The Maze of Existence

Episode 5: Radically Stupid

My eyes adjusted to my surroundings. I could just make out a guy beginning to climb up the shelves.

    I hoisted myself up and scaled the structure after him.

    "Hurry!" he whispered. I could hear the smile in his voice.

    I continued scrambling after him, wondering if Eden was being led out like I was. I pushed one foot off a metal rod, my hand grabbing the shelf above. The pounding footsteps below matched my racing heartbeat.

    A hand grabbed my wrist, urging me to come forward. I made it to the top of the shelf, then looked over to see a guy who looked to be about Adria, my sister's, age. He pressed a finger to his lips, one of his large hands on my shoulder.

    His eyes reflected the lights being waved below, and I found his features to be oddly familiar. His wide eyes, dirty blond hair, and determined expression didn't look completely foreign to me.

    Before I could place my finger on it, he sat back on his heels and stood, grabbing one of the rafters above. He helped me up beside him.

    "See that vent?" he asked as he pointed to the other side of the building. "We'll make it."

    His crawl continued. I followed the stranger, trying not to worry myself over where Eden was.

    I concentrated on keeping myself securely on the beam, focusing on the small square of light. When we made it, he slid the vent off, then pushed himself out feet-first.

    I imitated him and looked down to see we were on a fire escape. I glanced around for Eden, then spotted him at the bottom of the stairs.

    I followed the guy to the ground, relieved that Eden was okay, but also frantic. We were still being chased. It couldn't be this easy.

    As soon as I reached Eden, he embraced me tightly.

    "I thought you were right behind me," he muttered in my ear.

    "Sorry," I whispered back.

    When we released, our rescuer was looking at us with a crooked smile.

    "Thank you," I said, unsure of what to do. He just grinned even broader, then glanced behind us.

    "Don't thank me yet!" he exclaimed, sounding almost joyous as the guards began advancing toward us. "This way!"

    He took off running in the opposite direction. The guy glanced behind to make sure we were following, then made a sharp right turn. We still weren't anywhere near the wall.

    "What are we doing?!" Eden shouted at him as more guards flooded the path behind us.

    "Something radically stupid!" he answered, laughing. Panic rose in me once again. The pursuers were gaining, and our leader seemed like a nutcase.

    We didn't really have any other choice, though.

    Finally, we made it into an open lot full of trucks, identical to the ones that we had seen entering earlier.

    "Aren't they a delightful sight?" the guy said, standing beside Eden and I, hands on his hips.

    I looked at him with a bewildered expression. He winked at me, then began to walk forward to a particular vehicle.

    Eden narrowed his eyes at the guy. I was about to ask Eden what we should do when a shout reached our ears from behind. I whipped my face around to see them closing in, weapons raised and directed at us. I started running again, just making out the guy's head above the vehicles.