The Gathering

Chapter Thirty Two

"Damon. Damon. Deep breaths man" Riley instructed, trying to get him to calm down.

This wasn't encouraging. If this maze was protected, they must know we're here. The hunters didn't warn us so this has to be by Matalel's hand. Damon had scratches all over his body, bleeding pretty badly from most. His face was black with soot, meaning some sort of fire protection. All the while Damon kept muttering to himself. All bad signs.

"What did you see?" I questioned when his breathing finally got back to normal and Isabella had bandaged up his wounds.

"Horrible things" he whispered, and that's all he would say.

"We have to go. This means Matalel's there" I insisted.

"Is it really worth it, though? After seeing Damon..." Mandy questioned.

"Yes. Because then Adrian and Chris would be walking helpless into a death trap if we don't do something now" Lindsay said.

"We should have three go this time, to counter each other's weaknesses" James suggested.

"I'm going" I stated without hesitation.

"I'll go also" Kat and Isabella both said.

"We'll need rations just in case. Let's pack now" I suggested.

A short while later i shouldered my pack onto my back and stood in front of the entrance to the maze along with Kat and Isabella.

"Any fears we should know about? Mines spiders" I questioned.

"Clowns" Isabella said with a shiver.

"I'm claustrophobic" Kat said.

"Good to know. Be prepared for anything, and let's get these guys" I said, plunging into the maze.

We walked down countless paths, doubled back way too many times. Everything looked the same. All green. Uniform texture to the hedges. A perfectly sculpted maze.

"Look, a opening!" Kat cried out, sprinting ahead. I knew too well that it was too good to be true.

When we were all in, the hedges closed, keeping us where we were. From the hedges emerged spiders. Dozens upon dozens. I froze. Kat and Isabella formed a protective circle around me and they brought out their respective weapons. Kat sliced through the black spineless creatures time after time and Isabella cut into them with her arrows and shot at any when she got the chance.

Finally, out of nowhere, they all receded back into the grove. I was finally able to move. Next, we heard cackling. Endless cackling. Isabella immediately began to panic.

From the other end of the enclosure a hulking giant lumbered out into view.

While Isabella lay on the ground, Kat and I went to work on the giant. Kat faced the giant head on, quite courageously. I ran around back and stabbed my knives into his skin, climbing up his back all the while scorching and burning his skin.

When I got to his head I heard a second chuckle and the giant I was climbing exploded into glitter and color.

The next second, a cloaked man appeared right behind Isabella.
"NO! WATCH OUT!" I yelled.

Isabella, shocked by the warning moved just enough to avoid her death as its sword struck the ground. From where I stood I threw one of my daggers into its mask, cutting it open and water gushed out. That's when I recognized who it was. It was Chaldean. As I ran to confront him he leapt over the grove wall and was gone.
And then the grove walls began to close in.

"KAT" I yelled, as I helped Isabella to her feet.

I ran over to her body, rigid with fear and hoisted her onto my back, dead set on the area of grove wall that had opened up.

Cramped and cluttered we shuffled through the ever closing walls. I too found myself slightly claustrophobic.

Almost too close to call we got through, and I set Kat down to get her comfortable.

When her breathing became normal I looked up, and found I was in the presence of a large shack. We had made it!