The Maze

Chapter 6

Arieth's pov

My eyes are met with a white ceiling. Despite being curious about where I am, I just laid there and stared at the ceiling.

What reason did I have to get up?

To die?

Sounds fun.

My protest lasted a few minutes longer until my stomach became angry.

Sighing, I pushed myself into a sitting position and looked at my surroundings.

A middle class room with a white arm chair here and a black couch there. Nothing too fancy.

My eyes found a doorway leading to another room. Getting up I strode through the door to find a quaint little kitchen.

Black and white checked tile with shiny silver appliances. Steel grey table with matching chairs, and walnut cabinets filled to the brim with food.

I opened a cabinet to find my favorite protein shake mix. Slightly surprised I grabbed the packet and went over to the fridge.

I chose a banana, some strawberries, and blueberries to add to my shake. Then threw then all in the blender and hit high.

Looking around I noticed there were no windows in the kitchen. Walking back to the bedroom I found a solitary window sitting high above my head, about two feet from the ceiling.

Green, overgrown grass pushed up against the glass in clumps. I must be underground.

They must have thought 30 feet high windows weren't enough because to top it off there were thick, rusted bars covering the glass.

I walked over to the door and tried the knob. It turned about a fraction of an inch then stopped.

Locked.

"Knew it." I muttered.

Going back to the kitchen, I dumped my shake into a glass and took a seat at the table. How long were they going to leave me here?

Mrs. Edmonson had said three days, then we would be put in the maze. They weren't going to keep us here for three days. Were they?

If she comes in here I'm going to try to bargain. Maybe I can make a deal with her and get my life back. My family can pay her double to get me out.

Then they can just go with that girl from Michigan, like planned.

I had downed half my shake when I heard the lock, then loud heels coming from the other room. Getting up from the table I met Mrs. Edmonson at the door.

She stumbled back a few steps when we ran into each other, then regained her composure. She held a stack of papers close to her chest as she looked down on me through slit eyes, offering a plastic smile.

"I want to make a bargain." I say before she could open her mouth. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she responded.

"Miss Peterson things don't work like that around here."

"I can pay you double what my parents gave you." I pressed.

She gave me an amused smirk.

"You have no money, Miss Peterson. From the moment you were chosen you became government property. In the eyes of the law your parents no longer have a daughter."

"But I was never chosen!" I shout at her.

She stares at me for a moment with her expressionless features.

"Tomorrow you will start training. You will be expected to show up to training for the next two days, then you will be put into the maze. I suggest you pay attention because this is no longer your playhouse, Miss Peterson. What you learn in the following days will be your only chance of survival. So sit down and get comfy. Someone will be by in the morning. Your training begins at dawn."

With that she turned on her heels and clicked out the door, locking it behind her.

My head spined and my vision blurred. I stumbled to the bed and fell face down into the fabric.

My parents didn't have a daughter. I no longer had parents. I was an orphan. Had they known? Did they willingly give up their only daughter for the family name?

My own parents didn't even want me.

Sadness turned into a burning flame of hatred. I sat up and wiped away the tears.

I'm going to show my parents and Mrs. Edmonson that they can't control me.

I'm going to be the first one to ever survive the maze.

****************************** (castiass_2)