He didn't know where he was going. Right, left, right – he could barely see in the dark. He barely noticed the paths change colors under his feet as he fled. Leaves slapped at his arms, and he stumbled more than once as he ran into the walls of the maze. Where was everyone? Where was he?

He didn't know. Left, left, right – he had to keep moving. He had – something caught his foot, causing him to pitch forward and fall through a corn-wall. He couldn't stop. He continued to run, clenching his plastic axe tightly.

But now he was out of breath.

He took one, two steps and bent over, hands on his knees as he tried to catch his breath. Carter then sank to his knees, his fingers digging into the colored astro turf. What... what was he doing? He ran. He fled from what? From someone dressed up in a costume. The boy scrubbed his burning cheek. He was Sailor Merope, and what did he do? He didn't stand and fight. He fled. He was a coward.

He sat back and stared upwards at the sky. He wasn't much of a senshi, to turn and flee at the first sight of trouble. “I was just surprised,” he whispered. It didn't sound very convincing. Carter slid back, bringing his legs forward and up. The axe was dropped in favor of hugging his legs, propping his chin on his knees in the same motion. It helped to sit here and think, to listen to the various shrieks and cries in the maze as people had their own shares. He...

Carter closed his eyes. He really, really wanted his teammates. He didn't like being alone, he didn't want to be alone. He –

He didn't have time for this!

It felt as if someone had struck him; a quick, dark jolt that made his feet ache with impact after jumping off a high ledge, followed by the soft trembling of the skateboard underfoot. Was it the last trick your board would perform? No, not yet – he could sense the youma nearby, stopping to sniff before shuffling on.

Then there was silence.

The boy slowly reached forward and grabbed his plastic axe, swiping his face for a final time. Now wasn't the time or place to cower. There were still dangerous things out there, things that wouldn't solve themselves. Carter ran forward, following markers at random: red, blue, white, blue again, scarecrow, turn – what was that ahead? The end?

He stared as there was a flash a light. Was the night suddenly brighter? Why did it become louder? Carter stared before approaching the bale of hay. It didn't matter that someone had beaten him to whatever it was – right now, he was tired. He wanted to go home.