AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I spin, but I see nothing. Frustration and fear threaten to break the barrier that’s built around the dangerous presence within me. She wants to take control, but I won’t let her. I need to keep a level head so I can work this out, and that won’t happen if I lose it.
Movement catches my eye again, and I realise that it came fromwithinthe wall. Horrified, yet fascinated, I can’t quite believe what I’m seeing. The wall seems to bulge, as though it’s made of rubber rather than brick, stretching until the silhouette of a man is pressing against it. Eyes wide, I slowly step forward with a quietly snarling Star on my heels.
I can see every outline of his defined chest and the straight bridge of his nose. Peering closely, I examine his face through the brick, wondering if this is a competitor who’s become trapped.
His eyes snap open, and I let out a scream as I recoil. Slowly backing away, I watch as he steps out of the wall, his entire body made up of what looks like brick. None of this makes sense. This is certainly no competitor, especially when its hands seem to shift into long spikes. Each movement is jerky and accompanied with a grinding sound as its bricks rub together.
Star jumps in front of me as I back away, growling at the brick creature. Its expression is blank, but its dark eyes are locked on me, and a malice that makes me feel sick seems to ooze from it. I guess this is one of the challenges.
Magic tingles through my body, gathering in my right hand, and I know without looking down that I’m now holding a starlight dagger. I have no idea how to kill a monster made of bricks, or if my dagger will even pierce its hard shell.
Dropping into a defensive crouch, I grip the hilt of the blade and prepare. I knew I was going to have to fight my way out of this, and I’m suddenly grateful for the training Joel made me go through. I’m not an amazing fighter, but I know enough to protect myself. I just have to hope that with Star at my side, it’s enough.
All of a sudden, the jerky steps of the creature disappear, and it leaps forward in a flurry of movement. I lift my hands to protect my head, the dagger raised, and I prepare myself for the blow that’s about to come.
Only, it doesn’t.
Star jumps forward and tackles the creature, her jaw snapping down on one of its arms. The momentum pulls it back, and she refuses to let go, pulling the creature away from me with each tug of her teeth.
The brick man doesn’t even blink, keeping his eyes on me. Ignoring Star, he shakes his arm to try to dislodge her, but it doesn’t work. He drags my wolf behind him as she continues to hinder his movements. Raising my blade, I take several deep breaths to steady myself like Joel taught me as I watch the creature’s every move, and when it lunges forward once more, I’m ready for it.
Slashing out with my blade, I aim for its neck, only for the blade to bounce off, the brick protecting it. Panic starts to set in as I duck under its huge claws and aim for the creature’s abdomen. The blade creates sparks but doesn’t seem to damage the monster in any way.
No, this can’t be happening. My thoughts start to spiral, fogging my mind and clouding my judgement.Stop it!I order myself and think over what I’d been taught.
If you can’t fight, run.If it’s the difference between living and dying, there’s no shame in running.
Joel’s words seem to echo through my mind as the creature’s talons slice towards my face. Twisting away, I manage to avoid any major damage, but hiss as it catches my arm, cutting through my top and creating a small scratch. Star continues to pull and hold the creature back, all her strength focused on trying to keep it from me.
I’m contemplating how I’m going to get the two of us away when the ground begins to rumble. Risking a quick glance around us, I see a notch in the wall beside me and guess what’s about to happen. I wait until the walls start to move and throw myself backward. The goddess must be looking down on me, because I just make it through the gap as a wall slams between me and the brick creature.
Waiting with bated breath, I pray that I’m right. In theory, the creature could walk right through the wall, but I’m guessing it’s restricted to a certain area. The sound of claws scraping down brick makes me wince, but nothing seems to move on my side of the wall. An eerie howl full of rage and frustration fills the air.
A warm feeling in my chest warns me that Star is returning to me, so I don’t startle when a glow appears in the wall. She trots over to me, her tongue lolling from her mouth as she looks up at me with adoring eyes. A relieved laugh slips from me as I bend down and run my hands through her fur of starlight. It worked, and we survived. For now at least.
Reality suddenly hits me as I remember I still have my personal challenge and the rest of the maze to conquer. Closing my eyes, I focus on my breathing, slowing my heart rate and clearing my mind.
Find Nicolai, get to the centre.
Opening my eyes, I repeat the goal over and over, beginning to move forward once more. I don’t bother climbing the wall to see where I’m going, instead relying on my instincts. The walls will only keep shifting anyway, forcing me to change direction, so I won’t waste time trying to predict it. Star runs at my side without me having to call her, and I’m grateful that I don’t have to worry about her running off.
She’s part of you, I tell myself with a shake of my head.Of course she won’t run off.
We’re not running long before the light changes ahead, and I see sand on the ground, as if it’s been blown in from somewhere else. I turn around a sharp corner, and the brick walls seem to crumble into rubble and give way to towers of sand. I can feel the heat of the new area blasting me like it’s really a desert.
Hesitating, I bite my lip. Do I want to pass through into the next area of the maze? At least in the bricked part, I know what I’m facing, but I feel like I’m not getting anywhere and time is ticking by. As if feeling the same, Star whines at my side, nudging the back of my leg with her muzzle.
“Okay, girl,” I coo, stroking the top of her head. Decision made, I push forward and into the sandy dunes.
The heat hits me like I’ve stepped into an oven, the air dry and scratching at my throat, making me yearn for a drink to ease it. Of course, there’s no water to be seen, and I keep reminding myself that I’ve only got about forty minutes left of this trial. I can last that long—at least, that’s what I keep telling myself.
As I run through the sandy passages, I have to be careful where I step, my feet slipping on the shifting sand. It takes all of my concentration, and I almost pass it completely, not seeing it at first, but something in my chest makes me stop. I glance around to see why my instincts are telling me to stop, and then I see my name etched on the wall.
After making sure I’m still alone, I step closer to examine it. It’s faint, but the longer I look at it, the darker it seems to become. Something about my presence must be triggering it.
“What am I supposed to do now?” I mutter to myself, looking around for any other clues. Something carved into the wall catches my eye, and I realise there are indents surrounding my name. Running my finger over them, I follow them around and all the way to the ground, sand falling in my wake, and my eyes widen when I see it’s not a wall like I first thought, but a hidden door.
Why would there be a door with my name on it?
