The Cost of the Cure

Chapter 41

A whirring sounds to your right.

Your jump at the sound, twirling around. It almost sounded like--

You sprint in the opposite direction, ducking into an adjoining corridor and pressing yourself against the wall. Maybe it had just been your imagination and the Creators were laughing at your stupidity, but it had sounded like a Griever. You could never forget that noise.

The whirring stops and three clicks sound, each ringing through the Maze. Your heart hammers. It wasn't your imagination. But worst of all, it's coming closer and closer.

There isn't time to run down the corridor and hide behind the next corner. You aren't fast enough and it would be sure to hear you even if you were. instead, you press yourself closer to the wall, arranging the ivy around you to shield and hide your figure.

Your hands shake as you form the ivy and leaves around you. You will your breath to come in even lungfuls despite the urge to take gasp after gasp. You can't be heard. If it even so much as know you're there, you're dead.

You freeze, your eyes darting to the first pincer to step into your field of view. Chills wrack your body as you see the full thing. The first time you had seen one, there had been a glass window not only to protect you, but to smear your view of them, too. Now? Nothing separates you from the monster only feet away.

Slime glistens off it's sickly green slug-like body. Course, black hairs poke up and emerge from the mucus almost like mold. It's slimy form pulses in and out as it breathes. Spikes pop out of its blubbery flesh and it pauses.

Icy terror washes through your body. You're no match for that thing. You stare at it, frozen in place. You think of the knives strapped to your back, mentally rehearsing how you'll draw them when it strikes. You won't last long.

It's appendages click and creak as it folds in on itself.

Your heart hammers.

Something whirs and your hand twitches, itching to reach for your weapons.

It rolls away.

The Maze walls swirl around you and your heart hammers in your ears even as it and its sound fades and disappears. Your stomach twists and your head seems light enough to float away. After counting to a hundred, you step out from your makeshift shelter.

Your entire body shakes even as you turn and run back in the direction of the Glade. Maybe you'll be back early, but you don't care. You don't want to spend a single extra second near that thing.