The Destined

Chapter 21: Avani

    Avani    

I remember waking up into the real world after hearing the scream. I didn't have time to do anything about it. I was back into the maze before I knew it.

I go back to where we stopped. Anna's bow is there, as well as the pack with the water bottle, the compass, and the pocket knife. They couldn't have left without me because they left their stuff here. And yet, they are both gone. There could've been a monster, a creature that caused us to fall asleep. It could've captured them and took them far away from here.

"Melissa!" I scream at the top of my lungs. "Anna!" There's no response. They're gone and we were so close. "Think positive," I tell myself.

They are not dead.

They are not dead.

They are not dead. Each time I say it, I panic even more. Calm down. I need to stay calm. I try again, "Anna! Melissa! I'm here! Where are you!" But again, there is no response. I look up at the sky. Night in the maze has passed. Winter didn't even blow through. Instead, the sun shines brightly, giving off sunshine that would be normally enjoyed if it wasn't here right now at this time. It looks around noon. If things go normally – and I don't completely rely on this – then in three and a half days it would be winter again.

I have three and a half days to find Anna, and Melissa, and to reach the lake.

☾☾☾  

After thinking for a very long time, an idea pops into my mind. I know I should get somewhere high. I probably wouldn't see them if they were down in the forest; the trees, especially now covered in leaves, will conceal anything underneath them. But if I reach the tip of this small mountain, I could probably see the lake. That was our main goal in the beginning anyways. And if we can't find each other, we will at least know to head there.

I grab everything we have and start hiking upwards. I take off my white shirt, leaving me in my tank-top and skirt. I remove my knee socks as well, leaving my feet only in my flats, which are ripped and roughed out but still doing their job. I ignore the blisters on my heel and the sides of my legs from the shoes, even if they are pretty painful.

The tip of the mountain isn't too far. When I reach it, I can't believe my eyes. It all looks so beautiful. One side is still spring, so pink and purple, full of flowers. As I turn to the right, I see parts of the forest that are summer, all green and lush. I take out the compass and I face the north. The section that I'm facing is just transitioning from winter to spring. Beyond that is a neon blue body of water, almost glowing. It's the lake.

I run down the side of the mountain towards the direction of the lake. I hold Anna's bow firmly in my hand and the quiver and pack in the other. This day lasts longer than the others in the maze. The trees in the spring look so beautiful, and the ground is ridden with flowers and new plants stating to sprout. I see a group of bright blue butterflies travel in circles around a clump of daisies. A bird grabs a caterpillar from the branch beside me, and my eyes follow it as it reaches its nest and feeds its little birds.

After a while, I sit down again. I normally wouldn't, but the heat is overwhelming. I drink some water from the water bottle and string the bow, aiming at the tree a couple feet in front of me. I hit once, then twice. After getting a little better, I step back a few steps, getting further from my target. I aim again, and then shoot, and I watch as it hits the center of the tree's trunk perfectly. I string another arrow, about to shoot again, when something in the sky screeches loudly. Startled, I jerk to the side, accidentally shooting the arrow. I look up to the sky and see this bright red bird, gobbling down a smaller bird that it just caught.