Griever [Newt V.S Thomas]

Prologue

Left. Right. Left. Left. Right. Left. Left. Right. 

She squirmed and pivoted through the maze, her thin legs failing to send her at a speed that best suited the intense situation. Her body capitulated forwards as her ankles buckled, her mind nothing but a blur of distant voices all echoing one word over and over until it was impossible for her mind to rid of the whispered shrieks.

Right. Right. Left. Right. Left. Left. Left. Right. Right.

Her lungs were on fire, her heart hammering at her rib cage at such an intensity that she swore that it would break through the bone and plunge outwards, reducing her to rubble.

The sky was steadily growing darker, and the maze began to creak, anticipating the release of monsters and demons in whom would call her their prey. The whispers grew in volume, shouting and screeching for their words to be heard, demanding that they be pronounced. But she didn't dare allow them too, for fear that she was crumble and fall, shredded and left to the hunger of the shadows.

Right. Left. Left. Right.

She hadn't a clue where she was, nor did she know of the destination that she would be arriving at. All that she knew was that she needed to escape this maze, to escape the voices and the horror or die trying. A inhuman howl filled the open air, bounding from the walls but not yet loud enough to drill over the pound of her heart or the pant of her breath. Her body went rigid as the walls began to cave, trembling as they began their movement.

"Help! Help me!" She screamed, her shrill voice so foreign to her own ears. "Help me! Someone, please!"

Right. Left.

Her screams rang out, desperation in every syllable as she cried for the mercy of luck, pleaded to whomever was watching over her to lead her to freedom. Her fingers were clenched, her flesh moist with sweat, her fiery red ringlets clinging to a pale forehead. Her bones creaked, her muscles aching and begging for release and rest and that's when she saw it, a shred of closing light in the distance.

With a sudden vigour and speed she flew towards the steadily vanishing opening, the blades of green thrush on the other side being the anchor to her hope. This was the exit! It had to be! 

A figure stood on the opposite side, his face shadowed by the setting of the sun as he gestured her over, hurrying her up with words that she could barely hear over her own breath. He seemed reluctant, unsure of her but hopeful all the same.

"Hurry! You must hurry!"

The gap was steadily closing, teasing her as she mustered up all the energy she possessed, sprinting to freedom.

But freedom shoved her away when her legs caved and she fell, head crashing against the concrete as an agonised cry tore from her chapped lips.

The gap was closed.

And once more, she was trapped.