Pipsqueak

Chapter|001

ALL OR NOTHIN'

Maze|213

Rain poured upon the scenery of green vines dangling from cement walls thousands of feet or so high in the air. The vines tangled amongst one another providing the perfect coverage from the crying sky, but also from the killing machines lurking the walls during the night.

Metal legs clinked against the Maze floor as the creature neared closer to Mouse—who was tucked far inside the vines. A Griever rounded the corner, it's constant and endless clicking loud even when not moving.

Mouse released her hold of a vine and slowly maneuvered her hand through them as she attempted to make the least amount of noise. A leaf from the vines gently brushed across her skin causing her to shiver. She covered her chattering jaw and tried to slow down her shaky breathing.

The rain would not do her any help tonight. With only one hand grasping a vine for dear life and the tips of her shoes wedged between tangled vines, something was bound to give.

The Griever before her clicked as it studied the paths of the Maze it had as options. The rain raced off its slimy flesh as soon as it contacted the false creature. It's metal legs clicked as it turned from one path to another. Moonlight bounced off the Griever's artificial legs, allowing Mouse to see what types of weapons this particular Griever had equipped. The worst Grievers were the ones with saws. They could end her life in a few seconds if their aim was perfect. The one before her didn't have a saw; however, it did have a pincer on the end of its metal tail-like feature. These Grievers were the hardest ones to run from.

The rain poured heavier as Mouse continued to observe, her head barely visible from the vines. She batted the vine leaves tickling her face and leaned a little farther. As she did, her left foot, barely wedged between vines lost its placement, and she slipped. The force of gravity pulled her down through the vines. She tossed and turned in a hurried panic gathering her exposed self and scooted backwards from the Griever. Its metal appendages clanked as it turned around to see what noise occurred behind itself. Upon seeing Mouse the Griever's pincer tail shot for her.

Mouse rolled between the Griever's legs, rose to her feet and ran. Water droplets padded her as she quickly took a turn left, momentarily losing her balance and slipping. Mouse regained her footing and continued running. Her life depended on it. And the Griever wanted to seize her life.

Green blurred against grey as Mouse ran the walls of the Maze. Her heartbeat pulsed in her ears. She turned right. Then a left. She kept running. Her small figure weaved between walls—some remained the same while others changed.

Then she saw it. The subtle scratch she carved in the Maze on her first night. There would be more. She knew these walls by heart. She could win this awful game of live or die.

Mouse pushed her legs to keep moving as she took her last turn left. She halted at the dangling vines as she searched for another subtle scratch. Meanwhile, the Griever clanked and clicked as it neared her position. She spotted the indentation in the wall and fisted a handful of vines. She begun to climb. Mouse struggled against the rain but the Griever had no problems. Its machinery legs cracked the wall as it clambered after her.

On top of the wall, Mouse was able to see a bit more of the Maze. It wasn't the tallest wall but it was better than running the ground and having a Griever attack her from above. She could see the walls move in all directions. Some shrank, some rose, some spread apart while others closed.

Without thinking twice, she gathered on her feet and resumed her running. And as the scale was tipped in her favor, the wall ahead of her started to rise. She could escape.