Moses 5

There was just no end to this! For the fifth time in the last couple minutes, Jaden had to stop to catch his breath. He was sure now that he had a broken rib; it hurt too much to breath. Looking up, Jaden felt his confidence wane. There were no turns in this thing, how can it be called a Labyrinth?

Sliding down the wall, Jaden closed his eyes. He knew he didn't have time to rest, but he needed it if he was going to make it any further. Not for the first time since getting here Jaden wondered why he was even doing this. He owed those boys nothing; they had beaten the hell out of him. Why was he risking his freedom for them? Then he remembered something his mother had said once when he was little.

"Mom? Why did she try to get her brother back? Wasn't he mean to her?" Jaden asked sleepily. His mother fixed the covers around him as he hugged his teddy bear Lancelot tighter. "Well, she realized that it hadn't been her right to wish him away. She also knew that people would miss him if he disappeared. So for the first time, the girl thought of others and rescued her brother."

Thought of others, huh? Well, their parents would miss them. Jaden guessed that was a good enough reason to get them back. He was about to get up when a small voice said "'ello". Looking around, Jaden couldn't see anyone. Thinking it was his imagination he started to get up, only to hear the voice again. "I said 'ello." Jaden finally noticed the little caterpillar with a red scarf looking up at him from a ledge on the wall. Jaden figured he should be freaking out, but he was in too much pain to care. Besides, he had just seen a dwarf spray a fairy with a spray can; why not a talking worm.

"Oh. Sorry, I couldn't see you."

"That's alright. Why don't you come inside and have a cup a tea."

Jaden wasn't sure how that would work, but he didn't have time to find out. "Sorry, but I have to get to the center of this Labyrinth. Do you know were a turn is in this passage way?"

"Sure, this place is full of turns. Just go to that wall."

Well, I have nothing to lose Jaden thought as he got up and walked forward. When he would have run into the wall, he passed right through. Jaden felt like such an idiot; an optical illusion. Never take anything for granted.

"Thanks," Jaden said, turning to go left.

"No, no, not that way!" the caterpillar cried.

Jaden looked back, confused. "Why?"

"That way leads straight to the castle. You don't want to go there. Why don't you come inside and meet the Misses instead."

Jaden raised one eyebrow. If he hadn't asked, he was sure the caterpillar wouldn't have given him an explanation. "Sorry, but the castle is where I need to get to. Thanks for the help."

Jaden continued down the left passage, making a couple of twists and turns until he came to a junk yard. Jaden was amazed by what he saw. As far as he could see there was nothing but junk; furniture, toys, clothes, everything you could think of. He had never seen so much stuff in his life. In the distance, he could see the Goblin City and the castle at the center. It looked just as his mom had described it in her stories.

He was so engrossed in the view that he didn't hear the footsteps until they were right behind him. On instinct, he spun, ready to pulverize whatever had been dumb enough to sneak-up behind him. He froze with his fist mere inches away from a petrified Hoggle's face. Jaden immediately straightened. "Hoggle?"

"Uh… Just, cumin' to see how you was doin'."

Jaden didn't believe that for a second. Most likely he was here as an obstacle, meaning he was in the right path. Jaden started walking without really acknowledging Hoggle. Hoggle, not knowing what else to do, followed. After a while, the silence got the better of Hoggle and he asked, "So why you runnin' the Labyrinth for?"

Jaden glanced back at Hoggle over his shoulder, never slowing his pace. He debated whether it was wise to talk in length with the dwarf or to just remain silent. What if it was a trick? Finally, he decided there was no harm in a conversation and answered, "I wished away my foster brothers. I'm running to get them back."

"They the ones what did that to ya?"

"Yeah," Jaden replied reluctantly, unconsciously wrapping his arm around his sour ribs.

"So then why are you tryin' to save them?" Hoggle asked in bewilderment, "I would think you'd want nothin' more ta do with them."

For a long time, Jaden said nothing. Then finally he said, "My mom once told me that no one has the right to wish way another person."

"Your mom?"

"Yeah. She taught me to never say things in anger because once you say something, you can never take it back," Jaden glanced back, "I said something I shouldn't have said, even in jest. Getting them back is the only way I can atone. Besides, my mom would be upset with me if she found out about this whole little incident."

Hoggle considered this boy for a moment, noticing the way he carried himself (even though he was limping badly) with confidence, the way he spoke with care, and the glint of defiance and mischief in his eye. "What's your name?"

Jaden hesitated a moment before answering, "Jaden Williams."

Hoggle froze in shock. He had heard that correctly, right? Williams? It couldn't be! "You wouldn't by chance be related to a Sarah Williams would you?"

Jaden stopped. No one had said his mother's name in years. Plus, how did Hoggle know his mother's name? Staring at Hoggle in complete surprise he turned completely and asked "How do you know my mom's name?"

Jaden noticed two things at once in that instance: Hoggle staring above his head and heavy footsteps stopping right behind him. He turned just in time to see a giant club coming down at him before it connected with his middle. Hoggle could only stare in horror as Jaden was sent flying, smashing through three piles of junk before slamming into a forth. Jaden felt bone shatter, the air leave his lungs, and blood quickly replacing it. He crumbled to the ground in a pile of agony, coughing up large amounts of blood. What the hell just hit me? He struggled to raise his head, his body already starting to shut down in shock. But when he focused on what had hit him, he wished that he hadn't.

An ogre, ten feet tall was making its way toward him. It had small red eyes, four large fangs that protruded from its mouth, green skin, and drool coming out of the corner of its mouth. It had huge bulging muscles, dressed in only a loincloth, and sporting a club as big around as Jaden. One of the ugliest things he had ever seen. Jaden struggled to focus on the monster that was surely coming to kill him; his vision was getting blurry and he couldn't breathe. The ogre had a hungry look on its face as it bent down and picked Jaden up. One finger on either side of Jaden's head and under his arms, the ogre lifted him up till he was level with the creatures face. Jaden more felt than saw the ogre set down its club to grab his legs and turn him to the side.

The next thing Jaden knew, an unimaginable pain erupted in his right side as four knives cut into him. The pain was so intense that Jaden couldn't keep from releasing a bloodcurdling scream.

The sound of Jaden's scream shook Hoggle out of his fear induced stupor. Hoggle saw the ogre biting into Jaden, eating him alive. If he didn't do something soon, that monster was going to devour Jaden. Grabbing the first thing he laid his hands on, Hoggle chunked it at the ogre's head. The ogre turned sharply at the interruption of his meal, in the process ripping a large chunk of flesh out of Jaden.

"P-P-Pick on s-someone y-your own size," Hoggle stated in fear.

The ogre dropped Jaden, who crumbled to the ground and lay motionless. Hoggle could only stare in wide eyed horror as the ogre slowly moved toward him, still chewing. The next thing he knew, there was an arrow protruding out of the beast's neck. Hoggle turned to where the arrow would have come from and nearly cried in relief.

The Royal Guard had arrived.