The Friendship of the Maze

Chapter 2

Averi-

"Mom, go away. I don't want to get up," I said still half asleep. "Close the shades." I rubbed my eyes and looked around.

"M...mom." I was not in my bed, not in my room I was nowhere that I found familiar. What had happened? I looked around again. Towering above me on all four sides were old-looking brick walls. They had to be old because moss was covering almost all of the brick. I looked down at where I was seated. It was dirt. Carefully I stood up not knowing if something was going to jump out and eat me. Then I noticed what I was wearing, it was not the fuzzy pj's that I wore last night, instead I was wearing a green dress, split down the middle with it laced together. A brown undershirt, brown pants, and a dark green cloak wrapped around my shoulders. On my feet, I wore soft leather boots, more comfortable than anything I have ever worn. It was all held together by an intricate leather belt at my waist.

"That's weird", I said to no one in particular. Looking around I happened to glance upon a green sack. When I opened it I discovered a week's supply of food, a jug of water, and some flint with a striker. OK, I am not completely helpless. Sitting outside but near the sack was an old, tattered, brown blanket. I shoved everything back into its rightful place and hoisted the sack onto my back. I don't know where I am or how I got here or what is it I'm going to do but whatever it is, I'll be prepared.

"Welcome," a voice out of nowhere boomed. I nearly jumped out of my skin.

"Who's there," I shouted out. This is getting bizarre.

"You mean me," answered the voice. "I'm in charge of this place. I put you here and you won't leave until I say so. By the way, you can call me Warren." Warren, does he think he's a god or something?

"Why am I here?"

"Oh, aren't you impatient? You're here to play a little game with me." If he thinks I'll just do whatever he wants he is dumber than he sounds. I turned around several times trying to figure out where the voice was coming from.

"Hahahaha," His laugh echoed off the stone walls. "The way you play the game is first by following my rules. The first rule is that you can not climb The Maze walls. Your goal is to find your way out of my maze and to complete the challenges as you come across them. If you fail to complete a challenge you are eliminated. If you choose not to participate you are eliminated. You can end this game whenever you'd like." This sounds too easy.

"But what's the catch?" I gulped, instantly regretting my question.

"This," was his only answer. I was just about to ask what he meant by that when a large video screen or what looked like one appeared in front of me. What was on it chilled me to the bone. Oh, no.

"Don't hurt him,....please." On the screen, I saw that Cade was tied to a tree. It doesn't matter what he did. He still means so much to me. "I.. I'll do anything, just don't hurt him," I almost begged. I don't care anymore about the picture. This crazy lunatic has my best friend.

"I haven't yet, but if you don't succeed you will never see him again. I promise you that."

"OK," I give in. "I'll play." Anything for Cade.

"Good, the game starts, now."

Right as he said that two walls across from each other started to shift and slid open to reveal two long passages. I tried to look down the passages but could not see where they went. To make matters worse the passages looked almost perfectly alike. Both had moss-covered brick walls and dirt ground. "Which one do I take," I asked the voice.

"That is for you to decide," came his reply.

"Thanks, that's a big help," I scoffed then I waited. He didn't answer. OK, which one? I glared at one, then glared at the other. I have to do this, for Cade. Inhale. Exhale. I stepped towards the passage to my right. One foot in front of the other. I looked back right when the wall closed the entrance of the passage I chose to the room I was in. I stood up straight and looked ahead. It has to be this one. I followed the passage for one hour, then two, then five. I stopped once for a snack. No other passages branched out from the one that I was following, good thing or I'd be lost in a heartbeat.

Oh, Cade. What have I done? I didn't mean what I said. You would never betray me, I know that. I should have listened to you. I should have believed you. I'm sorry that I said I don't need you, that I could live without you. I was wrong, you are right. I need you and I need you right now. I opened my mouth and yelled. How could I be so selfish? I turned around the bend and instantly found myself on my hands and knees. In my flurry of thoughts, I had tripped over a half-buried rock. I stopped. God, I need your help, now. I can't do this alone. Please help me. My hand wiped away my tears and I suppressed my cries. I can do this, I have to. Confidently I stood up and brushed the dirt from my tunic, then I continued. I repeated to myself 'God is with me' over and over in my head until I believed it.

When the air started to get chilly, I looked up. The sun was setting behind The Maze wall. I'm going to have to stay the night with who knows what else. There might be giant hairy spiders or fictional monsters that have an appetite for human flesh. I have always been fearful that a spider might wrap me in her silk web and eat me alive. I shuddered without a second thought.

"God help me." I planned to stop when I came upon a long straight part in The Maze. Maybe I'll be able to tell if something finds me in The Maze. I sat down and leaned against the wall. I wish Cade was with me. Holding my hand and standing firm for me to lean on. After unrolling my blanket I laid down. I hope I can find wood tomorrow for a fire. In The Maze when it gets dark, it gets dark. I can't see my feet, maybe something ate them and I just didn't notice? I jumped at every noise, every sound, every imaginary movement. I tried pulling the cloak and the blanket closer around my shivering body, but I was cold anyway. I spent most of the night thinking. Where am I? Who's Warren? How did I get here? How did he get Cade? Was I kidnapped or I'm secretly a star in a TV series? After a few hours, I drift into a fit full sleep. My nightmares are just as bad as The Maze.