Twisted Trials

Night 3, Part 2

Ashlyn's POV:
We were stood, all nine of us, at the western entrance of the Maze. Staring at us from the looming corridor was a Griever. Julie took a few steps back and parted the fire, creating an entrance for us to slip through.
"Come on! Let's get out of here!" She yelled, gathering everyone's attention. The Griever charged toward us, metal grinding on metal.
"There's no point; everything's on fire and the thing would just follow us and kill everyone!" I shook my head. I knew what I had to do, and nobody was going to like it. The Griever was only a couple meters away and gaining speed. It targeted my friends, screeching at them as they let Gaia take the stand. She held out her spear in attempt to defend herself, but she'd have no chance with that thing. I quickly shot sparks of light at the Griever as a distraction. It skid to a stop and swung a clawed arm at us. My plan was working. The monster turned all its attention to me.
"Time to throw myself into the face of danger again." I uttered. Skylar heard me and grabbed my arm.
"Don't you dare-" he started as I gave him a thin smile and pulled out of his grasp. I bounded to the Griever and made myself a beacon of light. This caught the monster's eye, and it swung it's arm at me. It caught me, digging it's claws into my waist. Crying out in pain, I pulled at the talons. Blood seeped out of my sides as my wound was reopened. The Griever rolled around and sauntered down into the Maze. I could hear my friends shout for me. Determined not to pass out, I tried to steady my breathing. My vision was slanted but I could see the colorful parade of my friends yelling and running after me.
"Are you still alive?" One of them yelled. I couldn't tell who it was but I gave them a lopsided thumps up. Despite my attempt, I think I lost consciousness for a hot minute.

As I peeled my eyes open, I could tell I was much deeper in the Maze. My head was fuzzy from being held upside down. We turned a corner and stopped. I pulled myself up and looked around. Thirty feet away was an opening of stars scattered across a night sky. I heard voices behind me and tossed my head back to see my erotic friends jogging around the corner. The Griever sensed them, turning around to face them. It lifted me, swinging my right side up.
"What's up?" I smiled, relaxing some knowing my friends didn't leave me. The Griever hissed at the group. It dug deeper into my flesh and a fresh wave of pain shot through me. Choking on tears, I slammed my fists onto the exposed claws. Skylar wrestled Gaia for her spear and chucked it at the monster. I could see Theo running past me over to one of the walls.
"Emily!" She yelled, and a figure emerged from the shadows.
"What the bloody flack do you want child get off my lawn." Emily hung her feet over the edge of the wall.
"Can you throw your rocks at the Griever? It's killing our friend!" Theo asked as Anna started kicking the Griever's legs.
"No." Emily laid back down.
"I'll give you a penny!" Theo tried to bargain with the shadowy rock holder. There was a pause and a curtain of rocks crashed into the Griever. Apparently the thing didn't like the rocks very much, as it screeched and threw me backwards with such force that once I hit the stone bottom. I felt like all my bones were broken. Bloody and broken, I rolled onto my back sputtering. Blood seeped into every inch of fabric and dripped on the stone cold floor. I grunted and laid a hand against my bandaged middle. My eyelids drooping over my slit eyes.

Firm hands pulled against me. I choked on a breath of fresh air as my eyes fluttered open.
"You missed the fight scene!" Grace's bubbly voice echoed in my skull. I was in terrible pain. Feeling around, a tighter and fresher bandage bit at my stomach.
"Where is everyone?" I managed to mumble.
"Worn out from tonight's drama." Gaia was kneeled next to Grace. Gaia's eyes were fixated on my neck, and grasped my key and chain. I felt uneasy under her stare.
"I'm going to check up on the others." Grace stood and spun on her heel. Trying to sit up, I stretched my neck to the side so I could see my friends. They were sitting along the walls and laying around the floor covered in scratches. Our group jumped up to ten, thanks to the new addition of Emily the rock thrower. Gaia started to stand and I spun my head to her. She held out her hand to me.
"Let's make things right," there was a certain edge to her voice. I reached out and took her hand as she pulled me to my feet. Taking my eyes off her, I brushed the dust off my dress. We were very close to the edge, and if the Griever threw me any farther I would have rolled of the cliff. Gaia was silent. She sucked in a quick breath and squeezed her eyes shut, giving me a hard shove backwards. My eyes went wide. Circling my arms, I pulled at Gaia's arm as I fell. Her chest hit the solid ground with a thud while I hung on to her forearm and kicked my feet. I was completely over the cliff and desperate. Gaia huffed and didn't seem pleased I was still alive.
"Gaia! Pull me up!" I yelled, attracting the attention of my friends. Gaia turned her head back to them.
"Don't come near us or I'll drop her!" She snarled at them. She'd probably drop me either way. I dug my nails into her arm. With my free hand I reached up and grabbed her shirt. We stayed that way for a moment as I tried to think of what to do. I then though of a dastardly plan that would surely kill us both.
"If I'm going down, I'm taking you with me." I pushed off the stone siding with my knee and pulled her over the edge. We love saving our friends from potential danger. Gaia screamed as I let go of her. She disappeared into darkness while wind rushed around me in free fall. I could see someone jump off the cliff high above me. They came in quick and latched onto me. We stopped falling, as the feathery shadow grew giant black wings. My friend Skylar's face came into focus.
"Skylar what are you doing!" I cried.
"Saving you, again." We stood in mid air, Sky's wings flapping against the darkness of the night as I clung onto his shoulders. We slowly rose up, nearing the stone edge of the cliff where the rest of my friends gathered. Grace's face was pure horror.
"Where's Gaia?" She called. We didn't answer her. Sky instead turned and dropped me a couple feet away from the edge, into a little pocket in the stars. The scenery disappeared for a split second and I dropped into a dreary damp tunnel. It was dark in here. Huddling up to the wall, I made a ball of light from my hands. Soon my friends dropped down after me. There was a pause. What was the next step?
"Where do we go now, oh dear leader?" Anna put her hands to her hips. I scuffled upwards, cupping my ball of light.
"The only way we can go. Straight."
"But I'm gay..." Grace whispered. Anna elbowed her in the arm. Skylar slid behind me and took my hand.
"Let's get out of this Maze once and for all." We stumbled down the dark hall, the light from my hand leading the way.