The Friendship of the Maze

Chapter 3

Averi-

The next morning I woke, packed my few possessions, and ate a meager breakfast. I listened, quiet, creepily quiet. Who am I kidding this entire place is creepy. I would give almost anything to hear a bird chirp. When I turned the next corner I stopped dead. The passage in front of me just stopped. Great, It must be one of the challenges that Warren mentioned. Cautiously I approached the wall, then jumped.

"This is your first challenge," Warrens's deep voice announced.

"Would you stop?" I angrily shout.

He paused "Stop what, I might ask?"

"Stop popping up and startling me!" I could feel my cheeks flush. I hate that he can get under my skin so easily.

"Oh, that, you shouldn't be so jumpy." I will make sure I won't let him next time. "Anyway, back to your first challenge." I tried to gulp but my mouth was so parched that it only went down halfway. "We'll start easy. Look at the wall." I did and I saw a shelf attached to the side of the wall. On the shelf was a fire so hot that I could feel it from where I was standing. I coughed as the smoke threatened to suffocate me. My eyes were starting to water.

"Don't like fire," Warren's laugh rang out. "Now look over to your right. What do you see?"

I suck in a breath. "No." On the second shelf were my notebooks full to bulging with my stories, and characters. My notebooks mean as much to me as Cade's sketchpad does to him.

"You're a smart girl. You know what to do." He wants me to burn them, I understand it crystal clear. I walked over, picked up my notebook, and was going to toss it into the fire when I hesitated.

"I don't have to tell you what will happen if you fail to complete this challenge," he said.

"For Cade," I whispered. Then I toss my most treasured belongings into the scorching fire. I watched with bleary eyes as the flames engulfed my work. After every page, every idea was burned to nothing then I allowed my eyes to stray from the fire.

"Good work," praised Warren. I gave him a cold stare. I don't need his praise. I did it for Cade. "Because you performed so well I will allow you to select an item for your quest." I turned and to my left was another shelf. On the shelf were three items: a pile of wood, a large jug of water, and a hat. "Which will you choose?" A hat would be nice but I need water, then again I could not survive another night in the dark.

"I'll take the wood," I answered as confidently as I could.

"As you wish." I grabbed the wood and the other items diapered. I attached the scraggly bundle of wood to the top of my sack and stood up. I'm ready. A wall slid open to reveal a passage, I stepped through it, and like before it shut behind me. I'm going to get tired of this.

Remy-

I disliked my job, a lot. Running errands and helping the contestants is always bittersweet. I love helping people but the games are evil and I hate evil. You could say that I'm the Voice's punching bag. All the contestants want to hurt me to get revenge on him. By the way, the Voice has many more names. It could be god or master, something more personal would be Warren. I advise you to avoid him at all costs. You don't know the things he has done or the lives he has ruined. He is behind all the evil in this world and the people here can't easily escape him. If you are already here then it is too late.

Averi-

After walking for a little while, I came across the second challenge. The passage stopped and opened slightly.

"Your second challenge," Warren didn't startle me this time, "will be different." He paused, and asked, "What are you most afraid of?" He waited for me to reply.