I followed Ryan through the lovely rose garden. There were lovely bushes of white and red roses. Beautiful glowing butterflies in the six colours: red, blue, yellow, orange, purple and green, flew around making the place look magical and exotic. I almost got left behind by Ryan who didn't seem to be aware that I had been caught looking at them. Lucky for me, there was only one straight path leading to who knows where.
I quickly caught up with Ryan, and minutes later, the scenery started to change. There were no rose bushes around as we were surrounded by long green hedges, taller than the both of us. I also noticed that the place didn't have butterflies flying around. I felt a little weird about this place and I made sure not to lose Ryan. This time the path became narrower and the green hedges were much closer.
"Try not to lose me," said Ryan as he continued to lead the way. "You don't want to get lost in here."
I now saw what he meant when he turned down the path in another direction. I followed him and noticed more paths going round the hedges. I wonder where they lead to. Now is not the time to start wonder. I had to follow Ryan's instruction. Something told me I might get lost if I take my eyes off him. It felt like a maze in here.
"We're in a maze, aren't we?" I asked Ryan as it finally struck me.
"We are," he answered, not even turning his head to look at me.
He sounded serious and I'm about to ask him why we were walking through here, but I kept the question to myself. I'm in a maze. My day couldn't get any weirder.
It felt like we've been walking forever when fog slowly started to appear. Where did it come from? The weather seemed just fine. It all changed in a flash.
I focused on Ryan's purple robe in front of me, but everytime he looked to be disappearing in the fog that I had to quicken my steps to catch up. In the end, I bumped into him.
"What the-?" he sounded upset as he stopped in his tracks.
"I'm sorry," I said as I backed away a bit, but not too far.
"Be careful," he said as he turned his head to look at me. The hood on his head hid his blue eyes.
"Sorry," I repeated. "I thought you left me behind and I couldn't see with all this fog. It seems to be getting thicker everytime."
"All the more for us to hurry," he said as he continued on his way. I quickly followed.
"Okay."
I didn't say anything more as we continued our walk. This time, the fog's so thick. I couldn't see a thing.
"Ryan," I called out to him. "Do you think it will be okay if I hold on to your cloak or something? I'm afraid I'll get lost."
I heard him scoff. I rolled my eyes. So typical of him.
"I'm serious," I said as I looked at his back that wasn't so visible anymore. "What will happen if we end up getting separated?"
"Just stick with me and you'll be fine," he said.
"It's hard to do so with all this fog. You're really being unfair, you know."
He didn't answer, and that felt like my cue to be quiet. I continued to follow him, but it became difficult everytime. Not only was the fog getting thicker, it felt like the hedges around us were too close, making our path look too narrow.
"How much further till we get there?" I asked. "Ryan?"
I didn't get a response as I continued to walk. A terrifying thought ran through my mind. He isn't in front of me anymore, is he?
"Ryan," I called out to him and quickly rushed forward hoping to run into him like before. But I didn't. I had my hand stretched out in front of me hoping to feel someone there. But nothing.
"Ryan!" I called out, this time a little louder as I continued to walk forward. I can't see where I'm going. It's surprising how I hadn't run over or bumped into anything with all this fog.
"Ryan! Where are you!" I called out. There's still no response. This is strange. He couldn't have gone far and I hadn't turned my eyes away from him. Maybe he had gone down another path and I had lost him then. This is just great. I've really lost him, and I can't go back the way I came.
I stopped in my tracks. I can stay here forever if I'm not too careful. There has to be a way out. I've never been in a maze before, but I do know that getting out is crucial. I've played maze games in newspapers and magazines. They've always seemed easy because you look at it from an aerial point of view. Right now, I'm the mouse stuck in the maze who needs someone to help guide me out. And there isn't any.
I looked up and couldn't even see the sky. It would've been much better if I could see the sun to know my location. I looked back in front of me. Until the fog clears - and I don't when that will be - I just have to keep moving forward. I hope I don't run into anything here. I'm in a foreign place and anything out of the ordinary can happen. I just have to think of that. How silly of me, I thought to myself as I shook my head.
Okay, I told myself. I just need to focus and not panic. Panicking doesn't get me anywhere. I remember during a math quiz, I panicked upon solving a quadratic equation that I found too complicated to answer. Only to realise after the quiz when we were going through the questions with the whole class, that I read it wrong because I mistook the subtraction sign for addition. Anyone would say it was all because of time and that's why I panicked. That's partly true. But if I really did take my time and not have read the question too fast, I would've nailed it. Moral of the lesson: panicking doesn't get you anywhere. Although, it's funny how it works for other people. I bet it depends on the situation they find themselves in. I just had to rely on luck if I am to get out of here.
I continued walking and found another path to the left. I stopped and wondered if I should take it. I shook my head and continued to walk on ahead. I had to rely on my instincts right now, even when I know that for this situation, I'm probably dumb for doing so.
I came across another crossroad. One to the left, the right and one down the middle. Just before I could consult my instincts, I heard something behind me. Or did I feel something?
I turned to look behind me. Maybe I'm just imagining things, I thought. I turned back in front of me to see where I should go when I heard something on the stone path. I turned around again and my heart started to beat faster. What's that? Could it be Ryan?
"Ryan?" I called out. There came no response. Whoever or whatever is there, it's definitely not him.
I swallowed. Should I wait to see what's going to happen? It's probably a bad idea and I shouldn't stay in the same place for too long. I should keep moving. But what kept me rooted to the spot?
I waited. But I didn't know what for. This is bad. My brain kept telling me to move, but my body muscles didn't seem to respond.
I heard it again, this time above me. I looked up and still couldn't make out anything in the fog. A chill ran done my spine as I started to move around on the spot, trying to anticipate where this thing will appear. But with all this fog, it's pointless. I should just try to make my way out of this maze like I had planned. But with this new foe now roaming around, my mission has just become complicated, if not impossible.
Nothing happened as I didn't hear any strange sounds. Am I just imagining things? I wanted to convince myself that, but I knew better not to.
I turned back to look at the crossroad when I realised that there was no crossroad in front of me. Did I just lose it or did I turn the other way around?
As soon as I turned to the other side, I felt something grab my left ankle. I got pulled back with so much force, that I ended up falling to the ground, landing on my chest and almost hitting my head. Before I could realise what's actually going on, I start to get dragged along the ground by my ankle to who knows where. I screamed as I tried to find something on the stone path to hold onto with my arms outstretched in front of me. I bumped into the hedges and felt the branches and twigs scratch at my body. I tried holding onto the branches of the hedges but it was no use.
I continued screaming hoping for this ride to end. I shielded my head with my arms as I ran into a hedge again. I can't do anything right now.
After what felt like forever, I came to a stop. Whatever held me at my ankle loosened its grip. I realise that the ride is over and slowly lift my head to look around. There's still so much fog, but I noticed there's so much space around me as I didn't see any hedges. I slowly got myself up, looking around and wondering where the thing that had dragged me had gone to.
Afterwards, I looked at myself. I've dirt and scratches all over my arms and legs. My white shirt is now caked with dirt, so is my black shirt that now had a huge rip at the front making it look like a slit. I had twigs and leaves all over, even in my short, kinky hair. I removed as much as I could, but I've better things to do; like getting out of here.
Like I had realised at first, the space I'm in felt too open. Had I been dragged out of the maze? Something told me that I wasn't. If I am out, I would've met Ryan or any of the other five members of the butterfly group by now. So, no. I'm not out of the maze yet.
The fog started to clear away and I soon noticed the hedges a little further away than I had realised. I found myself in a round circle with the hedges around me as a boundary. I'm in the middle of the maze!
"This isn't what I was hoping for when I decided to come here for training," I said out loud.
I heard the sound again and I turned around. But even with the fog slowly starting to clear, I still couldn't see what's out there.
I made a full 360° when something startled me. I jumped in fright. I ended up talking a step back and in the process, I slipped and fell onto the ground, landing on my butt. And boy, did that hurt.
What had startled me were little tiny lights floating at a distance. For a moment, I thought I was seeing the eyes of a terrifying monster. But with the fog starting to clear, I noticed that they were tiny bright colourful lights. At first, I had noticed the red and orange ones, but there were actually more: blue, yellow, purple and green.
I got up from the ground and approached them. When I got close, I noticed that they were tiny glowing stones. And they were neatly arranged in a circle, floating in mid-air.
What are they for, I wondered. If anything, I should be asking myself why I got dragged here in the first place. Was it because of these stones? Are they the key to getting out of here? I wish someone was here to tell me what's really going on.
I heard a strange noise behind me. And this time, I could feel whatever's there; it's haunting presence. I felt the hairs at the back of my neck stand. I didn't want to turn around, but then came a menacing growl. Goodness, I thought when I closed my eyes. What the heck am I going up against? I seriously didn't want to look, but the growl came again, warning me to face it or there will be consequences. Well, there will still be more of them after this, so I guess I had no choice.
I opened my eyes and slowly turned around. I gasped when I saw a huge black dog in front of me. As a matter of fact, a wolf! It looked more like those werewolves that I see in the movies. It had menacing bright yellow eyes and it showcased its huge canines as it continued to growl at me.
The two of us stood there, staring at each other. I've no idea what to do. If I don't do something, the wolf would tear me to shreds. It continued to stare at me and started to move round, keeping a distance. I moved in the opposite direction, my eyes never leaving its sight. I shouldn't take this animal lightly. One wrong move and I might become it's chew toy.
I looked in the direction of the floating stones through the corner of my eye. They weren't floating where I last saw them. Where were they? Maybe those stones might be the answer to all this, yet I had no idea about their purpose or how to use them.
The wolf gave out a loud, angry snarl and changed its stance. I stopped in my tracks. I had to prepare for it's attack. But how?
It soon gave charge, running towards me at full speed. Out of instinct, I also ran towards it. Just before it could make a leap at me, I slid to the ground just in time, with one leg outstretched and went under the wolf as it jumped.
I quickly got up from the ground and turned before the wolf could also turn around after landing on the ground. At that moment, I noticed something glowing on my shoulder: one of the glowing stones. It still floated in the air, but never leaving my shoulder. The other stones were probably floating all around me. This means they have their purpose and I'm meant to use them after all.
The wolf had me in its sight and growled angrily at me for pulling out such a feat. I actually gave it a smirk. As much as I was scared at first, I feel like I could take it on. But I shouldn't let that thought get to my head. Things were about to get a whole lot tougher now.
The wolf charged at me again and this time, I reached out for the yellow stone that floated above my other shoulder. I didn't know what to do with it, but in the end, I found myself crashing it. I felt it easily crumble to dust. And out of nowhere, a bright, long, yellow rod appeared in my hand.
I had no time to be surprised as I swung it at the wolf which was already to pounce on me, hitting it across the side of its head with all my strength. The impact sent it flying in mid-air, almost crash landing into the hedges.
"Wow," I muttered, staring at the wolf as it tried to get up. I stared at the yellow rod and realised that it's made out of some kind of metal. What is this?
A loud howl from the wolf brought me back to my senses and I turned to look at it. It's back on its feet and this time, I've a feeling that I shouldn't take it's next move lightly.
It came at me again and this time, it so happened that I wasn't ready for it because of it's amazing speed. I jumped aside to try and avoid it, landing on my knees. It quickly turned around and before I could get back on my feet. It leaped at me that I had no choice but to hold up the yellow rod in front of me, catching the wolf in it's mouth. The rod kept me away from it's huge, sharp teeth.
Now came the issue of strength. I am still on my knees, holding up the rod to push away the wolf. But it proved to be much stronger with all its weight. Pushing it away is taking its toll on my arms and I knew I couldn't keep it up for long. It would bite my head off if I give in and I definitely wasn't going to let it.
My knees below felt like they would pop at any second. I also felt like I was sinking into the ground. But I can't stay like this. I had to do something.
I closed my eyes as I thought of what to do. I opened them as I realised that my strength is the only way I'm going to get out of this.
I gripped the rod tighter as I started to push much harder from my end. I slowly rose to the ground, lifing my left knee up first and finding grip with my foot. With my arms still outstretched, I continued to push as I finally lifted my right knee from the ground.
It's then that I felt a sudden energy rush through me. The thought of me dying here didn't seem right. No way am I going to die here. Not without a fight.
I gave out my final push and I screamed in the process. A sudden burst of energy erupted from the rod that I found myself flying. The next thing I know, I'm hitting into the hedges with my back and falling face first onto the ground.
Still feeling dazed, I slowly lifted myself off the ground. I look at the spot where I had been seconds ago with the wolf and noticed a cloud of dust. The energy that had erupted from the rod felt massive. I saw the wolf also on the ground far across from where we had been pushing at each other. We had both been pushed aside by the rod's explosive force.
I slowly got to my feet, but I felt a little dizzy and lost my footing. I fell into the hedge behind me. It felt good to lean on it for a while. My eyes never left the wolf, though. I noticed it slowly get back on its feet too and shook its neck, shaking the dust off its fur. I bet all this felt like nothing to it.
I noticed the yellow rod a few feet away. Whatever it did just now, I realised that I might do more with it. But I shouldn't forget that I had the other stones. I might not know their importance or abilities, but I'll once I use them.
The wolf caught my attention again as I saw it up and steady, ready to attack again. I mourned in frustration. Can't I take a break at least?
The wolf opened its huge jaws and I saw something form in it's mouth like a huge round ball of light. My eyes grew wide when my instincts told me to move aside.
The round bright ball was released and it came flying at me like a cannonball.
I jumped aside to the ground but in the direction of the rod. I felt a slight tremor and heard a loud noise. I knew the cannonball had hit where I had been standing. I had my arms around my head for cover. When I sat up to see the amount of damage the attack had made, I gasped. I would've been burnt into a crisp.
There was a round burnt hole on the hedge and it looked like the blast had gone right through to who knows where. If I had been the one taking care of the hedges in this maze, I would cry for all the amount of effort I had put in to grow them.
The wolf already had another cannonball ready to launch. I took the metal rod and ran. In seconds, I felt a loud noise and the ground rumble a little. This wolf really means business.
I ran along the edge of the circle as fast as I could and the wolf continued to fire at me. It would've been much easier if I took any of the paths back into the maze. But fighting it would be risky in an enclosed space. This is the only place for me to have an advantage. That's if I could find it's weakness.
I'm approaching the wolf, still keeping track on the edge of the circle. It saw me coming and with the rod still held tight in my hand, I increased my speed. It opened its jaws to release another cannonball. But just before it could, I leaped into the air with my rod raised above my head, ready to strike.
I felt time pause as I hang in mid-air, ready to hit the rod over the wolf's head. Just when I'm about to make impact, I noticed that it quickly disappeared from sight. Before I could make out what's happening, I felt something hit into me with so much force from behind that I ended up crashing onto the ground.
The worst feeling I've ever felt is feeling like you've just hit into something so hard that every fibre of your body is in excruciating pain. I felt like I couldn't even move. Felt totally powerless. Had I just broken every bone in my body? It sure felt like it. And the impact onto the ground was awfully hard that my brain must have scrambled in this skull of mine.
I didn't want to get up, but I'm not dead yet. I could still do something. I told myself I wasn't going to die here, not like this. I better leave up to that promise.
I moved my left arm and placed my hand onto the ground to lift myself up. I slowly opened my eyes and the first thing I see is the cracked ground below me. Was it like this before? I didn't dwell on that question for long when I saw a spot of blood on the ground and then a drop of it fell, and another followed. Am I bleeding?
My right hand automatically flew to my forehead and I looked at it, seeing blood on my fingers. I didn't know whether to be cool about it or scream.
The growling from the wolf drew my attention and I turned to see it standing a few feet away from me, pacing back and forth, its eyes not leaving me. Had it been waiting for me to stand up? It could've attacked and finished me off when I was still hopelessly laying on the ground. Why didn't it?
I looked around for the rod and I saw it had fallen a few feet away. I turned back to look at the wolf and I saw it now steading itself. I calculated my chances and hoped that I could reach the rod. That's if I don't have any broken bones that would hinder my progress.
With all my strength, I quickly got up from the ground and ran for the rod, though I wasn't fully upright when doing so. I stumbled a lot on the way and nearly fell to the ground. But I've to reach the rod no matter what.
I could feel the wolf coming towards me and fast. The thought of getting caught in its jaws in the state I'm in, horrified me a little. But it also encouraged me to reach the rod much faster.
Just when I felt the wolf gaining on me and ready to pounce, I reached the rod and stumbled to the ground so as to roll over to face the wolf. I reached for the stones still floating around me. I instinctively reached for the red one, crushed it and placed my open palm onto the ground.
The red coloured smoke that had appeared when I had crushed the stone erupted into flames, creating a huge fire wall between the wolf and me. The wolf was so close to getting me, but the fire held it off. I backed away, still on the ground. I looked at my hand, amazed that I'm not burnt. I had to go around it before the wolf did so itself. With it distracted, I might have the upper hand.
I stood up from the ground without wasting much time with the rod in my hand and went round the wall of fire. I found the wolf standing there, staring at the flames, obviously wondering what's going on. This is it. I ran towards the wolf. This time, I'm going to hit it for sure.
Just when I'm about to swing the rod, the wolf had turned to face me with its mouth wide open, ready to release a cannonball. I'm too close and I am going to get hit! I held up my other hand that I had used to crush the red stone and released an amazing amount of heat energy just when the wolf released its cannonball.
Our attacks cancelled each other out and the impact drew me back a little. This time I had my feet steady onto the ground so as not to fall over. I had my arms crossed in front of me, shielding me from the impact. Although, I did feel the rod in my hand had somehow helped me out a lot more. I felt an invisible barrier in front of me, almost like a shield. How did that get there?
The wolf barked and it came quickly towards me. With the rod in my hands, I deflected it's claws away as it had them drawn out to attack. I took a few steps back and with my other hand, I found myself stretching out to release balls of fire at it. It dodged them pretty well. The two of us fought tooth and nail. I used the rod to defend and attack when it got too close. And using my hand to release fire balls when I had some distance. I don't know how long I could keep this up. I just didn't have the stamina for it. If I tire out completely, the wolf would've complete advantage. And I can't rely on fire balls and the rod forever. I had to think of something else.
I finally managed to hit the wolf with the rod. I didn't send it flying like I did the first time, but I did acquire enough distance. Just when it came for me again, I held the rod vertically and hit the end onto the ground and a bright light, almost like that of the sun shone from the rod, blinding the wolf. It stopped and whimpered a little because of it. I got the orange stone and crushed it.
I felt the ground shake below me and I moved away just in time for a huge rock to appear where I had stood. I realise what the orange stone is for. I smiled to myself. The wolf is in for it now.
The wolf's eyes remained closed after being blinded by the light, so this is the perfect time to use the stone's ability. After the light from the rod faded, I ran round the wolf in a circle, the rod's end touching the ground, marking it. The ground shook a little and it rose forming huge walls from where the rod had touched and enclosing at the top to make a dome. The wolf is trapped inside.
I stood to look at the brown dome, feeling a little relieved. I took in deep breaths. I felt like sitting down to rest, but the ground soon started to rumble. I looked towards the dome. Cracks started to appear around it. What's going on?
The dome exploded. Bits and pieces of earth were flying everywhere. I used the rod to draw up the invisible shield to avoid any of it hitting me.
I looked at the destroyed dome and saw the wolf in the middle of it, staring angrily at me. How did the wolf destroy it? Then I remembered its cannonball. Darn it. For an animal, it's pretty smart.
So much for a barrier to trap it. Now I've to think of something else. I readied myself for it's attack, gripping the rod tightly. Now that I know how to use the rod, fire and earth, maybe I can come up with a plan. I had three more stones left. I should use them wisely.
The wolf came at me and I jumped aside, rolling to the ground before positioning myself on one knee and hitting the end point of the rod onto the ground.
From where the wolf stood, the ground crept up it's four legs, trapping it. It couldn't move. It looked down at its paws and growled, knowing fully well that it was trapped.
I smirked at it as I stretched out my hand and opened my palm. This is it. If I release a massive fire ball, I'll be able to finish it off.
I am about to form it when the wolf came at me, real fast, breaking the earth around it's feet as it ran. Everything happened so fast that I didn't have the time to move away and the wolf finally got to me, hitting me hard with it's head.
I felt like I had been punched in the face as I flew in mid-air, landing onto the ground on my back real hard.
I coughed and felt something trickle out of my mouth. The metallic taste in my mouth told me it's blood. I heard a ringing in my ear and I knew I had hit my head badly. I felt the back of my head and my whole body ache all over. This is insane. How did I find myself fighting this wolf? I would've understood if I was up against a person. But a wolf? This felt too surreal when I think about it.
I tried to move and every muscle ached. I clenched my teeth. Even doing that felt painful too.
I looked up at the blue sky above with a few white clouds flying by. For a moment, I just wanted to forget about what's happening right now. The fighting, the pain..., I just wanted to forget it all. I felt the wind blow by and I felt calm that I found myself closing my eyes. I took in a deep breath as I remembered something. I told myself that I'm not going to die here.
I opened my eyes and went back to feeling the pain. I grimaced as I tried to sit myself up. Almost screamed in agony. Getting up felt like gravity was working against me, trying to push me back down. But I don't want to. I'm not going to die here.
When I finally sat up, I saw the wolf, with its legs apart, ready to attack. I still wonder why it never attacked me when I was down. But it didn't matter. If I didn't do anything now, all this might end badly for me. I'm injured and I don't know if I can push myself further.
I looked at myself and noticed the scratches and bruises all over my body. I don't think I've any broken bones. That meant I could still put up a fight.
I slowly got up to my feet and it was then that I felt my head spin a little. I held my ground still and stared at the wolf. I'm not going to show signs of weakness in front of it. I'm stronger than this. I know I am.
The rod seems to be nowhere in sight. I can't start looking for it. That would give the wolf an opening to attack. I had no choice but to use one of the stones.
Just as I reached out for one behind me, the wolf came charging. I stood my ground, not moving aside. I had to wait for the right time to make my move and I watched the wolf intently as it approached.
Everything seemed to slow down as the wolf jumped in mid-air, ready to pounce. I crashed the stone in my hand. I am inches away from the wolf landing on me, when I suddenly dodge, moving to the side to avoid it.
Just when the wolf landed on the ground after falling to catch me, long green vines came sprouting out of the hedges near me and found themselves wrapping around the wolf's legs and its all whole body. So that's what the green stone is for.
I'm now on one knee on the ground with both hands outstretched, flicking my wrists as I directed the green vines to wrap themselves around the wolf. The wolf looked enraged as it growled and tried to fight off the vines. I had ordered a lot more vines to trap it, making it impossible for it to escape.
With my hands still outstretched, I folded my fingers to make fists as though I am holding an invisible rope. I straightened it as though tying up two ends of it, and in that instance, the vines tightened around the wolf lifting it up from the ground. It looked like it had been trapped in a basket made of vines.
The wolf's trapped, but I knew it's not going to be long till it finds a way to break free. I've to find a way to finish it off.
I stood up from the ground and it was then that I felt a sharp pain in my body. I yelled in pain as I held my ribs. It felt like I had broken a couple. The pain is excruciating, like a number of piercing knives have been shoved into me. Even as I tried to breath, I felt them hurting. But I can't waver now. I had to finish the wolf off right now.
I looked up at it and it wasn't giving up. I had taken extra caution of tying some vines around it's mouth to avoid it from biting off the vines. But it's trying to open its mouth with all its might to break them. I already know how strong it is and it's only a matter of time before it succeeds.
I reached out for the purple stone and crashed it. Another weapon appeared in my hand. A purple bow.
"Huh?" I looked at it, surprised. If I've a bow, then where's the arrow?
A thought crossed my mind and I remembered the rod that I had been using and now didn't know where it is. I quickly scanned the place and noticed it a few feet away to my right. I went over to get it, and as I walked, I could feel my knees almost buckle. I almost stumbled to the ground, but kept going. I had to end this quickly.
Just when I reached the rod and bent down painfully to retrieve it, I heard something snap behind me. The wolf has finally managed to break the vines around it's mouth. I've to act quickly.
I picked up the rod and quickly turned around to see the wolf quickly biting off the vines to free itself. I gritted my teeth, annoyed at the wolf. I hate that I had to worry about it attacking me all the time.
The wolf's finally free and as soon as it found itself on the ground, it turned to me and snarled. Looks like it's just as mad at me than Iam at it.
It came charging at me again. I dropped to one knee, placing the rod and purple bow aside. I quickly reached for the last floating stone behind me and crushed it. With the earth element in mind, I clapped both my hands together and then placed them as open palms on the ground.
Before the wolf could even get close, the ground below it soon started to change. The next thing I knew, the wolf's running soon slowed down until it stopped completely. The wolf looked to the ground and I noticed the look in its yellow eyes.
The wolf was surrounded by a small pond of quicksand and was slowly sinking in. It tried to move but to no avail. I had it right where I wanted it.
I picked up the purple bow and the golden rod and stood up. I approached the wolf that struggled to get out of the quicksand. I stood a few feet away from the pond and looked at the golden rod in my hand. When I imagined an arrow, the rod suddenly shrank and transformed into one.
I couldn't help, but marvel at it. Then a thought crossed my mind. Am I really going to kill this wolf? I turned to look at it and found it looking back at me, still growling. I had to admit, it looked like it wasn't going to back down without a fight. I held the bow and arrow in one hand. With the other, I snapped my fingers and green vines appeared from the hedges to wrap themselves around the wolf's mouth to close it tight. I wasn't going to let it spit out fireballs as a last resort.
It pulled away at the vines. It's trapped in the sand and it couldn't shoot out fireballs to defend itself. I finally had it cornered. I looked down at the weapon I had in my hand. Did I really have to kill it? I know this wolf gave me one heck of a fight. But did I really have to end its life? I've never used a bow and arrow before, but I felt confident that I can.
The wolf growled a little. I took the arrow by the sinew with my other hand. I held the bow by the grip and lifted it up so as to place the arrow's shaft on top of the hand that held the bow. Holding on to the end of the arrow with my index and middle finger, I slightly pulled it back towards my face using the arrow's string. I aimed the head of the arrow for the wolf's head. I looked into the wolf's eyes for a moment. I had it right where I wanted it, why couldn't I just end it?
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. When I finally opened them, I lowered the bow and arrow.
"Oooh," came a woman's voice behind me. "Aren't you going to kill it?"
I recognised that voice and I felt a sudden presence of other people behind me.
"No, I'm not going to," I answered as I continued to look at the wolf who had suddenly stopped growling after I lowered my weapon.
"And why is that?"
"This is a test, isn't it?"
No answer came. I turned around to see the six people in their colourful robes looking at me.
"Is that why you can't kill it?" the woman in the red robe continued to ask.
I winced as I felt a sudden pain to the right side of my ribs. I placed my hand where I felt the pain and wished for it to end.
"She's injured," said Stella as she turned to look at the woman in the red cloak beside her.
The Asian woman ignored Stella as she continued to look at me. "Answer me, child," she said. "Why didn't you kill it?"
I tried to ignore the pain, dropping the bow and arrow to the ground. I still managed to say, "if I released the arrow, it would've deflected off course. Not that I can't use a bow and arrow." I took a deep breath and my lungs hurt like hell. "I'm just not meant to kill it in the first place."
"Really now?" the Asian woman folded her arms with an amused smile on her face. "And why is that?"
I wanted to ignore her question as I dropped to my knees. Fatigue and pain came all over me in an instant. I felt like crying in distress. But instead, I answered:
"Everytime I was down, the wolf never came over to finish me off. That left me wondering why until I figured that all this is nothing but a normal fight. Not a fight to the death."
The woman in red laughed and clapped her hands in the process. The others turned to look at her with worried looks on their faces. Ryan and Bob shook their heads at her.
"You're such a sadist, you know that?" Bob asked. He looked angry.
"Oh, you poor thing," said Ariana as she rushed over to me. Stella followed behind her.
"For a girl like you, you're smart," said the woman in red as she gave me a smile. "And I don't mean you just figuring out that all this is nothing but a test."
Ariana reached and knelt down beside me. She ran her hand through my now dirty hair and I could tell how worried she is even when I didn't look her in the eye. I closed my eyes for a bit, crying inside in agony.
"She needs medical attention," said Ariana. Stella also came to kneel beside me. "We need to take her now."
"I knew all this was risky from the beginning, Mei," said the woman in the orange robe.
"Then you should have stopped the fight before it even began," said Mei.
"All this just for a fight she was never ready for," said Bob. "And against your pet wolf, for that matter."
Did Bob just say her pet wolf?! I couldn't believe what I am hearing. The woman in red really planned all this? But why? I stared at the ground with all these questions running in my mind.
"I never knew you could be this ruthless, Mei," I heard Ryan say. "Now I wish I could've done something sooner."
"But you didn't," said Mei in a demanding tone. "You all could've stopped the fight. But you didn't because you wanted to see how it will all end."
"Enough, Mei," said Stella, as she had her hand on my back. "If I hadn't been away, I would've stopped you for sure."
"Don't try to act like you're a saint, Stella. You watched the last remaining moments of the fight. You've to admit, the girl seems to know what she was doing."
"Stop uttering nonsense," said Ariana. "What would've happened if the Highness was here?"
Mei continued to defend herself while the others argued back at her. I just couldn't believe that she would put me in such a situation that could've ended my life. How could she? I clenched my hands on my laps in anger that I couldn't feel the pain anymore. As a matter of fact, my anger mixed up with my pain, that I didn't know what I felt anymore.
"Grow up, guys," said Mei. "All this was just a test, nothing more."
"All this was just a test?" I asked, still looking at the ground, shaking.
I could feel everyone's eyes on me and I felt the atmosphere change. I raised my head to look at Mei.
"Aren't you going to answer me?" I asked, my voice full of anger.
"Calm down, Diana," said Stella. "Don't strain yourself."
Mei looked at me as she placed her hand on her right hip. "You know it was," she answered. "What's the whole point of repeating it?"
"I almost died because of YOU!"
I don't know how I got up from the ground so quickly, but I had the bow and arrow in my hands, running towards Mei. I heard Ariana and Stella yell, calling me to stop. But their voices became muffled in my ears. I only thought of nothing, but my target: Mei.
Everything seemed to happen in slow motion as I had my bow and arrow ready to aim. The others who stood with Mei looked to have disappeared from my sight as I focused on her. I noticed the look on her face suddenly change to shock.
I couldn't feel my feet or my entire body as I ran. I felt my body has fully gone automatic, like I wasn't in control of it anymore. But I did pull the string back further and focused the arrow right for her head. I didn't think twice like I did with the wolf. I let go of the arrow.
A blinding light came flashing in front of me. Was it from the arrow? I felt a sudden force push me backwards. From that point on, I couldn't feel anything as I closed my eyes, flying in the air. I couldn't care less where I landed or if I did manage to hit Mei. I just wanted to rest.
And rest I shall.
ns 15.158.61.12da2
