The Secret

Chapter 10: Event 1

My heart raced as I watched Harry who was below me, easing his way through the door. He checked his surroundings, looking everywhere like he had just been dropped onto another planet. He felt the hedge maze, his arm sinking in and disappearing into blackness. He winced, pulling it out his hand was bloodied.

"It's full of tiny razors, in case you're wondering." I looked up at Arthur, "It's to keep people from cheating and running through. Keeps it fair in a way." I turned back to the maze. Harry continued onto a straight path reaching the first intersection. He looked to his left and then right, trying to decide which way to go.

He sprinted left, hurdling his way through the maze.

A dead end. He started to panic, his feet shuffling. I could almost hear his heart beating, his breathing growing faster with each second that ticked by.

A flock of birds flew from one of the paths, cawing as they flew away. They were scared off. Was it Georgia? I had to see. I began to walk over when Arthur's hand grabbed my shoulder, spinning me around. "Do not leave your spot."

Concerned I asked, "Why should I listen to you?"

"If you want to live through this you need to open your ears and listen for once."

I slowly began walking back to my spot. Hugging the guard rails watching Harry struggling to find his way. His hair now fell flat with sweat, his once white dress shirt was riddled with blood stains, and dried mud. I saw a hedge wall shake beside him. Maybe Georgia was trying to climb through to get to Harry.

It shook more, Harry began backing away slowly, his trembling caused the sweat to fall from his face faster. Harry looked all around, like he was trying to guess where it would pop out and get him. Harry looked up and looked straight at me for help, I gestured to run but seemed like he was looking through me. He looked away. Confusion sat in, I tried to help him, but it was like he couldn't see me.

Arthur's voice answered my thoughts, "It's an illusion. It's kind of like a one-way mirror in a way. What he sees is a giant screen, like a T.V. Whereas we can see them, in all the glory and death. All they see is what they think is the sky." I looked at him more concerned than I already was. I was now sweating.

I turned back facing Harry and whatever event that was about to unfold. Harry backed away, his back reaching the wall of one of the hedges. He was frozen. It was as time stood still. I could see the sweat turning to tears, his life was about to be at an end.

"Want to hear a joke?" Arthur began to laugh.

"What the fuck is wrong with you?" Irritation filled me, my face grew hot like steam would come out of my ears.

"Well? Do you?"

"Fuck you."

"I'll take that as a yes." He shrugged. "The joke is, I can help Harry."

"What are you talking about?"

"I can show Harry the way to go."

I had some hope. "How?"

"Remember how I said it's a t.v. screen? I can put arrows on the ceiling, showing him a safe spot."

"What the fuck! Do it then!" I grabbed his blazer; he looked down smiling at me.

"Say you're sorry."

"I'm sorry!"

"For?" he elongated his word, just to toy with me.

"I don't know!" I looked back at Harry, the rustling growing, whatever it was, was fighting its way through the wall.

"Oh, come now, you've been so sassy tonight. It's honestly hurt my feelings." He mocked wiping tears from his eyes.