The Lost Labyrinth

23. We Fall Through A Wall...Again

After jumping through the trapdoor we crash landed into water. I hit the water feet first, breaking what would've been a really bad impact. I let go of the Cassidy and Amalie's hands and swam to the top of the water. I wiped my eyes and looked around me. I was looking at old stone archways, with green plants and bright pink flowers. The turquoise water illuminated the room.

My friends came up out of the water and we swam to the shore together crashing onto wet, cold cobblestone.

Water clogged my nostrils and ears. I tried to ignore it and got to my feet. My friend's following and standing up to. I looked straight ahead to see a trapdoor, wide open. Hanging on the wall. This trapdoor, I could see through. I saw the back of the bookcase, a window wide open in corner revealing a night sky full of stars. With a crescent moon in very corner. The room looked a bit different, the desk was gone and replaced with another bookshelf. There was new red rug on the floor. But that was about it.

Why had it changed so much?

I decided to ignore it for now and ask questions later. When we got back to Aunt Helen and Nora I'd ask the questions.

The tunnel rumbled, rubble from the cave fell at our feet as they struggled to stand up. Plants fell from the archways behind us, water swished and splashed us. At the same time the form of the trapdoor flickered.

We didn't have much time. We had to jump through soon.

Amalie looked at a watch on her wrist.

Where'd she get that from?

"We only have a few seconds before the Labyrinth collapses and the trapdoor closes", Amalie said. "We have to go now".

I saw Maeve and Amalie give each other a sad look. Then all of sudden I understood what was happening.

"Wait! N-", I tried to say but before I could finish Maeve and Amalie pushed Cassidy and I through the trapdoor.

I landed on the hardwood with a thud with Cassidy next to me. Then Maeve came and landed on my left side. I looked back and for a split second I saw Amalie crying. Through her tears she gave me a sweet smile. Then the trapdoor closed. She was gone.  Forever.

"I...I can't...", I tried to say something but I wasn't sure what. I'd just seen something horrible happen right before my eyes.

"Why'd she even save me?", Cassidy said. "My entire family's gone...hey, this room looks oddly familiar. I'm not sure why though". She looked around. "It looks like my house...except furnished differently".

"This was your house? This is my aunts house". I said. "I guess the property belonged to your parents before Aunt Helen, pretty cool I guess".

I was still a bit sad about Amalie even if she turn out to be 'the bad guy' she was still my half-sister. But now...she was gone.

I wanted to reopen the trapdoor and bring her here with us. But I couldn't, it was impossible, the labyrinth was destroyed. With the destruction of the labyrinth comes the destruction of everything in it. Unless Amalie or Cassandra managed to get out some how. I think Cassandra did but Amalie...

"Why does this room look so different? It's only been a couple of days. I guess Aunt Helen celebrates our absence with new decor", I said.

We got up off the floor and walked around the room. On the left side near the door was a small desk with a computer. There was a document open. What it said shocked me out of my mind;

MISSING!
Maeve Harley And Maddison James
Missing Since: Spring 2024 - Now 2029

And there was a huge picture of us in the centre. We'd been in the labyrinth for 5 years. I couldn't believe it. I spent so much of my life in the labyrinth. And no one would believe me when I said I was still 13 after all this time. I was supposed to be...18?!  Oh my gosh.

Just then the door to the room creaked open and a woman came in..."Mom?", I said.

Her face looked shocked, she rubbed her eyes like she didn't believe I was in front of her. Then she scooped me up into a life threatening hug and did the same with Maeve. "Where have you guys been? We thought you were dead or you'd run away! You're 18 today you know. Nora's here. She's missed you 2 so much. Aunt Helen was devastated that you girls were gone and so was I. You girls are so tall now!".

Tall? We got taller. I felt much taller but I wasn't so sure.

"I've missed you too mom", I said hugging her. "We...Uhm...got trapped in this...weird place behind the bookcase...I'll explain everything later". I promised her. She gave me a weird look but nodded in delight. I decided not to tell her all the stuff I'd learned about my history and such...at least not yet.

I'd now get to go see my friends and family again after what felt like years, which it technically was.

I walked down the stairs to see Nora kneeling down unbuckling high heels at the front door. She was certainly taller and had a sadder expression on her face. Aunt Helen was standing in front of her talking and laughing a little. Nora gave a sweet smile. But then for a split second she looked away from Aunt Helen. She saw me. She rose from the floor, one shoe still on and ran to me as fast as she could. She pulled Maeve and I into hug and started asking us a million questions. I gave her the same answers I gave mom.

"I can't believe you guys are back! Why'd you leave? I missed you so much. That day you left haunted me for a while. I felt a little guilty. It felt like my fault sometimes". Her expression turned sadder.

"It's okay, Nora, we're here now and we've got a lot to tell you. And also, it wasn't your fault-". Before I could finish Aunt Helen pushed Nora out of the way and gave me a tight squeezed hug.

"Your home, nugget! I've missed you so much! It's been 5 years!", she said. "Oh my gosh".

I waved everyone else into the hug and said "We've got so much to tell you guys. You won't believe it. And I can't believe it's been 5 years!".

They gave me a puzzled look and I just said, "Later". We all chuckled a little while my mom and Aunt Helen cried out of joy.

I guess some stories do have pretty happy endings.

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But just remember dear reader, you can't change the beginning, but you can start here and change your ending.

Thank you, dear reader for sticking with through this entire book and I'm happy to announce that this book is officially done! I will be coming out with a new book very soon. All information will come in a few minutes when I post the acknowledgments so stay tuned for those and the new book!

Thank you so much!! Love you and follow for more! ❤️

-Your Favourite Author, Meggie