AN: This chapter title was chosen by @Starspices23 on discord yay.

Sock's POV

The day after the encounters with the shapeshifters passes surprisingly well. Almost too well. The others were happy that they had a day off, but I was still on guard. The shifters unnerved me, when I saw the misty shape merge into me right before my eyes I could feel my body being pulled ever so slightly. It didn't effect me the way Laff's shifting had, but I could sense the same power at play. We slept that night back at the beginning, there were three paths coming out of it and so far Blaza had mapped one. Today we were setting out on the left path and seeing where it took us.  

"GET UP YOU LAZY FAKE MEDIC!" Blaza's shouting ended my train of thoughts. Meme groaned.

"But I don't want tooooo," he whined, "And I am a totally real doctor with a totally real medical degree!" I smiled and got up, walking over to Blaza and Meme. Meme was flopped on the floor and Blaza was pulling his arm, trying to pull him up. 

"Oh great, you're here Socks," Blaza said, "I need you to help me get this lazy bum up."

"Again," Meme interjected, "I don't want to!" 

"Meme," I started, "If you get up now I will admit your medical degree is real, if you don't then you are admitting it's not and I will tell everyone back on the Skeld it is fake." Meme jumped up at that.

"Haha, now you have to say it!" he said, triumphantly.

"Fine, fine," I sighed, "Meme's medical degree is 100% real and he is a real doctor."

"HAHA YES," Meme shouted, "Booyah! I win!" I pulled my hand out from behind my back.

"Fingers crossed," I smirked, "It doesn't count." 

"Oh you little-" Meme yelled as he tackled me. Blaza jumped on top of all of us and we ended up on the floor laughing. This was what I missed, this carefree joy, not having to worry about anything. Those days were long gone, but I could still enjoy this moment. 

"Alright everyone," Blaza said, "Lets get moving!" We stood up and started walking. We walked through the maze, around corners and passed dead ends. But as I turned a corner, I saw the one thing I never wanted to see again. I whipped around, slipping back behind the wall before I was seen. Oh cod, why did this have to happen. Why, why, why. I knew that this peace was too good to be true.

"Don't go there," I whispered frantically. I was hyperventilating now. This can't be happening. 

"What, why?" Blaza asked, "Are you freaking out again?"

"Yes," I said, "And for a good reason, don't go there." Oh, please let them be ok.

"I think you're over reacting," Meme said. He pushed past me. 

"NO!" I shouted and lunged out. Meme slipped through my hands and turned the corner.