Something inside Timothy had been tearing at him, two instincts colliding.
One begged for rest.
The other screamed to kill.
Now, silence filled the corridor.
The last echoes of chaos had faded.
Then, the statues began to reform.
Piece by piece, they knit themselves back together right before the group's eyes.
Timothy collapsed completely, unconscious.
The black tint on his arms faded, leaving only his nails darkened.
Gray scuttled protectively in front of him, twitching its antennae with alert awareness.
The leader didn't hesitate.
He sheathed his blade, raised his shield, and dragged Timothy's limp body toward the next doorway.
The rest of the group followed, crossing through the massive double doors and leaving the nightmare behind them.
What greeted them was... a staircase.
A massive spiral staircase that descended four, maybe five floors down into darkness.
