I wake up in a strange place, my head felt heavy, as if marble boulders were falling on top of me. The place was dark and cold, I was lying on the ground with some sand on my face. I get up and realize I'm in an unknown place, the walls were made of stones and went to the top of the sky.
I ran desperately and half lost on all sides, it was an endless zig zag, like some kind of labyrinth. And I wasn't entirely wrong.
On my side was a white limestone table. Where could I choose one of these weapons.
Bow and arrow, two daggers and a spear. Nothing more. A difficult choice to make, all were good alternatives. As soon as I place my hands on the table, I get a kind of blue infrared shock.
Damn it. — I think
An idea pops into my head, I decide to wield my small knife, I stick its tip in the table, right after. Three red beams went towards the blade. Giving me enough time to grab two guns.
I run away, alone this time, everything was calm, which was not a good sign.
Suddenly, a blue and white holographic panel appears in the sky. A woman with square glasses and a tight bun appears on the monitor.
"Hello, welcome to the third phase of the Lethal Challenges experiment, my name is Celeste Wrongwater. This time the challenge will be greater than you can imagine. I wish them luck and let's get started. said Celeste.
Your cow. — I think
I place the bow and arrow between my shoulders and the two daggers around my waist. Then I tie my hair in my trusty ponytail. My eyes are on every step I take. It wasn't the last thing I would give in my life.
Everything was calm, too calm. I hide when I realize that something is approaching, passing by me like a crash. A terrifying figure, it was the size of a man, but the body was that of a buffalo.
"God, please don't tell me that's the Minotaur. — I think
The figure stopped very close to me, in the darkness I could only see its blood red eyes.
— Jeez, screwed. There's no other way. Unless... Run! — I think
138 FABRÍCIO FELIPE SILVA AIRES
From the top of the maze it was possible to see the image of Natasha running through the gaps in the maze and the figure chasing her madly.
Natasha was running desperately, that's when she tripped over some small elevations that were on the ground. Falling face down on the ground, the young girl only had the option of facing forward, crawling with her hands on the ground, going backwards.
The creature let out a terrifying snarl, a cross between an eagle and a horse's neigh. Its tusks protruding from its mouth appeared to be those of a wild boar.
Natasha immediately grabbed an arrow and shot with her hands shaking with fear. The arrow danced through the air and spiraled, hitting the creature's left eye.
It was the perfect time I had to run, the whole time I was running and looking back, that's when I realized I wasn't being chased anymore.
"Phew, I escaped. I don't think I have conditions for one more battle.
thought Natasha.
About that...
Liam ran as fast as he could, his shirt dripping with sweat, gone from red to burgundy, sopping wet.
— What do you want from me? Liam yelled
A ghostly chariot from medieval times, driven by fiery— headed horses. Commanded by a skeleton coachman.
— Hahahaha! shouted the coachman. "Run boy, run. Until I can't anymore.
— Jesus Christ, help me. Liam yelled
The boy ran, until he reached a small boundary between two gaps, where only one person could pass at a time. Liam sucked in his stomach and scrambled between the huge stone beams.
The skeleton lord's carriage tried to pass, but ended up getting stuck. His face was enraged. So I ran, dodging around corners, but first I had to do something about it.
I take my revolver with three bullets left, point it in the direction of the skeleton lord's head and shoot. As he did so, the horses whinnied and shards were in the air, the bullet pierced the flames of one of the horses and ignited all the more impact of the shot. When it hit the skeleton, an explosion of flames, sparks and embers spread all over
My body soared through the air and hit one of the gaps in the rocks.
Making my ribs bust out.
...
I had the revolver in my hands, facing the crocodile man and his fatal tongue full of poison, on top of a rock, he launched his terrible tongue against me, grabbing my little arm. That's when his venom was going through and slipping over me. I didn't have another chance. I close my eyes so I don't see.
Lilian! Andrew yelled
With his sword he cuts the crocodile's tongue in half, which explodes into flames and embers.
"Andrew, my God!— — yells Lillian
Hey! Glad I found you! Andrew exclaimed.
"My luck that you found me would be lost. confirmed Lillian.
"Where are we anyway?— Andrew asked taking a deep breath.
"I don't know, in some sort of labyrinth full of monsters. replied Lillian.
"Yes, exactly that. Andrew said.
"Andy, have you been with Natasha?— asked Lillian.
— Yes I was, how did you know? Andrew asked.
"The smell of her perfume.— And you're wearing your hairclip as a bracelet. replied Lillian.
"Wow, you're very observant, little girl.— Andrew joked.
"I do what I can, I use my preternatural gifts of perception. — Smiled Lilian
140
...
Natasha walked through the labyrinth, with her compass in her hand, as well as her afflicted heart, which was beating incessantly. With a lump stuck in your throat and your phone's battery dead.
Crossing a labyrinth crossing, she bumps into none other than...
"Hey, watch where you're going.— Gave me a jolt. Liam grumbled. "Liam! — shouted Natasha — You nasty!
"Natasha, good to see you. Liam yelled
"My God, I thought you were already dead!— exclaimed Natasha.
"I thought so too, girl.— — Liam said Natasha gave an uncontrollable laugh.
"I haven't laughed like that in a while.— — said Natasha
— Wow, you're prettier, you've changed your hair. Liam remarked.
— Don't come with that, when you praise me like that, you want something. Natasha growled.
"I really do, I'm not going to lie. — Liam said — And what would it be? asked Natasha.
"Get out of here!— Liam replied.
The two hugged and started walking, Natasha told everything that had happened, as well as Xavier's death.
"Wow, all this happened to you. Gosh, I don't know if I could take it. — Liam said
— But what about you, what happened after we broke up? asked Natasha.
— A lot, but half the time I was in a dark room, just seeing images of the city. With a kind of macabre reality show. I was served food and water twice a day. I almost freaked out. Then they sedated me and I showed up here in this place. — told Liam
"What a horrible thing Liam. I am really sorry. — said Natasha
"Not okay, now I'm happy to be with you here, even if it's not in one of the best places. — Liam said
As we were crossing the center of the labyrinth, something brightened in the sky. The sky turned red and a large arrow shot out of the clouds. Surrounded by flames at its tip. When it hit the ground, it made a big hole. A scorched
crater nearly hit them both. The fire ceased, from inside the wood, a sheet with something written came out.
Liam approached to take the paper, Natasha was worried about what she had written and that the boy would not be hurt by the fire.
"Liam, watch out!— exclaimed Natasha.
Snatching the paper from the top of the flames, Liam reached out to the young girl's hands, grabbing them and bringing it back up.
"Something is written, but I can't understand it. — Liam said
Let me see. — said Natasha
"Take it, look, it's just a few words in another language. — Liam said
Qui efflorescant brumam dum sol oritur spes pascit vertice lupus fame simul diuersa sed diversa
"It's in Latin, luckily. I already took Latin when I studied the biblical scriptures. — said Natasha
It is what is written? Liam asked.
— It is written: He who feeds the top of the wolf of hunger shall flourish at the winter solstice, and at the same time at all points after the sun, but for other sources, hope arises. — recited Natasha
"How beautiful, but what does it mean?— asked Liam.
"I think it's the key to getting out of the labyrinth.— replied Natasha.
"We're screwed until we can solve this riddle. It was already going to be a long time. Liam grumbled.
Andrew and Lilian were walking through the labyrinth structures, when suddenly, the image of Liam and Natasha on the back reading the riddle appears.
— Natasha! Lillian said running to hug her.
"Not Lillian.— Andrew yelled
The boy holds Lilian by the waist and takes her away from the mirage.
It's a trap. Andrew said.
"Wait, what?— asked Lillian.
Watch. Andrew pointed.
The young boy took a handful of sand and threw it inside the portal, activating the trap, sharp blades crossed and creaked making sparks come out of embers.
"Oh my God, I almost died. — said Lillian terrified
"It's the labyrinth, it messes with our sanity. Andrew said. "We have to be careful.
"What an idiot I was. Lillian said putting her hands on her head.
"Hey, hey, don't beat yourself up. It is good too. Andrew said.
Andrew's hazel eyes were as deep as the sea in mid— July. They were calm and with an intensity so clear, reassuring, yet wild at the same time. I would like to sail them and get lost on the high seas, the love and concern for Lilian was noticeable, it set my heart on fire in such a way that it was something that could not be discussed or written, only felt. By God, it was inevitable not to fall in love with that boy, his soul, his essence was completely divine. In my thoughts and dreams there could be nothing that could spoil this bittersweet tragedy.
— Natasha? asked Liam.
Hi sorry. I had the feeling that I heard Lilian and Andrew's voice. replied Natasha.
"It wasn't just you, I felt it too. said Liam.