Chapter 140: "You’re Burning Up"

Jordan and Aren walked side by side through the darkness, finally leaving the chain-link maze behind.

One of Jordan’s hands trailed along the damp concrete wall while the other held Aren’s tightly, their fingers intertwined.

"Take a left here," Jordan said, recalling the directions he had overheard. "Then a right."

"Alright," Aren replied, following close behind him.

She tried to match his pace, but with every step, something felt increasingly wrong.

At first, it was only a faint wave of dizziness. Then, despite her skin remaining ice-cold after emerging from the freezing water of the flooded chamber, an uncomfortable heat began building deep inside her body.

’This isn’t good.’

’These feel like the symptoms of a reactive fever.’

She forced herself to keep walking steadily, careful not to let even the slightest stumble betray her condition to Jordan.

’No. I’ve got to hold on until we find the last coin.’

’I still have to get out of here and fight in the machete match.’

Unfortunately, no matter how carefully she concealed it, Jordan had already noticed the faint tremor running through the fingers intertwined with his.

He still remembered how cold her hands had been when she’d cupped his face earlier. When he’d pulled her into his embrace, he’d felt how thoroughly drenched and chilled her entire body was.

Having competed in the Marchetti Trials three times already, he knew all too well how often the organizers incorporated flooded chambers into the competition. It wasn’t difficult to guess where she had been before finding him.

Glancing back over his shoulder, he asked, his voice tight with concern,

"Ariana... are you alright?"

Aren startled slightly before forcing every trace of weakness from her tone.

"Um... yes. I feel fine. Why do you ask?"

Jordan didn’t believe her for a second. Even now, her fingers remained icy within his grasp, but he chose not to press the issue.

"I’m just checking on you," he said quietly. "You’re completely soaked. You must’ve been thrown into one of the flooded chambers earlier. Just promise you’ll tell me the moment you don’t feel well, alright?"

"...Alright," Aren replied, giving his hand a reassuring squeeze.

Satisfied for the moment, Jordan turned his attention forward again and continued leading them through the darkness.

One step after another carried them deeper into the corridors until they reached the left turn, followed shortly afterward by the right.

This passage stretched far longer than the others, and with every yard they covered, the dim crimson glow steadily faded. They were moving away from the route leading to the exit hatch and back toward one of the original drop points.

After several minutes of walking through the deepening darkness, Jordan suddenly felt his boot strike something entirely unfamiliar.

Clonk.

Both of them froze.

They exchanged a glance before looking down at the floor.

In the near-total darkness, they could barely distinguish concrete from metal, but the sound had been unmistakable — not merely metal resting atop concrete, but something hollow beneath it. The resonance lingered for a heartbeat, suggesting an empty space below.

"You think that was the metal thing you mentioned?" Aren asked quietly.

Jordan’s lips curved into a faint smile.

"Yeah... sounds like it." He tapped the spot once more with the toe of his boot. "And judging by that echo... there’s definitely empty space underneath."

Without another word, they both crouched and placed their hands against the floor. Just as expected, their fingertips met a surface that was cold and metallic, entirely unlike the dry concrete surrounding it.

"This has to be what that guy was talking about," Jordan murmured.

Running his hand outward, his fingers found two perfectly straight seams separating the metal plate from the concrete. He traced them until they formed a precise square.

Meanwhile, Aren felt a series of shallow grooves carved into the surface. Following them carefully, her fingertips slipped into a recessed cavity.

"Here," she said the moment she recognized it. "I think I found the handle."

Hooking her fingers beneath the recessed grip, she pulled upward until the handle rose from its slot.

Jordan’s hand immediately found hers in the darkness.

"Here, Ariana. Let me."

Taking hold of the handle, he planted his feet for leverage before pulling upward with both hands.

The heavy metal groaned in protest.

Grrrrrk...

With one final heave, the hatch swung open.

THUD.

A square opening yawned beneath them, revealing nothing but pitch-black darkness.

Aren narrowed her eyes, trying to make out anything below, but the blackness remained impenetrable.

Carefully, she lowered one hand through the opening into the void until her fingers brushed against rough concrete.

Reaching farther, she found another solid surface just below it.

"There are steps," she whispered. "I think it’s a staircase."

Jordan crouched beside her and reached into the opening as well. His fingertips quickly confirmed what she had discovered.

"It is." He turned toward her with a small smile. "Shall we go see what’s down there?"

Aren nodded without hesitation.

"Let’s go."

Together, they descended one cautious step at a time.

The farther they climbed down, the more the last traces of crimson light disappeared behind them.

The darkness below was nearly as absolute as when they had first been dropped into the maze. Even standing shoulder to shoulder, they could barely make out the outline of each other’s faces.

Neither of them knew what awaited beneath.

Water.

A trap.

Or perhaps another maze.

Every step was measured, deliberate, and painfully slow.

Fortunately, when they finally reached the bottom of the staircase, their boots met solid, dry concrete instead of water.

"You see anything, Ariana?" Jordan asked quietly.

"Nothing at all," Aren answered. "I can’t even see your face clearly."

"Same here." His hand tightened around hers. "Don’t wander away from me, Ariana. We have no idea what’s down here."

Aren nodded.

"Shall we search each section one at a time?"

"Good idea," Jordan agreed. "Let’s start over here first."

With that, Jordan guided her forward until they could walk no farther, his boot meeting a solid wall.

Keeping their free hands against the dry stone, they began tracing its surface, feeling out the shape and layout of the chamber, with Jordan leading the way.

Down here, the air felt even colder than it had above.

Every breath gnawed at Aren’s skin, and before long, her teeth began chattering beyond her control.

Tck... tck...

She swallowed hard, forcing her jaw shut. Her gaze flicked nervously toward Jordan, afraid he might hear.

Fortunately, Jordan was too focused on probing the darkness for danger to notice. His hand glided steadily along the wall in search of any clue that might lead them to the final coin until, suddenly—

He stopped.

His fingertips had found something protruding from the wall at about chest height.

"Wait."

Aren tensed immediately.

"What is it?"

"I think there’s something here..." he murmured, carefully examining the object.

The material felt cool beneath his fingertips, though not with the biting chill of metal. Instead, it was smooth, polished, and strangely refined.

Like glass.

Very thick glass.

Its cube-like shape reminded him of the heavy display cases mounted on museum walls.

"It feels like... some kind of glass display case. It’s built directly into the wall..."

Aren immediately released his hand and stepped beside him to inspect it herself.

After several moments of tracing every edge with her fingertips, she nodded.

"Very thick glass. Extremely sturdy. I can’t find a latch, a handle, or any kind of opening. Every side is sealed tightly against the wall."

She frowned.

"Do you think there’s something inside?"

"Could be."

Jordan nudged her gently.

"Stay back a little, Ariana. I’ll try breaking it."

"Alright."

Aren took a careful step backward, and just in time, a sudden wave of dizziness washed over her, forcing her to brace herself against the wall.

"Jordan..." Her voice wavered almost imperceptibly. "B-Be careful."

Jordan failed to notice the subtle change in her voice. His full attention remained fixed on the strange object before him.

"I will."

Positioning himself directly in front of the glass case, he planted his feet firmly. Drawing one shoulder back, he twisted through his hips before driving a full-powered punch straight into its center.

THUD!

Nothing.

He struck again.

THUD! THUD! THUD!

Still nothing.

Not even the faintest crack.

No vibration.

No sign that the case had loosened from the wall.

Frustrated, Jordan abandoned his fists and switched to his legs, driving powerful kicks into its sides.

THUD! THUD! THUD!

Nothing.

The glass remained completely unmarked, standing as immovable as a fortress.

"This isn’t working," Jordan muttered, running his hand across its flawless surface in frustration. "I think it’s bulletproof glass... the really expensive kind. Thick, reinforced, top-grade glass straight out of our factories."

Through the haze clouding her thoughts, Aren frowned. If even Jordan couldn’t break it, then she certainly stood no chance.

"S-Shall we check the other walls?" she suggested, fighting to keep her voice steady. "A-And... maybe see if there are more boxes... or something else hidden around the room?"

"Good idea."

Jordan reached into the darkness toward where she stood, intending to take her hand again.

Instead...

His palm brushed against something startlingly hot.

He froze.

Instinctively, he pressed his hand more firmly against it.

It was her forehead.

His eyes widened.

"Ariana..."

His hand slid gently down the side of her face, confirming what he had feared.

"You’re... burning up."