Here Be Dragons (Completed)

Inhospitable

***I was going to do one big update but I didn't want to feel like I was rushing through the boys-nine boys is a lot to get through-and I also didn't want to keep you all waiting for an update since I promised to update sooner than my scheduled two weeks. So, here is Game Night Part 2. More is still to come! Happy Reading!***

I struggled for oxygen as I pushed my body faster, the foliage of the walls blurring past me as I sprinted like my life depended it because, well, it did. Kota's counting and Owen's millimeter smile had faded behind me but I knew the moment that they decided to give chase. There were several loud whoops and cries of excitement, and they did nothing but encourage me to run faster. My blind panic had helped create distance between me and my pursuers, but I realized too late that I hadn't been paying any particular attention to which way I'd gone and I was now thoroughly lost. 

Shit!

"Ready or not," I heard a voice that sounded suspiciously like Nathan crow from somewhere behind me, "Here we come!" 

The cry spurred me faster still and I rounded the next corner to come face to face with a wall of green. My first dead end. No, no, no!

I attacked the hedge with a vengeance, hoping I could cheat my way out of this and burrow through the wall, but other than cutting my palms on some nasty thorns, I didn't accomplish anything. I was only wasting time.

Spinning on my heels, I gave myself three seconds to freak out, three seconds to calm down, and then I had to run again. One. I had nine obnoxiously attractive, psychotic killers currently hunting me through a labyrinth and I didn't want to die, I didn't want to die! Two. Those stupid, arrogant bastards had kidnapped me, threatened me, and thrown me in here with nothing but my own two hands as defense and if it hadn't been for Luke and Gabriel momentarily taking pity on me, I wouldn't even have my small razor. I was going to kill them! Three. My rage boiled in my gut, turning my blood to acid in my veins as my creature roared through my body, filling every nook and cranny with her murderous rage until there was no more room for fear. Oh yeah, we were back in business. 

My eyes flew open, my mind sharpening as I surrendered to the beast that purred and snarled in delight at her newfound freedom, and my worry and panic dissipated. I took a deep breath and placed my right hand on the hedge as I retrieved my straight razor from my bra with my left. I'd need to be quiet and work my way through this maze quickly. I'd heard somewhere that if you kept your hand on the wall, you'd eventually make it out and though it wasn't the fastest method, it was all I had to go on at this point. I just hoped I could be quick enough to make it to the end before they caught me. 

I started running again, keeping my steps light so I could move stealthily through the corridors, and I had to squint to see through the ever darkening night. The angry clouds above my head thickened and I could practically taste the rain in the air. It wouldn't be long now till the heavens opened and flooded the corridors of my own personal hell. I wasn't sure whether the rain would be a good thing or not so I pushed it from my mind to focus on my surroundings as I turned yet another corner. 

The yells from the boys had ceased and the eerie silence was deafening as my sneakers padded over the stones at my feet, the sound of my breathing filling up the space around me until I was sure that it could be heard for miles. They'd track me down easily from the sound of my heavy gasps for air alone, but if one of them did find me, I'd be ready. The thought caused my hand to tighten its grip on my straight razor and my monster yowled in dark joy at the thought. 

I froze at the next turn as the atmosphere around me thickened, the air shifting strangely, and I pressed back into the wall of sharp sticks and leaves and held my breath as my ears strained for the slightest sound. The scrape of a sole on stone was all I needed to know I was no longer alone and I crouched down and palmed the smooth wooden handle of my weapon, flicking the wickedly sharp blade out as I watched the edge of the corner like a hawk. The slightest hint of black came into view and I brought my blade down with a harsh swack, sinking the metal into the top of the black shoe, but where I expected to feel the resistance of bone and muscle there was nothing.