The Lost Labyrinth

13. A Wishing Well And Cassidy's Memories

I felt so bad for losing Maeve again. This time I wasn't so sure if I'd see her again. All I could do was hope. Something tells me this might've been the last time.

But Cassidy and I had to keep moving. If we didn't, we'd never survive.

We were both soaked from the hard rain pouring down on us. We still laid on the cold hard floor. I finally decided to sit up, rain blurring my vision. A strong wind making me struggle to move. I could make out a couple of things in front of me. Trees being tossed around by the storm. A meandering stone pathway leading to one huge stone brick. I assumed it was some sort of shelter. I finally stood up, the wind threatening to push me backwards. I looked behind me to see a huge, angry ocean. With waves as high as 50 feet. I tried looking out into the ocean distance and saw a huge wave that would swallow this entire path. It would destroy everything, including us. We had to leave now.

"We have to get to that shelter, now!" I yelled over the storm. I pulled her up and she stood. Struggling to stand and squinting.

"Oh my-"

I grabbed her hand before she could finish and we bolted. Running, we slipped a couple of times on the uneven, wet path. I looked to my left over the edge of the stone road to see the huge wave getting closer. With every glance it was at least 10 feet closer. If we didn't get to the building now. We'd be done.

Then the unthinkable happened. Cassidy suddenly unwillingly let go of my hand. She slipped on the narrow stone path way. Before I could try to catch her she fell over the edge. Into the water.

This was terrible. What would I do now? Should I go after her?

While debating, I heard the loud sound of gushing water. I looked up. Before I could even think or process what was happening.

It consumed me.

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I surprised to find myself alive. I guessed I was immediately knocked out when the wave consumed me.

But where I was confused me. I wasn't anywhere near the stone road and building. It had stopped raining. I was washed up on hard floor. I heard the bustling sound of people walking and chatting.

I looked up to see a forest. It was still nighttime. But the forest looked beautiful. With flowering trees full of glowing cyan flowers. In the middle of the tree was  paved dirt path. With people walking on a path completely unaware of us behind them.

I got up, my body felt so sore. For the first time I was actually somewhat hungry. In the past...well probably about 5 days...I'd hadn't had a lot to eat.

My backpack was still on my back, which was good. My watch broke a while ago, there's no way to know the time of the portals now anyways.

I looked to my left to see if Cassidy sitting up scratching her head looking out to the waves. I wondered how long she'd been sitting, staring like that.

"You okay?" I asked.

"I'm good. I just remember everything now" she took a deep breath. "My name is Cassidy Richards, I was born July 15th, 1879. I have a younger sister; Rosalyn. I remember I lived in a huge house. But I had a bad family life, I can't remember why. One day I just decided to run away. Then I ended up by the lakes. Then all my memories faded".

"Oh, wow." I know what I said was stupid. But what else could I say? She was almost 200 years old and we made it out of here alive she would never find them, ever. She lived in Aunt Helen's creepy magic house, that's for sure. "Umm, I'm not sure how to tell you this. But, it's 2024."

"Oh" she looked deeply sad. "So...my parents are gone? And my sister? I told Rosy to come with me but she said she couldn't leave them. Then I left her. I never saw her again or them." She turned her face away how I couldn't see. I could tell she was crying.

"You know, I lost someone today too. My best friend Maeve. We left her back at the lake by accident. I wish I could get her back. I lost my dad a couple months ago too, in a car accident", I was now holding back tears myself.

But we didn't say anything and we sat like that for a long time. The breeze hitting our face and listening to the ocean waves.

When someone came up to us and tapped me on the shoulder. "It's time for the well ceremony! You can't miss it!" He had a hard Irish accent. He was tall and blonde. About 35 if I had to guess. But who knows maybe he's from the 1700's for all I know!

He practically lifted Cassidy and I off the ground and dragged us to an odd looking place. Surrounded by the glowing trees and plants. "Make a wish" the man said.

Cassidy walked up to it looking into the well. I walked up too and looked in. Mesmerized by the glowing cyan water I wasn't paying attention to anything else. That's when it happened.

Someone. pushed. us. in.