The Maze of Nightmares

Two: Mia

Mia

Jack and Mia were playing soccer together. The twins were athletically competitive, working together on the same team to rise through the ranks of the school team. After this summer break, they were going to be in high school! That meant they had a chance at a scholarship for college!

Wearing their second hand workout clothes, the twins shot the ball back and forth, practicing playing each role on the team. Blond hair matted with sweat, green eyes filled with determination, they did their best until they were both panting and soaked.

Arm in arm, they went inside their small house for water. Their mother was cooking, almost unnoticeably leaning against the counter as if exhausted. She was thin and wan, but smiled brightly at her two healthy children.

After both downing a glass, they showered, and went to their shared bedroom. The curtain they used for separation in the room was drawn, so Mia slid it back against the was and clipped it there.

While Jack went to eat whatever their mother was cooking, Mia lay on her bed and started to read her one book of Greek Mythology. She had gotten it from school for free when they did the mythology unit and had read it so many times that she knew it by heart. She loved reading about the famous heroes and gods. It was such an interesting world. Some of the stories she loved best were the ones where the gods rewarded poor people's kindness. The one story she refused to read was the story of Arachne. Ugh...spiders!

She shivered at the thought and patted the bug spray she kept in her pocket for reassurance.

Jack came in, interrupting her thoughts. "Hey, do you wanna go for a walk in the park?"

She smiled. "Sure, just let me eat something real quick."