“Kuna put a portal as far as you can see. Then put a portal where the two ramps join ours. Everyone go through Kuna’s portal, I’ll stay back and block the ramps of the others so they can’t go around the portals.” Jude said. He had stepped up; the plan was made.

Immediately and uncharacteristically Kuna sprung to life. His eyes darted to the four locations his portals would appear. The first set were near the top of the ramp and in the room they were all in. The second set appeared where the two other ramps met Mana-Script’s. The green swirling masses were an opaque colour until you got close to them. The closer you got the more you were able to see into them.

The team mobilized at once, Jude’s commands still echoing in their heads. As they filed into Kuna’s portal it was there that most of them realized something; the portals weren’t a direct step in at point a and step out at point b. Instead, Kuna’s portal entered a different dimension where space could be manipulated so it was more like a shortcut.

Jude was the last to enter, making sure the slowest ones of the pack had gone through properly. He followed them up, everyone charging up the ramp as much as they could. Kuna had not placed them exactly at the top and thus they still had to run the final bit.

Upon leaving the portal and the pocket dimension Jude swiftly turned around. He placed his hands on the ramp and concentrated. Looking at the two other ramps that joined to their own. Suddenly those two ramps began to expand near the connecting points. But slowly and strenuously Jude moulded the now expanded bits to not only block the entrance to the main ramp but also turn the last fifty metres of each ramp into a box so the teams could not get around them.

He stood up; his arms ached as if he had been lifting weights. But he took respite in what he saw and felt. He was high up in the air, the night sky had fully set in. Adrenaline was pumping through him so fast he had forgotten how cold it was. His fleeting breaths the only reminder of that. There was a slight breeze up here that caressed his skin and moved the long trench coat. Looking down he could no longer make out specific details he could only see buildings and the lights that danced and played far below him. He stood there for a brief moment. This was a journey that began all those years ago and now he was here. He turned his head to move around but his vision caught something. He smiled, “Well done Archie. Can’t wait to fight you.” And with that he took off.

The sound of a stampede had since passed on this ramp. There were still many sounds that created the world’s weirdest choir. Screams, shouts, the sound of lightning screeching through the air, and especially the sound of running. Each sound danced in the air and combined itself with the rest.

As Jude reached the precipice of the ramp, he saw the ginormous size the tower. Now that his team was spread out in front of him, waiting, it became clear to him how small they must appear on this circle at the top. Though his admiration for the sheer size of the building was cut short.

Pale blue lights appeared under each and every one of Mana-Script. A cylinder that enveloped them. “Hello Mana-Script. Congratulations on being the tenth team to reach the top of the tower. You will now be transferred to the next stage.” The robotic voice congratulated them but before they could even be proud of being tenth the floor opened up.

Each cylinder opened. As if in a cartoon, they did not fall immediately it was almost as if they hung there for a second before plummeting.

It was if they never hit anything but suddenly, they were a large holding room. There were sofas dotted around, a door leading to toilets, a water cooler, and a few bits of paper.

As if on queue Jude laid on the cold stone floor, spreading his limbs out. With a great sigh he let out all the tension in his body. He could hear the sound of flapping that only came from sandals flicking back up upon each step. The clinking of armour got louder.

“You know. I was very impressed with you Jude. You made a good call.” Sol, someone who usually quite closed off and aggressive, had been so impressed that he was the first to compliment Jude. After his little congratulations Jack and Damian began to clap and whoop. Amelia even joined in, starting to get a few people involved.

Blushing Jude slowly sat up. “Thanks guys. It means a lot, but you shouldn’t be thanking me. What we should be doing is all either preparing or relaxing before the next test.” With that the mood had gone. He had managed to kill the mood that was made to congratulate him. Everyone scattered. But Jack stayed behind to offer Jude a hand up.

Back on his feet Jude dusted himself off. “You know that was impressive man. I couldn’t make those decisions on the fly.”

“I really do not know what happened. Just one minute we were waiting on Rin and the next I’d given orders to everyone.”

“Right. I think it is time for you to relax, Imma make a paper airplane, you in?”

“I don’t really know how.”

“Nah, no way. Come on.”

Amelia was sat on a sofa with Nerissa. Amelia was watching everyone, which caused her to form a bit of smile. Until she looked over to see Nerissa brooding. A blur appeared in Nerissa’s vision. The brown blur covered up everything, it took a second for it to focus and be Amelia’s hand. “What?” Nerissa said grabbing Amelia’s wrist.

“You seem upset about something.”

“Do I?”

“Yeah, you’re hunched over, brooding, and you look really angry.”

“I always look like this.”

“Honey this isn’t just resting bitch face.”

“Even if I was angry would I tell you?”

“Aw come on. You can tell me. We’re best friends.” To that Nerissa scoffed,

“No we are not.”

“Never will be with that attitude missy.”

“Just let me be.”

“Hey.” Amelia placed her hands over Nerissa’s right hand. “You’re clearly worked up about something. You don’t have to tell me. But I would like to make you an offer.” All the time Nerissa was staring daggers at Amelia for touching her hand. “Me and Delilah want to move in together next year, would you like to join.” There was a surge of overwhelming emotions in Nerissa. But she fought hard to keep them down.

“Fine if you insist.” Trying to act tough but it was clear to Amelia her eyes had softened.

Amelia looked really happy, and Nerissa did end up blushing slightly. The moment was pure and wholesome, until a paper airplane crumpled on Nerissa’s forehead and with it the mood did too. It did not have time to leave her hand before it was snatched out of the air and crush.

Jack began to roll around on the floor laughing as Jude was sat there his arm still outstretched. Nerissa stood up and Jude scrambled to his feet. A chase ensued.

After a bit of scuffle Nerissa grabbed Jude’s collar. Her fist clenched tight his shirt felt as though it was going to snap. Her face was scrunched, aggressive lines formed on her. Jude cowered in fear. And when Nerissa saw that she dropped him. Her face sank and she murmured “Sorry.” And she began to walk away.

She was not a step away before a light pressure was on her shoulder. The blue glove spun her around. Jude placed his hands firmly on her shoulders and looked her in the eyes. “Let the anger go.” The words confused her and thus she looked at him blankly for a second. With a slight shrug she obliged.

Jude was unaware of what happened first. He was on the ground, his cheek hurt, and his mouth was bleeding. Nerissa had let her anger go in one swift blow and knocked him to the ground. As Jude struggled to his knees the blood that was trickling between his teeth and out of his mouth had begun to splatter everywhere. Opening his mouth was excruciating at the moment but he still pushed through anyway. “X, collect my blood. Use it as a weapon. Aria-Mae heal me. It was a good blow; you’ll probably get a good boost from it.”

X giddily followed the orders. The spots of blood that had found themselves on the cold stone floor had taken on a life of their own. The blobs were no longer circular they were now like spikes pointing upwards. Spiralling around themselves they headed to X’s hand and condensed into a ball of crimson.

Aria-Mae plodded over. A grin had crept across her face, she was right about Nerissa. As warm light formed around her hand and sucked all the pain from Jude’s cheek. Unseen by most, but felt by Jude, the wound within his cheek had forced itself shut as if it had never happened. That pain, the pain he had felt, now travelled through Aria-Mae. As if surfing through her body to find an outlet they transferred to her other hand. The pain overlapped upon itself storing, waiting for the next time it could be let out.

“Hello Mana-Script team. All participants have qualified. Your next assignment is to keep your candle lit until you either reach the centre of the labyrinth or sixteen other teams have their candlelight go out.” With that one of the walls of the room began to raise up.

Behind that wall were monolithic walls and a lit candle. Everyone instinctively turned to Jude, it was his time.