Into the Darkness

Chapter 6

Waiting sucks.

No one knows what to do.

We all sit quietly. Those who aren't going are quiet, ashamed. Those who are going are quiet too.
They all think we are going back into the maze or we are just being killed. Somehow I don't think it's either.

I ask Benedict. He is pacing nervously waiting for something, anything to happen. I start to walk with him. "Do you really think that we are going back into the maze?"

He shakes his head, "Don't know Tori."

"That's what everybody thinks. What if we are all wrong? What if-"

"He is just planning on killing those chosen. Yeah, it's occurred to me. Who knows, maybe he is." He mumbles and walks toward a dark corner. I try not to think anything of his hopeless attitude. He's just worried. I have only been here for a day or two but I already know that Benedict is supposed to be the fearless leader who knows the answer for everything. The person who isn't phased by anything. He doesn't know anything now.

The fact that this is bothering him freaks me out. It's freaking everyone out.

"Don't worry about Ben." It's Travis. He must have overheard our conversation, "if it makes you feel any better I don't think the voice is trying to kill us."

"How can you know for sure?"

He shrugs, "I don't really but I think if he wanted us to choose who was going to die he would have told us outright, more fun that way."

 It still doesn't ease my anxiety, "I don't want to go back in the maze." 

It's kind of a stupid thing to say. No one wants to go back in the maze. I think the only reason anyone volunteered because this time they knew they wouldn't be alone. 

He smiles at me like I am a child who is being an idiot, "In your time in the maze did the voice ever do anything twice."

I think for a moment, "No."

"So what makes you think he will repeat himself now?" He brings up a good point. I still feel like it's easy for him to think that since he isn't going.

"Do you think we are even going anywhere? He said a trip but-"  

He shakes his head, "I couldn't say. I wouldn't worry too much. I bet you'll make it... whatever it is. You're strong, I can tell."

I chuckle half-heartedly.  He smiles again and walks away towards Benedict.

After what feels like days the hatch on the ceiling opens. A box filled with microwave dinners drops through.

Lunch.

Benedict reappears and starts handing out dinners to people. I get a microwave burrito. Big surprise but I don't have much of an appetite and end up giving it to Vincent who is ecstatic to receive more food. 

When everyone finished the room is filled with a high pitched static. I see a couple people cover their ears. It hurts but I don't. I know what that means and I don't want to miss a word.

"I assume you have chosen." The words come through slow and almost drowned out by the static but everyone recognizes it.

It's the voice.

"What's going on Benedict? I thought you said he didn't talk here." It's Carina. She sounds very scared. He must not have spoken in the month she has been here. In the maze, he wouldn't shut up but everyone else looks shocked.

"He doesn't." I can't see him but there is no mistaking Benedict's Irish accent. His voice is cold and hard, "What do you want?"

There is a pause along with more static and then the hatch slides open again.

Colored backpacks drop to the ground. Black, blue, orange, red and green. The same colors of our knives.

"Please take the backpack that matches your knife color." He almost sounds... polite like he is asking.

Benedict signals us to stay where we are. No one moves. I wouldn't have touched it anyway.

"What's inside them?" Benedict asks. I half don't expect him to answer.

More static, "If you must know its just supplies feel free to open them."

Benedict cautiously walks toward one. The lime green one, same color as his knife.

"Wait Benedict are you sure about this?" Travis calls out, "What if it's a bomb or something?"

"Then he can set it off remotely. Besides we can't just let it sit here forever."

No response from Travis.

He slowly unzips it and looks inside. He reaches in and pulls out and pulls out an all white package with black letters that read: Beef Jerky.

I let out a breath that I didn't realize I was holding in.

"Everybody should look in theirs. Make sure they all contain the same thing."

We walk toward our backpacks. It looks like the same kind we used in the maze but colored. Still no brand name. I can't help but wonder where he gets it all.

Travis walks over with us and slaps Benedict on the back. "Congratulations on not blowing us all up Ben."

Benedict laughs and rolls his eyes, "For the millionth time my name is Benedict man."

Everyone starts to smile and laugh but out relief is short lived.

"So glad you're all having fun but we have a schedule to stick too." I almost hear a hint of sarcasm. How can he make a computer sound sarcastic? "If those of you leaving could pick up your packs that would be wonderful."

No one moves.

"Don't. Look through every pocket first. I don't want to miss anything."We all do what Benedict says. I don't think we need to but I do just out of spite for the Voice.

I choose one of the blue backpacks at random and start to dig through it. Everyone else does the same. A few people who aren't going help others look through bags.The pockets hold nothing but water bottles and nonperishables like we had in the maze. 

"What now?" Benedict looks up for no reason but where else do you look when you are talking to the psychopath computer voice holding you captive. I almost laugh because of how ridiculous we would look to anyone else. 15 kids standing around in a dark room wearing weird black scaley armor and to top it all off we have neon colored knives and backpacks to match. We look like a mini child army ready to go on a hike

"Now... this." There is a loud screeching sound. I put my hands over my ears and close my eyes. I hate sounds like those. The horrible sound goes on for a full minute. It stops and I open my eyes and let go of my ears.

A door has opened on the back wall. I can't see anything past it because it's so dark. I hear a few people mumble something about a way out. I smile. Could this really be a way out? I almost can't wait to go through.

"Now you will walk through this doorway. If anyone who is not invited goes I will not hesitate to decapitate them." As soon as he says it a sharp blade flies out of the door frame and lodges itself into the other side. I have no doubt of its ability to decapitate a person. Suddenly I am a little less eager to go.

"Only we go," Benedict says through clenched teeth.

"But what if it's a way out?" Allie says angrily.

"What you want to be decapitated." Nevada remarks, "be my guest."

Ireland turns to Allie, "if it is a way out we will come back and get you out. I promise."

"Guys we should go." Dale interrupts. 

No one disagrees with him. One by one we pass through the door. I walk through as fast as possible hoping he doesn't suddenly decide he feels like decapitating me.
When we are all on the other side the door slides closed.
This time I don't cover my ears. I barely even hear it.
We no longer have any escape. We are completely helpless relying on a voice whose motives are unknown... again.