Page 12

‘El?’ I call out, waiting a moment, but there’s no reply.

We reach another intersection. Three choices, and no sign of Elodie.

‘Maybe she went straight?’ Tess suggests.

‘Left, she always chooses left,’ I reply.

‘She’s probably at the end already, laughing at us.’

We push forward. The corridor narrows even further, until we’re practically shoulder to shoulder. A figure drops suddenly from a hatch above us, dangling upside down, mask white, eyes hollow. We scream, turning to sprint blindly through the corridor, and that’s when the maze splits again, a sharp zigzag that forces Tess one way and me the other.

‘Tess!’ I shout, reaching for her.

My fingers brush hers before a panel slides between us. The soundproofing muffles everything instantly. The corridor is suddenly silent.

‘Hello?’ I breathe. ‘Tess? Elodie?’

I strain to listen for a reply, but can only hear the faint thump of music through walls. I press my palm to the panel that separated us, and it gives a little but stays upright. A cool draught snakes along the floor, curling around my ankles and lifting the hairs on the back of my neck. I feel as if I am alone in the maze. The lantern above me flickers before dying completely, throwing me into total darkness. The music stops.

A soft sound breaks the silence. Not a footstep – more like the gentle scrape of someone dragging a gloved finger along the wall … someone right behind me. I whirl around, my heart slamming in my ribs.

A tall figure stands at the far end of the corridor, barely visible in the faint glow of a strobe hidden somewhere behind them. Every few seconds, the light flashes, illuminating them in disjointed snapshots: black clothes; broad shoulders; a mask, sleek and matte black except for the faintest silver lines tracing over the cheekbones like scars. A man, I presume. His head is tilted, as though he’s studying me. The light flashes again and in the blink of an eye, he’s much closer than he was a second ago.

‘Oh – um – hi?’ My voice cracks embarrassingly. ‘You got me separated from my friends.’

He steps forward in deliberate, slow movements that have my heart jackknifing in my chest. They’re calculated and predatory, but playful too. There’s something in the tilt of his head, the measured pace, that suggests he’s waiting to see what I’ll do. For a second, it feels all too real.

‘Great. Okay. You’re one of the hardcore actors,’ I mumble, backing up a step. ‘I get it. I’m scared. Congrats.’

The lights flash again, and he appears at my side, leaning a shoulder against the wall as if he’s been casually waiting for me.

I gasp and stumble back before I spin and run, my heeled boots thudding against the floor. The corridor zigzags wildly, forcing me left, then right, then through a narrow gap barely wider than my shoulders again. My pulse is a roar in my ears.

Behind me, his footsteps follow. He’s chasing me.

I look back to see another bright flash, revealing him at the corner I just turned. His shadow stretches long behind him.

‘You’re enjoying this way too much!’ I shout, breathless, half laughing, half terrified.

He doesn’t speak; he simply tilts his head again. Another flash. He’s closer yet again, clearly able to use these flashing light techniques to his advantage. I dart into another passage, nearly slipping. My hand hits a cold metal bar, which thankfully feels like a handle. I yank it open and slip inside what looks like a dead-end room, with mirrored panels lining the walls.

Perfect. A trap. I spin to face the doorway and freeze, my eyes landing on his broad frame that blocks the exit entirely.

‘Okay,’ I say, forcing my voice to sound braver than I feel. ‘You win. I’m caught. Happy now?’

He steps inside, the fog curling around his army-like boots. The strobe light above us pulses weakly, slicing the darkness with flashes that catch the silver lines on his mask. They make his face sharp, almost wolfish.

‘You want me to keep playing?’ I ask, sounding a little too breathless.

He crooks one finger, beckoning me to him. My stomach flips so violently I feel nauseous.

‘Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me,’ I whisper, but a grin tugs at my lips despite everything. ‘Fine. Round two.’

Before he can reach me, I dart to the side, slipping behind one of the mirrored panels. It leads into another hidden passage. I run, laughing this time, adrenaline electric in my veins. Behind me, I hear a low chuckle. It’s soft, muffled by the mask, but unmistakably deep and amused.

I run fast, but he continues to get closer.

The maze bends, guiding me into a narrow corridor where the walls lean inward, funnelling me like prey. My boots thud on the floor as I push myself harder, my lungs burning. Every few seconds a strobe flashes, illuminating him behind me, turning the corner, closing the gap between us with an ease that makes this feel like a game of predator versus prey. Like he knows exactly how fast I’ll run, exactly where I’ll turn. He’s probably done this a hundred times.