{` how unfortunate was it that the other girl managed to escape before he had everything set up — though it's too late for the remaining two now, the minute they had rounded the corner they had already entered his labyrinth } — {` a smile graces his lips as the debris slowly form a wall, a fake, seeing as they were already trapped, but it'll be a lot more fun if they got separated } rule number one, no looking back—or you'll be blinded. {` even better if they decide to test it out }
the second tablo opened his eyes after the fall, the small girl sobbing into his chest, a familiar and welcomed face came into view. jung sooyeon. it had been too long since they’ve caught up. not that this was any time to be doing something like that, but her sudden appearance gave him enough energy to keep going and sit up. “sooyeon, do you have soojung? jinri—?” his words were cut off as he looked around at the new event that was unfolding before his eyes. new mutants were starting to come out from the woodwork. they seemed unscathed by the destruction and the look in all of their eyes — it left tablo speechless for a moment. he gave the girl in his arms a comforting squeeze, holding her slightly closer to his chest and whispering a quick reassurance to her, “don’t worry, you’ll be out of here in no time.”
it took a few moments longer than normal but tablo was able to stand again. every bone and muscle in his body already seemed to ache. he noticed a classmate running his way, away from the incoming mutants, and called his name. the other was surprised and slowed down momentarily; tablo had never talked to him before, and he was sure the other wouldn’t recognize him. but without hesitation, he passed off the little girl into his arms. “take her. make sure she gets somewhere safe.” the boy was still confused but the unusual tone of authority in tablo’s voice made him nod regardless as he went off running again. when he glanced back over at sooyeon, he pursed his lips into a thin line, making more blood flow from the cut from earlier.
—
they had decided to try looking for the younger ones first before running, but turning the next corner had only trapped them.
rule number one, no looking back—or you’ll be blinded.
something about the way he said that… it seemed like he was being completely serious. tablo’s eyes flickered from the mutant in front of them to sooyeon beside him. he had no idea who these mutants were but it was probably best not to test them. it was obvious that there was no going back even if they wanted to escape. the newly formed wall behind them was indication enough.
"rules. what do you mean by that?" tablo spoke first, slowly, with a tensing jaw.
the other replied casually, beginning to back up as he spoke, “just that. serious consequences will happen if you don’t follow the rules.” the mutant snickered, another wall beginning to form in front of him. “remember them well. and try to get out if you can —”
and then he was gone.
tablo frowned, glancing over at his former mentor. “what do you think about this, sooyeon?”