The Parables

Mii - Precinct Twelve

Mii - Precinct Twelve

I run as fast as I can, twisting and turning through the many paths of the Labyrinth, trying to escape from the horror behind me. Gnarled branch fingers reach out to snatch at my clothing and the wind whispers chillingly into my ear. All of a sudden, I freeze. A shiver runs down my spine. The sound of a bloodcurdling snarl resonates around me. My body starts to tremble, but I ignore the urge to look behind me and carry on running as fast as I can away from whatever is lurking behind me.

Turning a corner, I stop dead in my tracks. Ahead of me, is a figure. A dark creature. My heart begins to throb loudly against my chest and I can hear the blood rushing through my body. My hands grow clammy and beads of perspiration drip down my forehead. Suddenly, the creature lunges forward, bounding across the ground towards me. My eyes widen with panic and I scan the area desperately in search of an exit.

Backing away slowly, I start to see more of the creature as it nears me. It has a round, bulk of a body covered with a thick coat of walnut brown hairs that wallops forward every time the creature moves. Its large paws sink into the ground at every step, three long, silver talons protruding from each paw, shredding up the mud track as they scrape into it. Just them, the beast looks up to me, and for the first time, I catch sight of its eyes, watching me hungrily. They're a bright yellow colour with a haze of evil enhancing them to resemble angry flames.

Suddenly, my back clashes with something prickly. Spinning around, I come face to face with a bush wall, its olive leaves stroking my face. The colour drains from my face and my knees start to buckle as I slowly turn around to await my death. Closing my eyes, I pull my arms in front of my face and turn away from the oncoming beast, just as a sharp claw makes contact with my body, sending agonising pain shooting up my spine-

"Mii!"

My eyes snap open. Lianora stands next to my bed, shaking me gently. My body is drenched in sweat, yet a coldness has enveloped me, making my teeth chatter. Slowly, with the assistance of Lianora, I sit up and rest my head against the back wall. My hands continue to convulse in front of my eyes, and panic has gripped my mind, refusing to let go of it.

"W...what's going on?" I stammer, looking up to Lianora, my eyes wide.

"You were screaming," she explains softly. "I came in here and found you shivering uncontrollably."

"I...I was in the L...Labyrinth. There w...was a c...creature. It k...killed-" I break off, looking around the room wildly. "W...where am I?"

"You're on a train going to The Commune, remember?" Lianora says. "You're in a bed in your sleeping quarters."

"O...oh yeah." I crack a small smile through my chattering teeth and pull the duvet up further to cloak my cold arms.

Lianora frowns and lightly presses her fingers against my forehead. "Are you cold?"

I nod, shivering. "V...very."

"You're burning up," Lianora murmurs and turns around. "Dedalas...Dedalas! Get here now."

Somebody grunts next door and then there's the sound of movement as somebody gets out of their bed. A few moments later and Dedalas stumbles into the room, half-asleep.

"What's up?" he mumbles sleepily. A moment later his eyes widen at the sight of me. "Are you okay Mii? What's going on?"

"I...I." Words fail to fall from my lips in a language that my Tutors would understand. Instead, I just sit there, staring blankly at both of them whilst they check me over.

"Her temperature rocketing but she's shivering," Lianora says, confused. "I don't understand what's happening."

"Flippin' heck." Dedalas runs a hand through his hair, looking around helplessly. "Erm...I'm trying to think...Mii, did you have some sort of bad dream? A nightmare?"