The Friendship of the Maze

Chapter 5

Averi-

I walked for a ways stopping only a few times. I did feel better with a weapon at my side. I felt like I was not so helpless like I was in some control. Adjusting my grip on the weapon I thought back to the other weapons. I hope I chose wisely. A bow is great for long distances but is practically useless for hand-to-hand combat. The bow that I carried was the best I have ever had. The frame was made out of one piece of fine wood that its creator carved and sanded to shape. The creator didn't shy away from detail either. All along the bow were shapes and patterns carved into the wood. If the bow could talk I'm sure that it would have many stories to tell. Then my thoughts strayed to a different topic. I wonder who this other contender is. I can't make heads or tails of it. Warren always talked in riddles and he drove me crazy. Why can't he talk like a normal human being? Looking ahead I saw a large gap in the earth. As I ran to investigate I saw that the only way to get across was a thin plank that was not much wider than my foot. I looked down the gap, it goes down too far to see where it ends. The walls of the gap were too steep to climb down, plus I don't know what's down there. I tried to look closer but I got dizzy and stepped away from the ledge.

"Challenge number four will test your courage and perseverance," said Warren's familiar voice. "To complete the challenge in front of you-" I know what he's going to say. It's not that hard to figure out.

"I need to cross the beam, correct?" I interrupted.

"Correct."

I looked across the beam. It's impossible. "Do I have to?"

"You can always tap out but Cade-"

"I know," I interrupted again. Then in a quieter voice, "I know."

"You need to stop interrupting people," Warren commented, "It's such a bad habit." I'm petrified and Warren is talking about bad habits. I know I'm going to fall into that dark canyon but I can not, will not leave Cade. I hesitantly stepped toward the plank and gently placed one foot on it sideways. Then shifted my weight and placed the second foot on the plank, then I repeated the process. Place one foot. Shift weight. Move the other foot. I have to do this. And I did do this for what seemed like hours. I was trying my hardest not to look down as I maneuvered my feet. I was halfway across. Only halfway. My spirit sank to the very bottom of all that was me.

I forgot not to look down and when I did it startled me to see how high I was. I lost my balance and began to wave my arms out trying to catch myself. I'm falling. I'm going to die, though. I'm going to plummet to my death. I felt fear in its purest form, the way it takes control of you're body and mind, the awful hold that it has on you, a hold that you can not escape from easily. But I did not die. When I fell I hit something solid. I opened my eyes. I was frozen in mid-air. As softly as I could manage I stood up. I was on glass or something like that. I slow my breathing from a raspy burst to a constant activity. It was all a trick. I was never going to fall. The plank was surrounded by a thick sheet of glass. You can't see it when you're on the plank, but I could tell that it's here now. The challenge was not meant to test my balance, but my bravery like Warren said.

I could hear Warren trying to hide a laugh. It was contagious and suddenly out of nowhere, I burst out laughing as well. Don't ask me why because I don't know. It felt good to laugh like I could forget about The Maze for just a moment. It must have been a funny sight, me floating there laughing my head off. When I acquired my composer, I picked myself up and made my way off the glass to the other ledge. I will never look at a ledge the same way again. The world seemed a little less scary and unbeatable. The sun was shining and I felt like I could do anything.

"Well, that was fun to watch," Warren said still laughing a little.

"Yes, I'm sure it was," I responded merrily. Correcting my pack again I grabbed my canteen and took a big sloppy gulp. Water trickled down my face and neck, cooling me off. Ordinarily, I hate when I get wet like this, but at present, I don't care.

"Now on to business," Warren said, "Choose your item." On the ledge were a length of rope, (that would have been helpful for the last challenge), a large jug of water, and a container of freeze-dried food parcels. I know what I need more than anything.

"Water please." Without water, I won't be able to continue.

"As you wish," came the reply.

Another night in The Maze, more screeching Varren, more pitch black sky, more cold fear. I was in my signature sleeping position, leaning against the cold brick wall that makes up The Maze. I wish I was at home in my room with the Christmas lights on, planning another book or drawing a masterpiece with Cade. To see him would be a blessing in itself. I am so worried about him. Is he eating or sleeping? Is Warren freezing him to death or is he warm enough at night? Does he know where he is or why he is or that I am here trying to save him? I shut my eyes. Worrying is not going to help anything.

When I arrived the next morning at the fifth challenge Warren was already there.

"How was your night," he asked.

"You know how my night went," I responded harshly.

"It's not my fault for the Varren, you know that."

"I'm not just talking about the Varren. I'm talking about everything, the dark, the cold, the stone in my back." I sighed, I can't take much more of this. "Warren," I asked, "how many more challenges do I have to complete before I can go home with Cade?"

"That information is on a need-to-know basis and right now you do not need to know." Rats! I tried to calm myself with a beep breath. Warren infuriates me so much. He acts like he holds power over everything but can not stop a few birds and cold nights.

"Fine, don't answer. Tell me my next challenge."

"Right down to the core of business," he said. "I like that." That's it. I had come to the end of my patience. Furious I said, "I don't care what you think of me, just tell me what my next challenge is." And how I can save Cade.

"Have it your way, but hear me out, you will not talk like this after your next challenge, that is if you survive it."

I impatiently stamped my foot. "Yes?" Warren did not seem to mind my behavior or he made a point not to show it.

"To complete the fifth and most physically ambitious challenge. You must defeat your adversary by means of death." I gasped in horror. Death?

"A person?" I choked out.

"No." I feel as if a large burden was lifted from my back. If he had said yes I wouldn't have been able to continue. I know Cade, he wouldn't want me to kill someone for him or risk my life to harm another human for sport.

"Do not fear, you will have a partner. The girl I mentioned earlier will be competing with you." I have a partner. Maybe that will help me win or us win?

"If we won't be fighting humans, what will we fight?" My attitude had changed from 'I'm so mad at you' to 'I have a job to do'. I have to take this seriously. A life for a life. A sacrifice for freedom. I or my partner might be killed. But whoever wins someone will have to die.

"You shall see." More secrets.

"Fine."

I stepped towards a wall expecting it to slide open for me but it didn't. "Uh, Warren, open the door."

He chuckled a little, "You are at the wrong wall Averi." Sure enough, when I turned around the wall behind me was ajar to another labyrinth village, but this village was different. When I stepped into the busy street I felt in danger. Where the other village felt somewhat friendly and full of hardworking people, this place was evil, to say it plainly. Everywhere I looked I sensed that something was wrong, and the fact that they held gladiator fights here put me on edge all the more. Instead of small village huts, all the buildings were built into the side of a sheer cliff. Everything was carved out of the hard stone. I walked up to the edge and looked out over the large expanse. There is no protective glass here to catch me if I fall so I back away knowing that I would trip and fall and go splat on The Maze below me.