The labyrinth of monsters (a Hermitcraft and third life AU fanfic)

Chapter 18 -Martyn

(Some time ago)

The maze is as dark as always. Etho's just behind me, there's a knife in my hand. I've done this a million times before, but my heart still races. Will we meet anyone? Will anyone die? No one has yet, but we've come close.

What if I die? 

I always end up asking myself it, but every time I almost stop. I don't actually, faltering slightly but keeping on going. 

'You ok?' Etho notices me stalling. I nod back. 

'Yeah, I'm fine. I have no idea where we are, but I'm fine.'

'Ok... weren't you supposed to know the whole maze or something?'

'Not the whole maze! No one's even been to all of the maze. But I'm sure I've never been here...'

The path ahead leads into a deadend, and I turn around to see Etho frowning. 

'What is it?' I snap. 

'I... thought I saw something?'

'Probably nothing.' I reply, convincing myself as much as I'm convincing Etho. 

'No, I'm pretty sure I saw something...'

'It's nothing. Come on.' 

'Are you sure?'

'ETHO, come on!' I realise a moment too late that I made a mistake, as the half-dog person pounds out of the darkness. I face it, pushing Etho behind me.

'Stay back. I'll deal with him.' 

I pull out my sword, slicing defensively. The wolf pounces, and I hit him out the way, circling around to face him again. He gets shakily onto his four legs again, limping slightly, before flying for my face. 

I scream as I hit the wall, as claws rake across my left eye. Kicking, yelling, madly swiping as the wolf scratches and bites. There's blood everywhere. I don't know how I'm still alive. 

'ETHO!' I howl his name. The ninja's paralysed, one hand paused half-grab for an arrow. One of my hands gets free from beneath where the wolf is murdering my left leg. I reach out for him to drag me to safety. Etho doesn't move. Everything hurts, I can barely see and what I can is blurring away as I black out from the bloodloss. 

I wake up. I'm in a cave-like place, with a torn red carpet in the middle of the room and a pile of material in the corner. Someone's sleeping on it, the steady rise and fall of their chest the only thing stopping me from thinking it's a very fluffy pile of blown material. The wolf. Only one of my eyes is open, and I try to open the other, holding up a hand to feel why I can't. I can barely hold back my emotions at I touch the mess of flesh and blood that is the left of my face. The rest of me is covered in scars. I try to remember what happened, and then how I'm still alive. 

Etho didn't help me. 

The thought refuses to leave my head, and I snatch up my sword, which is next to me. It's then I realise I'm lying on the ground. 

I try to sit up, but everything is aching too much. I stifle a scream, but even the small noise I make is enough to wake the wolf. 

They stare at me with a mix of surprise, wariness and anger, blue eyes flashing. I point my sword at them, and they pause, not attacking, but not retreating either. I decide to speak.

'Let me go.' I plead, my voice is cracked and sore. 'Please...'

'Who are you?' The wolf asks back. Taken aback, I don't reply instantly.