Chapter 262 | Meeting Tessa Again

Chapter 262: 262 | Meeting Tessa Again

Dexter didn’t move. The butcher sprinted toward them like a bullet.

Lyra grabbed Dexter’s arm as the butcher raised the cleaver wns slashed at then with full force.

"CLANG!"

It struck the wall beside Dexter.

Lyra squeezed his arm tightly and Mira’s right hand clenched against the wheelchair as she leaned backwards towards him. Even Selene flinched from the sound as she moved closer to him.

The butcher leaned toward Dexter. Through the holes in his mask, Dexter could see the employee’s eyes.

Dexter smiled. "Good costume."

The butcher paused. Then slowly pointed toward the next corridor.

Dexter nodded. "Thank you."

He pushed Mira past. The butcher remained motionless.

Once they were safely around the corner, Mira looked backward. "You knew?"

"Yup, I paid him." Dexter smirked.

Selene immediately tilted her chin toward Dexter. "Cheating."

Dexter stopped. "What?"

Mira turned backwards and glared at him. "Cheater."

Lyra nodded. ’Cheater.’

Dexter looked betrayed. "You three are enjoying this far too much."

Mira harrumped. "You cheated at the claw machine and you’re cheating here too."

"I did not cheat."

Mira rolled her eyes.

---

They eventually reached a room labeled THE MIRROR MAZE.

Dexter stared at the entrance. "No."

Mira immediately became interested. "What’s wrong?"

"Nothing."

"Then let’s enter."

Dexter narrowed his eyes. "You said that too quickly."

Mira smiled. "Push."

They entered.

Mirrors surrounded them everywhere. The lighting was dim enough that reflections seemed to appear and disappear depending on where they moved.

Dexter immediately hated it. His hearing wasn’t as useful because sound bounced everywhere.

Selene, strangely, seemed delighted. "This is fascinating."

Dexter looked at her. "You’re enjoying the mirror maze?"

"I can’t see the mirrors."

Dexter paused. "...That’s unfair."

Selene covered her mouth and giggled.

She moved carefully beside them. Her fingers didn’t even touch the walls. Instead, she clicked her tongue softly.

Tick.

The sound bounced and Selene turned. "This way."

Dexter blinked. "Are you serious?"

She walked forward and Dexter followed.

Ten seconds later they hit a dead end.

Mira laughed.

Dexter folded his arms. Selene frowned. "Interesting."

"You were saying?"

"The reflections change the acoustics."

"So we’re lost."

"No."

Five minutes later, they were definitely lost.

Dexter stood at an intersection surrounded by twelve versions of himself. Mira’s wheelchair was reflected dozens of times. Lyra stared at her own reflections.

Selene stood peacefully beside them.

Dexter sighed. "Who designed this place?"

Mira answered, "Someone considerably smarter than you."

Dexter looked down. "You know, I could leave you here."

"No, you couldn’t."

"Why not?"

"You’d come back after thirty seconds."

Dexter opened his mouth and glared at her. "If you weren’t my wife, I would definitely leave you here for sure.."

Mira lips curled up. "Exactly."

Dexter snorted and continued searching.

Suddenly Lyra grabbed his sleeve. He looked over as she pointed.

One reflection wasn’t copying them.

Dexter’s smile vanished. In the mirror stood a pale woman. Long black hair covered her face. She was standing behind them.

Dexter slowly turned. Nothing.

He looked back. The woman was closer.

Lyra’s eyes widened. ’Dexter.’

"I see her."

Mira looked. "What?"

The lights suddenly went out and there was pitch darkness.

Something whispered directly behind them. "Found you."

Lyra grabbed Dexter and Mira gasped as selene jumped towards him.

Dexter’s Flame Will nearly activated instinctively before he stopped himself.

The lights returned and the pale woman was gone.

For several seconds, nobody spoke.

Then Dexter felt something. Lyra’s arms were wrapped around one of his.

He slowly looked down. Lyra followed his gaze. Then looked up at him.

Dexter smiled.

Lyra immediately released him. ’Hmph.’

"I haven’t said anything."

’Don’t.’

Dexter grinned. "Was someone scared?"

Lyra punched his shoulder.

"Ouch!"

She glared.

Dexter laughed. "Fine. Fine."

They eventually escaped the mirror maze with Selene’s help. Dexter would never admit that part.

---

The final section was called THE CATACOMBS.

Fake stone coffins lined the corridor. Skeletons hung from chains. Green flames flickered from wall sconces.

Dexter pushed Mira forward. Mira had become increasingly relaxed. The first few scares had startled her. Now she seemed to be anticipating them.

"That coffin will open," she said.

Dexter looked. "How do you know?"

"It’s obvious."

They passed. Nothing happened.

Mira frowned.

Dexter smiled.

Then the coffin behind them exploded open.

"BANG!"

Mira jumped.

Dexter laughed. "I thought it was obvious?"

"Shut up."

A skeleton dropped from the ceiling. Dexter ducked. Lyra stepped sideways. Selene didn’t react.

Dexter stared at her. "How did you know?"

"I heard the cable."

Dexter pointed accusingly. "Cheater."

Selene smiled. "Strategic awareness."

Mira burst out laughing. "She’s learning from you."

"Unfortunately."

They continued.

Then a low growl came from ahead. Three pairs of glowing red eyes appeared in the darkness.

Dexter stopped. The growling grew louder. Something moved.

Lyra stepped closer. Mira stared ahead. Selene tilted her head.

"Mechanical."

Dexter nodded. "Definitely."

Three enormous wolf-like creatures suddenly leapt from hidden compartments.

Mira screamed. Lyra grabbed Dexter again. Dexter flinched. Selene merely blinked.

The wolves stopped on concealed rails before reaching them.

Dexter looked at Selene. She looked toward him. "That wasn’t scary."

Mira glared. "You can’t see them!"

Selene’s expression became thoughtful. "That’s probably helping."

Dexter laughed so hard he had to stop pushing the wheelchair. Even Mira eventually began laughing.

For several moments, the four of them simply stood there laughing in the artificial darkness.

And Dexter realized something. This was the loudest he’d ever heard them together. Not screaming. Not arguing. Not crying out from pain.

Laughing.

Mira was laughing without bitterness. Selene was laughing without exhaustion. Lyra couldn’t produce the sound yet, but Dexter could hear her laughter clearly inside his mind.

Something tightened pleasantly in his chest. He wanted more days like this. No dungeons. No families. No enemies. No systems demanding advancement.

Just them.

---

Eventually, a glowing sign appeared ahead. EXIT.

Dexter raised both hands. "We survived."

Mira looked up. "Your bravery was inspiring."

"Thank you."

"Especially when the painting scared you."

Dexter’s smile disappeared. "Why are we returning to that?"

Selene added, "And the skeleton hand."

"Nobody asked you."

Lyra’s voice entered his head. ’Uh!’

She imitated him again.

Dexter glared. "I regret bringing all of you."

Mira smiled. "No, you don’t."

Dexter paused, then he smiled. "No I don’t."

He pushed her toward the exit. "I don’t."

The doors opened and Sunlight flooded over them.

Dexter squinted as the sounds of the festival returned at full force.

After the artificial cold of Nightmare Manor, the afternoon warmth felt wonderful.

They collected their giant teddy bears from the attendant. Lyra immediately hugged hers. Selene ran her fingers across the blue bear as though confirming nobody had switched it. Mira’s orange bear was carefully returned to her.

Dexter looked at the ridiculous group. "I still can’t believe I’m carrying stuffed animals around."

Mira looked at his tiny black bear. "Yours is the smallest."

Dexter’s expression darkened. "Why are you obsessed with attacking my bear?"

"Because it’s funny."

Dexter was about to answer when someone called from nearby.

"Dexter?"

He stopped. That voice was familiar.

Dexter turned. A young woman was standing several meters away, holding a large picnic basket with both hands.

His eyebrows rose. "Tessa?"