Chapter 36: Chapter 36
“Oh no, Iam extremely sorry, Jacen. You got injured because of me,” I apologized and felt guilty about how I got trapped by this Maze trick.
“It’s not a problem. I will heal quickly, Baby.” he consulted me and I watched his hands get healed slowly. He put the axe down and brought blue light through my power in the darkness again.
“We don’t need light, Sydney. There’s something brighter than this. Come over,” Noah called us and turned towards a direction. We both looked at each other and followed him. The more we run, the more brightness emerged. Then we three are finally standing in front of a two-headed woman statue. There’s a door behind the statue. I guess it will take us out of the maze. But when I looked down at my feet, that’s where the problem lay.
Lava. The blazing fire is flowing downwards till the end of the door and the statue is in the middle of the lava, without melting or breaking apart. There are some stepping stones to the end. But there’s two feet gap between each stone. I don’t know how Iam going to make it till the end without burning myself. I can feel the heat radiating from it, even when Iam standing away from it.
“Let’s get out of here. We got no other choice,” Jacen determinedly said, but that’s not how it happens.
“Not so fast. You need to cross us first,” a voice echoed through the walls. Iam searching for where it comes from. It’s from nowhere but the statue. The two-headed woman statue started to change and became an alive woman’s right in front of my eyes.
“Who are you?” Noah asked before they started speaking.
“That’s none of your business. But I like your courage, boy. Usually, people don’t talk to us without being afraid.”
“We are not afraid. We need to cross the door. Get out of our way,” Jacen shouted. Both heads laughed louder, which echoes continuously through the walls.
“Do you think you can cross the lava without dying? That’s not going to happen. You need our permission to cross it,” they said in unison.
“So let us go. What do you want?” I asked impatiently.
“Right question. What do we want? We wanted the biggest secret you never shared with each other. That’s it. Simple.” they said like it’s not a big deal. But do I have any secrets? I need to think about that. Someone will win this game before I could tell this.
“Seriously, telling secrets is more important right now. We need to cross the lava now.” Jacen easily got tempered and took a step on a stone bearing the heat. But the minute he stepped on it; it sank. He screamed in pain and jumped backwards.
“Why do you do something stupid? They said they will let us go if we tell any secrets.” I yelled at him pulled him further backwards. His feet got burned, but they will be back to normal soon.
“That’s an utter waste of time. Is it really necessary?” He yelled back.
“Yes, it is. Do it or stay here forever,” both of them said.
“We will take another way,” Noah replied and turned backwards, but there’s nothing but a wall.
“Is this some kind of sick joke? We need to go now,” I shouted in frustration, and then the wall started moving. It lingered in our direction. If it comes too much closer to us, it will be dead by falling into the lava.
“What are you doing? Stop it,”
“No, you three are talking too much. Now you all look through our eyes and tell us a secret. You will be free to go.” Both eyes turned into a burning red colour. I closed my eyes from looking at it. On the other side, the wall is nearly upon us. I grabbed both Jacen and Noah’s hands in fear.
“I think we should look into her eyes. We need to leave here alive,” Noah whispered.
“Time is running. Look at us now,” both heads ordered. I heard about medusa but this situation seems too different. I will tell a secret if I look into their eyes. Four eyes.
Soon the wall touched us and the heat blazing from the lava is increasing.
“Here goes nothing,” Jacen said, looking at them. His face looked like he’s gone into some kind of trance and finally, he spoke.
“Sydney was never got selected at the Sapphire Academy. I was the one who wrote an application and made her come here without telling any other soul. I did everything all by myself to let her come with me,” he said and looked at me for my reaction. The wall didn’t stop moving.
“So, who’s next?” both heads asked, grinning. Noah looked into their eyes. He resisted too much to open his mouth. He tried harder and harder not to talk but he gave up, at last, losing to those heads.
“I have feelings for Sydney. I didn’t express it, but I wanted her so badly and I hated that she loves my brother. I hate it so much. I can’t stop seeing her. I can’t stop falling for her even though she’s my brother’s girlfriend. I love Sydney.”
I watched him with wide-open eyes. I can see he wouldn’t have told this if it’s not for this woman. I don’t know he’s hiding something all these days. When he finished speaking, I can see both Jacen and Noah are looking at each other angrily. But this is not the time. I looked at those red eyes. I uncontrollably started speaking.
“I stole Queen Victoria’s Diary and read most of your life’s memories. I know I did something wrong, but I did it and still have the diary with me.” when I finished telling the wall stopped moving. We three are one foot closer to the lava. Both women looked shocked after hearing my secret.
“You three can go,” both heads said in unison, and without wasting a single moment, we stepped on each stone bearing the pain from the heat. The stone didn’t sink, and he made it till the end, crossing the Woman who is not affected by the lava.
“You are so brave to steal Queen’s diary. The best secret I have ever heard, Sydney Marin,” both heads muttered when I crossed them. I uncertainly looked at them, and Jacen opened the door. We took the steps and we are back into the forest again.
“We three got things to talk about after this game,” Jacen seriously said.