Ariadne's string

Chapter 5 Part 2

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Why? Why was Phaedra here? Who was looking for her? What had gone wrong with the plan? I ran as fast as I could towards the voice, trying to call out to the person myself. My voice was hoarse, and my throat dry. I choked on my spit, coughing. Still, I kept on yelling for help.

    I knew deep down there was only one person who would enter the labyrinth looking for Phaedra. I called his name, my voice slowly starting to work again. Then I stopped. Because I realised that I was bringing them into danger. I was luring the Minotaur to them. I refused to bring them to that monster. How was he even still alive? I knew he was, I could hear him getting closer. My yelling also probably led him in the right direction.

    I heard Theseus call my name. I turned the opposite way and ran. I stopped saying anything. It wasn't hard to purposefully get lost in a labyrinth. I turned every corner I found blindly, not even thinking about my choices. I slowed down as well, occasionally calling out something so the Minotaur would follow me. I hoped Theseus would find Phaedra and run. They would find their way back, and escape Crete.

    However, I realised that I started hearing the voices clearer now. I could hear Theseus call Phaedra and another two kids. No! How? I went the opposite way. I did everything I could to get further away from them as possible. That's when I realised, the labyrinth listened to what you wanted, and did the opposite of that. That's why it took me so long to get to the Minotaur, but I eventually found him because he was looking for me. Now, my purpose was to get away from Theseus, so the labyrinth only brought me closer. And the Minotaur's wish was to get to me, so now the labyrinth led it to Theseus.

I ran, using my sword as a cane as I struggled. The maze could only stop me so much. I turned the final corner, and I found Phaedra, with the two other eldest kids from Athens. I sighed in relief as I hugged them. They were crouched down in a corner, scared and shivering. The cold had stopped bothering me long ago. I got them to their feet, ignoring their comments on how I was hurt. I decided to ask questions later.

We could still hear Theseus calling for us, but the way to get to him was to go away from him. I had to go back to the Minotaur, but how could I bring the kids with me? I decided I had no choice, so I told them my plan. "We have to go to the Minotaur, okay? Just follow me, hold hands, and never let go."

"But why are we not going to Theseus?" Phaedra asked.

"The only way out is to believe you don't want to go to him. You need to go to the Minotaur."

I told all of them to repeat it. They did. I was so proud of them all. Leaving Theseus left me with a knot in my stomach. It hurt to hear him call our names, hearing the fear in his voice, and then turning our backs on him. But it was the only way. I took the kid nearest to me by hand and led them away from the voice. I had to find the Minotaur. I didn't know how we would get out, but that was a problem for later.

The four of us ran towards the horrifying sounds of the monster. I was still limping, my hip and stomach injuries burning with every step, but I didn't want the others to see. I clenched my free hand into a fist and kept going. In a matter of minutes, we reached a corner where light poured out on the other side. I could hear the scraping of horns on stone. I told the others to stay where they were, and turned the corner.

The Minotaur was crouching on the ground clutching his head. When he saw me, he got up, glaring at me with those red eyes. All I could see was the red thread, disappearing from my hands. I stood my ground, but he wasn't interested in me anymore. He'd heard other voices. He turned the corner, just as I heard the unmistakable sound of a child's scream. "NO!"

I forced all my weight into the bull, making him sway and then fall. Dust came up, making us all cough. He lay on the ground, groaning in pain. I decided to put him out of his misery, and I brought my crooked sword up again. This was the last time I would use it. I raised it above my head and brought it down on his neck. Blood oozed out, and I stayed there, unmoving. He didn't even struggle when I tried to kill him.I wanted to cry as I shooed the kids out the way. Then I turned and stood, motionless, on the ground, my sword stained red.