Page 14 of Labyrinth of Broken Vows
“I know!” he shouts, his words breaking under the weight of his sobs. “I know I promised, but I had to stop you. I couldn’t watch you throw your life away for... for him, for that Maze.”
His betrayal stabs into me, cold and sharp. My vision blurs, heart racing as the knights close in. My mind screams for an escape, any escape. The back door.
Before I even know what I’m doing, my legs move on their own, propelling me toward the back of the shop. One of the knights lunges, his gauntlet brushing against my sleeve, but I twist free, slamming my shoulder into the door as I burst into the alley beyond.
I run. I don’t look back.
The cool air hits my face, but I barely notice. The sound of their boots pounding behind me is deafening, echoing in my ears as my feet fly over the cobblestones. The towering walls of theMaze rise ahead of me, dark and foreboding, but it’s the only place left for me to go.
The gates are still open, wide enough from the trade buggies coming and going. My breath comes in ragged gasps, panic clawing at my throat. The knights are gaining on me. I can hear their shouts, their armor clanking closer and closer. I feel the weight of their pursuit like a shadow closing in.
I push harder, my legs burning as I dart through the open gates. But just as I near the entrance, one of the knights reaches me, his hand clamping down hard on my arm, yanking me backward.
“No!” I scream, my voice breaking as I thrash against him, my chest heaving with panic. I can feel my strength slipping away, the walls of the Maze so close yet so far.
And then, like a shadow come to life, a crow swoops down from the sky, its caw sharp and piercing as it dive-bombs the knight. He flinches, raising his arm to shield himself, and in that split-second, his grip on me loosens just enough.
I wrench free and stumble forward, my heart pounding as I race into the darkness of the Maze. The stone walls rise high on either side, twisting and turning in every direction. The knights’ shouts fade behind me, but I don’t stop. I don’t look back.
As I plunge into the Maze, the world around me shifts. The air is thick, heavy with the scent of damp earth and something sweetly ripe. The walls are rugged and uneven, towering above me like ancient sentinels. Shadows dance across the uneven stones, cast by a faint, flickering light that seems to come from nowhere and everywhere at once.
Twisted vines creep up the sides of the walls, their gnarled tendrils reaching out like skeletal fingers, while strange, luminescent fungi cling to the damp stone, casting an eerie green glow that bathes everything in an otherworldly hue. I can’t help but run my fingers over the cool surface of the stones, feelingthe texture beneath my skin, grounding myself in this moment. the oppressive weight of fear settles over me I can feel the walls closing in, and with every rustle of leaves and snap of twigs, my heart races, pounding against my ribcage I shake my head, willing away the rising tide of panic, but it’s relentless. Alaric’s face flashes in my mind, his worry etched deep into the lines of his brow. How could he betray me like this? I trusted him. He was my ally, my only friend.
The betrayal stings more than I want to admit, a fresh wound on an already tattered heart.
How could you let this happen? The words swirl around me, a haunting echo in the dark. Alaric, who had held my secrets for so long, had instead sealed my fate. I should have known better than to let my guard down, to believe in his words of comfort. The thought of him running to the knights, offering up my name as if I were some common criminal, slices through me. I can still hear his voice in my ears:“They won’t do you any harm. Just go with them.”The betrayal cuts deeper than any knife.
As I move further into the heart of the Maze, the shadows seem to reach out for me, whispering secrets of despair and hopelessness. What if you never find him? What if you’re lost forever? The questions gnaw at me, festering like a wound that won’t heal. I can almost hear the laughter of the Maze King, mocking my determination, daring me to falter. You’re alone now, just like he wanted you to be.
The thought is a bitter pill to swallow, but I can’t allow it to consume me. I won’t let fear dictate my choices. Clenching my fists, I push on, the resolve boiling within me like a simmering pot ready to spill over. Every sound in the darkness makes me flinch—a distant howl, the rustle of something unseen, the soft drip of water echoing off the stones.
The crow bursts into the air, its wings slicing through the oppressive silence of the Maze, and I jump, adrenaline spiking asit lands on a jagged stone perch. Its sudden arrival pulls me back to the present, but the moment is fleeting, shattered by the sultry whisper of the Maze King that curls around my thoughts.
“Ah, I could feel you the moment you stepped into the Maze, Brielle. So much fear, so deliciously unprepared”.His voice is smooth as silk, yet laced with the dark thrill of danger.
“Leave me alone,” I hiss, my heart racing as I attempt to shield my mind from his probing thoughts. “Get out of my head.”
He chuckles, a dark, seductive sound that ignites a fire within me.“How fair is that? You want me to vacate your thoughts when I can’t seem to expel you from mine? Look at you, trembling, the sight is just absolutely divine.”
I grit my teeth, trying to steady my racing heart. “Which way do I go?” I snap, the edge of desperation tinged with defiance. “If you’re not here to help me, then just leave me alone.”
“Oh, but where's the fun in that?”His tone is playful, taunting, coaxing me to surrender to the chaos.
His laughter coils around me like smoke, curling into my thoughts, teasing the edges of my resolve."Which way, Brielle?"His voice dips, low and mocking, yet somehow... intimate."Which path do you think will lead you to what you seek? So many choices, so many ways to get lost..."
I glance around, the jagged walls of the Maze towering over me, every direction seeming more ominous than the last. "I'm not playing your games," I snap, trying to sound firm, but the quiver in my voice betrays me. He can sense it. He knows.
"Oh, but you are."His words are a soft murmur, like velvet brushing against my skin."You stepped into my Maze, and now you're mine."
A shiver runs through me, but I force myself to stand tall. "I belong to no one. Least of all, you."
He hums in amusement, clearly entertained by my defiance."Liar."The word is a breath against my ear, though he's nowherenear me."You tremble not just from fear... but something more, don't you? I wonder... is it the thrill of the unknown, or is it me?"
"Arrogant bastard," I hiss, my pulse quickening.
“Perhaps. But you can’t deny what you feel. I think you like my attention, don’t you?”His tone shifts, darker, more intimate, as if he's right behind me, whispering against the back of my neck. "Every time I speak, you listen. Every time I tease, you... respond."
I clench my fists, heat rising to my cheeks. "Shut up."
