As they navigated through the maze, a sense of foreboding hung heavy in the air. The walls seemed to pulse with a malevolent energy, as if the very structure of the temple was alive and watching their every move.

Suddenly, they heard a faint whisper, almost indistinguishable in the darkness.

WHISPER: "Turn back... You cannot escape... This is your eternal prison..."

Jessica and Nick exchanged anxious glances, but their determination pushed them forward. They couldn't abandon their friends to this twisted fate.

With each step, the tunnels grew more disorienting, shifting and changing as if the temple itself was playing tricks on them. Time seemed to lose its meaning, stretching and warping in this nightmarish realm.

Then, in the distance, they spotted a glimmer of light. Hope surged within them as they quickened their pace. As they drew closer, they realized it was coming from an intricately designed door.

Heart pounding, Jessica reached for the door handle. But as she turned it, the door vanished before their eyes, leaving only a wall of solid stone.

JESSICA: (Frustrated) No! This can't be happening. We were so close!

Nick's eyes widened as he pointed to an inscription on the wall beside them. It was a riddle, written in ancient, cryptic symbols.

NICK: "Only those who face their deepest fears shall find the way forward."

Jessica's mind raced, trying to decipher the meaning. Suddenly, a chilling realization struck her.

JESSICA: (Softly) Nick, we have to confront our fears. It's the only way to proceed.

Nick looked uncertain, but he knew that they had come too far to turn back now. Together, they closed their eyes, summoning the courage to confront the darkest recesses of their minds.

As their eyes opened, they found themselves in separate hallucinatory realms, each tailored to their deepest fears. Shadows danced and whispered, tormenting them with their insecurities and nightmares.

Jessica faced her fear of drowning in an endless ocean, battling against towering waves. Nick confronted his fear of failure, navigating a treacherous obstacle course where success always seemed just out of reach.

They fought tooth and nail, refusing to succumb to their fears. And as they overcame each challenge, the illusions shattered, revealing the true path forward.

With hearts pounding, they reunited at the now-visible door. The riddle had been a test, and they had emerged victorious.

Beyond the door lay a chamber bathed in an ethereal light. Sarah and Alex stood there, unharmed, their eyes wide with relief.

SARAH: (In awe) You found us! We've been trapped here, but you've come to save us.

ALEX: (Grateful) Thank you, both of you. We thought we were lost forever.

JESSICA: (Smiling) We're not out of here yet, but together, we can find a way.

Their bond stronger than ever, they pressed on, driven by a renewed determination. They were prepared to face whatever horrors awaited them, knowing that their friendship and resilience would guide them through the deepest depths of the temple and back to the world they longed to return to.