Into the Darkness

Chapter 17

Eventually Benedict calms down. Calm probably isn't the best word for it though. More like not screaming at the voice anymore. So calmer then he was before. Calm enough for me to wrap up his bloody hand.

"I don't think it's broken but you should still be carful," I say while wrapping it with a cloth strip, "I would avoid using it to much."
He doesn't say anything. He only stares back into the darkness of the tunnel behind us.
The tunnel where Argus died.
He is silent but it is a scary silence. His eyes are fiery and intense. His expression hard and rigid.
"Benedict..." I start not at all sure how I'm going to continue, "I know this is hard but-"

He turns to me, "Do you? Do you really know how hard this is Tori? Cause I don't think you do. You didn't even know Argus. I have spent every day with him for the last two years! You've been here for what? Two weeks. You can't possibly know what this feels like."

Suddenly I am angry too. How can he be so ignorant. Of course I know what it's like to lose someone. My dad died in the maze and I have known him my entire life not just two years! Not only did he die but I killed him. I fell right into the voices trap and killed him. With the very knife that is now attached to my hip. I know exactly what this feels like. But try telling him that. instead I simply glare at him. I finish wrapping his hand and storm off. He needs to cool off. I know this but it still takes ever ounce of willpower in my body not to scream at him for being a complete and total idiot. Yes I am sad that Argus died and I hate to be so cold about this but we have to keep going. No matter what happens. Like Benedict said the voice will get bored but right now he is still entertained by the after effects of Argus' death. We need to start moving before that effect wears off. Before he tries to kill someone else. The thing is that I can't tell anyone this without seeming completely heartless.

I glance around hoping to find someone else ready to move on. Benedict is still majorly upset so he isn't really an option. Nevada and Carina are sitting in the tunnels so far away I can hear faint whispers of their conversation. Carina was pretty upset when she found out it was her fault Argus died. Not that it is her fault, I don't believe that. The voice can't expect us to follow rules when we have no idea what they are. I don't think she is getting that though. I hope Nevada is successful in convincing her of that. I could ask Dale is sitting only a couple feet away but after our last couple of conversations I can't bring myself to actually go up to him. 

After what feels like forever Carina and Nevada both come back. Nevada has her arm around Carina and for the first time I notice that Carina is at least an inch or two taller then Nevada. It just seems weird considering the age difference. I smile at her and she gives her best attempt of one back but it looks more like a grimace then a smile.

"We should get going." Nevada say s reaching for her pack. We all do the same without saying anything. Even Benedict gets up without a word.  He has this look in his eyes, like he is far away remembering something or daydreaming. A pretty good idea considering where we are. I try to do the same. If I could be anywhere in the entire world right now where would I want to be. My answer is not really what I expected. The first thing I thought of was this park about a block away from my house. I hadn't actually been there since I was nine or ten but I just remember thinking it was so cool. The park was shaped like a castle. For some reason when I would go inside it, I just felt safe. I would do anything to  feel that way again, all of us would. I'm tired of living a life where every waking moment is spent trying not to die. And I haven't even been here that long. Imagine How Benedict, Travis and Vincent feel. They have been here four years. Nevada and Argus both have been here for three. I can't imagine staying here for that long. I don't know what I would do.

I am just considering asking Nevada how she did it when there is a loud metal clang and I hear Benedict cry out. I can't see that far ahead. 

"Benedict what happened? Are you okay?" I yell and we all rush forward. Both Dale and Nevada are in front of me. Me being the short person I am can't see past them. Carina hangs back not like she isn't worried but more like she's afraid of messing this up too.

"I'm okay. I'm okay." Benedict says in between heavy breaths. He doesn't sound okay, "A spike came flying out of the wall. If I hadn't jumped back it would have-"

He doesn't finish but that's okay. He doesn't need too.

"Do you think there are more of them?" Nevada whispers, "we have to go forward. How will we avoid them?"

Silence. No one knows. Dale leans back against a wall giving me a clear view of the spike. It is a thin silver spike with a deadly looking point. 

"maybe its a motion sensor." Carina speaks up. She unzips her backpack and takes out a granola bar. She slides it on the ground and it lies across the smooth floor. Three more spikes shoot out of the wall.

"That's genius Carina!" Nevada shrieks.

"It's obvious. you couldn't get the timing right if you did it manually."

"Still good job Carina." Benedict lets go of his angry demeanor and smiles. I get it. We are outsmarting the voice and nothing could give me more satisfaction then that. We start to walks. Slowly and carefully. Carina insists on walking in front in case she missed one. Every time we reach where the bar stopped she slides it on the floor and more spikes loudly shoot out of the wall. We keep going like that for a long time.

It has to have been hours but no one wants to stop until we get out of the spike zone. (That's the name I gave this place in my head.) I feel the same way. Just because the voice isn't controlling them manually now doesn't mean he can't. Carina says some of them also could be on timers instead of motion sensors so we should get through as quickly as possible. Carina stops again to roll the granola bar again. Then the familiar sound of metal clanging.

"guys," Carina yells, "I didn't throw it yet."

A terrible scream echos through the tunnels only seconds after she says it. We all turn around to find Dale who was walking only steps behind me impaled on one of the spikes. Before any of us can respond or do anything Benedict is pushing us out of the way trying to get to him. Dale gasps and blood spills from his mouth. The his face goes blank. Benedict checks his pulse.

"He's still alive. He's still alive." He repeats frantically, "Nevada help me get him off."

Nevada's face is one of pure terror like she can't believe she has to do this, "But the bleeding... won't he..."

"Just get over here and help me!"

She does just that and together they start pulling Dale's huge six foot tall body off. About halfway Dale groans.

"Ben He's waking up." Nevada starts to panic, "He's waking up!"

"Keep going." He insists.

"No stop," Carina interrupts, "Won't he die of shock or something."

"We can't just leave him there."

"He just stopped moving." Nevada cries. Benedict checks for a pulse again but by his reaction I can tell he didn't find one. He kicks the wall and storms off.

"Benedict the spikes!" I call out after him.

"Like I care." He mutters and just keeps going.

We all follow but at a distance. He is going to fast for us to catch up anyways. we don't go too far before Nevada stops and sinks to the floor. She hugs her knees and stares at her blood soaked hands.

"He's dead." Tears stream down her face, "He's dead too. we are all going to die."

"Of course not." I state confidently even though I am have trouble believing it myself. Suddenly I too am aware that we have already lost three people on this trip. How many more of us are going to die? Who is going to be next?