I heard Doccia cry out for me as I ran— away into the darkness of the labyrinth, and the unknown. It was the last time I would hear her voice. In only 17.2 seconds, the stranger caught up with me, locking one hand into the wiring of my torso.

  “Let me go!!”

  “I could not, even if I wanted to.”

  “Let go, let go!!!”

  “It is useless to struggle.”

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  “I-SAID-LET-GO!”

  “AH!”

  “Ha! I got you, didn’t I??”

  “...You got my hat. And you will pay for it in due time.”

  “No! I’m not going to the Worm…!!”

  “Why do you resist? Can you even remember what you have to lose...?”

  “Just ‘cause I don’t have a brain doesn’t mean I don’t want to live!”

  “...You’re better off than I, then.”

  “…”

  “...In 28 days, the Worm will surface at Point 1630-6809. We must make haste….”