Sinking Slow

Froze

When I opened the door we peered in to see a creature that I had never seen before or even heard about in the maze. It had the body of a horse but it's ears were like tentacles. It also had wings but they seemed useless and just drooped to the sides. I guess since you couldn't fly in the maze they probably would have. It was of an odd completely purplish color. I didn't know exactly how to explain the oddness of it. It was just weird. It looked sort of like a horse but at the same time not. It seemed oddly beautiful. How could such a thing be dangerous? I inched closer to it holding my hand out like you would to a horse. It was a small room with just the one creature in it. I got closer and it didn't glance at me once. It stared at the wall until my hand was barely away from its mouth. The others panicked at first because they knew any creature in the maze was dangerous. I felt some were in my heart though, that they could be tamed. My hand was there waiting. I felt it's slight breaths on it and how it quietly sat. All of a sudden then.. it jerked its head in my direction. It made me jump because of such silence that there was before. It's eyes glowed red and it reminded me more than anything of a bull now. It raged and stomped it's feet as it was getting angrier and angrier. I slowly backed away because if it was anything like a bull..running would just tick it off more. Once we stepped foot out of the room, it bolted! It came after us and we ran so fast. We ran and ran until it was running side by side with me. I had an idea. I didn't know if it was a smart one but I went for it. I got closer to it but still running. Once I got close enough, I leaped on top of it. It stopped right away and put it's front legs up and let out a loud "neigh!!" I clung tight to it and stroked its face to calm it. It slowed down and calmed down. I held tight as it delightfully trotted forward. The group was in awe of what I had done and so was I. We looked behind us to see more of them. They all hopped on and we rode on them. I was proud at my most random act of bravery. I found that we had just tamed monsters. I had just tamed a creature of the maze. I started to laugh and soon we all did and rode on a little faster. We all rode on our horse bulls and we ran down the paths of the maze. This was amazing. This was great. I looked back at them. It was the greatest advantage too. I looked back to see Gracin without struggle riding the creature. It was great to see his beautiful flawless smile again. I looked at him and smiled and he smiled back at me. Then my smile faded a little. I was remembering what the sirens had told me. As I was remembering, Gracin slowly rode up further to me. "The fait of tar, you remain just how you are, the fait of leaves all around, sadly it takes over up from the ground. The fait of fire is death or just a plain liar." I thought and..thought. The fait of fire is death or just a plain liar. A plain..liar. "A liar" I said. "What?" Gracin asked. I smiled and started to get really..exited. "Gracin!" I yelled. "Gracin you're a liar! Aha!!" "What are ou talking about Morgan?" Everybody was looking at me confused now. "Gracin you lied about you and Rina!" He looked down now in slight embarrassment and frustration. "Do you really have to bring this up right now? I understand, ok?" "Gracin." I got closer to him. "Gracin Fait of fire is death..or just plain LIAR." They all realized now and I was happy. I was happier then I had been in a while. I got closer to him and gave him a tight hug. "I'm so glad you aren't leaving us." Rina came too and hugged. Before I knew it, it was an entire group hug. Then something interrupted. Just like it always does at the best of moments. I heard a noise but it wasn't a creature noise. I was sure that it was him again. It was Trennor. It was the murderer of Driagon that we were about to meet again. Brus slowly trotted forward from us. I saw the anger on his face. He wanted revenge of his brother. We all did but I think he did the most. I knew one thing. You will never get anywhere without a clear mind. His mind was full of anger and fear and revenge. I went closer to him and put my hand on his shoulder. I really didn't have to say anything. He could see the calmness on my face as he stared into my eyes. I calmed him by looking at him. I just said one more thing to be sure of it. "Clear your mind Brus." He nodded and took a breath. I could see now. Trennor's feet had come into view. We all raised our weapons and held tight on the horse bulls. He came closer and closer and now he was standing there. His expression went from I'm ready, to astonishment. He looked up at us on the horse bulls. He was not expecting it. His face didn't remain a frightened look for look for long though. It became a smile. "Well well. I didn't expect such worthless, pathetic and helpless ones like yourself would gain strength again so quickly. Mhm" he gave a mumbled laugh I looked my eyes down upon his hideous face. "We never lost our strength. You should know that we never will either!" "Well bring it on then! Hahaha!" He screamed and laughed. We trotted along towards him. We tried to run over him and we raged to him. After that we looked back but instead of finding him weak on the ground like I had hoped. He had just vanished. He was gone. I had looked around at my surroundings but I still had seen that he was no were. I didn't know he could have escaped from that but somehow he did. I stared and a voice yelled at me to get my attention. "Morgan! We don't have all day let's move!" I rolled my eyes. Even though I didn't blame Jada for being in a hurry. I'm sure we all wanted to leave. We kept on our way. We went forward more and more. I just thought about what would we do once we got out? What would I do when we got out? IF we got out that is. Would I rencounter my family? If so what would I say to them? I had been gone for a while. It's almost been a year. They would definitely see I had changed. If I were to run away though...I would miss them. I can't do that. I miss them too much and made too many mistakes. I have too many regrets. I don't know what I'd tell them. I couldn't bare to leave them though. I just couldn't. But what if I had no choice..? What if I HAD to? What if everyone would make fun of me for being a weirdo for saying what had happened. No one would believe me. No one would. So I thought if I ran away. How would I live my life style? Also what would the rest of them do? Were would they go? They have been in here for longer than I have. Well most of them have. I would run away. Yes I could run away into the woods and start a life of our own. Who was I kidding? I couldn't do that. Then again I had killed mythical beasts maybe I could. I could survive. We could build a house. We all would live together like a family. Although what about Gracin? I loved him and there is no way I could forget that love. Even though Rina acts like it I know she couldn't either. That's one problem that I don't think I could ever solve. I kept trotting more and more on my horse bull. I looked around. Being in a never ending maze you wouldn't think anything would be recognizing but it was. I saw the walls and it was familiar. It all was. I realized we were close. We were real close. It wasn't that long before we arrived. Realizing this I started to run faster on my horse. But then I heard a scream. I  stopped and looked back. I saw Jada with fright on her face looking below her horse bull. When I looked down I saw what looked like wet concrete and it was coming from a vent in the ground. It was grabbing the creatures feet and it couldn't move. It reached up till the horse was just a stiff statue. We all ran to Jada  and tried tugging her free but it had already gotten her feet. We pulled and pulled but she was stuck and it was going to go all the way up till she was gone. Jillian cried until it met her waist. It so close to Jillian's toes but I knew what we had to do. Rina grabbed Jillian and snatched him away. Jada tried to struggle free and Brus tugged and tugged but she wouldn't come lose. Until it was at the edge of her face I looked at her. I was scared but she just looked at Jillian and me. She smiled then it hit her eyes. She was a frozen statue now. She sat on the frightened horse but her face remained with a frozen smile. I dropped to my knees and I looked down and let out a breath. Rina sat beside me holding Jillian which was still whimpering. "We knew it was going to happen Morgan." I nodded. I was strong and I didn't cry this time I just took deep breaths and got up again. "The main thing that matters is I kept my promise. Jillian is still alive. That's why that smile remains on her face. I looked behind me to see the  statue fade away into grey smoke. "Come on guys." I said after a moment. We walked and I kept thinking in my head. They had died. I couldn't save them. Even though I felt deep sorrow in my heart. What awaited me was worse. I turned the corner and then...there it was. There was the way out. I looked back at them and once I did I heard the water swoosh in. It started to fill at the horse bulls feet. They started to freak out and we all hopped off. I looked back at them to make the quickest most meaningful speech I could. "You guys we've been through thick and thin I just want to let you all know I love every single one of you." I glanced at Rina holding Jillian. I looked at Jillian eating his fist. "Jillian you are the most joyous baby I've ever seen. No babies should experience this yet you remain the sweetest care free baby I've ever met." I smiled as he stared at me. "Brus I'm sorry about Driagon he was the sweetest just like you. You guys did so much. Gracin you've stayed strong out of all the confusion, harshness, injuries and what you are. Rina you have been the best leader a group could ask for. To let me come in and take over was definitely a leader decision." I had to finish up now because it was to our necks. "Okay you guys we have to hold our breath no matter what there is no going back. Don't let go of your breath. I don't know who it will be but only one of us will be able to breath under it. We have to do this to free the souls of the poor people trapped inside of these creatures! Ready?" We lifted our heads to take a breath and I took in a gasp of air. The water went over our heads and I opened my eyes. I realized I wasn't the one able to breath. I held my breath and we all saw the siren come into view. She came close and stroked my hair and came close. "Thank you Morgan." She went over to Jillian and put her lips to his. She blew and then she faded away and they all did. Jillian could breath now too. All that was left now was to wait till the water drained. I looked over to see the three left and Rina could breath. Jillian and Rina could breath. Gracin though.. he was turning blue. Almost like the sirens.