The Masked Hero (Beta story/ Director's Cut)

Chapter 7: Crossroads

    Walking down the open path, while still mainly obscured by darkness, Trey and Kuro continued to make there way to the Cave of Secrets. Legend has it that the cave holds secrets of the ones who travelled and died while trying to traverse it. They say their thoughts of travel echo throughout the depths of its maze-like structure.

    Trey was trying to figure out exactly where they were by constantly messing with the Holo-map. Kuro was staying a bit back, watching the area around them to insure they were not in danger. They were both oddly silent, only their walking and breathing were audible. Then,Kuro broke the silence with a question.

Kuro: Hey Trey, where exactly are we headed to anyway?

Trey: Well, from what I was told, we need to head to some kind of castle past a beach. I was told that it would take a while, like a few days, but if we keep the pace we have now, I'm sure we'll get there in no time. So let's just stick together, 'k?

Kuro: You're determined to find these guys, aren't you? Your either really brave or really stupid. Well, at least we've got one of those facts certain.

Trey: What's that supposed to mean?

Kuro: Nothing, nothing.

    They eventually come to a fork in the road, one road setting out to the left, and the other to the right. Both roads looked oddly identical.Both of them were confused as to which road they needed to take. Even the Holo-map made insecure judgements, constantly jumping from left to right, trying to figure out which road was the correct one to take.

Trey: Well this isn't good. We've got two roads, and a broken map. I'm pretty sure were screwed.

Kuro: Look, I'm not sure where we are either, but our best bet is to just stay together. If we split up, we may never get out of here again.

Trey: Yea, your right. Any ideas of which we should take?

Kuro: Hmm....... I guess we could try left. Most people tend to choose right because the left path ends in death, but it's normally the other way around.

Trey: Alright, left it is.

    They start to walk down the left path, but not before Trey creates a pile of rocks at the base of the crossroads. They make many twists and turns, but eventually come across a fork in the road, one road setting out to the left, and the other to the right. Both roads looked oddly identical. Both of them were confused as to which road they needed to take. Even the Holo-map made insecure judgements, constantly jumping from left to right, trying to figure out which road was the correct one to take.

Trey: Well this isn't good. We've got two roads, and a broken map. I'm pretty sure were screwed.

Kuro: Look, I'm not sure where we are either, but our best bet is to just stay together. If we split up, we may never get out of here again.

Trey: Yea, your right. Any ideas of which we should take?

Kuro: Hmm....... I guess we could try left. Most people tend to choose right because the left path ends in death, but it's normally the other way around.

Trey: Alright, left it- wait a second. Look over there. There's that pile of rocks I made just before I left. I knew something was up.

    Something was up, for they were in a maze that was created to keep intruders and thieves lost in the forest. Trey realized this long before anything else. Why would the Holo-map be acting up in the first place? It would only be like that if something was interfering with its signal.

Trey: We need to go right. This is a trap someone made, and I don't want to be caught in it.

Kuro: Well then, let's go.

    They continued to make their way down countless paths and crossroads.Every time they came to a new one, Trey would write down on a piece of paper which path they took. Each time they took the wrong path,they would be back at the start of the maze. It took a long time,almost the whole day, and when they finally reached the end, the sun had almost completely set.

Trey: We...... did it....... Oh man, my legs are killing me.

Kuro: Same here. Man, I don't want to walk anymore.

Trey: It's close to dark. We should wait until morning to keep going. You alright with that?

Kuro: Yea, anything that doesn't involve hiking is fine by me.

    They set up camp, Kuro gathering nuts and berries, while Trey sets up their camp. After it reached nighttime, Trey set up a large pile of sticks, and with a snap of his fingers, and a push of his hand, he lit it on fire. They sat down near it, eating what little food they had before eventually settling down to sleep. Trey sat up against a tree and Kuro lay beside him, both of them accompanied by the warm,relaxing blaze of the fire. It was only before they started to drift to sleep did either of them speak.

Trey: Hey, Kuro?

Kuro: Yea?

Trey: Have you ever wondered if something in your life....... wasn't as you first thought?

Kuro: What do you mean? I've had times where I questioned if what I did was the right thing to do, but besides that, I've been pretty content with my life.

Trey: Well, nevermind. I guess it's a hard question to ask. Goodnight Kuro.

Kuro: G'night Trey.

    They both sat there in the dark and listened to the birds and nocturnal animals cry out into the night with the roaring fire to aid their sight. Many small animals began to walk over towards the fire, hoping to look for warmth and safety. It was a calm bunch, all of them collapsing from exhaustion not long after arriving.

    After a long time, when all movement ceased, Trey grabbed something from his bag. It was a small I-pod, a gift given to him by a friend many years ago. He grabbed a pair of earphones, inserted them, and pressed play, listening to a calm and relaxing song, his favourite song, as he too started to drift off to sleep. Then, it seemed as if the whole forest finally was asleep, and the only noise was that of the dying fire, now reduced to a small light from the burning coals.