Damian braced his body, chest rising and falling with short, controlled breaths.
"Do it."
Ethan pulled his fist back.
Even the fluid beneath the ice recoiled from the intent in that single motion.
His punch slammed into Damian's ribs with a bone-shaking crack, the impact rippling across the frozen layer and sending Damian shooting forward like a launched projectile.
Cracks spiderwebbed beneath Damian's boots as he landed on the ice. The crust buckled but held long enough for him to run—no, glide—down the makeshift path.
Caleb right behind him, forming more ice under his feet as the old sections melted behind.
Ethan dragged Marcus forward.
Marcus clung to Neol, shielding the unconscious man from the rising waves of fluid chewing at their legs.
A deep, trembling roar rippled through the walls, pulsing through the fluid and up their bones.
The ice-path shook violently.
"Hurry!" Caleb shouted, voice breaking.
Damian didn't slow.
The pulse was stronger now—
louder, clearer, pounding behind the flesh of the labyrinth like a trapped life fighting to stay alive.
He hit the end of the ice-path.
He lifted his arm.