The massive screen floated above me. My fingers loosened around the needles, and my body eased. I swatted it away. "Shoo! I need a second of peace. Go disturb other participants." In a fit, a cloud of hot air burst out. It rushed up to me and slammed the screen in my face.

  I flopped back, and my head met the ground. I immediately got up and wanted to strangle the screen instead, but something stopped me. My eyes met the numbers. My fingers tightened around the needles until my knuckles hurt.

  More than half the contestants are gone. The corridor felt larger suddenly. Like something had been removed from the air.

  The numbers didn't blink. They just hovered, glowing in that sickeningly cheerful color. I swear. If I make it out of here alive, I'm gonna kiss the floor.

  My eyes drifted to the girl's broken body again. Mr. James winked inside my head. "Punishment time." My stomach dropped again. Oh no.

  I bounced up to my feet. "Nope. Not dying here. Move. Move." I quickly ran ahead even though I had no idea where I was going. 99.9% the wrong way, but hey, I still have that 0.1%.

  Step. Step.

  I wandered for what felt like hours. Dead ends. Loops. Mirrors reflecting nothing but my gorgeous look.

  "WHY!!!" I screamed into the air. Then I jumped and stomped the ground with both feet. "Grr~ I feel like destroying this useless, irritating maze! Buwahhh!!!"

  In return, no sound. Just wind. I threw a few punches in the air. I bet even the monsters in the mirrors are laughing at me. Hmph! I stuck out my tongue at the mirrors and sighed. "Why am I getting mad? It's not gonna help…"

  The maze didn’t respond.

  Then, a little pinky finger lazily found its way to my nostril without my consent and started digging for gold. "I've read many stories where the prince would show up and save the princess, but where is he? Sleeping?!"

  A booger flew out. I got gold, but he still ain't here. Such a wasteful prince. I also don't want!

  A fist slammed into one of the mirrors. My mouth was practically fuming. "Maybe I should beat the hell out of him when I see him. Hehehe..." Even the monsters in the mirrors slowly retreated.

  Then again, maybe... I'm not a princess but... a dwarf?!

  Realization dawned on me. My positivity died dramatically, held a funeral, then kicked open its own coffin and came back. Slightly uglier. Still loud. I see... That explains everything.

  I planted one foot. The other leg snapped up. Arms round out for a heartbeat. Eyes locked forward. Then spun. Fast. Controlled chaos wrapped in balance. The world blurred. Hair and fabric flare out in a brief, rebellious halo. Then stopped on a knife's edge of stillness, chin tilted up.

  A beat.

  Fine. No princess. No knight. Just me. A sleep-deprived goblin with anger issues and questionable hygiene. I sighed and trudged forward.

  Turned a corner. My weary eyes caught a glimpse of what seemed like a human shadow. Signal sent. Brain offline. Transmission failed.

  Then, thud.

  My unfortunate nose slammed into something hairy. "OW! What did I just—"

  The thing that collided with me fell with a loud Bang!

  "Are your eyes behind your head?!"

  That voice. I'd recognize it anywhere. Only Shorty can make such short remarks. I looked down and found Isaac on the floor, rubbing his round head, cursing under his foul breath.

  "Isaac!" I rushed over, grabbed his arms, pulled him up, and started spinning. "Oh, I'm so glad to see you! Let me help you up."

  Next second, palm met face. I stopped spinning and clutched my injured cheek. He sighed. "So… I'm in hell now. Makes sense."

  "Hell? What do you mean?"

  He looked around the dim corridor, his eyes lifeless. "We're dead. All of us. And this is hell. What a short life we lived."

  I blinked, unsure how to respond. "...Why not heaven?"

  Isaac narrowed his eyes. "Heaven? You?"

  Without hesitation, I grabbed his collar and started shaking him. "You wanna say that again, you overcooked dumpling?!"

  Before the argument could escalate, another hand popped into view. "My name is Dan, and I'm 15 this year. What about you?"

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  Who is this? He stinks. Bitter. Very bitter. Worse than bitter gourd. And Dan? Such a John Doe name. I released Isaac and shook Dan's hand. "Llyne. 14. Nice to meet ya, Dan."

  Dan grinned. It was so bright that I had to shield my eyes. Mon dieu... what a ball of sunshine.

  Isaac groaned as he stood back up, wobbling slightly before Dan caught him. "Thanks, Dan," he muttered then glanced behind me. "Where's your partner? I don't see them."

  "Lost. Apparently, she got worse directions than I."

  Isaac squinted and let out a mocking cough. "Worse than you? That's hard to imagine." He paused, clearly seeing through the lie. "Are you sure you didn't ditch her?"

  I shot him a glare. "Why you little—!"

  My arm hooked around Isaac's neck, and I gave him a proper strangling. "I'm not as cruel as you, little goblin!" Dan looked back and forth, unsure whether to intervene or not.

  "Help me, Dan!" Isaac flailed. "Get this lunatic off me!"

  "Lunatic?!" I tightened my grip. "I'll show what a lunatic is." I took a chomp of Isaac. Isaac wailed, frantically pushing me away, but my teeth sank deeper into his arm. The whole place was filled with Isaac's scream. Melody to my ear.

  Once I felt victorious enough, I released him. Isaac dropped, palms and knees on the ground, gasping for air. I tossed my hair and smirked. "How's the neck massage, shorty?"

  He opened his mouth, then wisely decided to close it again. I snickered. Smart choice.

  Dan helped him back up. "You okay, Isaac?"

  Isaac glared. "What do you think?"

  Dan stammered, but Isaac just shook his head and turned toward me. "You do realize you need your partner, right, dumbo?" Isaac didn’t blink. "Or else, punishment."

  The word hung between us.

  I shrugged. "I'll just find another."

  Isaac rubbed his arm that had my bite mark. "You can't. The rules were clear. You're stuck with the one you entered the floor with."

  Really? That means I can't knock out someone and steal their partner?

  "Meh! Who cares? Rules are meant to be broken!" I puffed my chest and let out a confident laugh.

  Isaac slapped a hand to his forehead. "Why am I not surprised...?"

  I whistled innocently. We continued through the twisting maze corridors; every turn I made led us to another monster. Later, given a punch to the gut or flying kicks from Isaac. Fed up, Isaac led the charge instead.

  The maze sulked around us. Isaac's cautious eyes darted everywhere in case of enemies. I was just stringing along like I was on a picnic trip. And Dan? He was humming cheerfully.

  "La~ la~ wee~ song~!"

  I placed a hand near Isaac and whispered, "What's he chanting? A curse? Should I be worried?"

  Isaac's eyes fixed ahead, remained aloof. "He's humming."

  "…Not cursing?"

  "Do you even know what humming is?"

  Before I could respond, a pair of shadows slashed from the mirrors. One in front. One behind.

  Snapping. Growling.

  Their forms fully emerged, a duo of massive, silver-furred monsters with jagged fangs, releasing low, guttural snarls. Legs thicker than mine. Claws that had never seen a manicure. Wolves. The kind bred in nightmares, with eyes that glowed like molten gold.

  "Grrr..."

  Dan trembled violently. "Eek! We've been surrounded...!"

  He clung to Isaac, not even covering half his body. Legs shaking as though he was one second away from peeing his pants. I shook my head. He's bigger than both of us… yet quivers like jelly?

  Isaac steadied himself. "Dan, cover the front. Llyne, rear."

  "Hehe. I wonder if I could raise one someday." I took the needles out and blew the wolves a kiss.

  Isaac groaned. "Be serious for once."

  I turned to Dan and patted his back. "I got the rear. Make sure you keep Isaac safe, got it?"

  Dan gave a hesitant nod. The wolf behind us growled again, stepping into striking range. Its gaze locked onto mine.

  I grinned. "Will you be my pet?"

  It lunged.

  Slammed into me. Air left my lungs. Its jaws snapped wildly, not letting me rest for a second. The stench of its breath was thick like rotting meat. Ugh. Not hygienic at all, unlike LM junior. I shoved a needle in between its upper jaw and lower jaw. It jerked its head back and frantically tried to shake the needle off. "This is punishment for not brushing your teeth!" I slipped out another needle and jammed it deep into its mouth.

  Schlunk!

  The wolf yelped and reeled back. I staggered to my feet, one hand clutching my throbbing back. "Oof... You're fast. And heavier than you look."

  I raised another needle and surged forward. "Sorry, pup. Should’ve brushed."

  It thrashed. Blood poured from its maw. While it was distracted, my arm moved before my brain did. A clean slice to the neck.

  Thud.

  The body hit the floor. It didn’t move. For a heartbeat, neither did I. I sighed and walked up. My pulse hammered in my ears. Then I exhaled and yanked the needle free. "Next time, know your limits, pup."

  I jogged toward the others and waved. "Hey, you guys okay?"

  The other wolf lay on the ground, motionless, and blood pooled everywhere. Isaac gave a nod. "For now."

  Sniff… Sniff…

  I twitched and looked around. "...Is someone crying?"

  Isaac pointed at the ground. There, Dan was hugging his knees, sniffling like a child. Eyes bulging, cheeks puffed. He looks like an ugly goldfish.

  "What happened? Isaac, what did you do?"

  Isaac crossed his arms. "I didn't do anything. He killed the wolf just fine. Then suddenly dropped his sword and sat down, crying."

  "... And you just stand there watching him cry?"

  "No, I observed."

  I rolled my eyes and walked to Dan. "Dan, buddy. What's wrong? Did someone bully you? That goblin over there, right?"

  Dan looked up, face wet with tears. "I… I hate dogs…! Uwaaaah!!" His shoulders shook. The maze carried his sobs down the corridor and sent them back at us. For a second, none of us moved.

  Baam!

  Isaac smacked him on the head.

  "WHAT THE DEVIL, ISAAC?!" I stormed toward him. "Why are you hitting a crying kid? What are you?! A devil in disguise?!"

  Isaac closed his eyes and smiled. "A perfect human being."

  "Perfect human being, my butt! What the heck is your problem?!"

  Isaac stubbornly held his ground. "He called a wolf... a dog."

  "...So?! That's your reason?!"

  He nodded solemnly.

  The corridor tilted. I pressed my palm to the wall and weakly took a step back, clutching my head. "No wonder people say boys are trouble. They don't just give you migraines, they age you by ten years per hour."

  I knelt beside Dan. "It's okay, Dan. You're not a burden. Don't be scared. Most dogs are loyal and kind."

  Isaac interjected. "That was a wolf. Not. A. Dog."

  I glared. "Have some empathy, robot."

  "Robots don't have empathy, you wacko."

  "Then learn it or else." I raised my fist. My fingers crackled like they were already rehearsing his funeral. Isaac gulped and nodded, backing off.

  Dan wiped away his tears and got up. "Thanks, guys." Then, out of nowhere, he said one sentence too much. "You two... look like a couple."

  Isaac and I paused. One second, two.

  I turned slowly. "You want a fist, Dan?"

  Isaac stepped forward, "I'll give him more than a fist."

  Dan's eyes darted between us. Slowly backing away. "N-Nooo! I'm sorry!!"

  Our footsteps thundered, his panicked yelps ricocheted off the maze walls. The maze finally got some entertainment.