The Maze of Existence

Episode 4: Hide & Seek

 The world seemed to be holding its breath as Eden and I gazed over the landscape.

    "My family," I whispered to myself.

    After hearing the yells in the portal that brought us here, I was scared that the statements were right. If it was my fault, I had to make sure my family was okay. Eden glanced at me with a wary gaze, like he was trying to keep his own emotions in check.

     Before I could consult with him, I began running down the steep bank toward the city, the sounds of terrified voices lingering in my mind.

    I slowed as we came to a wired fence, opened to let a couple trucks pass through. Eden caught up to me as we slipped by them, everything frozen due to the compass.

    I became more alert as the two of us walked on the gravel. Warehouses rose up on either side, and not a civilian was in sight.

    We came to a huge cinderblock wall. I gazed up at it, following it to the top with my eyes until my neck hurt. My heart fell in my chest.

    Eden walked down the length of the wall, probably trying to find a quick way over. He turned back a few moments later with nothing.

    "So now what?" I asked, searching his expression.

    His eyes went to my hands as I ran my fingers over the compass on my neck. He glanced at the warehouses, then back at me.

    "We hide," he answered, "and we watch."

» « » «

    The pair of us stowed away in a warehouse near the fence. I was peeking out from behind a shelf as we hid in the shadows.

    I had the compass in my hand, prepared to turn it.

    "Do it," Eden said shortly.

    I gave him a look before I hit play on life. A warm breeze rushed at me and the workers outside began talking as they must've been before.

    "If you're not too careful, you might be locked out of the city," one laughed as the truck entered. The driver shouted some inaudible thing back that caused four guards to roar with laughter.

    Eden and I exchanged expressions of confusion and he shrugged. I suppose authority could have fun too.

    While the truck was about to pass, Eden and I began to creep toward the massive opening of the warehouse, planning to ride the truck out to an exit.

    The truck's shadow covered us in the entrance for a brief moment and Eden jumped onto the side of it, gripping a handle used for opening the side door. He held his hand out to me and pulled me onto the ledge with him.

    I pressed into his back, clutching his arm for my life as a sharp turn was made. The ground flew beneath us as the truck continued on its path to drop off materials. We were nowhere close to the wall.

    "Crap," Eden said under his breath.

    "What?" I whispered.

    He nodded toward the rearview mirrors sticking out from the door that clearly depicted us latched onto the vehicle. Anxiety rose in my stomach as I glanced from the ground to Eden to the mirror.

    Suddenly, before the realization had sunk in, the truck jolted to a halt. My grip on Eden tightened as we nearly flew off the vehicle. Instantly, I jumped off, pulling him behind me. Wordlessly, we ran in the opposite direction the truck was headed.

    Shouting commenced behind us. I pumped my arms, my legs flying beneath me as I skidded around a turn. My heart pounded in my chest, the gravel pressing into my bare soles.

    "This way!" Eden shouted, coming around in front of me and dragging me into an open building.

    I followed, unsure if we were running from a friend or a foe.

    Eden sprinted ahead, turning this way and that in the massive building. Boxes and shelves piled up to the ceiling made the light from the entrance fade quickly as we got lost. I could hear people communicating in loud voices and footsteps as they attempted to find us.

    A right. Left. Another right.

    I took in a breath as I looked back to see nothing but darkness. Whipping my head forward, I caught sight of him turning again. I hurried to catch up, only to see him going around another curve.

    "Eden!" I gasped.

    A loud bang! of a closing door sounded and I was blinded by a sheet of dark.

» « » «

    Silence rung in my ears as my chest heaved up and down from fear and the sudden run. I backed up to bump lightly into a shelf. I leapt away, putting my hands out in front of me.

    "Eden," I breathed, carefully putting one foot in front of the other.

    A light flashed in my peripheral vision, sending me tearing down the passage in the opposite direction. I ran on the balls of my feet, taking a couple more turns until I saw more light bouncing off the walls. I skidded to a stop and ran the other way.

    My eyes adjusted to the darkness so I could make out individual shelves and crates. The room began to feel muggy and hot. Sweat dripped down my temples. I swallowed hard, pulling in shallow breaths that caused my head to spin.

    Finally, I paused at the end of a row, trying to formulate a plan. What would they do with us if we were caught? Where was Eden? What would Seth do?

    Pray.

    At first, I completely rejected the idea. I hardly knew how to pray, much less believed in the One I was talking to. If I was caught, I wouldn't be surprised if they ended my life, knowing Cassius was out to get me.

    People always prayed before they died, right? And if Seth believed, that had to mean something, didn't it? Plus, I just escaped Cassius after thinking about praying.

    "God?" I whispered shakily. I leaned my head back, feeling scared and awkward. I didn't know what to say next. There were so many things I wanted. But I hardly knew who God was, why should I be asking Him? All I could manage was, "Just let me live."

    Another light swung out from the row in front of me, pointed straight at my face. My heart jumped in my throat and I took off again, knowing in my gut I couldn't get caught.

    I had to escape somehow.

    Without warning, I felt someone grab me by the arm, pulling me under the cover of the shadows. I nearly screamed, but thought better of it.

    "Follow me," a voice whispered softly.

<<<<<<<<<<

(a/n)

Man oh man, you all don't know what you got yourselves into when you began this book. (I didn't either lol) (;

SHOUTOUT TO A GAME CALLED HIDE-N-SEEK-TAG & MY CHILDHOOD THAT INSPIRED THIS CHAPTER!

Thanks for reading! Hope you all are enjoying it so far, comment and vote if you wanna, it's greatly appreciated. <3

QUESTIONS: what are you anticipating for the rest of the story?

Thank you for being amazing!

-Abigail

{7.11.16}

>>>>>>>>>>