Chapter 10: The Ice Maze

They immediately felt the cold as they stepped out of the chapel. The snowstorm had grown in intensity, making the world turn into a white and grey swirl. The wind howled as it cut through Holly's coat, and she tightened it around her, feeling the chill creep into her bones. Nick was already a few steps ahead, his breath visible in the frigid air as he glanced around to get his bearings.

Where to now?" asked Holly, who had to talk over the gale. And she couldn't help feeling the urgency. A key in the pocket, hot with promise; a treasure locked away, a curse locked into place.

Nick looked around at the huge mansion before them, the dark silhouette looming ominously against the storm. "There's got to be a way in that leads to the vault," he muttered, pulling out his phone to check for any signal. "We can't waste time. If we're going to make it to the vault before midnight, we need to move quickly.

The house was huge with its wings and several entrances, but all the windows were dark. No one seemed to be moving around, except the serene stillness as if everything had come to a standstill at Victor's cryptic words. Holly's gut told her that the greatest challenge had only just started, and she wasn't mistaken.

Come on, I think I know where we need to go," Nick said, his voice full of determination. He headed in the direction of the estate's far end where, just perceptibly, the snow thinned a little bit to reveal stone steps leading under. Holly kept right behind, her mind racking with questions and doubts.

As they descended the steps, the temperature seemed to drop even further, and the air became thick with the scent of pine and earth. The stairs wound downward in a spiral, and Holly’s footsteps echoed in the tight corridor as they made their way deeper into the earth.

Are you sure this is the right place?" Holly whispered, her voice barely audible. She could hear the pounding of her heart in her chest and, for a fleeting moment, felt the desire to turn back. But now was no time to hesitate. The mystery had captured her, and she couldn't stop until she had uncovered the truth.

Nick looked at her, his features set in a determined expression. "It has to be. It's the only entrance to the vault that would match the old maps. The ice maze lies hidden beneath this mansion, well down under the foundations. It's said it was built as a safeguard-to keep the family treasure from the wrong people's hands, as they didn't understand its meaning.

Holly frowned. "And what if we are not supposed to find it? What if we are making a huge mistake?"

Nick's face softened, and for a second, Holly caught a glimpse of uncertainty in his eyes. "We don't have a choice. We're too far in. And whatever happens, we have to stick together.

She nodded, pushing down the growing sense of unease that was building inside of her. They had come too far to turn back now. They had to find the vault—and the truth—before it was too late.

Then it finally opened out into a tiny room, but this one's air was rich with the scent of old stone and ice. The middle of the room sported a mighty stone door: carvings on its face told the tales of snowflakes and icicles. Frosts covered the very edges of that door, so standing near, Holly felt chills in her bones.

This is it," Nick whispered, his voice full of awe. "The entrance to the maze."

But Holly couldn't help but feel a sense of dread settle in her chest. The maze was not just a physical labyrinth—it was a test, an obstacle designed to keep the unworthy from reaching the treasure. She knew that much. The question was, were they ready to face whatever lay beyond the door?

Let's go," Holly said, her voice more assertive than she felt. She stepped toward the door, her key still there in her pocket, the pattern of the snowflake etched into her memory. The legacy—or the curse—promised just beyond the door.

Nick moved forward next to her. He reached up to touch a part of the stone that covered with ice, "This is it. We can do it.

Taking a deep breath, Holly reached into her pocket and drew out the key. She turned to the door and inserted the key into the lock. The key turned with a satisfying click as the door opened slowly, giving way to a narrow passageway beyond. The temperature fell even further. Holly shivered as the chill air wrapped round her like a vice.

The maze stretched before them—an endless, twisting labyrinth of icy walls that seemed to shift with every step they took. Light flickered from torches, dancing off the walls, casting long shadows that made the maze feel even more disorienting.

"We have to be careful," Nick said softly. "This isn't just a maze. There are traps—things meant to stop people from getting to the vault.

Holly nodded, her heart pounding. She had heard stories of the vault belonging to the Noel family—how it had been placed there for centuries and was protected in the maze and its dangerous pathways. What she didn't know was how lethal it could be.

They went through the maze slowly, and every step sounded in the heavy silence. The walls were studded with icy spikes that reached up to pierce the skin, and it seemed that the farther they moved in, the colder it got. Holly's breath was misting, and her fingers were growing numb.

After what seemed like hours, they reached a crossroads. The passageways split into three different directions. Each of the passageways was dark and foreboding. Holly looked at the walls, trying to find some kind of clue that would tell them which way to go.

"This is it," she whispered. "The maze's first puzzle. We have to choose the right path."

Nick nodded, his brow furrowed in concentration. “We can’t just guess. If we take the wrong path, we might end up trapped in here forever.”

Holly felt the weight of the decision press down on her. She thought back to everything they had uncovered so far—the riddles, the map, the cryptic messages. Each one had led them closer to the truth. But now, it wasn’t just about the treasure. It was about survival.

We have to think," Holly said, her voice calm as the fear crept into her chest. "There's a clue."

Nick took a step forward, eyes scanning the walls for hidden messages. And then, without any hesitation, he suddenly stopped, his eyes narrowing. "Look. On the wall there.

Holly looked in the direction of his gaze, and her breath caught in her throat. Carved into the frozen stone were a series of symbols: small, delicate snowflakes intertwined with letters and numbers.

"That's. a code?" Holly breathed.

Nick nodded. "It looks like it. If we can decipher it, it might tell us which way to go.

Holly looked at the symbols, her brain running wild. The snowflakes - all of them a different size, a different shape - could they possibly relate to something? A certain pattern or sequence? She traced her fingers over the symbols in an attempt to make sense of the puzzle.

It was then that the answer hit her.

"The stars," Holly said suddenly. "The map. The stars were always part of the clue. This is just another piece of it.

Nick looked at her, his eyes wide. “You’re right. The stars on the map. They’re connected to this maze somehow.”

Holly took a deep breath and looked back at the maze. “We have to choose the path that aligns with the star that never shines.”