Wyatt awoke to blinding lights and whispers around him. 

"No, wait, make the mustache bushier. Add a monocle, too," Isabell giggled. 

Wyatt felt the cold tip of a pen run across his top line. He gasped out and sat up. 

Torch frowned, the pen in his hand. "Aw. He moved."

Isabell grinned lopsidedly as she sat down. "He still looks fine. I like this British look to you, 'sire.'"

Wyatt rubbed his face in exhaustion, looking at his hands when they came away with black ink. "Where are we?"

"Awww. You look like a drunken emo clown. I liked the British look more."

Wyatt frowned as he tried his best to wipe his face with the corner of his jacket. "Where. Are. We?"

She frowned slightly. "You think we actually have an idea?"

"Where's Star?"

The color from Torch's face disappeared as he looked down at his shoes. "We have no idea. I woke up, and Isabell was there. You were completely out of it. We already tried looking for Star, but there's no trace of her."

Wyatt sat down, tapping his leg in thought. "I'm sure she's fine. We should get out of here as fast as humanely possible. It smells like something died in here, I can't see for the life of me, and now I look like the author actually tried to draw me nicely. I don't like this place."

"You don't? That hurts my feelings, Wyatt."

The three of them turned their heads sharply. 

There, standing at the entrance, was none other than Royce Hunter.

Wyatt's breathing slowed as his vision turned to a red haze of rage. He was blinded as he lunged at Royce, throwing a punch at him. "You bastard!"

Royce chuckled as he stepped to the side, throwing his arm to the side. Wyatt lost his balance, crashing headfirst into a black-tinted window. Despite the burning pain and the sudden dizziness, he stood up shakily and ran at him. 

"Fool," the man commented as he jumped backwards to land on a solid platform of air. 

"What are you doing here?" Wyatt snarled.

Royce sat down, legs crossed. "Have you looked outside yet?"

Taking the clue, Isabell ran to the window, eyes widening. "What the hell? What did you do? What is this, Hunter?"

He laughed slightly, an evil lilt to his voice. "It's my version of a game. Do you get it now, my sweet guinea pigs? This is a game that depends on your survival skills."

Torch growled. "We don't have the time for your bullshit."

"No? You haven't heard my end of the deal yet. If you survive, to the very end, you'll meet them," there was a glint in his red eyes. "The two I've taken."

"Star...and...and Jackson. They're at the end of the maze, aren't they?" Isabell asked. 

"Of course. I'm not lying," he looked down at them with a serious expression, tossing a grainy photo down to the ground. 

Wyatt picked it up, hands shaking as he examined it. He heard Torch cover his mouth. 

The both of them were chained to a wooden pole, both limply hung. Head dropped, barefoot, and, both completely beat up. 

When they looked up from the image, they were caught with surprise. 

Erik smiled as he hugged his knees, sitting next to Royce with a lollipop in his mouth. He took it out as he spoke, revealing a tongue stained with green. "I never knew a person could have that much blood. Jackson's dying slowly. Star isn't doing much better. Better hurry, Thirteen, if you wanna save them. It's your fault that this is happening."

Wyatt realized that he was sweating and pressed up against the wall. 

Next to him, Torch whimpered slightly. 

Royce clapped. "Game rules. Find your way through the maze while dodging killer robots. Sound fun, right? Don't worry, it won't be. I incorporated lasers and other tasty little weapons so you'll enjoy your time. All you have to do is fight them. Or run, doesn't matter to me." He held up one finger. "First, you can only travel a hundred feet above the ground. The walls are one hundred and twenty-five feet, so you can't use height to your advantage. Second. There's no far distance communication. If you find each other, you can communicate. You will start at three different points in the maze. You may not destroy the walls. Lastly," he glanced at the three of them. "Live. It'll be a shame if my guinea pigs die. I'll have to use Erik and we all know that won't be fun."

Next to him, Erik scowled slightly. 

Simultaneously, Isabell and Torch disappeared. Wyatt switched his stance in alarm. "Where did they go?"

Royce waved his hand dismissively. "My, my. You're more impatient than before. I told you there's three different points, didn't I? That's where they went.  You're at the first one. I wanted to talk to you, however." He stood and jumped off the platform, walking closer. "It should be very obvious by now that you're the main subject, Clark. There are some rules and limitations, only for you." 

He walked past him. Wyatt flinched slightly. 

"You know, I saw the mask you were wearing. I found it very interesting. I even got Erik to retrieve it for you. Mind the blood. But look at it. Simple, yet solid. Tough to break, yet it looks very fragile." He stopped in front of him. "Just like Cassie."

Wyatt clenched his fists. "What are you getting to, Royce?"

"Cassie still doesn't know you're the infamous and quickly feared Thirteen. She still assumes you're on the run. We told her that you escaped and we caught Thirteen instead. She...is in a...fragile state. When you left, she was heartbroken. Didn't help that Chase died either, huh? If you ever run into her, just know that the mask should be on," he leaned forward. "I wouldn't break her anymore. She can't take it."

Wyatt stepped backwards. "Good to know. I'll wear it. Give it to me."

Erik tossed the mask to him. Wyatt caught it, slipping it back on. As he prepared to climb out of the window, Royce stopped him. "Say, Wyatt? You...or I? Who will be the first to run out of time?"

Wyatt stopped, fingers against the window. "We dwell in darkness and are shrouded by it. Time? It's nonexistent in our world. Yet...you know, there's a lot of things I would like to tell you, if I get the time."

Royce smirked in amusement. "You're all so motivated by this. Look at it. People are willing do anything if they get the motivation. I'll see you at the end. Let's see who'll win."

"Go die in a fire."

Royce laughed slightly. "I find you very interesting Clark. Let's hope you'll live and entertain me to the very end." With a flash of light and a gust of wind, Erik and Royce were both gone. 

Wyatt hopped through the hole in the window, started at a steady pace through the marshy grass that grew out haphazardly among the cracks in the floor. 

"This is it. We're going to die," Thane muttered. 

Almost immediately, he heard the whirring machines and spun around. A group of prototypes hovered above him. 

Relying on instinct, Wyatt broke into a sprint. He could hear the loud hum of machines as they zoomed in close pursuit. 

Skidding to a sudden halt, Wyatt cursed as he ran into the dead end. 

Thane let out a string of swears. "Well, what do we do now?"

Taking a deep breath, Wyatt turned around to look up at the menacing floating machines. "Help me."

"That's literally the most ambiguous thing you can tell me."

"Just make sure I don't get cut in half," Wyatt mumbled as he tackled one of the probes to the ground. He felt the machine struggle against him and winced as the blades whipped out, scraping his torso. Wyatt scanned the probe, reaching inside past the blades as he tore out a knife."

He jumped back as the probe fired a laser past his head. Wyatt charged at the probe, stabbing one before breaking into a run past them. 

"Nice having a brain. You should try it sometime," Thane muttered.

Wyatt scowled slightly as he continued to run. "What do you mean?"

"You have a brilliant thing called magic. Forget?"

He stopped and turned around. "Shut up. Arrow!"

Wyatt watched as black wisps of his magic solidified and fired at the probes in rounds. There was the sound of crashing metal as they fell to the ground in pieces. He let out a breath before turning around and running. 

He froze when the buzzing sound came back. Spinning around, Wyatt yelped as he jumped to the side to dodge the flurry of lasers that shot at his head. He scowled as he jumped on top of one before using it as a step to jump and grasp onto the ivy on the walls. He started to climb upward, glancing back at the robots that slowly rose up to follow him. 

"What in the heavens are you doing?"

Wyatt tore off a thorn and clutched it in his mouth. "If I attack them from above then I can take advantage of one of them and let it fly me around. It'll be faster."

"Or, I have a better idea. How about you use one of my nifty little spells to get rid of them all at once?"

Wyatt tilted his head. 

"Follow my lead. Just say these words. I cast..."

"I cast-"

"My power..."

"My power-" 

"To Thane..."

"To Thane-"

"Rid of my enemies at once, Twin Hands."

"Rid of my enemies at once, Twin Hands."

"Hands of Thane."

"Hands of Thane."

Wyatt watched in awe as the floor below burned bright red. A shadowy pair of giant hands rose out of the ground, grabbing the probes before crushing them. They quickly disappeared at once, leaving nothing but scraps of metal piled on the floor. 

He smiled in arrogance, expression quickly fading as a sharp pain in his chest seemed to stab him. Wyatt held on to the ivy weakly, taking deep breaths as each inhale seemed to constrict his lungs more and more. He coughed before his fingers let go of the ivy. The wind howled in his ears as black spots danced in front of his eyes.

A dark shadow caught his limp body. 

Laying Wyatt against the ground, Thane stood. His face was deadpan until a giddy grin broke out across his face. 

"Finally."

*****

Isabell Jordan

Isabell was in a bad mood. Not only had she ruined her nails, she'd been dragged into a stupid game that was supposed to kill them. She sighed as she grabbed a hold of the ivy and climbed up the wall, reaching a small ledge made from some bricks that stuck out.

"Your soul is restless. It is straining against you."

Isabell's eyes widened before she looked back. Mike Best was here. He leaned casually against the wall, looking up at her. 

She jumped off of the ledge, bow in her hands in an instant.

He tilted his head. "That's an unusual magic. I've never seen it before."

"I'm the first to have it."

"You're a Patron? That's real exciting," he grinned a small figure peeked out from behind him. "Meet my Patron, Kurlow. He's a little shy, please don't mind him. Kurlow? Resonate."

Isabell stiffened as she held her bow tighter. "Wake up, wake up."

The bow glowed slightly in her hands. "I'm up. So demanding. We fighting?"

"Yeah."

"Very well."

Isabell took an arrow out, firing it at the wall. It attached itself, the wall suddenly exploding into shrapnel. 

Mike dodged the rubble as he picked up a rock. "Reinforce, Kurlow."

Isabell's eyes widened as the rock began to twist and form into the exact replica of a human. 

"You're very lucky, Jordan. This is my privileged magic. Give it a soul, Kurlow."

"Okayyy."

She watched as something glowed blue inside of the rock man's chest. It tilted its head to the sky and screamed. Isabell cringed at the sound and covered her ears. She glared at Mike, who was grinning widely. He held his hand out. "Your soul is nervous. It's unsure of what to do."

She growled. "Quit being my human mood ring, Best."

"You have a tattoo of an eagle on your shoulder blade."

"You're disgusting."

"Die."

The rock man charged at her. Isabell fired a bow at its forehead, the man exploding back into rock. 

"Oh, look. More material. Make more, Kurlow."

"Okayyy."

Isabell bit her lip and swore as she faced an army of the rock men. "Switch into a sword, Gunnarr."

"Oi," the bow replied as it switched, the sword curved. 

"Hmm," Mike mused. "You're a Patron, so that bow obviously isn't a Patron. Could it be a soul of a person living in the bow, giving it a mind of its own? It can also transform into other weapons, albeit always having an arch to it because it's derived from a bow."

Isabell growled slightly. "You're real smart for a womanizer."

"I'm not that much of a womanizer," he quirked his eyebrow and gave her a grin. "But I do like hearing people scream. Let's see if you'll do the same. Kurlow?"

"You're annoying."

"Shut up and follow my orders."

"I hate you."

"I hate you too, buddy."

Kurlow sighed as the army of rock men charged at Isabell, wrinkled fingers grabbing at her. She jumped back before slashing off the head. Black oil poured from the body as it stumbled and fell down, staining her shoes. She swung the sword again as it took out a few more, oil raining down on her. 

She jumped back, sword morphing back as she fired an arrow. There was another explosion that made the earth shake. When the dust cleared, the area in front of her was a sea of rock and black oil. 

"I'm impressed, Isabell. Are you in agreement, Kurlow?"

"Yeah," said the figure.

"In that case..." Mike smirked as he switched to a different stance. "I'll fight you. No magic, just weapons."

Isabell lowered her bow and smiled. "You're on. Gunnarr, change back into a sword please."

Mike gave her a smile. "Now, we fight."

He grabbed a piece of ivy, smiling slightly. "Kurlow, please." The ivy formed into a sword as he charged at her with it. He swung downwards. 

Isabell bent backwards in defense as she raised her sword. Sparks flew as she stumbled backwards, clenched her fist, and punched him across the face. Mike staggered backwards, a bruise quickly forming as he managed to land a blow on her shoulder with his sword. She let out a cry in pain. 

Gritting her teeth in pain, Isabell ducked, avoiding Mike's second attack and rolling behind him, cutting him in the arm. Wincing in pain, Mike grabbed her by the shirt. Struggling, her instincts kicked in as she headbutted him in the forehead. He let out a shout in pain and let go, giving her time to pin him to the wall. She ignored the pain in her head as she thrust the tip of her blade under his chin. He froze immediately before grinning. 

"Where's Jackson?" Isabell demanded. 

"Can't tell you, it's a secret," Mike grinned slightly in a distinct thought. "I never knew a person could bleed that badly though. It was amusing."

"You're twisted."

"Oh, please. I'm an angel compared to some of those people. Like Killman. Oh! Or Gin," his smirk widened. "That guy is completely off in his head."

Isabell opened her mouth to answer when Mike suddenly hooked his leg around her foot and pulled it back. Her bow fell, sliding out from her reach. Mike chuckled as he stood, holding her by the foot as the world tipped upside-down. She shrieked slightly. 

"I must say, for a teenager you're really light. I could probably fling you with no trouble," Mike stated as he tied her ankle to a piece of ivy. She felt the blood rush to her head. Crouching down to meet her gaze, Mike sneered slightly. "You're super feisty."

"Let go of me!"

Mike laughed as he stood up to his full six foot height. With her head just inches away from the ground, Isabell had never felt shorter. 

He laughed slightly, turning his back to her. "That was fun, Jordan. Sadly, if I kill you now, Royce might get angry. No one wants that. Just pray that someone finds you."

Isabell grit her teeth as Mike left, Kurlow clinging to his neck as the two of them disappeared into the maze. 

"See you at the end!"