Angel With Broken Wings

06 - Mash Burnedead, Kat Ride and the Mysterious Maze (2)

[KAT POV]

I clutch my hands around the front of Mash's robes, the word maze echoing around my head as I recall that being one of the experimental tests that the White Coats from the School would perform on us in the Flock. My fear and anxiousness seemed to be noticed by Mash, as he circles one of his arms around my waist as we hear Claude Lucci's voice once more,

"But this is no ordinary maze. Countless traps await you inside. You have 30 minutes, reach the goal by the time limit and you pass! Now! Begin!!" He sounded prideful with his explanation, but my eyes could only shake at the words. I placed my head onto Mash's shoulder as I took in a deep breath.

"Sorry, Mash...I just..." My words were cutoff and short, and I couldn't find it in myself to explain. He didn't force me to continue though, only holding me tightly before letting go slowly. "You're fine. I'm here." His kindness was present, and I flushed lightly as I stepped backwards, trying to remind myself that I wasn't at the School or the Institute anymore.

"Looks like a piece of cake, yeah?" He questions gently, his face still stoic as we both looked around the place. "Umm..." A feminine voice sounds behind me, and I turn, my eyes landing on a cute looking girl with blonde hair and amber eyes, her mark looking somewhat moon shaped underneath her right eye.

"Could I possibly tag along with you two?" Her voice was soft, gently as well, as she asked the question, her head tilting somewhat to the side as it comes out. "Why?" The question came from Mash, the boy seeming to be confused at the suggestion as I let out a small sigh.

"Well, you see, I though that it might be more efficient if we work together." Her suggestion seemed valid, but my trust issues set off alarms around the girl, Mash seemed to look at me then back at the girl, responding casually, "I have Kat." His response made me splutter, my head whipping towards him quickly at his quick reply. "Ah! What he means to say is, is sure, you can come along."

I quickly try to salvage the situation, grasping at the boy's cloak as I whine slightly at his blunt answers. "Mash, I don't think it would hurt having her come along." I tried to remain positive in my thinking, waving the girl to come closer as we begin to move forward. She smiles sweetly, commenting as she comes forward,

"I'm Lemon Irvine, by the way! Ahh, I wonder what kind of traps they have waiting for us? Kind of makes me nervous!" Her comment is followed by her tripping, almost landing on her face if it wasn't for my reaching out a hand to catch her gently. Mash just stared at the scene, seeming to be at a loss for words at the clumsy display. "Are you okay?" I ask, somewhat deadpanning at her action.

"Ah yes..."

We continue forward after that fiasco, the girl managing to trip every trap we come across as we walk. My eye twitches, my fingers fidgeting as a new complaint comes after complaint.

"Ah imps! Save me!!"
"Even the ground is trying to stop us! Don't leave me!"
"Wait please! Oh no! Help me!"

"P-Please wait up...don't go without me." She begs, at this point I was getting ready to just leave, a loud and long sigh leaving me as I glare my eyes towards the female. I knew she was most likely put up to this, but my frustration needed to be present. She flinches at the sight of my blue eye narrowing, Mash speaking up from beside me, "This...is efficient?"

"Of course it isn't." I sigh, placing a hand to my forehead as I look upwards. "We gotta hurry, or else we'll fail." I said, the last word intentionally sounding harsh as it gets grounded out, my attempt at intimidating the girl. She flinches once more as Mash and I turn, preparing to run.