The Friendship of the Maze

Chapter 12

Averi-

After another sickening night in The Maze, I arrived at the last challenge or so said Warren. We both know the drill well now so he gets right to business.

"Your final challenge will test my control over you."

"What?" I exclaim in disbelief. If he thinks he has any control over me he is dreaming.

"Yes," he continued somewhat annoyed as if he could understand my thoughts. I shook my head, "Continue." I was sort of expecting this.

"Do this one thing for me and you and Cade will be returned to your homes." He paused, "Just renounce your faith in this make-believe God and you will be free to go. I'm the true god." I gulped. To be completely honest I thought about doing it for a split second but I knew that I would never. I will never. Cade would not want me to deny the God that loved me more than anything in the whole world even if it meant that I couldn't save him.

"Warren, please reconsider," I said slightly above a whisper. "I'll do something else, anything." Please. I studied my boots. I'm sorry Cade. "I... I...I can not do what you ask." Warren remained quiet. "Please tell Cade that he means so much to me and I'm so sorry," I said sniffling. No, I will not let Warren see me cry. No, I will be strong for Cade it's the least I could do.

"Well," Warren announced after a while of complete silence, "you win." I sniffled again, does he like playing with my emotions so much or did he not hear me?

"No, I don't, I didn't complete the last challenge." My eyes started to water, "I flunked it."

Sweetly he said, "No, really, you win." I stared at him dumbly. What? "The last challenge was a trick. You see if you denied you're faith you would lose," he continued to explain

"Cade," I fell to my knees now understanding. He's safe.

"He has been returned to his home unharmed." I'm so sorry Cade, but I did it. "You completed all the challenges with flying colors. Not many contestants can say that. Most leave without completing any of the challenges and never learn what they were brought here to learn." Stop talking like I won a great award.

"Take... Me ... Home...," I demand. "I want to see Cade." I wiped away my tears with the back of my hand.

"OK, but first tell me what you learned."

"Fine, I learned that God needs to be the most important thing in my life and that Cade is so important to me even though he's not perfect," I smiled. "I learned that I'm braver than I thought and that I can accomplish anything if God is with me."

"You're not evil material."

"What?"

"Nothing, to go home all you have to do is wake up."

"What do you mean wake up?"