Amisha Jeet remembers many words of wisdom her mother always showered on her. Make sure your rotis are round. Fear is all in your head. Back straight, chin up, darling. As she stands in a line in the campus grounds, Amisha keeps her back straight as a rod, and her chin up. But the fear, still clouds her brain. Five hours ago, Amisha woke up with a bad feeling in her stomach, and standing next to Sierra and the other candidates, the sinking feeling only grows.

The Governor steps forward, the smile on his face tighter than usual. Amisha barely hears the Governor's words as he announces the fifth task, instead she marvels at the fact that the Principal does not stand beside him, using her infamous 'short and sharp'. Instead she stands on the side lines, her back concerningly straighter and stiffer than Amisha.

"The candidates will be paired and you will be directed into the maze, where you will need to use your wits and magic to find your way out. You must rely on each other to face your fears and triumph." The Governor pauses for dramatic effect. "The points will awarded according to order of exits. Please allow Gwendolyn Highmore to give you further instructions."

Amisha watches Gwendolyn Highmore stride towards them, and she wonders if the woman owned anything other than long dresses. The aforementioned witch pulls out a scroll, her eyes scanning the faces of the students before her.

"Please move up and stand next to your partner. The pairings are as follow: Aarush Bhatia and Alec Bacani." Amisha doesn't miss how stiffly Alec walks up to Aarush. As Alec shakes Aarush's hand, the small gesture tips her lips up. "Amisha Jeet and Lucas Faye; Noah Woods and Zoe Argent."

Amisha moves up and stands next to Lucas, who shoots her a nervous but polite smile. She hasn't interacted much with the Seer witch, besides the odd remark here and there. Though she is aware that the boy is close with Sierra, and she trusts the controller witch's judgement. However, Sierra also seems chummy with Minerva Cortez, and she doesn't see the girl around all that much.

"Dayton Blackwood and Sierra Kingsley."

Amisha smirks to herself, seeing Day and Sierra step up and stand together. Day murmurs something softly that has Sierra smiling.

"Maybe they'll finally fuck," Lucas says crassly.

Amisha's smirk grows bigger.

■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Day and Sierra step forward into the maze and stand there not uttering another word. The deafening silence envelopes them against their will. Unlike a few moments ago, when they were bantering (albeit nervously), the two stay quiet unable to peel their eyes away from what awaits them.

Day turns to look at her, and finds her already looking at him. The question in her eyes is evident, and after a moment he nods.

Day takes a step forward, his body rigid with tension. Sierra follows. She's not sure about what they're doing, but she trusts Day to have her back. Which is another thought that baffles her. Nonetheless, she takes a step forward, as he leads quietly and slowly.

He abruptly puts his hand out and Sierra stops herself a hair's breadth from his hand.

"Be careful," Day says and finally shifts his eyes from the forest and to Sierra. His hand wounds around her wrist and he adds, "You might fall."

Too late, Sierra thinks to herself as she looks down to where his calloused hand meets her soft one.

■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Noah can feel his heart pounding, its rate increasing as he and Zoe tread through the maze. Noah's skin vibrates with anticipation, his eyes roaming over the bricks. He kneels down on one leg, his palm resting on the dirt. His skin crawls with fear.

"Be careful," Noah murmurs, his voice barely audible.

Zoe fights the urge to remark snarkily. She can tell that the stress is wearing her patience thin already. As if she needed a warning to remind her to not get killed.

They take a few steps before green vines crawl out of the dirt, growing and growing.

"What the actual fuck," Zoe curses, her eyes unbelieving.

"Retardo!" Noah shouts, hoping to slow the growing vines down.

Nothing happens.

"Etus Consilisdam," Zoe screams, and the vine she was aiming at shatters. However as she does this, the vines surrounding it grow faster, reaching for them.

"We need to move. Quickly," Noah orders.

"Colligo dagger!" Zoe holds out her hand, and a dagger appears in the palm of her hand. Noah nods, impressed.

The pair move through the vines, running, chanting and Zoe slicing through the vines. Running across, Zoe turns around, catching a glimpse of the vines shrivelling away back into the dirt. She breathes a sigh of relief.

"Fuck!"

Her head snaps around to look at Noah. He covers his arm, a pained expression on his face.

"I think it's poisoned," Noah claims, leaning against the bricks.

Zoe moves towards him. "Let me take a look."

Noah moves his hand away, blood already smeared around the gash.

"Abstergium," Zoe charms, the blood clearing away. She tries not to cringe as she studies the green gash. "We need to find some Snapping Hazel. The seeds should be able to take care of this."

"If not?" Noah adds, almost afraid to ask.

"Contagium Defendo, contagium defendo," Zoe chants, her hand moving over Noah's, choosing not to answer his question. "That should stop infection from spreading."

■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

"Is that a Willow tree?" Sierra asks, her hand shielding her eyes from the sun. Day follows her sight of vision, to see a large tree sitting on a barren hill.

"That'd be good shelter, come on."

Day leads the way, trying not to focus on the sweltering heat or how his body aches in pain. He can feel bruises forming in various places over his body. Day props down on the ground, the leaves of the tree protecting him from the sun's rays.

Sierra's perches herself next to him, and unlike what he'd expected, her body heat doesn't bother him, but instead comforts him. Day's eyes close shut, trying to catch his breath. He can't believe they had just trampled their way over poisonous vines, made it out of quick sand, and saved a hysterical Sierra from her worst memory.

"Day," Sierra falters, suddenly alarmed. "What is that?"

Day opens his eyes falling on what he can only describe as giant rock men. He jumps up into a defensive stance, his hand out. Sierra grabs his hand, and he pulls up an exhausted Sierra.

"Ready?"

Sierra's hands are already wrapped in blue wisps as she answers, "As can be."

As the giants move closer, Day realises exactly how gigantic they are.

"Iacta Vasdium!" Day shouts, just as Sierra shatters two of the men back. Their bodies back to back, they disarm and attack the rock giants making their way towards them.

Sierra conjures a shield just as Day sees the hurl of magic coming his way. He doesn't have time to thank the witch, as he throws another rock giant back. But the giants keep coming, and Sierra keeps shattering them.

Day eyes the willow tree, and before he knows it, the tree is being ripped out of the ground. He focuses his magic on it, the willow tree wrapped around in red wisps. And then he's redirecting it to the giants. The giant willow trees hits them, shattering them into tiny rocks. Day hears Sierra gasp, and for a moment, their shield falters but Day conjures another one.

They move together, faster and swifter than before, as if re-energised from Day's stunt, and the rock giants fall one by one. Until there are none left.

Instantly, Sierra's body sags and she prepares her body to hit the ground. Without any will of his own, Day's body moves instinctively and his arm wraps around Sierra's waist protectively. Sierra relaxes into his body, and if the circumstances were different she would've marvelled at how amazing it felt to be held by Day.

"Did we seriously just take on an entire army of rock giants on our own?" Sierra asks, in disbelief.

"Yeah," Day pants. "I think we just did."

■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Lucas has felt fear before. But his body is paralyzed with fear, as he watches Amisha get dragged into the water. She breaks the surface, before getting dragged back in. He knows that the maze knows his fears, and worst nightmares. Lucas gulps, trying to move the haze out of his eyes. Trying to focus on the now, rather than his younger sister drowning.

He takes in a deep breath and dives into the water, his body trembling with fear.

"Amisha!" He bellows, his voice desperate and panicked.

He dives back under the surface, his shirt pulling him back. Lucas moves through the water, until he sees her, grappling against a water demon they'd studied a few weeks ago.

"Impetus!" Lucas screams, his hand out. Yellow light shoots out of his hand and hits the unda nympha. Amisha breaks away, kicking at it, and moves towards the surface.

They break the surface together, Amisha gasping and moving her hair out of her face. She coughs out water, rubbing her nose frantically.

"Thank you," Amisha pants, looking at him, as if noticing him truly for the first time.

Lucas nods, not wanting to speak, the taste of bile rising in his mouth. He moves towards the bank, the movement of water letting him know that Amisha is following. Just as he reaches the rocks, he bends over and heaves, the omelette he had at breakfast making an appearance.

■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Day's eyes are focused on the end goal, as he marches towards the exist, an injured Sierra in his arms. Her head hangs on his shoulder, and despite the dirt and grime they are covered in, he can still smell the cinnamon from whatever shampoo she uses.

Just as he nears the exit, Sierra raises her hand.

"Oppugnatio!"

The creature crawling out of the Earth, falls back, black gunk spilling out of its body. Day's nose cringes in disgust, but he looks down gratefully at Sierra.

Then he walks out of the maze.

And the crowd goes wild.

Day walks towards the council and nurses. He bends down, and Sierra slides out of his arms, her right leg limping. Day's arm holds onto her waist, not letting go. The nurses heal their bruises, but warn Sierra to take it easy on her ankle. Everything is a blur as Day keeps his eyes on Sierra, worrying and fretting. The Revealing council awards them points for being the first out of the maze. Before Mrs. Rochelle can harass a potion down Day's throat, Noah and Zoe run out of the maze, stealing the attention of the council and the crowd.

The council isn't finished awarding points when Amisha and Lucas walk out. Lucas's arm hangs over Amisha's shoulder as she supports him, blood seeping from his head. The nurses rush to Lucas, healing him immediately.

Sierra jumps out of her chair. "Lucas!"

She falters, forgetting about her injured ankle. Before she can cave to the ground, Day reaches out for her, grasping her elbow and pulling her away from the grass.

"Hold on, woman," Day scolds, looking at her as if she'd lost her mind.

Sierra glances back at Day, her eyes full of concern and fear. "But Lucas."

"Lucas will be okay, now sit," he demands, leading her back to the chair. "You're hardly in a state to go running around."

With a grumble of words, and a dramatic huff, Sierra plops back down on the chair.

Principal Cashore's scream belts Day out of the moment. It is as if the moment slows down in motion. Day watches Alec lead Aarush towards the exit. Another creature similar to the one Sierra had hexed at their exit, grabs Aarush back. The creature sinks its ghastly teeth into Aarush's flesh. Aarush's eyes widen. His mouth parts into a scream, but only a croak comes out.

Alec freezes, turning around. His hand pushes against the air and the vile creature falls to the ground along with Aarush. Alec's frantic hands move over Aarush, his mouth running off with any and every healing spell he can think off.

Principal Cashore runs down towards the maze, only to be rebounded back. Amisha screams, and Alec looks up at her as she gets pushed away from the maze.

Aarush's eyes close.

Alec's fingers move and check his pulse. His heart stills when he doesn't feel anything. Alec's arms pick up Aarush, carrying him out of the maze, and he lowers the dead witch's body to the ground.

The council moves in hurried and frantic motion, and Alec kneels looking at the dead boy who'd saved his life in the maze not long ago.

And then he too closes his eyes, succumbing to the darkness.