Into the Maze

Chapter 17

I would think to describe the emotion on his face as confused, but that wouldn't have even gotten close. He was that emotion, and also probably worried for my sanity.

But he didn't turn back, and he followed me all the way into the forest, past the grave, and over to a perfectly alive tree.

I remember climbing trees, I remembered doing it a lot, but I didn't remember when. But, it didn't matter, and didn't stop me from placing my left foot on a knot near the end of the tree.

"You really think we should be climbing a tree? I mean, of all the-" He started, as I lifted myself up onto the first branch, looking down.

"You said you didn't have anything better to do. And I just gave you one." I smiled, looking back up as I crossed up the branches.

He sat in silence, looking around, moving his tongue in his mouth, before glancing back up to me. I was quite a few branches up, stopping once in a while to glance back to him.

"I don't think this is a nice way to pass time." He put his hands on his hips, and squinted up at me. I shook my head, reaching up, the branch giving under my weight. I caught myself, but could feel him jump. "I'm serious. I don't want to watch you fall!"

"Then come join me. Make sure I don't." I called down, biting my lip and grinning as I sat myself on a nice, sturdy branch. I looked down, swinging my feet a little, as he sighed, and put his foot on the knot.

I smiled, and looked out. From here, you could just barely see the edges of the Glade. The wall was visible, but I'd have to get higher to see anything else.

In just a minute or so, he had made it up to my level, and sat down beside me. He looked out to where I had been, seeing the Glade.

"Everything's a little easier to bear with up here." I said, watching the leaves just above us sway and shift with the light breeze.

"Not when you're scared of heights." I looked to him, raising my eyebrow. He was holding onto the branch with both hands, but he didn't seem that scared.

"You're scared of heights?"

He took his gaze off the Glade, and to me, shrugging slightly. "I didn't know I was until now." He muttered, but a part of me didn't quite believe him. Like he was hiding something.

I sighed, pushing it away. "You could hold my hand if you'd like." He looked to me, as I broke into a smile, laughing lightly. I was only kidding, but I didn't have to be.

"Thanks." He said, shaking his head lightly and pushing back a smile. I looked down, not that bothered by the drop. But my eyes trailed from my legs, to his.

I debated on asking him about his limp, if now would even be a good time. I mean, there were a dozen other problems we had and yet-

-and yet I found the words escaping my lips before I could stop myself.

"I noticed you've got a bit of a limp. Did something happen?" My words were soft, I could hear them, but I still felt bad for asking. Especially after he looked to me.

I could see the struggle in his eyes, as he debated on telling me. A part of me felt like I knew, but I couldn't remember.

I waited in silence, he didn't say anything, and neither did I. He took a deep breath, and let it out, before speaking.

"When I first got here, I hated it. I hated every inch of it. Nothing felt right, it felt like something massive had just been pulled out of my life, and I couldn't remember." I watched him as he spoke, the wind tossing his hair lightly. "One afternoon, I couldn't take it anymore."