Falling Down Upwards

Chapter 1.
By: JSwrites

I woke up to an unsettling aura around me. It's dark. Where am I? I wondered. How did I get here?
I was reclining on grass. The earth felt cold and dead. I scout my surroundings. I notice tall green walls...could I be in some sort of labyrinth? My feet rise. As I stroll towards the walls- it reeks of death.

Wait, what does death smell like? Strange...I start wandering around, taking a left then a right when I come to the conclusion that I am in a maze. How did I get here... More importantly, how do I get out?.. I try climbing the walls. Too rough that I cut my hand and fall to the ground. The walls are too tall, I cannot climb them. So instead I take a stroll.

I walked for at least 5 minutes when I saw it. A clown. Holding a white balloon. A tall figure. Dressed in white and red. It's even got a red nose. It seems friendly so I approach it hoping to find a way to get out. With a blink of an eye, It's gone. Where did it go!? That shouldn't be possible! I hear someone breathing over my shoulder...I freeze. Slowly turning around, when I see its face.

"Hiya there," it says in the most disturbing voice I've ever heard.
I shriek, terrified. WHAT IS THIS THING, I think. I stumble to the ground, crawling to get away. I'm too scared. I can't get up. Trembling, attempting to stand, suddenly it's right in front of me. I can feel its cold breath against my face. It's whispering something. But somehow I can't understand a word of it.

Then just like that, once again, it vanishes.
I've lost track of time. I've been laying on the ground for too long. Scared, I can't get up. The clown didn't come back, yet it still haunts me. Trembling, I rise. My confidence is shattered. My eyes attempt to look everywhere at once. What is this place?! I Wonder. I must escape.

I walked for about an hour or so. My stomach rumbling and my throat parched. Suddenly the maze seems to be shifting.

"No...I must be imagining things" I mumble.
I hear sounds like unoiled gears creaking as loud as thunder. Crows rise to the sky. No, now I'm sure of it. The labyrinth is changing. What do I do?? I think to myself. What if I'm crushed?? Is there anything I can do? Instantaneously the dehydration and starvation kick in. Feeling light-headed I drop to my knees. I must get out...I think to myself. Lying on the ground unable to move while the thunderous noise continues. My eyes flutter to stay open, slowly drift away into a close.