"15, 16, 17," EX counted patiently as Grian made his way down the hall, watching him.

Grian was almost halfway when he heard something above him, making him skid to a stop just about a foot away from a arrow now pierced into the floor.

Grian stared at it in shock, frozen to the spot until he heard EX still counting. "22, 23, 24, 25,"

He quickly ran around it, glancing back at EX who was watching him with a glint in his eyes.

He turned back to the door and listened for any other traps.

He gasped as the floor suddenly shifted underneath him, the quartz becoming soul sand for the next four blocks ahead of him. He narrowed his eyes and pressed onward. 

"30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35," The sand was wasting his time and he knew that. He kept glancing around as he continued for a way to skip some of it. 

"41, 42, 43," He suddenly had an idea. He gave the best little running boost on the soul sand he could and leapt. He proceeded to bounce forward through the sand, despite the pain, flowing in his body now. 

He reached the end of the sand and the door was still just out of reach.

"54, 55, 56, 57, 58,"

Grian was almost there when another arrow cut him off.

"60. You're out of time, kitten." EX walked over, easily and reached down to pick up the exhausted Grian. "And you were so close..."

Grian hung by the scruff of his neck in EX's grasp, panting. "Y-you cheated..."

"I never said I wouldn't interfere."

Grian growled. He glanced towards the still wide open door. Every muscle and bone in his body begged him to stop and rest but he turned back to EX. "Fair enough." He replied, hanging limply, as if submitting.

EX looked at him, a bit confused by the reaction before Grian suddenly turned his head towards EX's fingers by his neck and managed to bite into it, making EX let go with a cry. 

Grian got a better grip and held on as EX swung him around before prying him from his hand and tossing him at the wall with a thud.

Grian fell to the floor, vision swimming, but he saw the door next to him. 

EX realized what he did and quickly moved to catch him but Grian was up and running out the door as fast as he could.

EX cursed under his breath as he watched him grow further away before smiling. "Oh well. He won't last long on his own anyway." and turned and walked back inside.

Grian was running, refusing to give into the growing call of sleep and glanced behind him, seeing EX disappearing and closing the door. He furrowed his brow confused and looked forward again before widening his eyes. 

"Oh no! No, no, no, no, no!" Grian tried to come to a stop but instead was sent tumbling down the hill and off a small cliff, landing in the ocean below.