They ran for two full minutes, down marble hallways, around corners, putting distance between themselves and the throne room.
Finally, they reached a larger chamber, far from the Lich King.
They stopped, panting, checking behind them—
No sign of the hand.
"Did we... lose it?" Maya gasped.
"I think... so..." Raven replied.
Everyone collapsed against the walls, absolutely exhausted.
Alex held Grim (in his 80cm form, completely drained) in his arms.
"That was..." Alex struggled for words. "...the creepiest thing I've ever seen."
"Agreed," said Raven, wiping sweat from her forehead. "A living hand chasing me is... a new level of nightmare."
Maya started laughing—a hysterical laugh of relief and exhaustion.
"You kicked... you kicked a Reaper Fragment... What the hell is wrong with you?"
Despite everything, Raven laughed too. "I don't know, it was survival instinct!"
Alex joined them, the tension finally breaking.
