The next room they entered was completely different—a steep incline that led them downward. The path was treacherous, and the deeper they went, the more they felt the weight of the maze pressing down on them. There was a sense of urgency now, as if the maze itself was trying to crush them under its weight.
Takumi could feel it in his bones. The deeper they went, the more alien the world became. The air grew colder, and the music in his headphones was distorted, growing more chaotic. It was like the rhythm was trying to tell him something—something he wasn't ready to hear.
"Takumi," Haruka said, her voice small. "What if we don't make it? What if this is where we fail?"
He didn't look at her. "We keep moving forward. That's all we can do."
But in the back of his mind, Takumi wondered if he was starting to believe the doubts too