren’s hair behind their ear.

"Like what?” Ren bit back, staring up intently at him. A sly grin formed over his lips. ”A number of things. Things revolving around death. Especially those of others. You can maybe control what happens to yourself for the most part, but when it comes to others, and their time coming to an end? You need to learn you have no say in it. Death is uncompromisable. Just like life itself, death is unavoidable. People come into existence with a reason and purpose when the universe says so. And the same with death.” he leaned in closer, cupping Tarren’s chin between his fingers, holding them close. The two remained staring intently into the others eyes, refusing to look away before Tarren felt his grip loosen and then eventually his hand fall from their chin. "-And what if I don’t?” the man chuckled, ”What? Defy death itself?” he chuckled. "What if I choose to not accept it?”

Silence fell in the room as the man paused, thinking over it for a moment. ”Then you suffer twice.” he replied. ”The more you choose to deny, the inevitable. The more you hurt yourself, young one. You accept that eventually, another’s time will come. And there is nothing you can do to stop it. And it will happen time and time again. And the result will always be the same. And that is something you need to understand and accept.” Tarren watched as the man’s features fell for a moment. Until now, his expressions had been cold to borderline emotionless. But now, they showed the slightest bit of sympathy? Sadness?

"Why do you care?” Tarren finally questioned. That familiar burn starting from behind their eyes. The man smiled gently at Tarren, cupping either side of their face between his hands as he spoke, ”Because it’s what needs to happen. You need to accept the reality of life. So you can move forward. For those who have passed on. That is how death works. One chapter ends with others, and another chapter begins. It’s a cycle, child. One that not even death itself can control. But death understands its own nature, and accepts it for what it is. A part of life. And you must do the same, or you will never be able to move on. You refuse to accept it, you’ll be stuck in the past, forever weighed down by the pain and loss.”

Tarren eyed the man for a moment, unable to stop the few tears that trickled down their cheeks. The man gently wiped them away. Keeping his gaze locked on them. "So...I have to accept that...I can’t…” Tarren's voice trembled and wavered, before a defeated crack escaped their lips and more tears flowed. Leaning against the figure as they did so. ”You must learn to one day accept that she won’t always be around to watch over you. That you will one day have to say goodbye, and it will hurt but...Death is-” "-Just as much of a part of the cycle as life is…” Tarren finished his sentence. A small creased his lips. ”Exactly, dear one.” he stood back, wiping the remainder of tears from Ren’s eyes. ”No one can say when that day will come. But it will come. And you need to be ready for that. And remember, you are not alone. You do have friends. Remember? And...If I can guess correctly, you have one you need to go find again. Don’t you?” he questioned with a small smile.

Tarren blinked a few times as the man stepped away. Taking a moment to think it over. Somehow during all of this, part of Tarren had already begun to forget. About the others. Like part of their memory was beginning to fog over in a haze. How did they nearly forget about their friends? Tarren cleared their throat and nodded, "Yeah...Sol...She...She got separated from me. I need to find her. Do you have any idea on what way to go to get out of here-” Tarren began, but as they turned to look back at the man, he was gone. Just like that. Tarren shone the flashlight all around, looking for any possible way he could have gone. There was no way he managed to just disappear, right? "What the fuck…?” they mumbled aloud.

"Hello??” Ren called out, shining the flashlight around as they walked further down the hallway. Hoping this direction would lead to an exit. "Okay look. You disappearing like that is so very funny. Ahaha. You can come out now, mate.” Tarren spoke with an annoyed tone. They were not in the mood for this man to just appear out of nowhere and attempt at scaring them. Or Tarren would end up punching him in the face.

It was only after a few more minutes of walking, that Tarren heard it. The sound of something behind them. For just a moment, Tarren shone the flashlight behind them, hoping to maybe see the man trying to scare them. Instead, what Tarren managed to see for just a split moment sent a shiver down their spine. It was some large, overly large creature. Hunched over on all fours making a direct b-line for them. What they saw, there was nothing like it. It seemed unnaturally shaped and formed. Gray, toned skin seemingly to fold over itself in random places, an unrecognizable face, glowing red eyes, and what looked like clawed hands. Tarren only saw it for a few seconds, before they immediately turned and continued running in the direction where they were headed. They could feel that familiar burn in their lungs as they tried to maintain their breathing with each step. Their eyes darting all around to hopefully find somewhere to go to lose track of whatever was after them. Tarren could hear heavy, labored breathing and growling behind them, it sounded somewhat like a mountain lion mixed with a human as it chased after them. Occasionally making predatory grunts and growls as it chased its prey. Tarren was its prey, and that thought made them feel sick and terrified. If they couldn’t escape in the next few seconds, Ren knew they’d eventually grow tired, make a wrong turn, or even be caught and it’d be the end of them.

The sound of footsteps and heavy breathing was the only thing Tarren heard as they ran for their life. Seeing an opening for another passageway up ahead, Ren dared to make the call and as they enclosed on it, Tarren turned and took the sudden turn to the left, darting into the next hallway. All they could hear was the sound of something large slamming into the wall behind them. But they didn’t dare look back.Too terrified to see what was giving chase, or give it an opportunity to get them. For just a moment, they did the unthinkable, and looked over their shoulder. There was nothing. But Tarren didn’t dare stop, and kept running. It was only when they turned back around, that Tarren ran into something as their body collided with it.

Whatever they collided with was enough force to send Tarren backwards onto the ground. Narrowly avoiding hitting their head on the stone below. Tarren laid there, stunned for a moment in confusion and exhaustion as their lungs burned. Trying to catch their breath with every inhale they made. After a few more moments, Ren was finally able to pull themself up enough on to support themself on their elbows, slightly pushing themself backward from whatever they ran into moments before. Looking up finally to see what it was. "Holy fuck..” Ren whispered out, still trying to catch their breath. Their eyes landing on a figure, assuming it was what they ran into. Tarren quickly lurched forward and wrapped them in a hug, "Are you okay? Are you hurt?” Ren questioned, taking the time to look them over. Ren’s eyes finally locked fully on Sol, clear worry was scrawled all over Tarren’s face as they looked at her. "I told you I’d find you.” Tarren said with a small smile, embracing her in a hug once more. It lasted just a moment before they stepped back, giving her a moment to breathe and catch them up on things.

It was only then that Tarren realized that it wasn't just Sol and them. Realizing they had been hugged by two people instead of just Sol. A small smirk formed on their face as their eyes landed on another figure. "Charlie-” Tarren managed to get out as Tarren took a moment to return Charlie's hug as well. Knowing now that two of their friends were okay, helped ease some of their stress. But after a moment, they were filled with more confusion than anything else. Stepping back, Tarren looked at the other two. "How in the fuck did you two end up together? Is it just you two, or are there others with you guys?” Ren questioned, finally giving time to the others.

Tarren didn’t care much what was going on, all they did care about was that they weren’t alone and that at least two others were okay now. Well, not dead anyway. But now, it just meant that Tarren was now responsible for three people, instead of two. Taking a deep breath, Tarren readjusted their backpack that was still on their person. It was also at this time that they finally felt their hand beginning to ache, looking down at it for the first time since they were first alone, the bandage was stained with blood.

As the other two continued to fill Tarren in on what happened, Tarren knelt down and slung their backpack in front of them, looking for the gauze, and tended to the wound on their left hand. It was looking better than they thought, the cut from the knife wasn't as deep at the initially thought, but using simple gauze wasn’t going to help in the long run. It was also at this moment that Tarren realized their clothing was still very much so drenched after the first cavern they were in after they got separated from Sol. That thought didn’t help ease their mind at all. If anything, it left them with more questions than answers. It had felt like hours since they were on their own and been walking around. Yet, here they were, standing around like they just got out of that large underground lake. What the ever living hell was going on?

Looking up at the other two, ”This is gonna sound crazy but...How long have you two been together? Like...Since you found each other?” Tarren quickly interjected. They needed to confirm their theory, and if the other two confirmed what Tarren was thinking, then absolutely none of this made sense. How much time actually passed?

Nova didn’t know how long she sat on the ground, taking in long, deep breaths as she relished the feeling of being able to take deep breaths again. She examined herself for injuries. She’d taken a skid along the floor when she’d fallen onto the pile of sand, and one arm was scratched up, along with her face. Her legs hurt, feeling like she had a bad case of sunburn, and on inspection, they looked like they’d been sunburned as well. Somewhere, at the back of her mind, she was annoyed about that, given how careful she’d been with topping up her SPF all day and making sure her legs were even covered, she’d gotten burned in a tomb but that was far from a major worry now.

Eventually, the voice that was rapidly becoming familiar echoed in her head.
”C’mon, kid. It’s time to get moving.”
The voice was gentle and encouraging, not at all rushing her, but it was enough to encourage her to finally get to her feet. There was a door in front of her, and she opened it, stepping through it without really looking back. To her, it just seemed to lead into a long corridor that took sharp turns and seemed to loop back on itself. It was only when she reached the first split in the path that she began to realise what was going on. She stopped for a minute and dug in her bag, searching for… something. She wasn’t quite sure what she was looking for until her hand closed around her lipstick tube. Grinning, she pulled it out and drew a small x on the path she decided to take, before tucking her lipstick back into the pockets of her trousers and heading onwards.

She continued down this path for a while. Was it ten minutes or an hour? It was impossible to tell, with no landmarks to work with. So when a wall suddenly slammed across the path behind her with an almost deafening thud, she almost jumped out of her skin. It was the first thing she’d heard besides her own faint footsteps since she’d entered the maze. She stared at the wall that had appeared from nowhere for a few seconds until her heart rate finally began to drop, and she turned around to face what lay in front of her. There was yet another wall in front of her; one she swore hadn’t been there only a few seconds before and which appeared to have materialised much more quietly than the one that had slammed shut behind her. There was a small alcove into the wall, and in that alcove was a scale and a series of identical small metal balls.

”I heard you like puzzles. There’s one ball that’s heavier than the rest and one ball that’s lighter than the rest. Figure out which one’s which, slot them into those two holes there, and the door will open. Oh, and by the way, if you just use trial and error of slotting the balls into the holes, it won’t work. You gotta use the scales. Good luck!

Nova’s face broke out into a grin. She did indeed like puzzles, and it was a welcome break from the monotony of just wandering through a maze. To her, all of the balls felt exactly the same weight; but as she began the process of figuring out which was which, it seemed that there were significant differences between the heaviest and the lightest. It didn’t take her long to figure them out, and she slotted the two balls in question into the holes in the wall.

Silently, the wall split in half, allowing her to step through it, beaming with pride and satisfaction. She began to make her way through the maze again, marking off the turns she took the same way she had been all along. But her pleasure at figuring out the puzzle soon wore off as everything else began to take its toll. She hit her first dead end and was forced to turn around and try to take a different path. Her feet were beginning to hurt. Her legs were aching. Her back was aching. Her arm and face were aching. She’d dug in her bag a few minutes or hours ago in search of a scrunchie, and now had her hair pulled into a bun at the top of her head. She’d been tired of having her hair in her face all the time, and now, she was tired of the sensation of the bun.

When she hit another puzzle, her delight was not as strong as it had been the first time. She told herself it must be a sign she was heading in the right direction, at least. This time, there was no explanation, although, admittedly, there was no explanation needed. She had to fit a variety of wooden pieces into a solid cube; but all of them were weird shapes and didn’t seem to fit together right. At one point, she thought she had it; and then she was left with two pieces that didn’t seem to fit at all. Frustration got the better of her, and she flung the pieces away from her, before sitting down on the floor with her back to the wall blocking her path. She ran her hands down her face and pulled her hair out of the bun, staring at the ceiling. She didn’t know how long she sat there, staring into space. She didn’t want to think, didn’t want to have to move, she didn’t want to have to do anything just then. But eventually, she came to her senses, remembering that she couldn’t just stay there forever. She didn’t know how long she’d been in there, though, and she realised that meant she also didn’t know the last time she’d eaten or drank. So she fished in her bag for a bottle of water and a packet of crisps she’d left in her bag. While searching for her snacks, she also came across the book she’d brought for emergencies, and so, as she ate and drank, she read.

Refreshed, with the aches and pains beginning to fade, she picked up the pieces of the puzzle again and began working on it. It still took her a few minutes; but this time, everything seemed clearer and to fit together better, and before long, she had a solid cube in her hand. She went to put it back onto the pedestal, but the wall split in two before she could do so. So she held onto it, putting it into her bag.

It didn’t take long for her to hit another puzzle. And then another, and another, and another. Time didn’t feel real any more. She had no idea how long she’d been stuck in the maze. It felt like days. Her whole body was aching now, not helped by the puzzles, which were beginning to become increasingly physical, requiring her to either climb or move heavy rocks. The maze itself was becoming increasingly disorientating. Even though she wasn’t seeing any of the marks she left behind for herself, she was sure that she was doubling back on herself or going around in circles or just wandering down the same corridor over and over and over again, no matter what turns she took.

Somehow, though, her legs kept going. She was sure that she was on autopilot by this point. Walk. Solve a puzzle. Walk. Solve a puzzle. Walk. Choose a path. Hope it’s the right one. Puzzle. Walk. Hope. Pray. Oops, dead end, time to turn back. Walk. Puzzle. Hope. Pray. Was there even an exit to this maze? Or was this how she met her end, endlessly wandering around the maze until she went mad or just collapsed from exhaustion?

It seemed that the latter was the more likely one. After what felt like hours, or maybe days, she once again heard the familiar sound of a wall slamming shut behind her. She wasn’t sure if it was exhaustion or emotion that made her legs buckle beneath her, but she slowly slid to the ground, back against the wall that had appeared behind her. She was too exhausted to do anything other than just stare into space. She had to have been in the maze for days. She’d finished what was left of her water a while back. Maybe the dehydration and exhaustion were finally getting to her. Maybe she’d died in the quicksand, and this was hell. She wondered what the final straw was for getting her sent to hell. Was it her refusal to hear Adam out and not showing him empathy based purely on how he’d treated Sol? Had Christianity been right, and it was in fact the conversation she and Tarren had had about their various girl crushes? Or was it just all of those unethically sourced almond milk lattes?

She closed her eyes, not wanting to look at whatever lay in front of her. She also hadn’t slept in the days she’d been in the maze; that surely couldn’t be helping things. Propped up against a solid stone wall on a hard earth floor wasn’t ideal for sleeping; she knew that. She knew she had an extra layer in her bag, but she couldn’t bring herself to reach for it.

When she smelled that familiar perfume, she thought that she had to be asleep. There was no way she could be awake and be able to experience that familiar, comforting smell. And then it was joined by an earthy aftershave, mixing into a smell that had filled Nova’s childhood. The aches and pains and the exhaustion were all still there, making her feel like she was awake, but she was sure that they must just be seeping into her dreams.



Open your eyes, kid.

That soft, familiar voice which Nova hadn’t heard in what felt like days long. Something in the voice made her listen, and she opened her eyes. Her parents were standing about six feet away from her. All logic abandoned along with her exhaustion, she scrambled to her feet and flung herself at them. They caught her in a hug, solid and there and real. She might be dead, but if her parents were here, then this couldn’t be hell.

Her mother released her from the hug and cupped Nova’s face in her hands.

“Look at you, my beautiful daughter. My beautiful, brilliant, amazing daughter,” her mother said. Nova managed a smile, even though the tears were beginning to stream down her face. She didn’t know why she was crying, if they were tears of joy or sorrow, but Alexandra just smiled softly as she gently wiped some of the tears away with her thumb.

“Straight A’s in all of your classes, last semester, we heard,” her father said, wrapping an arm around Nova’s shoulders. Nova nodded.
“Including my history class,” she said, resulting in her father’s broad smile widening even further.
“Really? You took a history class?” He asked excitedly.
“It counted towards my credits under the guise of forensic anthropology through a technicality, I think,” she said with a laugh.
“Forensic anthropology?”
“I’m majoring in forensic science. Plenty of chemistry, you’ll be glad to hear, Mum,” she said, glancing back at her mother, who smiled triumphantly at her husband.
“See, told you she’d take after me. So, come on then, darling,” she said, stepping away and sitting down on a couch that had definitely not been there a few moments ago. It looked just like the old couch from their sitting room that was far more comfortable than she looked. Nova sank into the couch, beside her mother, while her father took an armchair beside them, the way they’d always sat at home. “Tell us about your time at university. We know you’re doing brilliantly at your classes, but come on, tell us everything else.”

Nova shrugged. “I don’t know what there is to tell. I’m on the debating team, we got to nationals last year and were only taken out by one of the Ivy Leagues. Still fencing too, got to regionals there then hurt my knee and had to withdraw.” Her father chuckled.
“Come on, now, Nova, that’s all well and good, but your mother doesn’t want to hear about all that. She wants to know the gossip.”
“Subtle as always, William, darling. But yes, come on, now, sweetheart. Any boyfriends? Girlfriends? Other… important people?” She asked, an eyebrow raised. At Nova’s face, she chuckled again. “Nova, darling, we know about your grades, of course we know about your sexuality. And, of course, we don’t mind at all. So come on. Talk.”

Nova laughed. “No boyfriends, girlfriends, or anyone else,” she admitted. But even as she said it, Ethan came to mind, not for the first time since she’d been wandering around the tombs.
“But there is someone you like,” her mother said, ever observant.
“Yeah. There’s this guy. A friend of mine, we… actually met in one of my history classes.”
“Aha, see, I told you Alexandra, history does have its uses!” Her father exclaimed, making Nova laugh. Then his face turned serious. “Now, this young gentleman. Does he treat you right?”
“If you know about my grades, how the hell do you not know about Ethan?” Nova asked after a brief pause, her eyebrow raised. William cackled and turned to his wife, his reaction giving away that they'd known all along.
“See, I told you it was that young gentleman!” he declared. Alexandra rolled her eyes.
“I never said it wasn’t,” she said. “And Nova, darling, we know everything we want to know,” she explained. Nova laughed, shaking her head. For a moment, it felt like nothing had happened. Like that awful night five years ago and every horrible moment since had been some bad dream.

And then reality came crashing in. It had happened. And it had robbed Nova of so much. Her parents weren’t supposed to know everything they wanted to know. She was supposed to get to tell them. She was supposed to tell her parents that she was demi and pan, she was supposed to tell them about her grades, she was supposed to tell them about the cute boy in her history class. And all of that had been taken from her. Once the tears started, she couldn’t stop them, all of the pain and the anger and the frustration that had been building in her for hours finally flooding out of her. Her mother pulled her in close, letting her cry on her shoulder, but that just made it worse. These weren’t the circumstances she was supposed to be getting to cry on her mother’s shoulder. She should have been crying over heartbreaks and sad movies and bad grades.

“How am I supposed to move on from all of this?” She asked. She wasn’t quite sure how they understood her, the sobs leaving her barely able to breathe and making her whole body shake. But clearly, they did. After a few moments, William spoke.

“You… you don’t have to move on, you know. You can… you can choose to stay with us. If that’s what you really want.”
“And we don’t have to stay here. We can go home, you know. Back to London. You can have your old room in the attic again. You’ll have peace there. Endless time to finally read everything you want to,” her mother added softly. Nova pulled away from her grip, wiping her face with the back of her hand. There was a part of her that was tempted. She would have been lying if she didn’t say that. She was so tired. She was so sore. She had no idea if she’d make it out anyway or if she’d ever see anyone she cared about anyway. Maybe… maybe choosing to stay would be the easy thing to do. A peaceful existence, no more troubles, no more pain. No more loneliness.

“But you have to be sure that’s what you really, really want, Nova,” her father said. She looked at him, studying his familiar face for a few seconds, before glancing down at the ground beneath her feet. Her bag sat by her feet. She stared at the familiar object for a few seconds. She’d bought it when she’d moved to LindenWood, and it had seen her through the three years so far, showing no sign of wear. The old leather satchel had a number of pins stuck in it, pins that she’d collected and been gifted throughout the years. Ethan had said something about the satchel having serious Indiana Jones vibes, even with the ace flag unicorn pin and the stack of pancakes pin. The pancakes pin had been a present from Tarren, who had presented it to her with a straight face, before they’d called Nova a pancake and walked away. There was a D20 pin, presented by Yousof alongside a declaration that she was definitely the true queen of DnD, no matter what Romeo claimed. She lifted the bag up, wiping the light coating of sand off of it. It must have still been there from the quicksand. She opened it up. Inside, her lipstick sat near the top, still there from her frequent use. It had been a gift from Sol, with Sol claiming it suited Nova’s winter colouring more anyway.

And Nova knew what she had to do.

With fresh tears streaming down her face, she looked up at her parents. “I can’t stay with you. I… I’m not done yet.”

She was tired. She was sore. And she knew walking away from this, from them, would be the hardest thing she’d ever done. But there were people waiting for her. There were things she still had to say, things she still had to do, and she’d never been the type to give up.

Her parents’ smiles were sad, but the pride shone through their eyes anyway.

“No. You’re not. Now, I want to hear of you getting tenure at some fancy university in a few years time, understood?” Alexandra said, taking both of Nova’s hands in hers. Nova nodded, unable to speak through the tears. “Professor Nova Morrison really has a ring to it, don’t you think?” Her mother joked, and Nova nodded again, managing a smile.

“We’re so proud of you, my darling,” William said. “You’ve achieved so much, despite everything. And you’ve just proven yourself to be as brilliant as we knew you were.” He said. Nova smiled and nodded; a door appearing in the wall behind them as she did so. It seemed they all took a deep breath in at the same time.

“Well. I think it’s time for you to reunite with your friends now, isn’t it?” Her father said gently. “No more mazes. You’ll find them again before long,” he said, his words sounding like a promise. The three of them got to their feet, Nova tacking both of them in a hug again. Both of her parents stepped away at the same time so she wouldn’t have to be the one to let go. But Nova had to be the one to step away and walk towards the door.

Every step felt like another crack in her heart, but she knew what she had to do. She put her hand on the handle, and looked back at her parents.

“Goodbye,” she whispered, unable to speak any louder, saying the words she’d regretted not being able to say for five years. They smiled, their pride crystal clear. And then Nova opened the door and stepped through it.

The door closed behind her with a thud that made it clear it would not be opening again. Everything came crashing back in at that point, and she slid down the door, sobbing again. Already, it felt like those memories of her parents were beginning to fade. She knew she’d made the right decision. But it wasn’t fair that she’d had to make that decision in the first place. It wasn’t fair that she was trapped in this tomb and had no idea how to get out. Her grief manifested itself as anger and frustration, and so she just sat, her back against the door for fear that walking away would make the memories fade faster. And she cried.