Page 25 of His to Slash

He took a step closer, and I could feel Grayson tensing beside me, ready to pounce. The air crackled with tension, the promise of violence hanging heavy between us.

My eyes darted around the room, searching for an escape, a weapon, anything. But there was nothing but rust and shadows – and the growing certainty that we were trapped in a nightmare of our own making.

As Cain raised his blade, I knew that whatever happened next would change everything. The darkness inside me surged, begging to be released. I glanced at Grayson, saw the same wild energy in his stance, and made my choice.

We lunged forward together, towards Cain and the bound waitress, into the heart of the trap that had been set for us. The true horror of Red Hallow was about to be unleashed, and I wasn't sure any of us would survive it.

I stumbled as the floor beneath us shifted, my heart leaping into my throat. My hand reached out, desperately seeking Grayson's, but a harsh metallic clang filled the air. A metal grate slammed down between us, cutting me off from him.

"No!" I screamed, my fists pounding against the unyielding barrier. On the other side, Grayson's roar of fury echoed through the room as he slammed his body against the grate. Our eyes locked through the metal bars, his wild with rage and mine wide with terror.

Cain stood motionless, watching me with a predator's gaze. His mask, so similar to Grayson's yet infinitely more terrifying, tilted as he regarded me.

Without warning, he flicked a switch beside him. The walls around me groaned and shuddered. I whirled around, panic rising as I realized the corridors were shifting, closing in. The room was transforming into a labyrinth, and I was trapped inside.

"Run," Cain whispered.

I hesitated for a split second, torn between my fear of Cain and my desperate need to stay close to Grayson. But as the walls continued to move, cutting off escape routes, I knew I had no choice.

I bolted down the nearest corridor, my feet pounding against the metal floor. Behind me, I heard Grayson's muffled shouts and the sound of Cain's steady footsteps. He was in no hurry. He knew he had me cornered.

The passageways twisted and turned, a dizzying maze that seemed to change with every step. I ran blindly, my breath coming in ragged gasps. The stench of rust and blood filled my nostrils, making me gag.

I skidded around a corner, only to find myself face-to-face with a dead end. Panic clawed at my throat as I spun around, searching for another way out. The walls were still moving, grinding and groaning as they shifted position.

A shadow fell across the entrance to the corridor. Cain stood there, his mask gleaming in the dim light. I pressed myself against the wall, my heart thundering in my chest.

I had nowhere else to run to, and he knew that.

I glanced frantically around, looking for anything I could use as a weapon. My eyes landed on a piece of broken pipe lying on the ground. I snatched it up, holding it in front of me like a shield.

He took a step forward, and I swung the pipe wildly. It connected with his arm, but he barely flinched. Instead, he grabbed the pipe, wrenching it from my grasp with inhuman strength.

I ducked under his arm, desperation lending me speed. I sprinted back the way I'd come, praying I could find my way back to Grayson.

The corridors seemed to stretch endlessly, each turn leading me deeper into the maze. I could hear Cain behind me, his footsteps steady and relentless. He wasn't running. He didn't need to.

My lungs burned as I pushed myself harder, faster. Sweat dripped into my eyes, blurring my vision. I blinked furiously, trying to clear my sight.

Suddenly, I heard Grayson's voice, distant but unmistakable. Hope surged through me, giving me a second wind. I changed direction, following the sound of his shouts.

But as I rounded another corner, I realized my mistake. Grayson's voice was coming from everywhere and nowhere, echoing off the metal walls. I'd fallen for Cain's trick.

I skidded to a halt, my chest heaving as I tried to catch my breath. The corridors around me were silent now, save for the grinding of moving walls. I strained my ears, trying to pinpoint Cain's location.

A whisper of movement behind me made me whirl around. Cain stood there, so close I could see the stitching on his mask. I stumbled backward, a scream rising in my throat.

"Run," he whispered again, his voice filled with dark glee.

I bolted down the corridor, my heart thundering in my chest as Cain's laughter echoed off the metal walls. The industrial site became a nightmarish labyrinth, its twisting passages seemingly shifting and changing with each step I took. Flickering lights cast eerie shadows, playing tricks on my eyes as I desperately sought an escape.

My lungs burned as I ran, the taste of fear bitter on my tongue. Every few seconds, I caught glimpses of Cain's shadow in my peripheral vision, always just out of reach but never far behind. The knowledge that he was toying with me, prolonging the hunt for his own twisted pleasure, sent chills down my spine.

As I rounded another corner, my blood ran cold. Smeared across the grimy wall in what looked horrifyingly like fresh blood were the words "Too slow." I choked back a sob and pushed myself harder, my legs screaming in protest.

The corridors seemed endless, each turn leading to another dead end or locked door. The maze was alive, shifting and changing to keep me trapped. I could feel the panic rising in my throat, threatening to overwhelm me.

Another message appeared: "Weak." The crimson letters dripped down the wall, a cruel taunt that made my stomach churn. I shook my head, trying to clear the doubts that crept into my mind. I couldn't let Cain's mind games break me.

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