The Maze of Nightmares

Three: David

David

David Greenglass typed on the keys of his laptop furiously, his brain divulging ideas faster than he could type. Eventually, feeling exhausted, he finished his chapter and leaned back in his chair. His tan face was flushed, his brown eyes closed, his mop of brown straight brown hair lying flat on his head.

His mother came in, smiled when she saw the completed chapter, then quietly walked out. David's mother was a book editor and very proud of her son. Her husband had been an esteemed author before he died four years ago. David knew that it was difficult for his mother, raising him and his younger brother, who had been born shortly after his father died. Little Ben, named after his father, had never gotten to know him. David hoped his father would be proud of him. He was never a very social person. He could be if he wanted too, but he didn't enjoy it. He preferred the quiet of his room, the only sound being the clicking of the keys.

Once David's brain had regained enough energy, he got up, ate lunch, grabbed a book and went to read in the park. He told his mother where he was going and walked off across the street and into the large park.

He chose a bench, sat down, and began to read. Soon enough, a pretty, red haired girl sat down next to him with her book. Interestingly enough, it was the same one he was reading.

"Um, hi." He said, "I just noticed we're reading the same book."

She looked up at him. Wow, she was even prettier close up. She look fragile enough to blow away in the wind. "Do you like books like this?" She asked awkwardly.

"Yeah, I do. I've read the whole series." David explained

"I have too. What do you think of the fact that Ella and Caleb got together instead of Caleb and Roslyn?" She asked him.

"Well, it was a big plot twist, but contrary to popular belief, I think that Ella and Caleb are better match." David said.

The girl smiled brightly, her white teeth flashing in the sun and cute dimples forming in her cheeks. "Me, too! My name's Rose, by the way."

Rose, what a perfect name for her... "I'm David. It's nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you, too." Rose smiled.

The two bookworms talked for a while until they were interrupted by a flying soccer ball and two similar-looking athletic kids chasing it. David caught the ball and handed it to the boy. "That's yours I assume?" he asked.

The girl nodded. "Yeah, sorry about that."

"It's fine," Rose said, "I'm Rose and that's David. Who are you guys?"

"I'm Mia," said the girl, "and my twin is Jack."

Jack extended his hand to David. "Nice to meet you." They shook.

The four of them sat on the bench and began to talk. There was a strange tugging sensation pulling them together, making them want to stay. Suddenly, a large spider crawled towards them and Mia shrieked. "Spider!"

Jack got up and squished it. Then he went back to Mia and rubbed her back and soothed her. "Shh...it's gone. It's gone."

Still rubbing her back he turned to a confused David and Rose. "Sorry, she has a severe Arachnophobia. Whenever there's a spider she freaks out."

Finally understanding, David nodded. The funny thing was the Rose nodded at the same time, making it look like they were in sync. Jack tried to suppress a laugh. He failed.

Once Mia calmed down, the four kids talked about what interested them. Reading, writing, school, Eighth Grade, High School, mythology, soccer.

When he looked carefully, David noticed that Jack and Mia skirted over some topics and glossed over some others. David wondered about that, but he decided it was not yet his place to inquire about things they didn't want to speak of.

While they were speaking, the kids found out that they were all going to the same high school.

Feeling more at ease among people then he had for a long time, David asked "Hey, do you guys want to-"

He was cut off by the ground falling away beneath them. Together, the four teens tumbled into the darkness.