"This way guys. Follow me." Forest led the group into the maze, sticking close to the wall of the maze. The maze was dark and made of stone, with cracks in the walls, and floor. Storm E. frowned, the eerie atmosphere of the maze creeping her out. "Let's hurry up and get out of this place," She said, crossing her arms. "I don't like it here, it's unnerving." Ace nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I gotta agree with Storm here," He said, bringing up the rear of the group. "This place is giving me the creeps." Forest ran his hand along the wall, feeling a lever. "A lever!" He pulled it, and in the distance, the faint sound of a stone door lifting was heard. "Come on guys, let's go!" The group picked up the pace, running in the direction of the sound of the stone door.
Dot watched her friends travel the maze, furiously taking notes. "Forest seems to be leading them," She murmured, with a sneer. "Let's see what happens when they lose their leader..."
Forest frowned, drawing a map in the dust with his finger. "Because the maze is dark, I don't know where we're headed." He started, as everyone started to stand up and stretch. "I have a vague feeling, which direction we travel in though." He continued, pointing eastward. "Alright," Crumbs nodded, determination sparkling in her gaze. "Let's go!" With that, the group set off, Forest in the lead, followed by Storm E, Sunny and Berry, Crumbs, Spot, Jewel, Rosy, and Ace, taking up the rear.
Forest's hands brushed up against a button. Curiosity getting the best of him, he pressed it. A mist sprayed into his eyes. "GAHH!" He shouted, hands flying to his face. "Forest!" Storm E. ran up to him as he slumped against the maze's wall. She cupped his face in her hands, checking it. "Are you alright?" She asked worriedly. He nodded shakily. "I'm fine," He muttered, rubbing his eyes. "My vision's just blurry is all."
"Uh...Forest? Are you sure you're alright?" Storm E. asked worriedly, causing the group to stop. Rosy pulled a small flashlight out of her first-aid kit, walking up to Forest, shining the flashlight in his eyes. He didn't respond to the flashlight in his eyes, confirming Rosy's fears. "He's gone blind," Rosy thought, dread welling up inside her. "I don't know why...But I feel like the worst is yet to come..."
"Look Bird," Dot pointed at the camera, an expression of wicked glee on her face. "They have no way of escape." She clapped her hands gleefully. Bird gave a sad chirp, watching the screen woefully. "Don't look like that Bird," Dot grinned. "They won't die, I promise."
Ace stopped and turned to look back in the direction the group was leaving. He felt as if something was luring him back to the maze. "My mind's being pulled in two different directions..." He took a step forward, his body moving on its own...
"Hey, Ace," Spot's voice brought him back to the present. He turned to see Spot and the rest of the group. Spot blinked at him. "You okay Ace?" She asked. Ace nodded, giving her a shaky grin. "I'm fine, Bay Brush." He gave a nervous chuckle, walking back to the group.
The group's walking eventually led them to a room, filled with books, scrolls, and maps of various locations. Storm E. entered first, leading Forest inside. The spot was next, followed by Ace, Jewel, Sunny and Berry, Rosy, and Crumbs. Berry picked up a map from a table. "Guys, come over here!" Everyone made their way to where Berry was. "It's a map of Town Square," Storm E. replied. "I don't see anything off about it." Berry grabbed another map, handing it to Storm E. She took the map, her expression changing to one of horror. "This...This is a map of my van." She whispered, mostly to herself. "It's obvious who made these maps," Spot said, looking at a map of her house. "It was Dot." She continued. "I mean, who else could it be? Everyone else, but Dot, is here, in the maze." Rosy nodded, her expression grave. "All the more reason to escape this place."
The group decided to stop and rest. Spot sat beside Ace, who was nodding off. "The map was cool, right Ac-" She yelped as Ace suddenly leaned against her. She looked at his face. It was peaceful as he slept, peaceful for the first time. "It's kinda nice," She thought, blushing faintly. "Hopefully, this will last when he wakes up."
Well-rested, the group set off again, happier than before. "Hey Bay Brush," Ace started, with a grin. "Hm?" She replied. "When we get out of here," He asked, with a blush. "Do you think you could teach me how to paint?" He grinned. "Of course!" She beamed. "We'll have to start with the basics. Color mixing, shading, paint types..." She trailed off, casting a glance at his blank face. She giggled. "I'm kidding Ace," She smiled.
As the group traveled forward, Storm E. spotted a light at the end of the tunnel. "Guys...I think I see the end of the tunnel. I think we're finally out!" The group broke into a run, Storm E. holding Forest's hand. The group passed through the bright tunnel...and on the other side...was the wooded area, where Dot first began her experiment... A metal glint from one of the trees caused Spot to look up, seeing a cleverly hidden camera... "She's watching us... She's been watching us since we entered the maze..." Spot thought, silently panicking...
The group gathered in one of the tents, out of view from Dot's cameras. "Let's confront her," Storm E. said coldly, one hand holding Forest's, the other a fist. "I want her to pay for what she did to Forest." The others nodded. "I agree with Storm E." Rosy started. "But we can't act recklessly." Storm E. frowned, standing up. "I'm going to retaliate," She stated, holding Forest's hand in a vice grip. She stormed out of the tent, Forest in tow. "Um..." Spot looked at Ace, who nodded, fierce determination in his gaze. They both got up, following after a vindictive Storm E.
"Huh, looks like they escaped," Dot shrugged. "Oh well. I wonder what I should-" Her thought was interrupted by loud, incessant banging, coming from downstairs. White-hot panic pierced her thoughts. "C-Coming...!" She made her way downstairs, guilt crushing her lungs, making it hard to breathe. Shakily, she opened the door, greeted by a sock to the jaw, by Storm E. Before she was set upon, and then bloodied by Storm E, Ace grabbed her, holding the thunderstorm of rage back from snuffing Dot out like a candle. Spot glanced at Dot, who was rightly terrified.
Spot, Ace, and Dot sat at Dot's table. Storm E. was outside, being calmed by Forest. Ace looked Dot in the eyes, causing Dot to look away. "I didn't mean to blind Forest permanently, I didn't think it would be so bad," She fiddled with one of her sleeves. "I mean," Dot murmured, mostly to herself. "The experiment was formed with good intentions." She stared at Ace, her stare so intense, Ace was the one who looked away. "That's gotta count for something...right?" Spot looked up from doodling on Ace's jacket. "Yeah!" She smiled. "Good intentions are something to go on, for sure," She resumed doodling. "You just let the power go to your head, happens to everyone." Spot's smile faltered. "Even though you apologized," She continued, looking up at Dot again. "Apologies aren't gonna restore Forest's sight back." She resumed doodling. "I guess Forest could move in with Storm E," Spot said thoughtfully.
"Thanks for helping me move Forest's stuff, Ace." Storm E. smiled. Ace shrugged. "No problem," He replied. "Anything for a friend."
Dot hesitantly knocked on the door of Storm E's van, nerves failing her. She was greeted by Forest. "H-Hey, Forest." At the sound of her voice, he turned to face her. "Hey Dot!" He smiled, his cloudy eyes looking at nothing, unseeing and useless. She smiled hesitantly. "Is Storm E. here?" Forest shook his head. "No, she's helping Ace move some of my stuff here." Dot blinked. "Oh." She started to walk away, but she heard Storm E's voice. "Hey, Forest!" Storm E. smiled at Forest. She spotted Dot, and her smile faltered. "Hello, Dot." Dot gave her a nervous smile. "Hey Storm E," Dot walked up to Storm E. "I wanted to ta-" Storm E. shook her head. "No thanks." She started to walk away, but Forest grabbed her hand. "Maybe you should talk to Dot." He said softly. She scowled. "Fine. I'll talk to her." She sighed, walking back to Dot. Storm E. planted her hands on her hips, eyeing Dot warily. "What did you want to talk about?" Dot hesitated, mustering up to courage to say..."What I did...was terrible," She started. "I know it probably won't happen...but I-I want to t-tell you..." Her voice trembled, and she fell to her knees. "I'M SORRY!" She wailed, sobbing. "I'M A HORRIBLE FRIEND, I DON'T DESERVE ANY OF YOU!!" Her sobbing was interrupted by a shout. "That's not true!" Crumbs shouted, running across the clearing, followed by everyone else. "You may have done something horrible," Rosy started, helped Dot up off the ground. "But that doesn't mean, you don't deserve friends." Ace nodded. "If we held a grudge against you, we wouldn't be good friends." He grinned.
ns3.21.163.198da2
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