Chapter 31 Chapter thirty one
I groggily opened my eyes and looked around. I was no longer in the desert, but in the biggest real maze I've ever seen.
“Where’s this place…” i murmured staggering to get up from the floor.
“Welcome to the second stage of your trial, navigating the light maze”
I looked around and a sudden fear took hold of me, my grogginess dissipating immediately. Behind me and In front of me stood a hefty thicket with low growling sounds coming from within.
Then the bush began to ruffle and a kind looking girl about my age, with branches sticking out of her hair emerged. Startled, i tried running but she called out my name kindly.
“I can help you get out of here quickly” she said stretching her hand to me. I hesitated, what if she's not whom she looks like.? But one part of me persuaded me take the hand and i did.
We walked for hours but couldn't still find a way out. She sighed and stopped looking at the darkening cloud “lets go back to where I camp with the others” she offered, turning to another direction.
Hearing there were others, i felt a little happy and hesitant. Isn't this just supposed to be a trial for me.? Why are there other people.? As i stood stil contemplating, my stomach rumbled loudly, so i hurried after her.
We arrived at a huge camp fire where the scent of streak, marshmallow and roasted chicken filled the air. My mouth watered. On seeing me, they all left what they were doing to greet. I felt embarrassed and somehow cautious because all their greetings felt too….. stereotyped.
“You all don't really need to do this” i politely said. “We need to Emma” they all chorused in one accord. “Because….we need you…” they concluded and revealed their true form. They were revenants, draped in long black cloak and blood dripping from the sides of their mouth.
I screamed in horror and tried running away, but a chain was immediately strapped around my neck and i began to struggle for air as it tightened.
“You'll..die…Emma…Emma…Emma” they kept repeating stereotyped as they advanced towards me slowly like zombies.
I struggle desperately with the chain around my neck, my face already red with suffocation. As they were about to devour me, i suddenly raised my hands and they paused mid action.
I grew a little excited, but the chain continued to tightened and wouldn't pull no matter how hard i struggled. “Take control of your power and break the chain.” A voice calmly whispered.
“W…wh..at.?” I stammered trying to look around, saliva already dripping from my open mouth. As if controlled, i stopped struggling with the chain and stretched my hands towards the revenants. A blinding lights erupted from them and the chain broke loose. The revenants also dissipated.
I began to wander around, i have just six days left. Then I heard my name again, but this time, i was more cautious. Selah appeared and i froze in shock.
“How did you get here.?” I asked both flabbergasted and happy. “I came to help you, you're the only one that can help us defeat Rexy and liriah” she said throwing her arm around my shoulder and leading me through the maze.
“These trials are so difficult.! But atleast I've gotten my first power” i said proudly and her face lit up in a smile. “That's great. But you know you have just six days left to gain the remaining eight. You need nine powers as the celestial princess” she admonished.
I nodded my head slowly and thoughtfully “if I'm ever going to find my way out of this maze”
“You definitely will. But how did you recognize me Emma.? All the times we've been together, you've been unconscious.” She asked puzzled.
“Remember when i woke up and tried saving us with my power, i caught a glimpse of you. The way you were being held down showed that you're surely on our side” i explained.
“You can't go back Emma.” She suddenly said throwing me off balance.
“W.. what?!”
I shouted in disbelief turning to look at her, but was knocked with an heavy object on my head. She grew taller and her shadow disappeared. Her eyes became hollow and bloodshot.
Another illusion. I tried standing up, but she attacked me with an object striking at me. Some of which i dodged but some i was unlucky.
Thinking fast, i swung my fist and immediately, a long whip emerged. I lashed at her blindly, but she was very swift and slippery. While i missed alot, almost all her strokes hit me.
Bruised and battered, i roared in fury and a terrifying blast echoed. Blinding light shone again from my body, and the illusion dissipated.
Panting, i fell to the ground from exhaustion, my lips dry and cracked from thirst. Struggling to my feet, i continued moving forward.
“Dad.?” I suddenly called out with a shaky smile, doubt still much in my heart.
“Emma baby i missed you so much. I'm sorry for making you go on a date without proper information on the background. They kidnapped you and brought you to a hospital, plugging a machine into your brain that will make you hallucinate things that aren't real for the rest of your life.”
On hearing this, i became elected, knowing all that had happened were just illusion. But how can Reno stoop so low to make me hallucinate forever.?
“Dad take me out of here I'm so scared” i urged him, but the side of his lip just curled into a sinister smile and he dissolved too.
Frustrated, i screamed on the top of my voice. But there wasn't even an echo as the maze is too complex.
“Take me out of this fucking place.! I want to leave.” I shouted trying to destroy the thickets but they were very sturdy.
Exhausted, i felt a liquid began to pour out of my nose. To my horror, it was blood. I was also suddenly hit by a splitting headache and belly ache. More like my internal organs were about to be ripped out.
I tried to shout again for help. But no words formed, only cold sweat broke out.
As i was loosing hope, that voice came again. “You need to be patient Emma. If you haven't be so eager and greed to come out of the maze, you would have ignored those illusions that wasted your precious time” it said and something landed in my front.
It was a detailed map of the maze. Following the directions, i began to crawl out, patiently following the map and ignoring the illusions taking the shape of loved ones and offering a quick way out.
After what seemed like enternity, i finally arrived at a huge gate.