Everyone awoke that morning to the echo of a faint pain. Sawsan was swaying, clutching her injured leg, while Mary stood nearby, her face marked by an unusual pallor.
Sawsan:
"Where did you go last night?"
Mary stammered, her words scattered as if she were hiding behind them.
"Ah… I couldn't sleep. I just went out for a little walk… why? Did something happen?"
Sawsan looked at her with gentle curiosity.
"No, it's just… if you need anything, let me know, okay?"
Mary nodded with a faint smile.
But before the quiet moment could settle, a loud bell rang out....like thunder. Everyone rushed outside… and before them stretched a long path, shrouded with the signs of danger.
Mazn stood at the front, fire of understanding and fear reflected in his eyes.
"The stage has begun… and we've only got two hours. If we don't make it in time… we're done for."
The First Obstacle:[ The Masked Gunmen]
Mustafa whispers:
"These aren't real… just illusions. But the bullets? They'll be real if we hesitate."
The Second Obstacle: [The Shifting Staircase]
A tilted staircase suddenly drops downward, then snaps back violently,
as if punishing the hesitant.
Mistime your step, and you're dragged back to the very start.
The Third Obstacle: [Sonic Pressure]
A deep, resonating frequency slices through the mind....
making the ears bleed with both silence and screams.
It's as if the echo itself wants to rip your consciousness apart.
The Fourth Obstacle:[ The Deadly Laser Grid]
Laser beams sweep across the ground....and through bodies.
One touch, and all your energy is gone.
Moayad:
"Damn it… How are we supposed to reach the end of the line in two hours?!"
Mazen:
"Take a deep breath. Focus… The most important thing: Whatever happens, do NOT look back!"
Sawsan, crying and trembling:
"How am I supposed to make it… my leg?!"
Mary grabs her hand, her voice firm despite the fear:
"Don't cry… I'll be right beside you. I promise!"
Countdown: 1...2...3...4...… GO!
Everyone runs. Dust swirls under their feet.
Mary supports Sawsan, racing against time and the collapsing stairs…
Behind them, Majd still stands frozen, cracking his knuckles....lost, confused, paralyzed with fear.
Mary: Sawsan, keep going… I'll come back for you after I help Majd, okay?!
Sawsan [crying]: There's nothing wrong with him! I'm the one who can't run… please, I'm begging you!
Mary: Don't be scared,I promise I'll come back!!!
She rushes back, grabs Majd's hand, and leaps with him onto the moving stairs.
He's gasping for air...but she doesn't let go.
Sawsan stumbles...
Majd: I can run now… go help Sawsan. I'll keep going.
Mary: Cover your ears tight, and run with everything you've got…
She pushes him forward....then turns around.
Her eyes lock on Sawsan, who is struggling to get back on her feet.
The air thickens with dust… smoke creeps in from the distance…
But Mary doesn't run away.
She runs back.
Against the tide.
To keep her promise.
In the Sound Corridor,
Farah clutches her head, screaming in pain ; "Aaaahhh!"
Mustafa rushes to her, takes off his shirt, and wraps it around her head:
"Focus...hold my hand!"
Farah: "My head.. .my ears! It feels like they're going to explode!"
Meanwhile, Tala runs skillfully, helping three people at once…
Mais slips on the stair trap, sliding back fast. She screams....
a stranger grabs her, dragging her all the way back to the starting point.
Mazen dashes after her, kneels, grabs her leg, and pulls her from the man's grip!
Mazen {shouting}: "You're supposed to help...not throw her back to save yourself!"
The man glares with spiteful eyes.
Mais stands up, crying:
"Let's run now… we'll deal with him later!"
Mazen: "Right. Don't cry....hold my hand, fast!"
They sprint toward safety…
Katie yells: "Mustafa! Mouayyad!!"
Mouayyad hears her and rushes to help.
At the laser zone, beams track their body heat.
Majd and Waseem get stuck. Their energy drains fast.
Waseem grabs Majd's hand,together, they run again…
They make it through.
Behind them, Sawsan and Mary approach…
Suddenly!;
Sawsan shoves Mary, hard!
"I'm sorry… if you don't slow down, I die!"
Mary, shocked, her eyes wide:
"Why?! I was helping you,we were so close!"
Sawsan: "Look at the time… it's almost over. Forgive me!"
Mary is struck by a laser.
Her body freezes...she can't move.
A masked gunman rushes toward her.
He points the gun at her head.
Her eyes fill with terror.
Her heartbeat pounds in her ears.
"Please… please, don't...no…!"
Everyone else makes it out safely…
Sawsan stumbles out of the maze, sobbing...silent, broken.
Majd stands frozen, blood running cold in his veins:
Majd: "Where's Mary?!!"
He tries to run back inside
Mouayyad grabs him:
Mouayyad: "No...stop! We made it out!"
Majd: "I'm not leaving her!"
Mouayyad: "Stay here,I'll go!"
He sprints inside, grabs a stone from the ground.
Time is running out…
The final countdown begins: 8…9…10…
Mary struggles to rise.
The masked gunman raises his weapon, aiming
Mouayyad throws the stone
It strikes the gunman in the head!
He collapses.
Mouayyad rushes to her, extending his hand:
"Grab on....now, fast!!"
Mary reaches out.
He pulls her with all his strength.
1…2…!
Time's up.
A shot is fired ...BOOOOM!!!
But it hits no one.
Mary now stands just outside the danger zone, eyes blinking, breath shaking…
She slowly turns her head...
Sawsan is standing there.
They lock eyes.
A broken, guilty, terrified stare.
Mary's gaze is a blade through the silence:
"Why? I thought of you as a sister… I was helping you…"
The group is scattered on the ground, exhausted.
Mazen scans their faces:
"Is everyone okay? Did we all make it?"
Tala: "Yeah… thank God, we're all safe."
Cracks in the Light
The light slowly fades away, as if the place is swallowed by an unseen void.
Mary turns around... Majd has disappeared?! No, his trace still remains on the ground: a footprint, dust remnants... and a distant voice calling her name.
Farah suddenly shouts:
"Mary!! The ceiling is moving!!"
The walls start to crack, and the machine emits a deep hum... as if preparing for something greater, something not written in secret files, nor even in their nightmares.
A faint screen appears out of nowhere, displaying a single message:
"Stage One: Completed Successfully."
The lights vanish.
Only eyes remain, suspended in darkness... waiting.
Silence settles like a fog…
The moment shatters.