The Destined

Chapter 20: Melissa

    Melissa    

"A 'C'?" I ask, staring at the mark etched deeply into the flawless white wood of the bow. "I don't think I know many names starting with a 'c.'" I always knew the bow belonged to someone, but I don't think the girl Anna saw was real. Then again, we are in the maze, aren't we?

"How about Charlie," Avani says, looking at Anna, who shakes her head.

"No, it was a girl, not a boy." She sighs. "How about Claire?"

"Cher," I add jokingly, but Anna just looks at me, obviously not amused. I stare at her as she plucks the silver string of the bow gently, making a small, sharp sound every time she releases it.

"I don't know." Anna props the bow up against the quiver. The pack the arrows came in is made of white leather, matching the colors of the bow. Whoever made this set was no doubt skilled at what he was doing. Or she. My hands are rough from being propped up on the hard ground for a long time. There is no more soft soil for us. Now, it is either dry patches of dirt and rocky slopes. The trees aren't so close together anymore. They are spread farther apart from each other, exposing us to the sky and the other things above. I have noticed many different types of birds fly around here, most of them in startling bright colors.

The forest does really crawl up several mountains, which I've never noticed. Maybe it was because I couldn't see any farther than the treetops from the ground. It has been autumn for more than a few days now, with no snow or rain or any other types of weather except for the gloomy, silent sky, and the occasional thundering.

☾☾☾  

The stream stops here.

Dead end.

We've been hiking up towards the top for hours. The air is colder now that we are closer to the tip. From up here, we can see almost the entire maze. It goes on forever, it seems like. At some points, some of the taller trees actually disappear into the clouds. You can also see clearing and patches that don't have trees, and animals and strange creatures wandering down around the forest floor. It almost makes me think who could've been watching us while we were down there.

The days are noticeably shorter, and the nights way too long. Day lasts for about five to six hours. So in those five to six hours, we need to keep moving, plan out a shelter before it gets dark, refill our supplies, and keep each other safe. I don't think there is anything wrong with the plan, but I just think that it goes too...slow.

It's the first time I actually get to see the sunset here in the maze. The sky is streaked with beautiful pink and orange colors. The sun, despite whizzing through the sky for the entire day, takes its time as it melts into the horizon. We don't want to sleep this night, however. We are going to try to hike through the night as long as we can and cover as much distance. None of us like staying in the maze.

As the sky darkens, a new world begins to unfold. The trees begin casting eerie shadows in the moonlight. The clouds don't clear up, so you can't see the stars. Everything seems too loud; our steps along the ground, our breathing, the creatures in the distance. It is like walking through a haunted house. It seems calm at first, but you know something is out there. You can feel it. It is like you are constantly being watched.

Out of instinct, we huddle together as we walk. I could feel some kind of movement around us. I see scattering in the bushes as we pass, or birds fleeing from their nests as if we are going to harm them. My heart beats hard in my chest, not calming down despite me trying to.

Scratch, scratch, scratch. The sound is like claws scraping against the rocks. I whip around almost immediately, but there's nothing there. My foot gets stuck in between two rocks, and I get left behind trying to pull it out. As soon as I do, I run back up to Anna and Avani.