The Revenge of the Maze (Book 2)

Chapter 4

Averi-

I waited alone on the other side for the others. While I waited I tore strips of cloth off the end of my cloak. Then wrapped them around my shot arm. The pain didn't go away. It was a constant reminder of my choice but I think I chose well. My mom. How does Warren have her? The pain. I wined.

"No, I deserve worse than this. I deserve worse." Cade limped out and over to me then collapsed in a cry of agony. I looked at his leg. How are we going to survive this? No bandages no clean supplies. I rolled him onto his back and gritted my teeth.

"You're hurt," he said with worry in his eyes.

"My arm was shot."

"My leg," Cade breathed out. I looked away. My wound is by far worse but his most definitely hurts more and he's never been through this before. I repeated what I did for my arm to his leg. We'll have permanent scars no doubt.

"They have Tristan," Cade sobbed.

"They have my mom," I sank to the ground next to him. "I had to shoot her but I tried to shoot him instead he got me first."

Cade nodded, "I'll never shoot Tristan. I protected him like a good brother. But they took him." Amelia came out a few moments later looking numb but not hurt. Did she shoot? Oh, Amelia. She collapsed in a daze where Cade and I rested.

"What happened," I asked gently.

"Rafe, my older brother, shot himself so I didn't have to," then she burst out crying. "He saved me by sacrificing himself."

I looked down.

"Amelia he did that for you so use his gift of a second chance. Keep going." I took a deep breath and then looked at Amelia. "Last time a friend very dear to me died in my place. I would not be here if she didn't die." I stood up, "Make the most of his sacrifice." The hurting girl nodded her head. The three objects this time were a sack of food, a jug of water, and a first aid kit. I redressed our wounds with the kit and enjoyed a small snack.

The second night fell. Amelia volunteered to take the first watch so Cade and I could sleep. I passed out as soon as I lay down. It seemed like moments later Amelia was shaking me awake.

"What?" I asked annoyed. She was probably just scared to be alone in the dark.

"I heard something," she admitted. That woke me up fully.

"Tell me exactly what you heard," I demanded.

"It sounded like dogs maybe. Howling. Something like that." Right then a blood-curling, bone-chilling howl pierced the night. We shook Cade till he woke and explained the noise. We packed up our meager belongings.

"Be ready to run or fight," Cade whispered to us. Another howl ripped through the still quiet. We all flinched. I took a deep breath. I can do this. I've done this before. Then they come. We all ran as fast as our worn-out bodies would let us. I glanced over my shoulder to see a black three-headed dog with blood dripping from its fangs. The look of death in its eyes sent shivers down my spine. It's from ancient mythology. The dog is called a hellhound. We ran with the hound nipping at our heels into a wall.

"There's a keypad lock," I called.

"So it must be a door," Amelia stated.

"What's the code," asked Cade.

"I don't know."

"Well, you better know soon or we will all be torn to bits," Cade shouted back at me. The hellhound growled as Amelia hit one of its muzzles with her bag.