An outcome of fate and hope.

A labyrinth of trust

The hot air from the cave seemed to cool down gently as a bright calm light followed up ahead, illuminating the cave walls in such a way where it almost looked like art. A few steps forward and all that could be smelt was a fresh, clean air with a nice warm breeze. Wait... But wasn't the mountain up ahead from him when he was lower down supposed to be covered in snow and rocks? But all that could come to mind when leaving the cave was the thought of spring. He gasped as he was shocked at his surroundings, short green grass and flowers of many different kinds spread along the floor. He noticed a small butterfly go past his face and gave a warm smile only to be greeted by a strange laugh that almost seems, familiar?

"Ah! Finally your here! I've been waiting for you!" This person had a calm yet soothing voice but something caught Lukas' eyes. He noticed that through some kind of weird fog, he could see golden hair flowing though the wind, as he stepped forward to see her clearer it only became more and more foggy.

"What's wrong... My son?" The voice said in a worried tone. "Do you no longer care for your mother?" Suddenly the fog turned darker as he came closer, wanting to be with his mother but he suddenly came to a stop.

"No..." He faced the floor as his hands clenched into fists.

"You are not my mother!!" As he shouted, suddenly a great big wall rose up in front of him as the ground started to shake, this caused Lukas to be shocked and back up a little bit as walls rose up around him and he clung onto a wall quickly as the ground was shaking violently, almost making him loose his balance. It grew colder and colder as snow started to fall once again, he knew something wasn't right... It was a trick! He almost kicked the wall in frustration but was soon knocked to the ground with a large thud following. All the walls and the ground had stopped moving and that's when he realised, he was now trapped in a maze with no way back, as the entrance to the cave was now replaced with another wall. He quickly grabbed his bag and took out a scarf and jumper that was given to him by the doctor. He then readjusts himself, putting the bag on and looking around looking for the best course of action.

He then realised something... The plant! The plant had completely vanished! He started to panic as he looked around for it, but nothing was to be found. Did he really make it all this way for nothing? No. He needed to find a way out and out seemed the only way out... Was forward. He sighed and decided he might as well give it a try. However, this maze was like no other, even going in a straight line, somehow the path seemed to always change, causing him to end back at the beginning, he didn't realise it the first few times because he just thought that he went in the direction, but it seemed that he would always end up back at the start, wherever he went, which led him to be even more confused.

He then thought of something strange, what if he pretended he was going one way but actually he goes the other way? He tried and failed. Much to his dismay, this labyrinth seemed to be going nowhere or at least, it isn't letting him go anywhere... He was tired and unsure of what to do, all his attempts and theories had been a fail. That's when he noticed a figure in the distance that seemed to be approaching him? He was cautious but let them come forward. Lukas blinked a few times and then rubbed his eyes, he was shocked at what he was seeing. A cute short girl with blonde messy pigtails and a pink babydoll type of dress, however this girl was not normal, her eyes were black and her limbs... She looked like a doll and she appeared to have some strings attached to her.

"Human..." The girl spoke, looking at him curiously yet somewhat in a creepy manner. She then continued.

"Can you... See my strings?" Lukas nodded then the girl seemed shocked and backed away in fear.

"Then you really are him aren't you?! The one my master told me about! The one who wants to destroy the world with a plant?!" The girl said, in a frightened yet accusing way.

"Wait what?!" Lukas said shocked.

"No, I would never do such a thing! Whoever told you that is wrong! That plant was given to me by my mother!" Lukas tried to defend herself but the girl just started to laugh as she did not believe him one bit. She seemed dazed and moved just like a puppet. Lukas wondered what would happen if he should try to do anything with her strings, she did seem a bit antsy about it earlier after all. He approached her slowly with a pocket knife that he got from his bag, she backed away.

"W-wait! Please don't cut my strings! I'll do anything!" She seem hesitant to say something like that but she had no option. Lukas raised an eyebrow then thought for a moment.

"Then how about you help me get through this labyrinth? Or at least give me some kind of hint to work with... Wherever I go or whatever I do, I always end up back here." The girl suddenly chirped up out of the blue and held his hand to shake it.

"The name is Flora. I'm a... Puppet of some sorts... I guess I can show you most of the labyrinth, but just know that I cannot come with you all the way to the end." Lukas smiled and shook her hand while he nodded.

"I completely understand... I honestly need all the help I can get."

Lukas seemed happy, but Flora seemed even happier... The sudden mood change surprised him but he thought, maybe that's the way that she acts, he'd met similar people before... The only thing that had him so curious is why she cared about her strings so much, was it the only way she could live or move? He thinks of puppeteers and how the puppets would be controlled by the strings, but for someone like her? He thought maybe something more could be happening behind those strings, however he tried not to think too hard about it as they continued down the twisty road with several cobwebs and a few broken rocks here and there, probably from when the wall rose out from nowhere. The only thing that was on his mind now was the location of the plant and the condition of it, he just hoped it was at the end of this all, but it seemed he still had a long way to go.