Labyrinth : Hidden Legacy

Chapter 4 Hector The Caterpillar

Toby went through the door into this strange scene he did not recognize. It certainly wasn't his front yard.

He saw the man carrying his sister. However, not wanting to be seen Toby hid behind a tree and watched. The man carried Sarah toward a giant maze. He walked her straight through a gate in the wall of the maze. Right next to the wall was a strange tree. Large and covered with hanging mesh like leaves. Drooping down. Like a willow tree that was more frightening than attractive.

The man entered the maze and turned right.

Toby looked around to see if anyone else was in the area. He saw bugs flying around. A couple animals in the forest where he was but no people.

Toby felt scared. Scared of being seen.

This was a feeling he felt often in his life. "Brave" was not a word used to describe Toby...not even by himself. He was afraid of the shadows outside at night. He was afraid of getting lost. He was afraid of standing out among his peers.

He wanted to be brave. He just didn't know how to get there.

Every moment Toby hesitated his sister was getting further and further away. He had to make a move. He HAD to run! His heart beat fast and he pressed his eyes shut tight. He took in a deep breath and then, opened his eyes and ran as fast as he could.

He ran to the gate and pushed it open. Turning to his right he saw...nobody. The man was gone. All that was there appeared to be an everlasting path with wall on either side. The scene was dismal. Roots and leaves and pebbles upon the ground. Walls that were old and worn. And the sky...gray clouds were rolling in and covering the sun. It appeared not a welcoming or happy place.

Toby began to walk.

"Where did the man go?!" Toby asked aloud. Then he began to run. It was just wall on either side. No turns or entrances or exits. So he ran faster. Still, nothing. Toby stopped.

Being a child, Toby liked to feel things as he went through his day. As he walked he touched the wall on his left and felt it as he went along. Thinking. Wracking his brain for an explanation. Then, unbelievably, the wall that was ...was no longer there. Oh, he could see the wall! But he couldn't feel it.

He turned toward the wall and attempted to push it with both hands. He went right through it. "Magic?" Toby asked.

Toby looked left and right and he began to walk. He chose the right side. Toby decided that feeling the wall was a smart thing to do in this maze. So, he raised his hand and touched as he moved. Suddenly a small cry came up. "Hey! You almost smashed me!" it said.

Toby notice a young, blue, fuzzy caterpillar on the wall near his fingers.

"Hello" Toby replied. "This place is magic!" Toby said to himself. "The walls are magic and the caterpillars too!"

"Nah" said the caterpillar, "Optical illusions."

"Oh! My name is Toby" he said.

"How nice to me you, Toby. I'm Hector" said the little creature. "Come inside for a cup of tea?" This hospitality he had learned from his father. Always be polite and invite guests in for tea!

Toby wondered how that would even be possible. "Yes?" he said more as a question than an answer.

"Just hold onto the wall there and pull" the caterpillar nodded to Toby's right side. So Toby felt with his hands until he reached the edge of the wall. He grabbed it and pulled toward himself and the wall moved! It opened up like a giant door.

Inside Toby saw rows of bricks as one would expect. Some of the bricks were missing and in those spaces were a nice little home for a caterpillar family. Leaf beds they could munch on when they were hungry, tiny photos of the family hanging on their walls, miniature furniture set up quite nicely.

"Why, Hello" said another caterpillar from inside the home.

"This is my mum" said Hector, nodding toward the other caterpillar.

Just then another blue caterpillar inched its way into the home from a hole in the wall.

"I'm 'ome" the entering creature said. He stopped and starred at Toby.

"Hiyah, Pop" Hector said. Hector's pop spoke with a British accent although his wife and child did not.

"Hi, I'm Toby" the young boy introduced himself.

"I'm 'Erald", "Nice to meet you."

Toby did not know that Herald had met Sarah years prior. That she had entered the same magical realm back then.

This day Toby had not entered the labyrinth at the same gate Sarah had years ago. However, it was not altogether too far from it.

Surprisingly, three tiny caterpillar heads popped up from under a leaf.

"Meet the children" Herald said. " 'Addie, 'Ellen and 'Enry."

"How cute" Toby replied. "It's nice to meet you all. Where am I? What is this whole place?"

"You're inside the labyrinth" answered Herald.

Harmony chimed in, "This is the Goblin King's kingdom."

"Goblins?" Toby questioned. The thought sent a shiver down his spine but he didn't know the reason why.

Harmony poured a tiny cup of tea for Toby and he carefully picked it up. Knocking over a piece of furniture then apologizing and fixing it for them.

"My sister is here and I have to find her!" Toby pleaded. "A tall man with black boots and white wild hair has taken her!"

"Was he human?" asked Harmony.

"Of course" replied Toby.

"That would 'ave to be our goblin king" said Herald. " 'E lives in the castle at the center of the labyrinth."

"Then that's where I have to get to!" Toby declared. "How do I start the labyrinth?"

"Take any turn towards the castle" said Harmony.

"You already know about the illusions of the walls" said Herald "keep in mind that things are not what they seem 'ere."

Toby drank the drop of tea from his cup and placed it back on the tiny table. "Thank you very much. It was wonderful meeting you" Toby said. "I have to get going. Goodbye."

Toby ran off to attempt the labyrinth.

Herald said to his wife "I wonder if 'is sister is anything like that yuman girl I met years ago?"

"I wonder if Toby wanted to know the short cut to the castle?" Harmony said.

"Nah" Herald replied "If 'e wanted to get there fast 'e would have asked 'ow to get straight to the castle."
Harmony nodded in agreement.