The Mirror Maze was not a physical place in the traditional sense, but a construct of pure psychic energy, designed to break spirits as much as bodies. Kiran, a much younger Subject 07, stood alone in a shimmering, infinitely reflective void. His directive from Dr. Koval's disembodied voice echoed: Confront your reflection. Overcome your weaknesses. Survive.But these weren't mere reflections. They were manifestations of their deepest fears, their failures, their projected monstrous selves, armed with their own, amplified powers.
Kiran's clone appeared before him, a gaunt, ghostly version of himself, eyes burning with a cold fury. It mocked him, replaying the agonizing moments he'd failed to protect other subjects, whispering their dying screams. The clone wielded time like a weapon, not stuttering, but rapidly rewinding and fast-forwarding his immediate surroundings, creating paradoxes that threatened to tear Kiran's mind apart. Just as the clone closed in, intending to shatter his will, Liam Voss (Subject 12) materialized between them. Liam, whose power was an unusual form of empathic projection and energy redirection, had always been fiercely protective. He shielded Kiran, absorbing the clone's temporal assault, his face contorting in agony.
"Go, Kiran!" Liam screamed, his voice already distorted, his body beginning to ripple, his form fracturing into shimmering light and specks of black sand. "Don't let them win. You have to escape!" The clone, enraged, turned its full attention on Liam, tearing into his essence. Kiran watched in horror as Liam's body dissolved, consumed by the same swirling black sand that would later engulf the facility. Liam's final, defiant act gave Kiran the opening he needed. He stutter-stepped, freezing the clone for a precious few seconds, and plunged his hand into its chest, dissipating the monstrous reflection. He escaped the maze, his mind scarred, his soul burdened by Liam's sacrifice, a driving force for redemption he kept buried deep.