Ariadne's string

Chapter 5 Part 1

I silently staggered back to my ball of yarn, hiding in the shadows. I had done it. I killed the Minotaur. I still had to get out, though. I knelt to the ground, trying to find the wool I was sure I left here. But I couldn't find it. Panic took over, and I started to frantically try to find it. It wasn't here. How? I was sure I left it right in this place, unless...

I looked back at the Minotaur's body in flames, and a horrible feeling filled me. In the corner of my eye, I could see a tiny flame flicker, and I stumbled to the small piece of string left, as the fire spread to the rest of the thread. It was gone. I stood up, putting my weight on my sword, and stepped closer to the Minotaur. He was standing up. He wasn't dead, he was just hurt. I could feel tears well up in my eyes as I started running. But where? I had no idea where to go. I thought of where I entered and half-ran, half-stumbled to the entrance way. I was in full darkness. The yarn. He had burnt it. In the everlasting flame. That red thread would not stop burning until it reached the knot I tied at the door.

I cried as I stumbled through the labyrinth blindly, trying to find my way back. But it is very hard to do so when a flaming, enraged bull is running after you. I reached my first deviation, and I remembered the last turn I had made was a right, so I went left. I could only retrace my steps so far, and this was a magic labyrinth, made to trick people into getting lost. I was going to die here.

I dropped to the ground, unable to go much further. I was tired, hurt, and bleeding. Tears flooded out my eyes. I failed them. All of them. I could hear the Minotaur coming closer, at least he had a source of light. It wasn't really funny, but I smiled to myself. I closed my eyes for a second, enjoying my last moments of peace.

Suddenly, I heard a faint voice in the distance. My head snapped up, and I got to my feet, wincing at the pain. I listened for it again, but there was nothing. I sighed. I must be hallucinating. Then I heard it again. And again. I tried to make out what it was saying. A name, my name? No. The voice was calling Phaedra.