The Maze of Existence

Episode 6: Know-It-All

Breathing was coming easy.

    My whole body ached as I opened my eyes in the sunlight. I was slumped against one tree among many.

    Sitting up, I noticed Lincoln asleep, curled up on the ground. His mouth hung open slightly as his curly locks of hair fell over his eyes.

    "Glad to see you're alive."

    I turned to see Eden above me, standing next to the tree with a solemn expression, which wasn't normal for him.

    "Ready to go?" he asked in a hushed voice.

    "What?" I stated.

    He sighed and held out a hand to help me up. I took it, then we began walking. 

    "We can't stay with him," he said as soon as we were out of earshot.

    "Eden--"

    "Rowin, listen to me!" he snapped. "You can't just trust someone like this. You don't know who he is--"

    "Oh, like rescuing us from a chase isn't enough," I interrupted, becoming irritated.

    "He's the reason all of this happened!"

    "Maybe you are!" I blurted and we stopped walking.

     He looked at me like I had slapped him. His eyes were wide with fury, and the sympathy I once knew in his stare had evaporated.

    "Do I really know you?" I went on. "I don't know where you're from, or your past, or anything! For all I know, you could be a lunatic."

    "Lincoln's the lunatic! Not me!" he shouted.

    "Well, I don't know Lincoln either!" I replied.

    "So I'm right," he sneered.

    I opened my mouth, then shut it. I realized that I had just proved his point, which made me angry. I didn't know what I was getting into with Lincoln. What was his problem?

    "Well, you don't know everything," I said, rage erupting in my gut.

    "I'm right, aren't I?!"

    "Just stop, Eden!" I screamed. "You don't know me either! You have no idea how much I've been through! You don't know--"

    I stopped mid-sentence when something caught my eye. Sunlight glinted off a copper chain around his neck, and the outline of a circle was beneath his shirt.

    He watched my gaze, all the color draining from his face.

    "I--"

    "You stole it from me," I breathed.

    "It's not hard," he snapped. "I've done it before."

    I couldn't hold my anger in. I lunged at him, catching him by surprise and knocking him to the ground. He grunted as he tried to push me off, but I held onto his shirt.

    "You're not even sorry!" I yelled.

    "I was trying to keep people alive!" he protested.

    "Give it to me," I demanded. I yanked the chain so the compass slid into view.

    He grabbed my wrist.

    "It's about time you saw people for who they really are," he said, voice tight.

    "You stole!"

    I tried to pry my wrist away, but he held it so tight it hurt.

    "Grow up!" he spat. "People will disappoint you whether you like it or not!"

    "Don't talk to me like I know nothing!"

    "I will! Because you don't!"

    Pain entered his eyes and I was pulled off of him by a strong hand.

    I caught my breath as I watched Eden scramble off the ground, Lincoln stepping between us. He glanced between Eden and I.

    "Eden, do you forgive me?" he asked quietly.

    "What reason would I have to do that?" he growled, storming off into the trees.

    I watched him go, unsure of what to do. Lincoln sighed as he took his backpack from the ground and slipped it over his shoulders.

    "I'm sorry," I blurted.

    "It's alright. Finding yourself is hard," he mumbled.

    My ears perked up at this, the phrase immediately leading to Seth. Who was actually Stefen. Who was supposed to be alive, here, in this reality.

    "Stefen..," I muttered, lost in thought.

    "What did you say?" Lincoln asked immediately.

    "Just, uh..."

    The name of a boy I care about who I only knew for six days.

    "Stefen."

    The name hung in the air for a moment.

    "What did he look like?" he asked eagerly, running a hand through his hair.

    "Tall. Blue eyes, blond hair," I answered. Even I could hear how vague my description was.

    Lincoln didn't notice. He took me by the shoulders, absolute joy overtaking his expression.

    "That's my brother!"

    I felt my jaw drop as he let out an excited laugh. My thoughts reeled in my head, overwhelming me.

    "Can I see him?" I felt hope rising in me.

    Lincoln's joy stopped short and his expression fell.

    "You don't know where he is?"

    I shook my head, the feeling fading fast. He cocked his head, confused.

    "Then how..?" He sighed and started walking back toward our mini camp site.

    Eden had his back to us, not acknowledging our presence other than a slight twitch of his hands.

    "I know you don't trust me," Lincoln started softly. "But would you mind telling me your story?"

    "If you tell us your's first," Eden replied. I cringed at the hostility in his voice.

    "Fair enough."

    Eden turned, expression hard.

    "Everything, Lincoln," he stated. "She doesn't deserve to be lied to."

    I smiled a little as his gaze flickered over to me for a brief moment.

    "I was planning on it. But you have to give her the compass and me the ring, then we'll talk."

    Eden set his jaw, frustrated.

    "Deal."

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(a/n)

Lincoln is seriously one of my favorites, so you'll be seeing more of him. (; And this chapter was actually one of the really revealing parts about Eden's past, so keep his character in mind from here on out.

QUESTION: What do you think of Eden's weird attitude toward Lincoln?

Aye, thanks for reading, following, sharing, and everything else! Your encouragement makes my heart happy. <3 You are all lovely.

Hope life is going well for you! Stay cool with Jesus. 

-Abigail

{7.18.16}

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