Arachne's eyes seemed to bore into Avery's soul , as if she could see every secret , every fear , and every desire . Avery felt a shiver run down her spine , but she stood her ground , refusing to back down .
Ryker's hand was still clasped around hers , and Avery felt a sense of comfort and security in his presence . She knew that she wasn't alone , that Ryker was there to support her every step of the way .
Arachne's smile grew wider , and she took a step closer to Avery . " I have been waiting for you ," she said . " You have something that belongs to me ."
Avery's eyes narrowed , and she tried to think of what Arachne could possibly want .But before she could respond , Arachne continued .
" The crystal key ," she said . " It is mine , and I will stop at nothing to get it ."
Avery's heart skipped a beat , and she felt a surge of fear . She knew that she couldn't let Arachne get her hands on the crystal key , no matter what .
Ryker's hand tightened around hers , and Avery knew that he was thinking the same thing .They were in this together , and they would fight to the end to protect the crystal key .
Lyra and Kael stepped forward , their eyes flashing with determination . " We won't let you have it ," Lyra said . " The crystal key is ours , and we'll fight to keep it ."
Arachne's smile grew wider , and she laughed a low , husky sound . " We'll see about that ," she said .
As she spoke , the labyrinth around them began to shift and change , the walls melting away like wax . Avery felt a sense of disorientation , as if she was being pulled into a dream world .
But she knew that she couldn't afford to lose her focus . She had to stay alert , had to stay one step ahead of Arachne .
As the labyrinth continued to shift and change ,Avery felt Ryker's hand tighten around hers . She knew that he was there for her , that he would support her every step of the way .
Together , they faced Arachne , ready to face whatever lay ahead .
🤍🤍🤍