Chapter 3
There was no door as the two reached their destination. It was a very large circular dead end in the labyrinth decorated with a large bed made of haystack to the right, a fireplace in the middle, and a mini kitchen to the left that the half bull used to occasionally add more flavor to his food.
He walked over to the bed with the sound of his hooves echoing off the stone walls and removed the snoring girl from his back. His broad furry back then landed with a thud on the bed, causing some loose hay to float around him.
With one hand carrying the sleeping girl up to his face, he said to her, "You are a strange being, Sonia. I really hope you are as kind as you may appear,"
Her head fell sideways, still sleeping.
"Because if this is your plan to kill me, I will find out and I will be the one to kill you."
A drop of drool fell from her mouth and landed between his eyes.
He wiped the drool away, slightly causing a darker patch of fur on his arm.
"Ah who am I kidding, you're too cute to kill me.", he said before placing her head on his neck and wrapping his arms around her body, careful to not put too much weight on her.
He then fell into a peaceful sleep.
(8 hours later)
Sonia sat up on the hay bed with no giant minotaur in sight.
She looked around the circular room that was lit by a faint light by the fire place.
"Where the hell are you?", she asked the room.
Then her attention was brought by a loud sound of hooves that came from the only exit of the room. What came out was the minotaur carrying three large wooden barrels on each side of his body using both of his huge arms. He put down the six barrels right in front her.
Standing up, she asked him, "What's in the barrel?"
He put one hand over the barrel and answered, "Oh just the usual." He opened it. "Food", he finished.
Sonia took a look in the barrel and was surprised at the amount of fruits and vegetables that was in there. There were tomatoes, broccoli, apples, oranges, strawberries, mangoes, bananas, pears, spinach, corn, and peaches. A person can make a delicious salad with this. However, a salad is something that's not on Sonia's favorite food list. She wanted meat. She'd pick a hamburger over a salad any day.
With a raised eyebrow, she questioned him, "What? No meat?"
"Oh I believe the meat is in here", he said, his placing hands going over two other barrels.
When he opened the barrels, the bloody stench of dead chicken filled Sonia's nostrils.
She tried waving off the scent while saying, "Ah crap that stinks! Close it!"
He closed them and chuckled; amused at her strange way of talking. Never had he met anyone like her. Usually, they're always screaming and begging for him to spare their lives until he leads them to the exit he created.
A finger pointed to the hay bed. "Please rest while I cook the meat. It shall be ready shortly."
"What kind of meat are we talking here?"
"Well it's always the same thing my king brings me, chicken and fish."
"What about something to drink? You can't eat a meal without getting thirsty."
He next pointed to a barrel that had spigot near the bottom. "There is water in that barrel and there are some cups in the cupboards over at the kitchen." He then gestured towards the bed. "So please rest."
(After cooking lots of meat)
The two were sitting from across from each other on the hay bed eating their breakfast. Sonia had a plate filled with meat and vegetables and a smaller plate filled with fruits near her. A copper cup filled with water was also by her side. The half bull however, was just eating what his hands can get from the barrels and the large pot he used to cook the meat. To drink he lifted up the water barrel and turned on the switch to let the liquid inside to fall down inside his mouth.
During their time eating, Sonia asked him, "So what's your name?"
Her companion raised a furry eyebrow. Never had anyone asked his name. They were usually too screaming in fear or trying to kill him. Sometimes, he even forgot his name since it was hardly ever needed in his daily routines, which was mostly cleaning his room, taking a quick shower at the waterfall that was near the exit, and carrying six heavy barrels filled with his food.
"Asterion", he answered.
"Nice name. Now I'm curious on how long you live because you're a minotaur and all that."
"I live as long as any human because I am half human. Now, what's your next question?"
"How old are you?"
"24"
"How long have you lived here?"
He let out a sigh. "I'd say about… 24 years."
"Woah, you don't get out much do you?"
"No I do not and now I believe it's my turn to ask questions. Where are you from?"
Sonia put a finger on her chin, wondering on how to answer him. She could lie and accept the good chance that he wouldn't believe her. The other option was telling him the truth where there was also a good chance where he wouldn't believe her.
Finally, she decided to tell him the truth but partly true. "I am from… a place very far away from here."
He gave her a look that said, "Really? That's all you have?"
Asterion then stood up from his sitting position and told her, "Well I do hope that you return to your homeland because I will now escort you to the exit. I'm sure that you'll live a better life when you're away from here."
She tilted her head. "But what if I don't want to leave you?"
Asterion froze in shock. This human wants live with him; a monster that was supposedly used to kill anybody sent inside the labyrinth? How absurd.
Curiously, he responded, "Why do you want to stay here with me? There is no future for you if you do."
"Well actually, there's also no future for me when I leave because the far away place I was talking about hasn't even been discovered yet. And I hear that the outside world today treat women like objects than an actual people. I mean come on, girls are way more mature that perverted guys."
He then held out his hand to her and said, "Very well then but please come with me for I must take shower and I am concerned for your well being. I will feel much better if you are with me."
She rolled her eyes and took his hand. "Whatevs."