Into The Forest Of Secrets

Chapter 10

Laxy POV

My mind was racing, trying to figure out how to get rid of the giant monster chasing after me; I turned around to look at it as the minotaur swung its ax; I screamed and ducked my head down, letting it hit the wall, getting it stuck. The minotaur stopped chasing me as it struggled to get the ax out. I didn’t waste a second before running.

“Ok, ok, think, Laxy, you aren’t getting anywhere in this loop,” I started talking to myself; I needed to get out of this path and back to the start.

I took a right at the start, I need to go left, or I am stuck here forever. The only issue is I will be back with the minotaur if I keep going in the loop, slowing down my pace, coming to a stop. I took my bag out and looked through my things. Anything at this point will help. I pulled out the food I packed and the knife, great. I started chewing my bottom lip, trying to decide what I can do.

Come on, Laxy, there must be something you can do.

I looked around, walking over to a torch pulling it out of its handle. I put the knife in my pocket and grabbed the apple. An idea came into my head, insane yes, maybe a little, but I had no other choice. I will leave the apple in the middle of the two entrances; that way, I can hide in one of the paths. My hope is the minotaur falls for the apple, and while it is distracted, I get to use the fire to burn him. Although it might not work, I have my knife to heat up and use against the minotaur. I put the torch back where it was.

Am I going to die, aren’t I?

I looked behind me and waited; if I continue, I might meet up with the minotaur. I needed to wait until it's behind me and I can run; thus, the waiting game began. It was quiet, but the quiet didn’t calm my nerves. I can feel myself shaking in fear as I waited patiently. This is a life or death situation. Being with anyone right now would have saved me from the minotaur. But something inside of me denies the fact I need someone, the urge to prove it doesn’t matter what rank you are.

Loud footsteps filled my ears, and there I saw the shadow of the minotaur come closer. I waited as it got closer with each step. The horn of the minotaur appeared, and I turned around, sprinting away. I could hear the loud snarl as the minotaur chased after me. I held the apple tightly in my hand as I continued running. The two entrances came to my vision, turning right, going a bit deeper, placing the apple on the floor but still close to the entrance. I ran back out and went into the left path, reaching over, grabbing the torch out of the handle. 

I crouched down, eyeing the entrance, enduringly waiting; my breathing was uneven. Grabbing the knife, I started heating it just in case I needed it. The minotaur came into view as it looked around. Its eyes fell onto the apple. I watched the minotaur huffing loudly but eyeing the apple, and it tilted its head as it started to approach the apple slowly. I got up and quietly made my out of the left path, going to the right path. The minotaur picked up the apple. Its back was facing me. I looked at my knife, and it was bright; moving it away from the fire, I couldn’t waste any more time.

This is my chance!

Without a second thought, I grabbed the torch and stabbed it through the minotaur’s back. The minotaur let out a roar as a burnt mark formed. I threw away the torch, holding the knife tightly, jumping onto the minotaur’s back. I wrapped my arm around its neck and stabbed the knife into its heart. The minotaur let out another frightening roar; I pulled the knife and stabbed it back in. The minotaur fell over with a loud thud as I fell with it, letting out a slight squeal of surprise.

I panted softly as I pushed myself off, getting up from the minotaur. It lay there, not moving an inch. I wasn’t sure if it was alive or not, but I didn’t want to wait to find out. I just turned back and ran, tracing my steps back to the entrance.

I fought against a minotaur.

The first thought crossed my mind as tears of joy formed. I was alive! I reached the entrance and just ran left. I had no weapon anymore; my mind clouded with fear. All I wanted was to be far away from the minotaur as much as possible. I ignored the path I was taking; I blindly turned whenever there was an entrance and just kept running. I felt my feet becoming sore before tripping over, falling onto my hands. I was breathing heavily, barely catching my breath; the fall made me realize how much my feet hurt and how exhausted I was. I looked around my surrounding. I was still in the maze, not sure what I was expecting.

I closed my eyes for a second before getting back on my feet, dusting myself off. The maze walls started to move. 

You got to be kidding me; when will I ever get a break?

The walls started to shift, opening a new path for me. I raised an eyebrow staring at the way ahead of me. Should I trust it? I looked behind me; the direction I came from was blocked off, leaving me no choice. I huffed and walked through the path, and the walls kept shifting around, blocking different directions and opening a new one for me. I had no choice but to listen, or they will crush me. Grass filled my vision as a doorway appeared; my eyes widen as I sprinted towards it. For once, the maze was helping me.

I ran out of the maze feeling fresh air hitting me in the face. I felt relief wash over me as a smile formed.

“I did it! I did it!” I throw a fist in the air jumping around in excitement, “I did it!”

Someone cleared their throat behind me. I turned around to see the four again.

“Still talking to yourself, I see?” Preston laughed at my excitement.

I gave him a cheeky smile, “You have no idea what I went through!”

Aiden rolled his eyes, “Well, whatever it was, took you long enough. You were the last one out; you’re as slow as a snail.”

I glared at him; he isn’t going to ruin this moment for me. I looked around, we were back in the forest, but this part of the forest didn’t have any dark clouds. The sunlight shined through the leaves letting the warmth surround my body as relief washed over me; I was finally able to breathe and let myself enjoy this moment. I survived, I wasn’t weak, and that made me smile.