The man swallowed. His Adam’s apple pressed up against the blade.

"You heard her," Finn said quietly. "Put them down."

For a long, tense moment, no one moved. Then, slowly, the man lowered his bow. His companions followed suit, swords and daggers lowering to point at the floor.

"Alright." His voice came out rough. "Alright. We’re lowering. Just — ask her to step back. Please."

Finn glanced at Nyx. She met his eyes, the question in hers silent. He gave the smallest nod. She stepped away, the dagger vanishing into the folds of her dress.

The man let out a long breath and lifted a hand to his throat, fingers coming away clean.

Finn kept his gaze steady on the group’s leader. The tense standoff had been defused, but only just. These people’s intentions were still unknown.

"You two cleared the boss?" The leader’s eyes flicked to the shimmering portal. "Just the pair of you?"

Finn shrugged, aiming for nonchalance. "We’ve had practice. In the beta."

That got their attention. The group exchanged glances, surprise and speculation in equal measure.

"You played Fracture too?" A woman near the back piped up, a heavy mace slung over her shoulder. "What server?"

"Mostly solo. Didn’t interact much."

It wasn’t quite a lie. He’d never actually played, but he’d studied the beta so obsessively, it almost felt like he had.

The leader’s eyes narrowed. "Solo, huh? With your skills, I’m surprised you didn’t run with a guild."

"Never found one that fit." Finn kept his tone light, hoping they wouldn’t press for details he didn’t have. "What about you lot? What brings you down here?"

"Name’s Rask. These are my associates. We’re all just trying to survive, just as you."

Nyx scoffed quietly. Rask glanced at her, then away just as quickly when her crimson gaze met his.

"As for our purpose here," he continued, "same as anyone’s, I expect. Trying to gear up, get stronger, before..." He trailed off, something haunted flickering across his face.

"Before the First Trial," Finn said.

Rask nodded jerkily. It made sense. The Safe Zones might offer respite, but they weren’t going to prepare anyone for what was coming. Anyone who’d played Fracture would know that.

An awkward silence fell, neither side quite sure where to go from here. Finally, Rask jerked his chin toward the portal.

"You heading back up or down to the next floor?"

Finn glanced at Nyx. She’d retreated to his side, crimson eyes watchful, posture deceptively relaxed. He could feel her coiled readiness through their bond, prepared to spring into action at the slightest provocation.

"Down," he said at last. "Still got work to do."

The man grunted. "Brave of you. Or stupid. Either way, we won’t get in your way if you don’t get in ours."

It was as close to a truce as they were likely to get. Finn inclined his head. "Agreed."

With that, he turned and strode toward the portal. He could feel the group’s eyes boring into his back, heavy with suspicion and unasked questions.

As Rask’s group neared the portal, Nyx’s voice whispered through his mind. ’You’re letting them go. Why?’

Finn didn’t look back. ’They won’t make it far. The next boss... it’ll be beyond them.’

’How can you be certain?’

’Their gear’s starter-tier. And the way they hold their weapons, they’ve handled them, but not for long. They’ve probably read about the game. They haven’t played it.’

He sensed her considering, reviewing the details he’d picked out. ’Yes, I noticed. Their postures did seem quite lacking.’

’They’re green. The dungeon will chew them up.’

She paused for a moment. ’And this does not trouble you? I had taken you for the kind who pulls drowning men from the water.’

Finn’s mouth twitched. ’Sorry to disappoint. Besides, even if I warned them, they wouldn’t listen. People like that never do.’

’Mm. So you have noticed.’ Something like approval threaded through her voice. ’Good.’

"Let’s eat," he said aloud. "Sleep a few hours. We take the next floor after."

Nyx inclined her head, and he caught, just for a moment, the faintest curve at the corner of her mouth.

☼☼☼

Finn jerked awake, a scream lodged in his throat. For a moment, he was back in that bathroom, staring at his mother’s body.

Then the details of the cavern filtered in—the cold stone beneath him, the faint glow of the portal, Nyx’s pale form curled nearby.

He sat up slowly, dragging a shaking hand down his face.

The nightmares were the same every time, but they never got easier.

He glanced over at Nyx. She was still asleep, her expression unguarded in a way it never was in waking.

’So even she feels tired and sleeps...’

He had the sudden urge to reach out, to smooth the furrow between her brows. He resisted.

Instead, he busied himself with checking their supplies, repacking the rucksack with what remained.

By the time Nyx stirred, he had erased any trace of the nightmare from his face. She blinked up at him, crimson eyes still hazy with sleep.

"Bearer? Is it time?"

He nodded. "We should get moving. The next floor awaits."

She rose with fluid grace, taking the hand he offered. Her fingers were cool in his, her grip strong.

They lingered like that a moment longer than necessary before parting.

Together, they approached the shimmering portal. Finn took a deep breath, then reached out and selected the option to descend. Light engulfed them, that familiar tugging sensation hooking behind his navel.

When it faded, they found themselves in a cavern very different from the floors above.

The stone here was dark, almost black, shot through with veins of sickly green. The air felt thick making it harder to breathe.

Even the silences between the dripping water and their own echoing footsteps felt somehow terrifying.

They exchanged a glance, a thousand words passing unspoken, then started forward into the gloom.

Navigating was more difficult here. The passages twisted and turned, doubling back on themselves as if designed to confuse. More than once, Finn was certain they’d passed the same jutting spire of rock.

They didn’t encounter any monsters but still they pressed on, guided by some unerring instinct. Or perhaps it was the dungeon itself, shepherding them towards its dark heart.

When they found the bodies, Finn wasn’t surprised.

They lay sprawled in the center of a vast chamber, limbs twisted at unnatural angles, weapons scattered uselessly around them.

Rask stared sightlessly at the cavern roof, his throat a ragged second smile. The girl who carried the maul had her neck twisted completely.

They stared grimly at the fallen bodies of Rask and his companions. A wave of unease washed over Finn as he took in the grisly scene.

"They didn’t stand a chance," he said.

Nyx knelt beside one, studying the corpse with detached interest. "These wounds... they were not made quickly. Whatever did this, it took its time. We must tread carefully, Bearer."