Touch Of Memory

Chapter II

'Back off,' he seemed to be saying.

I didn't even know him, and all I had was a scruffy knife, but I had to help him. This time I could fight. I ran in the noises’ direction, ready to charge. After a sharp turn I crashed into something and fell down. Or rather someone. I got up immediately and looked at him. Scruffy, dirty clothes, messed up hair. But who was I to criticize? I probably didn't look better myself. I stretched out my hand to help him, but the guy seemed too startled to react.

In these brief moments I forgot what was in front of us. A Death Creature. I threw my knife straight into its left eye, what made it back off a little. That gave me us time to organize. He got up and we both started to run. I noticed he had some trouble, due to his limping.

We kept running until we no longer heard that awful sound. As soon as everything looked safe, we both slowed to a walk.

'Who are you? You're a girl? And what are you bloody doing here?'

'I'm Maria, nice to meet you too. I got here through an underground passage. I found it when I was running.'

'I'm Newt by the way. So, you were running. In another Maze?'

'I think it's another one. It’s confusing.’

'It can't be the same one. We've explored this one from top to bottom. We would’ve found you.'

'I know, I've explored “my” Maze myself. What if there are two Mazes? And I accidentally found a passage between them? I don’t know how, but it feels different.'

'Seems like the only logical explanation. So you had more people in your Maze?'

'Yes. Just girls. Each month a new one arrived.'

'Just like us. Except for the fact we're guys.'

'This is so creepy. We need to find that passage again.'

'Yeah. Maybe together, we could find a way out of this bloody place.'

'Just one problem. I have no idea where I came out from.'

'I can get us back to where that Griever was. Then we'll figure what we can do.'

'Griever? We call them Death Creatures.’

‘Beautiful name,’ he said, sarcastically.

I laughed.

‘I’m guessing you had a safe place?’

‘Of course, as if we could live in the Maze. We wouldn't survive a single night out here.'

‘Probably not very wise to do so. We call it the Glade. As soon as we get back, you’ll explain everything.’

I was surprised – and relieved - that Newt believed what I said straight away.

And just like that, we both started to run.