Arianne choice twitched toward Extreme, the safe answer, the sensible one, the one that let her walk out of here with something to be proud of even if she failed, but she could also die.
[00:10]
Arianne didn't move.
[00:05]
Sweat rolled down the side of her face. Her fingers curled at her sides, frozen.
[00:03]
[00:02]
[00:01]
[Time Expired.]
[No selection detected. Difficulty randomly assigned.]
Arianne's stomach dropped.
The panel flickered once, then settled.
[Selected Difficulty: Hell]
For a moment, she simply stared at the word. Then, slowly, something in her chest loosened.
A long breath escaped her, shoulders sagging as the tension she'd been holding for the last two minutes finally broke.
It wasn't relief at the danger. The Protection towards death removed line was still sitting right there beneath it, still just as real. But somehow, not having to be the one who chose it made it easier to breathe.
