The world shuddered - a ripple through concrete, like reality exhaling.
A pale shimmer rippled through the corridor, followed by the echo of shoes striking concrete in unison. Two figures stepped out of the distortion, suits perfectly pressed, their silhouettes sharp against the warped geometry of the maze. their presence too deliberate, too clean for this decaying maze. Dust drifted toward them but curved away before landing, as if the air itself refused to touch them.
The first was lean, average in height with neat black hair slicked back, his face sharp and yet aloof, as if this was just an average walk for him. And yet, Each step he took was measured, almost surgical.
Beside him walked a taller, broad-shouldered man-- His posture military-straight, movements heavier but just as controlled. The faint outline of muscle pressed against his suit, his brown hair cropped short military-style. His face carried no warmth, only precision.
The lean One adjusted his tie.
"The Visual distortion field is unusually thick in this one. How many confirmed civilians in this cycle?"
The tall one held a sheet of paper. As though answering the question, black writing crawled across it — names, numbers, coordinates.
"Twenty-seven confirmed missing reports. Eleven residual human signatures… two warm, a bit deeper inside. The rest are cold." He tore the paper in half with clinical calm. The fragments burned into fine ash before they hit the floor.
The lean agent slid on black leather gloves and flexed his wrist. "Only eleven residual activities… I guess the other sixteen merged with the Maze." He looked up. "Alright. Let's make quick work of this — before the Maze resets."
A figure manifested in front of them. Appeared human at a glance — but the eyes were empty. Too empty.
The lean agent's expression flickered with surprise. The tall one remained indifferent.
"Mimics?" the tall agent said, voice flat, as if the word itself were data. "The manual didn't mention any."
"We should take a specimen," the lean one replied. "Research Team will want this."
"They're not supposed to be here though. That's a first," the tall one mused.
"And," the other said, nearly smiling, "that ought be a lot of paperwork.."
A low mechanical click. The clock on the lean agent's wrist froze, like time has frozen still. Reality stuttered. The corridor blinked.
---
"But how do we even do this? They hardly ever rest!" Josh hissed as we walked.
"We wait," I said. "There's no other way. It's been a while since Charles and the others slept; if they don't get suspicious, they should rest soon."
"That's actually useful. I can sharpen some weapons until then," Sarah said quietly.
"Oh, you mean that poor excuse of a spear you made by sharpening a branch?" Josh scoffed.
'He really doesn't fancy the idea of fighting a mimic huh?'
"Seriously — our goal is to find the exit before they wake," Josh continued. "So I say we drop the weapons and run our hearts out."
"You're too focused on Charles and the mimics in our camp, Josh," I said, stepping between them to defuse the argument. "Speed matters, yes, but there are other mimics out here. We need ways to defend ourselves."
Josh groaned as if chewing on the idea. "Fine. You get your fancy weapons. I'll make a run for it if it goes south."
Sarah shrugged; I couldn't tell if she agreed. Silence fell. I thumbed the brass knuckle I'd taken from a corpse — old, a little rusty, but solid.
'Though i fee like sharp objects would damage those things more than blunt force…'
I shoved it into my pocket and we reached camp.
Three mimics sat around the makeshift fire. Charles leaned against the tree, the same unnatural smile he'd worn when we left. He hadn't moved.
'Did that bastard stay there the whole time? Surely even corpse-copies feel uncomfortable… right?'
Josh stashed the supplies. Sarah went behind the tree to finish sharpening her spear. Charles watched me as I stood alone. He started toward me, light and conversational as ever.
"Yuwon! Looks like you had a successful trip. We were all so worried." His voice was syrup-smooth.
'Seems like that thing will pretend until the very end.'
"Yeah," I said, forcing a proud smile. "We more than made up for your group's unsuccessful run last time."
"Thankfully — we were really short on water!" Charles replied immediately.
"We?" I gave him a irritated look.
"You guys don't even drink."
For a heartbeat his smile faltered. Genuine surprise flickered across his face.
'Hold on-- did I just say that out loud...?'
Cold sweat trickled down my neck.
'Shit. I've grown too confident around this bastard.'
Charles licked his lips, recovering. "Yes, we don't drink much. But hydration is important, so I'm glad you found some." He glanced at Josh. "Josh looks rather… malnourished. He needs the water most."
'Josh? Why bring him up now all of a sudden?'
"You can't blame him," I said. "We're all malnourished here. The maze isn't generous."
Charles scratched the back of his head. "I suppose you're right, Yuwon. I can't wait until we're out of this maze." His smile stretched unnaturally wide. A line of unease crawled up my spine.
"But Yuwon…" He stepped closer, leaning forward, tilting his head like a curious animal. "You aren't usually this talkative. Especially not with me. Did something good happen? Did you find a clue about the exit? Something valuable?"
His eyes glinted with mockery.
My sense of fight or flight hit an all-time high, instinctive dread pressing down on me.
'Fuck, he's getting suspicious --- no, no, no, gotta come up with something-'
I forced a gentle smile, praying the fear in my chest didn't show.
"Honestly? Yeah, something good happened. This camp, for one. We finally have a place that's somewhat safe. A routine. A goal. In a place like this, that's a luxury on its own."
Charles blinked a few times, his unnaturally wide grin easing into his usual uncanny look as he leaned back.
"Ah, indeed... this camp is such a luxury, isn't it? Hahahahahaha—"
The laugh dragged on, too loud, too long, too wrong.
"It's like we're one big cozy family, right Yuwon? You agree, right? You totally do, yeah? C'mon, tell me."
"Riiiight... a little, haha..." I said carefully, forcing the words out.
'Whatever helps you sleep at night, you creepy douche.'
"See?" His eyes gleamed — too bright to be human. "Makes one want to stay in this maze forever, right?" He tilted his head again, expectant.
'He's pushing my buttons on purpose. Testing me. Playing with me like some domesticated pet.'
"I don't think so," I said evenly. "Having a routine's nice, but... going home would be nicer."
I brushed past him. "I'll go help Josh sort out the supplies."
I glanced back once.
'I really hope that didn't raise suspicion. But Jesus Christ, even I have my limits.'
Charles joined the other mimics by the campfire not long after.
Josh was "sorting supplies," though really, he was stuffing them into a makeshift backpack-- a patchwork of leaves, torn cloth, and sticks.
"How's it going? Need a hand?"
I knelt beside him.
He was unusually quiet for a few seconds before answering.
"Nah, almost done. How'd your talk with Charles go?"
I let out a long sigh, sliding from kneeling to sitting.
"He's as obnoxious as ever. Downright insufferable. Can't he just go... bother his own kind?"
Josh chuckled. "Now that you mention it, he does seem kinda fixated on you. Barely talks to me, only talks to Sarah when he has to — but he always goes to you."
He paused, turning to look at me. His tone darkened. "Yuwon... you're not dating that mimic, are you?"
"Pfffft—"
I had to choke back laughter. Not even sure why — maybe because laughter feels illegal in this place.
"Jealous much?" I said, raising an eyebrow.
"Yuuuuuck," Josh said, grinning. "Are you hitting on me now? Sorry, not into old fossils."
He nudged my shoulder with his elbow, laughing quietly.
'First time I've seen Josh laugh...'
I studied his face.
'But even now, there's sadness behind it. He's been quieter since earlier too...'
I patted his shoulder and stood.
"I'll go help Sarah with her spear."
'Whatever's on his mind, prying now won't help. Not here. I'll ask him once we're out... if we ever get out.'
I found Sarah behind the tree, sharpening her spear, her face sharp and focused.
"Need a hand?" I asked quietly, sitting beside her.
"No. It's basically done." She didn't even look up.
"I overheard the mimics earlier," she continued. "They plan to rest a few hours from now."
"Charles too?"
"Probably. He didn't object."
"I see." I felt a faint, genuine smile creep onto my face.
'Things are finally working out for us, huh?'
But then--
'What comes after this? This still isn't my world. Even if I escape, how do I get back to my real one... if such a thing even exists?'
The smile faded. I shook the thoughts off.
'Thats something I can worry about after getting out of this place.'
"We'll have to pretend to sleep too," I said. "At least until we're sure they're all out."
"Sure." She kept sharpening. "Just make sure you don't actually fall asleep."
I wasn't sure if it was exhaustion or imagination, but I swear I saw a faint smile on her lips.
'Is she joking? Or is that actual advice?'
"Tell that to Josh," I said, smirking. "His eyebags are bigger than both of ours combined."
She huffed quietly — maybe a laugh.
We talked a little longer, about everything and nothing. Then, before we knew it, the time had come.
It was time to set our escape in motion.