The Maze

Chapter 8

Arieth's pov

Last night after I had cried my heart out I had fallen into a deep sleep. I dreamed I was running through the maze when suddenly I came to a canyon.

There was a rickety, old bridge connecting my side to the other. Squinting, I saw my parents on the other side holding a knife.

My eyes widened as my father's hand slowly pressed the knife to the rope that was holding up the bridge.

"No!" I screamed as I darted out across the bridge. I can make it before it falls! Sprinting as fast as I could my body suddenly lurches to the left.

My feet lose their grip and I fall. Gripping the bridge like a lifeline I look up to find the left side rope had been cut. My mother then took the knife to the right side.

They were going to cut the bridge. If I don't run, I'm going to fall.

With lightning speed, I jumped up and ran as fast as I could on the very unstable bridge. With every footfall the planks shook.

A loud snap cracked the air from behind me. Glancing back I saw the rope had been cut and the bridge was falling fast.

With one last burst of energy I propelled myself off the bridge just as it left my feet. My hands shot out and reached for the cliff edge.

With a cry my fingers just missed the ledge.

I shut my eyes and waited, but a split second later hands gripped my forearm. My head shot up to find Layla standing on the ledge.

"Layla!" I screamed.

She was crying and pulling my arm as hard as she could.

"You can't leave! We both need to finish this! Together!" A man's voice yelled.

My eyes shot back up to find not Layla, but a boy. His eyes were pleading and desperate.

"Please." He begged.

A flash of lightning zapped down from the sky and struck the boy. My vision filled with white and I could no longer feel his hands gripping my forearm.

"What!" I yelled from under the heavy blanket.

The comforter was then yanked off my body. The heat I had built up in my cocoon left me in seconds causing me to shiver.

I squinted through the bright light to see a giant muscled down army dog in camo pants. He held my blanket over my head.

"It's dawn." He said.

Training...

"Nooooo " I said sarcastically and yanked the blanket from his hand.

If I just stay still he will go away. And I will be free to leave and steal all of my parents money and go live on my own private island by myself somewhere.

If I just stay still.

Once again he ripped the blanket off me and this time he threw it across the room. He tossed a pile of black fabric on the bed and headed for the door.

"Put those on and be out the door in five minutes. Don't make me come in after you." He said with a grim face.

"I have to shower." I spit out.

He scoffed quietly. "Ya, we know."

I glared at him as he shut the door behind himself then ran to the bathroom. I almost screamed.

My hair was still curled for the most part, (thanks to excessive amounts of hairspray) but small hairs jutted out making my head look like a squirrel's nest.