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The pain was intense — unlike anything I had ever experienced before. Even worse than that time I took a bolt of plasma to the chest.
Where the laser had streaked my back and shoulder, it had blistered the flesh. The smell of burnt fur stung my nostrils. I tried to push myself up onto my feet but it was no use. My right arm was useless.
I felt the familiar anger rise up in me, and along with it, my new keen sense of speed healing. But it was taking longer this time. Clearly, the injury was serious.
I looked over at Zoey and found her on all fours, shaking her head. At least she was still in one piece.
We would get out of this yet.
As I crawled toward her to shield her from the erratic laser beams, a new terror emerged from the depths of the maze.
The new male creature was an unsettling mix of scales and fur, no doubt a grotesque result of the gas’s transformative effects. Its wild, bloodthirsty gaze was fixed on Zoey, and I knew we were its target.
Injured by a laser strike, pain seared through me, I wasimpaired but not incapacitated. Yet, facing this new, ferocious adversary, I knew I was at a disadvantage.
I had to decide what to do next; either reach Zoey and cradle her protectively or charge towards the approaching beast.
A plan formed in my mind. It was a terrible gamble but it was our only chance.
The third creature bent down, preparing to pounce, its deadly intent unmistakable.
With a swift, calculated move, I stood up and looked back over my shoulder at the crazed laser-firing beast. It spotted me and planted its feet to open fire.
I turned back and threw myself at the scaled creature. It too spotted me and shifted position to leap at me instead of the female.
It leapt and, at the last moment, I darted to one side. The beast scowled at my cowardly move, and there was a fraction of a second of sudden desperate realization in its eyes as it realized what was about to happen.
The beast, caught off guard, was unable to evade the incoming beam. The laser, unleashed by an enemy it didn’t even know was there, struck it with brutal precision, slicing through its skull in an instant.
I hit the ground, landing at Zoey’s side. Exhausted, I took Zoey in my arms.
The sight before us was grim — the scaled beast lay motionless, a victim of this twisted game. For a brief moment, the immediate danger had passed, offering us a respite.
Turning my attention to Zoey, I checked her for injuries. Miraculously, she was unharmed, a small beacon of hope amidst the overwhelming chaos. But we couldn’t linger here; danger lurked at every turn in this maze.
With renewed determination, I began to move again,picking Zoey up and carefully navigating the labyrinthine paths.
Every step was a step towards survival, towards escape. The maze was full of unknown horrors, but I was resolved to protect Zoey and find our way out of this nightmarish reality.
We pressed on, ever watchful for the next threat in this unpredictable and perilous world.
Zoey
The remnants of the defeated scaly creature lay scattered across the maze’s floor, presenting a macabre tableau of visceral gore.
Blood and entrails were strewn about, creating a stark and harrowing sight. This gruesome scene was so far removed from the normalcy of my previous life, which now seemed like a distant memory.
I tried to divert my eyes from the grisly aftermath, but amidst the carnage, a peculiar sight caught my attention. Amid the creature’s remains, a peculiar light pulsed rhythmically. Despite my initial revulsion, curiosity drew me closer. Embedded where the creature’s heart would have been was a large, luminous gold gem. It throbbed with a strange energy, its glow eerily mesmerizing.
The gem, with its multifaceted surface, captured the dim light of the maze in a captivating dance of brightness and shadow. Its deep golden hue, laced with intricate patterns of varying shades, seemed almost otherworldly.
The gem stood in stark contrast to its brutal surroundings, a beautiful anomaly amid chaos and destruction.
I found myself transfixed by the gem, pondering its origins and significance. Was it a natural part of these alien creatures, or an artificial implant? It seemed so out of place, yet undeniably significant in this violent labyrinth.
A half-joking remark escaped me. “Can thisgetany weirder?”
It was a feeble attempt to lighten the weight of the surreal and terrifying reality I was trapped in.
