The Maze (Harry Potter 4 and the maze runner)

The meeting

Alby pushed past me, Newt's face flashing past the door, a look of fear pasted upon his features. I followed Cedric outside and glanced up at the walls. A gaudy, oppressive silence filled the air. Somewhere in the distance, a shriek pierced the air, like a fox caught in a trap. My stomach contracted, fighter jets roaring inside me.

''They're hunting aren't they?'' Alby gripped my shoulder tightly, ''what do we do Harry?''

I could feel the air roaring in my ears ''Run. Run and hide'' he starred back at me, his face a reflection of a my own fear, unmoving. I looked around at the other boys, frightened faces starring back at me.

''What are you waiting for?'' said Newt ''run!''.

His words had an immediate effect. I sprinted after Minho, watching Newt dissipate into long blades of grass, my wand pressing against my fingers. Somewhere up ahead Cedric had pulled open the door of a sleeping accommodation and was frantically pushing people through. I could feel my heart crawling up my chest, as darkness descended. The sound of shrieking was coming from the horizon up ahead, inhuman screams.

Cedric yanked me inside, bolting the door, as if mere flimsy pieces of wood would stop them. Minho slammed the window shut, scathing his blade. I turned to Cedric, his golden locks plastered to his forehead.

''What's that sound?'' I asked, my ears straining against the silence.

''Caterwauling charm. Probably Snape's idea'' he replied.

''What?'' Thomas panted, confusion drawn across his face.

''It's like an intruder alarm. They've been waiting for us here, hiding, watching'' I responded, my scar blurring my vision with agony. I suppressed a cry, and with an almighty effort, forced myself to focus.

Cedric waved his wand out ''cave inimicum...'' he murmured as footsteps came closer to the door. A woman's voice, singing a sinister tune.

''What's he doing?'' Minho whispered 

''Making it more difficult for them to get in'' I replied

''What's the point? They're coming in anyway...we need a way out!'' Gally, who had recovered in time, hissed.

''I can't do any more than that'' Cedric lowered his wand.

'' Potter...we know your in there! We just want to talk'' a cold voice cut through the silence 

''We wont hurt your friends if that's what your worried about'' a woman's voice again followed by tittering peals of laughter.

''You have one more chance to come out willingly  and no one will be harmed'' I exchanged looks with Alby

''That's bull! Like you'd let us leave alive'' I shouted out.  Silence followed my words, ominously. I heard the murmur of 'alohamora' and watched the door handle, resisting the pull of the spell.

''You little...you've put a spell on the door...you naughty boy'' a snigger followed.

''Blast it open'' another voice murmured. Somehow it was vaguely familiar. Frantically, I looked around at Cedric.

''They want you Harry, but I can't let anything happen to you, you're our only way out of here'' with that he pointed his wand at me and flicked his wrist. I felt a cold hit of a liquid substance hit me, coiling around my throat, I choked dropping my wand.

Cedric ran to the door and pressed against it ''C'mon, we need to buy him a few seconds'' .

I gasped for air, my chest being squashed by an invisible pair of hands, and immediately felt the pressure relieve. I reached out to Thomas, pushing against the door, but he didn't react. It was as if I was encased in a bubble of air.

''Bedazzling hex. Same stuff they use for invisibility cloaks. You mustn't be seen or heard Harry'' he gasped and was thrown away from the door.

''Duck!'' he shouted, before a flash of crimson, tore the flimsy wooden door into shards.