Escape Games

Chapter Seven

Mac had never been happier he'd closed a door in his life, but he also knew the beast on the other side could most likely open or bust through the barrier easily if it wanted to. He could hear the creature sniffing loudly, knowing it could smell them inside the room. Jorik moved closer to him, apparently wanting the comfort of another being. Mac had turned to kneel on the couch cushion to try to see what the threat was. 
     The shape on the other side of the door was so big that he couldn't really make out any details, aside from the large, red eye staring in.  Bear standing right in front of the door didn't help him much, but at least seeing her seemed to make the beast pause and think twice about coming in.  Mac heard Jorik shifting again, making a small noise as he did.
Mac pressed his elbow into Jorik's ribs, putting a finger to his lips and pointing to the door. The elven put a hand over his mouth but shifted again, turning like Mac had and moving even closer to him. The monster continued sniffing for several moments before finally grunting and stomping away. The three waited until its footsteps faded fully before anyone moved.
Bear turned away from the door and slowly walked back to the couch. Mac turned back around and Jorik did the same, but didn't move back to his original spot. Instead, he sank back into the cushions and let out a loud huff.  Mac let out a sigh of relief himself. 
     "That was something I could've done without," he said.  Jorik just looked at him and huffed again. 
     "I know, I know," Mac told him.  "I don't like tense situations either, but I think we're fine now.  Bear's calm again, so I think that thing is gone." 
     "What was it?"  The elven asked after letting out a long breath.  Mac thought for a second. 
     "I couldn't see much past the window," he answered.  "But minotaurs tend to inhabit places like this, so I wouldn't be surprised if one of those was roaming around." Jorik huffed again.
"Hopefully it's only one," he said. "One is already more than enough for me."
"I don't think it's their mating season," Mac responded. "So it should be only one of them. Unless this place is big enough to house multiple minotaurs without issue." Jorik let out a gurgley grumbling noise.
"I don't want to think about that possibility," he said and huffed.
"Sorry," Mac said. Jorik huffed and looked away.  Mac sighed but said nothing.  Twenty seconds of quiet went by as Bear rested her head on the arm of the couch.  Jorik stroked her ear with one finger. 
     "I just don't like the idea that this place could be big enough to house multiple hostile things," he said, his voice beginning to shake slightly.  "It would mean it's probably big enough that we couldn't find our way out before our month is up."  He looked at Mac, and Mac could see the fear leaking into the elven's eyes.
"I know," Mac said gently. "It's not a fun thought, but sometimes it's better to be over prepared than under. We don't have to think about it every second of the day, but it's something to file away in the back of our minds. We can't completely ignore it as a possibility, but we can't let it consume us with worry either. We have other things to focus on." Jorik looked down at the dog, making a long, low, whining warbling noise before huffing again. Mac quietly put a hand on his shoulder.
"You're okay," he said. "I know it's easier said than done, but I'm here, Bear is here, we're all going to do our best to get out of here, alright?" Jorik looked at him out of one eye and huffed. He looked like he wanted to believe they'd be okay, but was having trouble. Bear moved to put her head on his lap, and Jorik half heartedly rubbed her side.
"Do you want some water?" Mac asked him, opening his pack and offering a blue insulated water bottle. "I find that sometimes taking a sip of water helps me take a step back and reset if I start to get anxious." Jorik took the bottle but didn't drink right away.
"Won't you need some?" He asked. Mac gave a small smile.
"That's why I bring two water bottles," he said, bringing out a black bottle this time. "In case someone else needs one." Jorik sighed, but he took a sip from his bottle. He sighed again and tried for a small smile.
"Thank you," he said. Mac had pulled out a red collapsible dog bowl and was filling it from his bottle before placing it on the coffee table in front of where the dog was.
"No problem," he replied as Bear began to drink. 
     "I mean for everything so far," Jorik elaborated.  "I know I haven't exactly made this easy to deal with on top of getting out of here."  Mac shook his head. 
     "It's not your fault," he said.  "Everyone handles stress differently, and I'm sure you're doing your best to deal.  Bear and I are here and we're going to do everything we can to get you out as well as ourselves."  He put his hand on Jorik's shoulder again, and the elven made a sort of soft, purr-like cooing sound before letting out a slow breath. 
     "You seem a bit tired," Mac said a few seconds later as Jorik tried to stifle a yawn.  "Why don't you rest for a few hours, and the dog and I will keep watch." 
     "I'm fine," Jorik told him.  "You sleep.  Humans need to sleep more often than elvens, anyway."  But he yawned again and Mac gave him a look. 
     "How long have you been awake?"  He asked. 
     "A week?"  But Jorik's answer was more of a question.  Mac sighed. 
     "You need to sleep," he said.  "Your body needs it more and you'll heal better if you let your whole body rest."  Jorik huffed in response, but seemed to agree. 
     "Fine," he said.  "But I still think you should rest, too.  We'll both need to be as aware as possible and sleep helps with that." 
     "If it'll make you take a nap, then I'll sleep too," Mac told him.  "Bear will keep a lookout." The dog raised her head to attention and wagged her tail a few times.
"See?" Mac asked as the dog posted herself by the door. "She'll keep us safe. Even if she starts dozing herself, she'll heard and smell anything way before we notice it." Jorik sighed and huffed.
"Fine," he said again as he pulled his legs closer and began to curl up at one end of the couch. Mac removed his jacket as he stood to move to the other couch.
"Do you want this?" He asked, offering his coat. Jorik's shirt was long sleeved, but the fabric was thin, and Mac had noticed it was a bit chilly in their maze prison. The elven only let out a long breath in response. Mac laid the jacket over him before pulling his second one out of the big pocket of his backpack. This one was a blue pixel camouflage pattern, and he slipped it on as he made his way to his couch. Mac lay down and stretched out fully.
"Good night," he said, but Jorik seemed to already be asleep, as he didn't respond.  Mac lay quietly and listened to the elven's breathing, trying to calm his brain down enough to snooze himself.  But the unfamiliar surroundings and the near miss earlier made it difficult.  He'd been keeping calm for Jorik's sake, but he knew he'd eventually need to talk out his stress. 
     He decided to wait a bit longer before venting to the elven, but thought maybe it might get him to open a little himself.  Mac worked to slow his breathing, and focused on thinking about his favorite video games until his mind quieted and his eyelids  grew heavy.  A few moments later, he fell into a dreamless but comfortable sleep.