A room jammed with boxes. Every square inch suffused and covered.
The room was dim, as well as damp.
I inhaled deeply. My body felt sore, and my heart was beating quickly.
With a gaze around, all that was visible was the heavy paper-like cardboard shaped into packages. An array of them trapped me in, but with a path leading further into this maze it created.
I peered down at my folded legs and blue shorts.
I began to grasp onto reality.
The pavement floor was numbing and cold. Besides that and the boxes surrounding me, there was nothing else. Although that fact, the air felt icy, like it had been snowing outside.
The ceiling was high, and the walls to the building were distant.
I placed my hands on the pavement, and sat on my knees. It was only then, I noticed my lack of shoes and some white socks that protected me from the cold air. I pushed my hair out of face and adjusted the beanie on my head.
I rose to my feet, and gazed around once more. Vines interwoven through the boxes, moss overgrown on the pavement, the contents of this room had been here for a long time.
I walked over to one of the stacks and rubbed my hand on the pasty cardboard. There was definitely something inside, but how could I open it with all the boxes piled on top?
I peaked around the corner to see a long corridor of boxes. It was the same as the box room I was previously in: Paperboard, moss, and vines. I pressed my foot onto the hall floor, and slowly made my way around the corner.
I stood there, vulnerable and silent, in the middle of a box hall.
It was quiet besides a faint tapping in the distance. There was something there, and it was heading this way. I crouched down and crawled over to the next corner.
It wasn't smart to go towards potential danger, but I didn't have a choice. I stood between it and a dead end.
The tapping began to get louder as the creature came closer.
My heart rate soon began to pick up as it got closer. Tap tap tap.
A pale hand appeared from around the corner, and with it a boy with darkish brown colored hair. In his hand he held a metal spear that he'd been tapping on the pavement.
I was afraid he might want to hurt me so I hid around my corner, waiting for them to walk by. Maybe I could take their weapon.
But the question of how plagued me.
Tap tap tap. I waited for him to come. Suddenly, the tapping stopped. I was puzzled. It was silent once more.
All I could hear was my heart thrashing. He could probably hear it too.
I began to sweat. Whoever this was, they were smart enough to listen for alters in their surroundings. It scared me.
"Come out," he said calmly.
I hadn't noticed it but my hands were shaking.
"Come out, I won't hurt you," he remarked. He once again could hear me.
I slowly made my way into the open area. He had set down the spear. Somehow I hadn't noticed. The amount of adrenaline I was experiencing was messing with my thought process.
He walked towards me slowly, but I subconsciously started to back up.
He held out his hand like you would to a puppy when first meeting it. I looked at him blankly and backed up to a box wall, there was nowhere else I could go.
He was no longer a threat but I didn't want to take any chances.
He wore black overalls as well as a striped shirt underneath.
The boy came closer and grabbed onto my wrist. I resisted, but he was definitely stronger. He glared at me like he was studying me.
Confused, I just nervously stared back.
"Come on," he uttered before letting go, turning around, and announcing "I'm gonna name you Pansy".
Pansy. What right does he have to give me a name?
I paused watching him walk further.
"What the hell man? You can't just do that!" I shouted, not moving from my spot.
"My name is Winter Viola, unfortunately. You can just calk me Winter or V though." he continued while picking up the spear, then turning back. I was ignored.
He was somewhat skinny, so how was he stronger than me? Maybe it was the fear taking a toll on me.
He turned back to look at me and asked "Do you know what a Pansy is?" I thought for a moment. It hadn't seemed familiar. I couldn't remember if it had been a previous name, or even unrelated.
I shook my head no. He proceeded to stop. "It's a flower! Now were both named after one!" He turned to smile then continued.
I was confused.
"You've got a pretty face too, so" He said gesturing with his hands that we should go.
This guy was getting on my nerves.
"I haven't gotten to name someone in a while, because people don't show up as often." he said.
"Show up?" I questioned completely ignoring the comment.
"I assume you just woke up here, correct? Well everyday I get sent out here to look for people who wake up within this maze. You've been the first person I've found in like 8 months" He responded. He then grabbed my wrist in his vacant hand, and started pulling me through the maze.
8 months. Why did people stop showing up?
I pulled back, this time being able to stop him.
"What makes me obligated to trust you won't kill me?" I said willingly.
"Ah yes the whole stranger danger ordeal" he phrased. He reached out and wiped something from my cheek before saying "You don't have to trust me, but I'd say I'm better than anyone else".
I couldn't sense any signs of a joke, and it scared me.
