"The walls are really tall..." Blanche spoke as the six of them raise their heads to look at the tall walls.
"I think this is 60 meters tall," Ethan spoke, he walk towards the wall and touched it. He also knock on it, but it only gives off a sound as if he only tapped on it.
"Wow, that proves how thick this wall is..." Zephyr spoke. Amethyst nod her head and look ahead. Her eyes widens when she saw something from a distance. She grabbed the layer of Ethan's shirt which caused her cousin to look at her.
"What?" When he noticed where his cousin is looking, he quickly turned to the place where Amethyst is looking. Everyone noticed it and they also followed what caused Amethyst to make such terrified face. Luck grit gis teeth when he saw several carcasses. It's like their life force has been sucked out form their entire body, including the blood and organs.
"C-can we go back? This is not mandatory, right?" Blanche asked, hiding behind Damon. Luck looked around the area and look up, only to find some hanging vines that looks extremely suspicious.
"Those vines..." He spoke, causing everyone to look at where he is looking.
'Normal vines should have the color of dark green or green, right? But these vines are dark red, no, bloody red. Seeing those carcasses and these strange colored vines can only mean one thing. Those vines are the culprit,' Luck though, his eyes narrowed to the vines and sighed.
"Dang, how are we going to pass through with those vines hanging there?" Damon asked, staring at the vines.
"A challenge right away after entering the maze, huh?" Zephyr sighed and look around the area.
Luck stared at the carcasses and the vines. There's no doubt that those vines did that to those animals. However, he think that it's a bit suspicious. There are only dead body of an animal, but there are none for humans.
'No human bodies?' He touched his chin and stared at the ground, thinking about some things.
"Luck, look. There's another way there," Ethan spoke, pointing at the path not far away from them. Luck looked at it and to the vines, as well as to the carcasses.
'It's extremely suspicious...'
"Hmm, yeah. But, wait a minute. Stay here," He spoke as he start walking.
"Where are you going?" Zephyr asked.
"I'm going to check something..." Luck replied, walking towards the carcasses.
"Hey--what are you going to do?" Ethan asked, grabbing the guy's arm. He smiled at him.
"I just want to confirm something. Don't worry, nothing's going to happen to me," Luck answered, gently removing Ethan's hand from his arm. The latter looked at Luck with those worried eyes, even the others are worried.
Luck just gave them a smile and faced the carcasses again and continue walking.
He turned to the pathway that Ethan pointed to and walk towards it. When he reached it, he stayed outside because of the strong smell of blood that made his nose hurt. Luck quickly walk backwards and turned to his teammates, shaking his head. Ethan shook his head as he slap his forehead because of disbelief.
Luck started walking towards the carcasses now and prepared himself to fight if ever the hanging vines moves to attack him. He stared at it and made sure to be alert.
'It's even more strange that these dead bodies of animals have no smell,' Luck thought, watching the vines that are hanging and swinging slightly.
"Careful, Luck!" Blanche yelled.
He continued walking until he reach the area where the carcasses are laying. The vines looks peaceful, and there are no other dead bodies here aside from these animals. There's no corpses here either. Luck crossed his arms and realized something.
Luck took a deep breath and clenched his fist as he take a step forward, right under the vines.
"Luck! What are you doing?!" Ethan yelled.
"Hey! Do you wanna die!?" Zephyr screamed.
The guy stayed under the hanging vines for a few seconds, ignoring the voices of his teammates. He closed his eyes as he wait for the vines to attack him, making sure that his senses are functioning well in order to dodge the attacks. When he noticed something, he opened his eyes.
Luck look up to the vines again, and it's staying still. He then turned to the carcasses, and notice how most of it are wild animals.
'First of all, where did these wild animals came from? Is it possible that there are more of these animals within the maze?' Luck asked himself before he took a deep vreath and turned to his teammates. He raised his arms before he shout.
"Safe! It only attacks animals! There are no corpses here!" He announced. The five of them exchanged looks before they started walking. Luck carefully passed through the scentless carcasses and waited for the five of them to reach me.
"You're so reckless, leader. What if these vines are actually dangerous?" Zephyr asked as they all reach Luck's direction.
"Exactly! That was risky! You didn't know if the vines are actually monsters or not!" Blanche added, glaring at Luck. Damon, Ai, and Ethan sighed in unison, they even shook their heads simultaneously.
"Well, I'm safe. So, stop nagging me. Plus, it's not like we can pass through this if we don't risk anything," Luck replied, which made his teammates exchange looks and shake their heads in disbelief.
"Luck, just because I made you our leader, it means you're going to risk your life for us," Ethan spoke. Luck, however just started walking, and they all followed him.
"Don't worry, I'm not just doing this for you all, I'm also doing this for myself," Luck replied, giving them a smile before he walks ahead of them. Ethan stared at his back and felt something within him.
'Am I actually guilty that I made him a leader? But...if I lead this team, I don't think we'll make it all out alive...' Ethan gulped as he pressed his lips together. Damon noticed it and creased his forehead.
'What's with him?' Damon asked himself, and then turned his head to Luck who's roaming his eyes around the maze.
'So, it was Ethan who appointed Luck as the leader? Why though?' Damon blinked for a couple of times before shrug his shoulders.
'Well, it's none of my business'
***
"Now both paths smells like blood...which one are we going to choose?" Zephyr asked, pointing at the two paths in front of us. That pathway after the vines and carcesses were so long and this is the first time we're seeing another paths.
"Choose the less smelly one?" Damon asked, and I just nod my head. Still, it's a fact that both these paths will be dangerous. So we need to be alert and prepare ourselves for anything.
"Be cautious," I said as I walk ahead of them. They all followed me, and the smell of blood becomes strong as we continue walking.
"Dang---upgrading this senses have its pros and cons," Zephyr said, covering her mouth and nose. As for the five of us, we're already used to the smell that we can now walk just fine.
"Bleeughh---" we all turned to Zephyr as she run towards the thick wall on the side and starts throwing up.
"Hah ~ been there, done that..." Damon whispered, roaming his eyes around the location where we stopped by. I also did the same to check if this area is safe at all.
"Should we rest?" I asked, all of them looked at me, surprised. I tilt my head and creased my forehead. Why are they looking at me like that?
"Really?" Huh?
"Yeah, if you want to," I replied, heading towards the wall of this maze, the opposite one from where Zephyr vomited of course. I touched it and look up to see what's above. Unlike earlier when there are vines, this place only have a normal ceiling.
Which is strange. It's been strange since we entered this maze.
When looking outside, there is no ceiling. But once you enter deeper, you'll start to see it. As if it's becoming a cave or something.
"Let's rest?" Ethan asked, the others nod their heads as Zephyr do her best to get used of the rusty and strong odor that's surrounding the area.
"Do we really need to rest here? The smell is--" Zephyr said, covering her mouth and nose with one hand, while the other hand on her stomach.
"Well, we can't waste time to go back..." Blanche spoke, leaning on the wall and sliding down the floor, she even yawn and bend her knees to lean her forehead on it and hug it.
"Wow...you can even yawn with this smell, the odor is so strong that you can taste it," Zephyr faced the wall and covered her whole face.
"Uhh...Miss Z-Zephyr...if you keep covering your nose uhm...you won't get used to the smell..." Ai spoke, scratching the back of her head. She's right. Zephyr needs to get used to the smell, otherwise it might be a hindrance later.
"W-well, dang right! But, it's difficult!" Zephyr is about to cry.
"You can still smell it while covering your nose, right? You'll get used to it. Or should we keep resting until you get used to the smell?" I asked, sitting beside Blanche on the ground. Seeing me take a seat, all of them did the same.
"That's actually a good idea," Damon said, nodding his head.
"What? What if that doesn't happen at all. We're going to be stuck here and the others will get the reward first!" Zephyr spoke, her voice sounds like she has a cold from covering her nose and mouth.
"That's also right," Ethan spoke.
"Then, you just need to make it happen," I added, and all I received was a glare from her. We can't do anything about it at all, she's the only one who can work on that.
"You're pressuring me," she said, rolling her eyes at me. She then removed her hand from her face, trying to prevent herself from vomiting here.
"I can't--" she said, covering her mouth and nose again.
"Don't rush it, friend. Just get use to the smell while covering your mouth and nose, and later on you won't notice that you've gone accustomed to it," Blanche pat Zephyr's shoulder and smiled at hr. For someone who's absolutely weird, she gives nice words.
"Thanks..."
Well, we really need to rest and conserve energy as well. We have no idea what's ahead of us, so we better be ready for everything. There many unknown things within this maze after all. I can't let any of us die.
***