Lock And Key Game Tasks

Task Three: The Minotaur Wars

He slid forward, crawling as far as he could.

"Over here you big oaf!" The heavy footsteps thundered away from him.

He pressed his left hand against his side, and it felt wet and sticky. Hearing Sparrow's light prattling footsteps, followed by the faltering steps of the creature, he forced himself to his wobbly legs.

Only to hear the pinging clank coming from the hallway behind him.

The hole. Sartan inhaled sharply. The minotaur's skin is too tough to penetrate, and it's a lot faster than I thought... He thought desperately.

Clenching his jaw, he mentally surrendered his pride. He was going to need help.

"Sparrow! It's losing its' footing! Ram it as hard as you can when I say!"

"Alright!" she yelled back.

When he heard the pinging clank again, he screamed, "Now!" He darted in the direction of the minotaur's footsteps as quickly as his legs could carry him, and slammed against its' chest with a grunt. He pushed it back, sliding across the floor, as he heard Sparrow grunting with effort from his right.

His feet slid across the floor, but he could hear the minotaur's do the same. They pushed it in the direction he heard the pinging clank come from.

As he heard the whoosh from the hole opening up, his feet began sliding across the floor uncontrollably, making him curse. He let go of the minotaur, and heard its' bellows grow softer and softer as it slid into the hole.

He and Sparrow couldn't stop sliding.

With a grunt, he jammed his spear into the ground to try and stop himself.

Sparrow screamed.

Instinctively, he reached his left hand out and grabbed her ankle as she fell into the hole with it. His right hand clutched his spear furiously.

There was no time.

He swung her back, underneath the hole and then used the momentum to pull her body out of it.

There was a whoosh and a painful grunt as Sparrow slammed into the ground facedown beside him. Sartan collapsed onto the ground on his back, breathing hard as he let go of her ankle.

Sparrow was breathing just as heavily to his right. "Th—that.... Th—was.... Close....! Th—thank you... thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you so much!" Sartan couldn't help but crack a smile as Sparrow continued screaming and freaking out.

She collapsed onto his chest, panting. "I—Never, ever, ever want to go through that again!"

He chuckled, and sighed in silent relief. It was over.

Feeling her small body against him made him think back to his own younger sister. Emotions burst inside his chest, feelings he hadn't experienced in a very long time...

He ached with nostalgia—not for his home, but for his sister who had been dead for years. Knowing he would never see her again sent a newfound grief spreading through him.

Deep inside, there was a lightness pulsing and flowing through him.

For the first time since her death, he was content.

I will protect you, he silently vowed to the young girl in his arms. Protect you like I should have protected her. The last thought came with a profound twinge of bitterness.

"Why did you save me?" Sparrow whispered, as if she was afraid of shattering the silence that stretched between them.

He hesitated, unsure of how to answer. "Why did you save me?" he questioned her back in reply.

Her breathing was the only reply for a moment. "... All life is worth saving."

"Even a killer like me?" He held his breath, as if desperate for her response.

"Even you. But that doesn't answer my question," Sparrow pointed out.

He thought about it for a moment, trying to pinpoint exactly what he'd been feeling when he had saved her.

"Nothing, really," he answered honestly. "I grabbed your ankle on pure instinct."

If you're really a killer at heart, why was your first instinct to save her? a voice whispered in the back of his mind.

The answer rattled him to the core.

Maybe I'm not really a killer.

Suddenly, there was loud snorting, followed by the clomping of hooves on the floor. Sartan groaned. "What now?"

Sparrow sat up for a moment, and he heard her gulp, followed by a groan. "You don't wanna know," she replied in a tiny voice right before she collapsed back onto his chest.

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