The Lost Labyrinth

17. Crazy Horses And A Mine Shaft

I'd never been much of a runner. Actually, I hated running really fast. So fast that your legs throbbed and you tasted blood? Ever had that feeling? No? Well...it's terrible and I hate it.

While running next to Cassidy, I had a striking realization. Eventually, the canyon would end and we'd be stuck here forever, the horses would get us. There had to be some other way out (except for up). We'd have no time to climb the canyon before the horses hit us.
"We're doomed" I said, panting heavily while still running.

"Uh...huh" Cassidy answered weakly through her teeth, struggling just as much as I was.

I looked behind us to see the hundreds of horses galloping faster each second. They were gaining on us. Sooner or later we'd be goners.

Cassidy and I narrowly turned a corner. Into a sloaping, steep part of the canyon. It was a narrow dark and orange. I looked up to see more stone covering us about 30 feet up. We were running straight into some kind of canyon cave.

The sunlight above slowly disappeared with the blue sky. Until it was completely gone.

We made another turn and saw a huge red stone wall. There was a small, very small, crawl space open ring that we could slip through. The horses wouldn't even attempt to go through there.
"Look there!" I said pointing to the crawl space exit.

I just hoped that whatever was on the other side of that crawl space wouldn't hurt us.

As we got close to the crawl space Cassidy picked up speed and dropped to the floor. Sliding on her side straight through the door. It was now my turn to do the same. I did it almost as perfectly as she did, but I landed really badly and twisted my arm backwards. Pain shooting into my right arm and the top of my back.

When I finally came to a complete stop from sliding. I let out a loud cry, holding my arm with my free hand.

I was exhausted from all the running and the pain surging through my body once more.

Black dots collected in the way of my vision. Soon enough I was knocked out cold.

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When I woke up all I saw was a small light in the corner of my eye.

I was lying on the floor on my back. In a little too much pain to move. Now let's go over my 5 senses (if I can still have them);

Smell: It smells like saltwater, old fish and mold.
Hearing: I hear dripping water and cool, strong breeze.
Sight: Nothing but the light in the right corner.
Touch: I feel cold, hard cobblestone between my fingertips.
Taste: Nothing but I heard you taste what you smell so...

My dad taught me to "go over" my 5 senses if I ever black out (this has happened many times before). He says it helps you figure out where you could be. This was my first time using it though. It wasn't very useful in my case right now though.

I finally mustered the strength and courage to get up off the ground. I adjusted my eyes to the glowing light in the corner. I saw a lot more now.

Wherever I was, was huge. The south and east were walls made of stone had a single torch on each. On the west and north walls was a dark wood. It looked battered and bruised with many, many, holes.

Cassidy was lying on the floor still passed out. I decided to leave her for a couple of seconds and see what was going on in this...cave.

Along the 2 west and north walls was a message in red spray paint. It read; Nothing in your life is true, it's all a facade, a lie. You'll figure it out soon enough. Say this word "Call 'person of your choice'" and it will summon that person. Just in case you need some help with what's to come...

Well that was shocking but I'd already heard something like this once before from Cassandra.

Was it true, though? Was my life a complete facade?

I had to find out for sure. If my biggest question could be answered the way I wanted or another way...there was only one way to find out.

I never thought I'd be ready to admit this but...it's time to face the truth.
"Call..." was I really doing the right thing? I could literally call anyone else. I took a deep breath, I just hoped my little hunch was wrong..."Call...mom".

After a moment nothing happened. It was quiet and still.

But soon enough something happened. The winds picked up, dead autumn coloured leaves gathered with the winds. The sound of water dripping had stopped. All I heard was the noise of the wind, swirling in a funnel shape in front of me. When it was done, I couldn't believe my eyes.

What I saw shocked me right out of my senses...