The Pariah

Chapter 29

Chapter Song: Blue Stahli - Anti You

!!!

We were in the middle of suiting up for the second challenge. 

Taurus buckled up his belt as I finished pulling on the leather gloves. We both looked at each other and nodded to each other, to remind ourselves that we had a plan. The nine of us were stuck in a tent together, as the crowd were taking their seats in the stands, that were positioned at the very beginning of the maze. It was midnight now, which means it has officially begun. I was nervous, but not as much as I was during the first challenge. Madeline kept her promise, she hasn't told anybody anything, thank goodness. I was terrified that she would break her promise. But she hasn't. 

The challenge began when Wind stepped into the tent and called us all out to start the orientation. As soon as we step out, the crowd roars with delight and banners go flying. Some people were cheering on for Madeline, others for one of the guys named "Michael" and of course, Taurus had some people too. What I was delighted to find myself was my friends yelling my name and jumping up and down from the stands. Even some of the others from the Guild had as well. 

I grinned at them and shot them a wink. I saw Paige standing at the bottom of the stands, clapping lightly and waving shyly at me. As I passed, I reached out and squeezed her hip. Her face got red and I enjoyed the effect I had on the girl. 

The nine of us gathered around the odd snowy-haired fellow with the weird aura around him stood in the very center. His uniform was like an old-fashioned soldier uniform. His hands were behind his back like a soldier too, his chest puffed out all proud like. "Listen up, because I'm only going to say this once."

Everyone did as he told and listened in close. The crowd had quieted down until all that was left was whispering. We all leaned in close and waited for him to continue. 

He finally did. 

"The maze is dangerous, I won't lie. There are things in there that will probably be in your nightmares after this. The maze shifts, it moves on its own, trying to trap people in. Now, I strongly advice you to keep close to your partners, because if one of you were to get lost, then you won't be seeing them again." He warns and then leans back. "Now... have fun!" 

Oh, yeah, totally will now that I know all of that. I think sarcastically, then look at Taurus. "Are you ready?"

He nods his head, but he looks kind of nervous. Damn, now I should be way more nervous since he's nervous. He's done this before, I haven't. Oh, shit. I inhale and place my hand on his arm. "Hey, we'll be okay."

"Yeah," he says, but it sounds more like he's trying to convince himself of it. "Let's have fun, right?"

"Totally."

We all form a line, side-by-side. Taurus swallows beside me and I can hear it. Wow, he really is nervous, isn't he? I look back at the stands, where everyone was starting up their cheering again, jumping on the stands and calling out peoples' names. I make eye contact with Myrina up toward the top. She winks back at me to let me know that it will be fine. I smile back and then look down back toward Paige. She smiles back at me. 

As soon as I turn around, I also catch the eyes of Madeline. She subtly zips her mouth shut, before dropping her hand to her side. I mouth a quick, "thank you" before I heard a boom of what sounded like fireworks going off, but I saw no lights in the sky. 

We all jumped simultaneously at the sound and look back. Sure enough, a guy's standing behind a canon, the nozzle smoking black smoke into the night sky. 

"You may enter," the soldier guy motioned his hand toward the hedge maze, "the maze."

The nine of us bid each other a farewell before we walked forward together, I reached back for Taurus's hand as the fear of what may happen when we come inside gathered up in my chest, he seemed just as nervous as me, which only served to intensify my fear. As soon as we were inside, we heard the vines and leaves seal up behind us. We both turned just in time to watch the light from the crowd fade out and the cheering subside until we were left in silence and in darkness.