I lead Eris to the door, still plastered on the wall, unmoving. no gold plate is apparent but 2 silver ones are. I read the first one aloud.

"The level must be complete, once done continue to the second plate."

A cringe worthy sound of stones gliding against one another ( or in my opinion, nails on a chalk board) is heard behind me, turning, I see multiple counters of marble rise from the floor. Each one with indistinguishable letters scribed into them.

"What the hell was that, Eris!"

A large crack is heard as i see Shard has finally come too and is obviously pissed. Three stomps later she has Eris pinned to the wall, slowly choking her.

"Shard, stop!"

"Why the fuck should I? She almost killed us! Where's the damned scythe she was using earlier?"

"I'll explain later, now stop or you'll kill her!" I screech, truly scared for my friends life. A millisecond passes before i've appeared between Shard and Eris, scaring the telikans captor and using that to my advantage to fling her off with much effort.

"I'll explain everything later, right now we're one test away from freedom so I advise that you smarten up and start being a better team player."

Once i finish my rant I have the eyes of everyone in the room on me. I give Eris a look, once i know she's inside my head I send her a message: 'Start on the puzzle i'll handle everyone else while you work'.

She only gives a slight nod before turning to the first counter.

"Well, I'm sorry if I have a natural urge to defend others, It's in a steniths nature! May i remind you that SHE almost killed all of us! No need to use your fancy telethia powers on me."

Now that's a line I didn't think she'd have the guts to cross.

"Don't start firing shots at my race, the guards that trampled my village did that enough. Of course you couldn't see what I saw. Eris signed some form of contract or submitted to a deal where her family's life was put on the line. There were strings attached to her limbs and a shadowed figure guiding her every movement. She was possessed , Shard. You would do the same for your parents I'm sure."

That only seemed to fire her up more, though I could see emotionally I was weakening her.

"What if I don't have parents?"

Now who's crossing lines. oh look, it me. What have I done? That's a barrier that was supposed to be left untouched.

"I'm- I'm sorry, Shard. I've never thought of that possibility. I'm as inconsiderate as I am childish. I act before I speak. I'm a bratty younger sister spoiled by family and friends because one parent decided it better to leave. I only wish to help but like everything I do it backfires. You all would have been better off if someone else had escaped the containment centre other than me. I'm sorry, but once Eris figures the puzzle out we can all be free. No one will have to even mention one another ever again."

Everyone stays in silence, only the slight clicking of Eris's hands on the tiles to be heard.

Eventually Nikki and jayne wander to one of Eris's previously completed tiles, leaning against it and talking to one another. Shard , suddenly walks up to me, putting her hand towards me in a motion asking to shake.

Hesitantly i agree, taking the offer.

"I'm sorry for bringing up family in our argument."

"I'm sorry for the somewhat racist remark. That was uncalled for. Friends?"

"Friends."

"Hey um, I know none of you really want to hear from me right now but I can't figure out the last tablet question. Any help?"

I turn to Eris who has a look of confusion and frustration on her face. Obviously troubled with the current puzzle counter.

I step towards her, determined to help if I can. hesitantly the others all follow over as well.

"Um, We can't read this, Eris?" Jayne mumbles.

"Oops, sorry. It says: Five gemstones enter, working through this maze of puzzles together. Though these five do not know, five more are out there. A star, a feather, a square, a semi-circle, a tear. figure out the puzzle to bring them near."

The telikan finishes, quite hilariously puzzled.

"Uh, you have no clue what it could be?" Nikki asked trying to process the riddle like questions words.

"I figured out 'Five gemstones enter, working through this maze of puzzles together'. That is obviously referring to us and how we made our way through the puzzle house. I can't figure out what the rest could mean."

I think, what could the wording possibly mean? 'five more out there' Other escapee superhumans?

"Could 'Five more out there' possibly mean other escapees?"

The others all murmur in agreement.

"But what does a feather,star,square, semicircle, and a tear have to do with one another?" Nikki questions. Atleast he doesnt sound pissed off. Hopefully jayne, and Shard will do the same.

"No clue, but the answer tiles don't mention the shapes, so we'll go with 'Other superhumans' as the answer." With that Eris pushing a slab of stone down into the counter, completing the puzzle.

"Riddle time!" Jayne sings out with a laugh as she skips to the large door.

We all have a short laugh, even Eris, before Shard decides to read the riddle.

"The end is near, if that's what you think. one more to get through, a toughy for sure. two paths to choose. one or the other. anyone may open to continue."

we look to one another shrugging. I step forward pushing the gateway open.

Test 5 complete, what could possibly await for us next?