p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="2f79227533488fff310f969bf33644c3"The sun hung high in the center of a cloudless sky, beating down on the Earth relentlessly. Anything caught in the sun's light was bathed in sweltering heat. The air was thick and heavy with moisture, making it difficult to breathe. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="cc8bc12e9e868c7204cd68bb83ec4fad"Gwen felt out of balance as her upper body was assaulted by the hot sun, while from the waist down she was kept cool in the shade of the vines that trapped her in place. A few feet away Lee inspecting the wall of thick green trunks. Sweat shone on his face, glimmering in the harsh light. His hair was damp and had begun to curl and cling to his temples in the warm moisture of his perspiration. Every few moments Lee would sway unsteadily as his eyes would seem to glaze over. Only for him to jerk back into alertness and quickly catch his balance once more. The heat was doing a great deal of damage on Lee's already deteriorating health. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="89ed093c96d6e3fff36354fe8e14470e"Lee was sick. So obviously so that Gwen would see it even if she were blind. There was no common illness or injury that afflicted him. It was the labyrinth. The endlessness of the stress that such towering walls and dizzying turns had caused was wearing down on Lee's mind. Whatever curses that plagued the land covered by such a gargantuan maze were destroying his vitality and turning his stomach to rot. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="06556f57acc76d11b4cb7c0f6ad50533"Gwen's heart swelled with both guilt and worry. Despair rising in her throat for the loss that she had not yet even known. Lee would crumble under the pressure of such a place, in body and especially in mind. If they had no help then they had no hope. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="17c07621b0f81eacc1be01b9cb74ea18""What time is it?" Lee asked. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="07db93c035b6eb09e60f25d2798446c2""You have the watch." Gwen reminded him. Lee took the pocket watch from his pocket and held it out to her. The silver reflected the sunlight and blinded them both for just a second. Gwen blinked and opened the watch. Gwen frowned at it. It was 5:15 A.M. Gwen glanced up to the sun that still stayed in the center of the sky, hesitant to leave from it's height. She recalled once again the words of the strange person that had trapped them there. em style="box-sizing: border-box;"The sky will do as it pleases whenever it pleases. /emShe wished that the sky would choose a different time of day to replicateem style="box-sizing: border-box;". /emShe wondered if time moved the same in the labyrinth as it did at home. If it did, she thought of what might happen if her parents returned early to find that their daughter and Lee were both missing. Gwen grimaced as she remembered that her uncle was supposed to check on them sometime that day or the next. In a few hours he would walk into an empty house with two kids having vanished without a trace. Would the police get involved? How would they explain what had happened when they returned. em style="box-sizing: border-box;"If /emthey returned. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="bd6c8ceac07878b19c18d1432bf08f94""It's five fifteen... In the morning." Gwen said without even the smallest hint of emotion in her voice. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="b5bd0cf273f52a7515c538f30d03d44e""Fantastic." Lee said, glaring up at the sky. He turned and examined some lichens on the wall beside him. The lichen sprouted several boggling eyes that stared back at him curiously. When Lee turned his head the lichen eyes mirrored him with the same movement. Lee blinked, a dozen tiny eyes blinked as well. He smiled a bit then winked at the wall-dwelling creature. The eyes all went wide and looked at each other in confusion. They all turned back to Lee and the left half of them blinked, creating a gesture of what would have appeared to have been winking. Lee turned back to Gwen and pointed out the strange creature to her. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="dca2c258b4e8e2cdb8440d7c01f1e393""It's kinda cute." Gwen said with a faint smile. Lee looked again at the many eyed lichen. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="665cd78a3c8b48be95365d60838d6768""Yeah, I really like 'em." Lee said. The eyes of the lichen wiggled around excitedly at such a wonderful compliment. Lee and Gwen giggled and observed the little eyes in adoration. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="b44097201a48faa1c85efd80d681c4fc""Wanna be friends?" Lee asked the wiggling eyes. The lichen only got more excited and squirmed around furiously. The eyes moved in a nodding motion. Lee grinned. Then frowned. Then grinned again. "Do you have any idea how to get through the labyrinth?" he asked. The lichen eyes looked around at each other then nodded again. "Which way should we go next?" The little eyes began to turn. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="55abbc2e421b667c970856aae7c49782""FEAR NOT!" yapped an approaching little fox. The lichen eyes shrunk back into their crack in the wall in fear. " I HAVE RETURNED TO THEE!" Didymus yapped. Lee whirled around in fury, nearly giving himself whiplash. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="1c0f79ad7891e71adc595ea83165d7c4""YOU DUMB ASS!" Lee screamed. His voice shrill and biting, thick with his now heavy Indian accent. "YOU SCARED THEM AWAY! YOU ABSOLUTE IDIOT!" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="5a1f60e7aa1e5f4bcafe35fb8bb7bc1b"Didymus stood there in shock, stuck by the harshness of Lee's words. Didymus found himself wondering why he had gone to such lengths to help this boy. A heaviness built in Didymus' tiny chest. Lee continued screaming terrible things in thoughtless rage. Didymus gulped audibly and stood there, feeling much smaller than he actually was. Why? Why after all that he had done to help was he now being verbally assaulted so suddenly and so brutally? He shook as he was hit by another barrage of hateful words. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="7358a3070860d5edb20aee45aa87a95c""LEE! STOP IT!" Gwen screamed. Didymus turned away from Lee and returned to himself. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="831c856c7ca206e863424aa112e99814""My lady!" he yapped, not sounding quite as chipper as he usually was. Lee had stopped yelling and stood there fuming and grinding his teeth. He looked back at the crack in the wall. One tiny eye tentatively protruded from the crack in the wall and looked at him with concern. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="4feeed01b9ca9772ab64b0a7dac8598d""My lady, I have found a way to free thee." Didymus said as he trotted over to stand in front of Gwen. She smiled at him. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="0b3e079d729ce6dbf808822221e1b74c""Oh thank you, Didymus." Gwen said sincerely. Lee glared at her briefly before focusing back on his lichen friend. Didymus gave Gwen a toothy grin and retrieved the hand of the firey from the small pouch on his belt. At the sight of the severed hand, Gwen gasped and drew back a far as she could. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="4083cc7294cfcaa44d339abf15647814""W-what is that?!" Gwen said in a voice barely above a whisper. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="4fe8a1bea55af952caa3601a80f6562c""A firey paw, M'lady." He said proudly. Gwen stared in horror at it. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="12f3b5a17b6164b48e9640a3ff184d38""That's... That's an actual hand? You took something's hand?" she asked. Didymus cocked his head in confusion of her discomfort. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="f0937ea22ac5360e508eade8a09ac1da""Of course, how else wouldst thou be free?" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="2d15f0706eb4affab3040c77c2bf48eb""And just how is some severed hand going to get her out of that?" Lee sneered. Didymus glared at him and his black lips curled back in a snarl. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="7d7d16ae21a7a8406f7ff18830dabea6""What quarrel have thee? Doth thou wish to duel me again, boy?" Didymus snapped. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="8d2216a9dc242c7c481d2629f7d10fa6""Shut up and answer the question." /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="235216df302833f41406f71d6d853302"" One cannot do both." /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="6b5ea0634e7d4ee99ea398ae216d835d""What the hell is the hand for, Fluffy?" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="503284c4e59ba38a74f4d561b3bf9157"Didymus huffed and turned back to Gwen. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="c1228c0beabadeb0bb0af02b5b9f844e""Fireys are fire spirits,-" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="85a3ecc30d195c24678aa0354efcc037"" Oh no, really?" Lee scoffed sarcastically. Didymus' eye twitched in Lee's direction. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="bd4df962961b264ad72186be53dcfb41""The hand may serve to ignite the vines that confine thee." he continued, ignoring the boy. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="ea99f69de9a24db6405f81db1028630a""So we're gonna set the vines on fire." Gwen said slowly. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="94fd06e1ccafec20ba204db2fb364a52""That sounds safe." Lee laughed bitterly. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="f3054bc8ada475130fa0e351d99dbe45""With a severed hand." Gwen continued. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="f0c7274af96cdf8d15a9a4bc8eb9f660""Yes." Didymus said. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="84779cd8fffc0750de1c07f4b78d2d64""Where exactly did you get that? and um... How did you get it?" Gwen asked hesitantly. Didymus grinned and told the tale of his heroic retrieval of the firey hand. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="668af5ec566f14e812131615cf6ae597""The hand shall combust and the vines that hold thee will wither surely." Didymus said, "Such creatures shall not miss it. For when it burns, a new hand will grow upon it's wrist. Gwen smiled unsurely, not sure if she was relieved or creeped out at the knowledge of how firey hands worked. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="b9356d99b9deb88587c3da38874c6fbf""Well... " she hesitated. "Let's give it a shot." /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="26478db11a74b3c8675f463fee30cba7" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="cfe201de5943405c840233fec4378a45" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="b7d02b64f9e47354bf0b62bf4c2cd954" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="714e797025a55e6b0e4a0fb86b5af67a" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="f38f085c1b938f2edbdd66de2f73e709" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="b7dda0fa25ee42de4d0057c1b2d500fa"Didymus wedged the firey hand as far as he could between the labyrinth wall and the forest of vines. He positioned it as far from Gwen as he could get. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="42abcaab8cf0fc82c8a7412045b5fc44""When it goes, I'm gonna grab the clock hand and then we all run together." Gwen said. She wiggled her toes and kicked her legs a bit to get some feeling back into them before they ran. They had no idea how the vines would react or how much time they would have, but Gwen had made it quite clear; No one was getting left behind. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="911d767bd8c84efb71094b9848fbce1a""Art thou ready, my lady?" Didymus yapped. Gwen looked to Lee. He nodded to her. Gwen turned to Didymus and nodded in his direction. Anxiety, anticipation, and determination filled each one of them. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="fe017d737e418f218a3b91f2c68bba01"Didymus took a deep breath./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="9ec6f455aade668527d62a4b81de3455""NOW!" Didymus shouted and snapped off the index finger of the firey hand which promptly burst into flames in a rather substantial blast which knocked Didymus backwards a few feet. The vines burned like a fuse untangling in several different directions. The vines around Gwen's waist loosened and she slipped out easily. She turned and reached back into the wriggling ropes and snatched the clock hand swiftly. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="b4763df2ae6a167b5878361e722b123e"They stood back and watched, both relieved and slightly disappointed at the slow pace of the burning vines. Slithering and squirming like headless snakes. The group of three stood back a few meters from the steadily growing fire as Gwen was allowed some time to try and get some feeling back into her legs. The fire surely did not do anything to ease the discomfort of such sweltering heat. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="67ae597a94a73e6d06e2417034401fd4""Well," said Lee, "That was anti-climactic." He was answered immediately by some enormous blood-curdling shriek. Like the sound of a several wounded animals screaming at once, coming from within the vines. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="eecb0bb790f40edacdec6baf9b21d08d""You gotta be kidding." Gwen said in exasperation. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="3edce7868a1cba1b3933ac706649d732"The vines erupted with life, screaming and thrashing wildly. And this time they were on fire. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="6b789b263f73b9a7c26b20103bba9cc8""Run. Run now." Lee warned. He grabbed Gwen by the wrist and pulled her away as the vines slithered towards them at a terrifying pace. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="95db06e908d99f397a73168c4a268836""C'mon, Didymus!" Gwen called behind her. Didymus sped past his companions and showed no signs of slowing down. The vines were everywhere except in front of them and that was the only way they had any intention of going. Gwen shouted as she was struck at the ankle with a thick fiery whip. The searing pain only made her run faster. Another vine whipped at them, charring Lee's shirt. A log sized trunk fell in front of them. They leaped over it in an instant. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="528862b9e6ff8425639da7291907523e""THIS WAY!" Didymus yelled, waving them over to a loose tile. Lee crashed down and threw the tile aside with adrenaline filled muscles. The tile went flying and broke against a wall. Didymus jumped down the pitch black hole. It seemed to lead into a narrow tunnel, leading only to blackness. Lee clambered down after Didymus. Gwen followed swiftly, but hesitated. The dark nothingness below her stopped her. Filled with dread, her body shook. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="78e165023d07e5e6166ff9390a057127"Lee reappeared into the light where Gwen could see him. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="52206e4ad3dcfaf2253980d529d7b25a""Gwen! Hurry the hell up!" He shouted. Behind her blazing ropes crashed to the ground with great thuds and remaining whipped the air wildly. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="5ae913d202a1915548b0d655d7c5a8e7"Lee took Gwen's hand and tugged her further down into the hole. She gained her wits back in all too sudden realization. A vine lashed out as she dove down. Gwen screamed. The sound echoed into the tunnel as Lee pulled her along after Didymus. Gwen swatted at her shoulder, certain that she must have been on fire. The pain in her shoulder boiled down past just her skin. The smell of burning skin and a sizzling sound of boiling blood filled the tunnel. They didn't dare stop. The light of the fire and the sky faded and they stumbled blindly through the darkness. Following only the sound of Didymus' directions that he shouted over his shoulder. Gwen couldn't tell what was more powerful; The pain or the fear?/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="1f7cdf788f714778039f9e6c4f71a6a1" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="fd28fa46e51d32fdcf8be80b3f7acb6b" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="931399f0a3b6c2440ae21d18f2fea804" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="c7be9ab146d04d6b9a695847db6fd4e8" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="391ebf420f14a30510c1762756cc906d" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="0b33bce0ff90b5f124c17db49cea55f4" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="9b9d857e00066da25df6f924992546cf" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="aba90e3a4c7ecd6343b4803b4bf6c2a7" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="5a9e00b096dd7df77004010806f934ae" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="c9546dea3f1643d9779401a2f45047f4" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="15ef6d0a73a93c5f9a351b6cc37b1145"Smoke rose over the walls of the labyrinth. Emrys smiled as they balanced gracefully on the edge of a wall. Their golden silk robe billowing behind them. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="0f563bf1d47d402343d039d34660a121""Oh dear," Emrys said, "The poor children aren't very good at hiding are they?" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="e4a6df1cd1e16821ae7c037b9f6797b2" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="cc8bc12e9e868c7204cd68bb83ec4fad"Gwen felt out of balance as her upper body was assaulted by the hot sun, while from the waist down she was kept cool in the shade of the vines that trapped her in place. A few feet away Lee inspecting the wall of thick green trunks. Sweat shone on his face, glimmering in the harsh light. His hair was damp and had begun to curl and cling to his temples in the warm moisture of his perspiration. Every few moments Lee would sway unsteadily as his eyes would seem to glaze over. Only for him to jerk back into alertness and quickly catch his balance once more. The heat was doing a great deal of damage on Lee's already deteriorating health. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="89ed093c96d6e3fff36354fe8e14470e"Lee was sick. So obviously so that Gwen would see it even if she were blind. There was no common illness or injury that afflicted him. It was the labyrinth. The endlessness of the stress that such towering walls and dizzying turns had caused was wearing down on Lee's mind. Whatever curses that plagued the land covered by such a gargantuan maze were destroying his vitality and turning his stomach to rot. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="06556f57acc76d11b4cb7c0f6ad50533"Gwen's heart swelled with both guilt and worry. Despair rising in her throat for the loss that she had not yet even known. Lee would crumble under the pressure of such a place, in body and especially in mind. If they had no help then they had no hope. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="17c07621b0f81eacc1be01b9cb74ea18""What time is it?" Lee asked. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="07db93c035b6eb09e60f25d2798446c2""You have the watch." Gwen reminded him. Lee took the pocket watch from his pocket and held it out to her. The silver reflected the sunlight and blinded them both for just a second. Gwen blinked and opened the watch. Gwen frowned at it. It was 5:15 A.M. Gwen glanced up to the sun that still stayed in the center of the sky, hesitant to leave from it's height. She recalled once again the words of the strange person that had trapped them there. em style="box-sizing: border-box;"The sky will do as it pleases whenever it pleases. /emShe wished that the sky would choose a different time of day to replicateem style="box-sizing: border-box;". /emShe wondered if time moved the same in the labyrinth as it did at home. If it did, she thought of what might happen if her parents returned early to find that their daughter and Lee were both missing. Gwen grimaced as she remembered that her uncle was supposed to check on them sometime that day or the next. In a few hours he would walk into an empty house with two kids having vanished without a trace. Would the police get involved? How would they explain what had happened when they returned. em style="box-sizing: border-box;"If /emthey returned. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="bd6c8ceac07878b19c18d1432bf08f94""It's five fifteen... In the morning." Gwen said without even the smallest hint of emotion in her voice. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="b5bd0cf273f52a7515c538f30d03d44e""Fantastic." Lee said, glaring up at the sky. He turned and examined some lichens on the wall beside him. The lichen sprouted several boggling eyes that stared back at him curiously. When Lee turned his head the lichen eyes mirrored him with the same movement. Lee blinked, a dozen tiny eyes blinked as well. He smiled a bit then winked at the wall-dwelling creature. The eyes all went wide and looked at each other in confusion. They all turned back to Lee and the left half of them blinked, creating a gesture of what would have appeared to have been winking. Lee turned back to Gwen and pointed out the strange creature to her. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="dca2c258b4e8e2cdb8440d7c01f1e393""It's kinda cute." Gwen said with a faint smile. Lee looked again at the many eyed lichen. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="665cd78a3c8b48be95365d60838d6768""Yeah, I really like 'em." Lee said. The eyes of the lichen wiggled around excitedly at such a wonderful compliment. Lee and Gwen giggled and observed the little eyes in adoration. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="b44097201a48faa1c85efd80d681c4fc""Wanna be friends?" Lee asked the wiggling eyes. The lichen only got more excited and squirmed around furiously. The eyes moved in a nodding motion. Lee grinned. Then frowned. Then grinned again. "Do you have any idea how to get through the labyrinth?" he asked. The lichen eyes looked around at each other then nodded again. "Which way should we go next?" The little eyes began to turn. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="55abbc2e421b667c970856aae7c49782""FEAR NOT!" yapped an approaching little fox. The lichen eyes shrunk back into their crack in the wall in fear. " I HAVE RETURNED TO THEE!" Didymus yapped. Lee whirled around in fury, nearly giving himself whiplash. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="1c0f79ad7891e71adc595ea83165d7c4""YOU DUMB ASS!" Lee screamed. His voice shrill and biting, thick with his now heavy Indian accent. "YOU SCARED THEM AWAY! YOU ABSOLUTE IDIOT!" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="5a1f60e7aa1e5f4bcafe35fb8bb7bc1b"Didymus stood there in shock, stuck by the harshness of Lee's words. Didymus found himself wondering why he had gone to such lengths to help this boy. A heaviness built in Didymus' tiny chest. Lee continued screaming terrible things in thoughtless rage. Didymus gulped audibly and stood there, feeling much smaller than he actually was. Why? Why after all that he had done to help was he now being verbally assaulted so suddenly and so brutally? He shook as he was hit by another barrage of hateful words. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="7358a3070860d5edb20aee45aa87a95c""LEE! STOP IT!" Gwen screamed. Didymus turned away from Lee and returned to himself. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="831c856c7ca206e863424aa112e99814""My lady!" he yapped, not sounding quite as chipper as he usually was. Lee had stopped yelling and stood there fuming and grinding his teeth. He looked back at the crack in the wall. One tiny eye tentatively protruded from the crack in the wall and looked at him with concern. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="4feeed01b9ca9772ab64b0a7dac8598d""My lady, I have found a way to free thee." Didymus said as he trotted over to stand in front of Gwen. She smiled at him. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="0b3e079d729ce6dbf808822221e1b74c""Oh thank you, Didymus." Gwen said sincerely. Lee glared at her briefly before focusing back on his lichen friend. Didymus gave Gwen a toothy grin and retrieved the hand of the firey from the small pouch on his belt. At the sight of the severed hand, Gwen gasped and drew back a far as she could. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="4083cc7294cfcaa44d339abf15647814""W-what is that?!" Gwen said in a voice barely above a whisper. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="4fe8a1bea55af952caa3601a80f6562c""A firey paw, M'lady." He said proudly. Gwen stared in horror at it. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="12f3b5a17b6164b48e9640a3ff184d38""That's... That's an actual hand? You took something's hand?" she asked. Didymus cocked his head in confusion of her discomfort. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="f0937ea22ac5360e508eade8a09ac1da""Of course, how else wouldst thou be free?" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="2d15f0706eb4affab3040c77c2bf48eb""And just how is some severed hand going to get her out of that?" Lee sneered. Didymus glared at him and his black lips curled back in a snarl. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="7d7d16ae21a7a8406f7ff18830dabea6""What quarrel have thee? Doth thou wish to duel me again, boy?" Didymus snapped. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="8d2216a9dc242c7c481d2629f7d10fa6""Shut up and answer the question." /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="235216df302833f41406f71d6d853302"" One cannot do both." /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="6b5ea0634e7d4ee99ea398ae216d835d""What the hell is the hand for, Fluffy?" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="503284c4e59ba38a74f4d561b3bf9157"Didymus huffed and turned back to Gwen. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="c1228c0beabadeb0bb0af02b5b9f844e""Fireys are fire spirits,-" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="85a3ecc30d195c24678aa0354efcc037"" Oh no, really?" Lee scoffed sarcastically. Didymus' eye twitched in Lee's direction. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="bd4df962961b264ad72186be53dcfb41""The hand may serve to ignite the vines that confine thee." he continued, ignoring the boy. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="ea99f69de9a24db6405f81db1028630a""So we're gonna set the vines on fire." Gwen said slowly. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="94fd06e1ccafec20ba204db2fb364a52""That sounds safe." Lee laughed bitterly. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="f3054bc8ada475130fa0e351d99dbe45""With a severed hand." Gwen continued. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="f0c7274af96cdf8d15a9a4bc8eb9f660""Yes." Didymus said. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="84779cd8fffc0750de1c07f4b78d2d64""Where exactly did you get that? and um... How did you get it?" Gwen asked hesitantly. Didymus grinned and told the tale of his heroic retrieval of the firey hand. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="668af5ec566f14e812131615cf6ae597""The hand shall combust and the vines that hold thee will wither surely." Didymus said, "Such creatures shall not miss it. For when it burns, a new hand will grow upon it's wrist. Gwen smiled unsurely, not sure if she was relieved or creeped out at the knowledge of how firey hands worked. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="b9356d99b9deb88587c3da38874c6fbf""Well... " she hesitated. "Let's give it a shot." /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="26478db11a74b3c8675f463fee30cba7" /p
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p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="b7d02b64f9e47354bf0b62bf4c2cd954" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="714e797025a55e6b0e4a0fb86b5af67a" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="f38f085c1b938f2edbdd66de2f73e709" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="b7dda0fa25ee42de4d0057c1b2d500fa"Didymus wedged the firey hand as far as he could between the labyrinth wall and the forest of vines. He positioned it as far from Gwen as he could get. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="42abcaab8cf0fc82c8a7412045b5fc44""When it goes, I'm gonna grab the clock hand and then we all run together." Gwen said. She wiggled her toes and kicked her legs a bit to get some feeling back into them before they ran. They had no idea how the vines would react or how much time they would have, but Gwen had made it quite clear; No one was getting left behind. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="911d767bd8c84efb71094b9848fbce1a""Art thou ready, my lady?" Didymus yapped. Gwen looked to Lee. He nodded to her. Gwen turned to Didymus and nodded in his direction. Anxiety, anticipation, and determination filled each one of them. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="fe017d737e418f218a3b91f2c68bba01"Didymus took a deep breath./p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="9ec6f455aade668527d62a4b81de3455""NOW!" Didymus shouted and snapped off the index finger of the firey hand which promptly burst into flames in a rather substantial blast which knocked Didymus backwards a few feet. The vines burned like a fuse untangling in several different directions. The vines around Gwen's waist loosened and she slipped out easily. She turned and reached back into the wriggling ropes and snatched the clock hand swiftly. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="b4763df2ae6a167b5878361e722b123e"They stood back and watched, both relieved and slightly disappointed at the slow pace of the burning vines. Slithering and squirming like headless snakes. The group of three stood back a few meters from the steadily growing fire as Gwen was allowed some time to try and get some feeling back into her legs. The fire surely did not do anything to ease the discomfort of such sweltering heat. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="67ae597a94a73e6d06e2417034401fd4""Well," said Lee, "That was anti-climactic." He was answered immediately by some enormous blood-curdling shriek. Like the sound of a several wounded animals screaming at once, coming from within the vines. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="eecb0bb790f40edacdec6baf9b21d08d""You gotta be kidding." Gwen said in exasperation. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="3edce7868a1cba1b3933ac706649d732"The vines erupted with life, screaming and thrashing wildly. And this time they were on fire. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="6b789b263f73b9a7c26b20103bba9cc8""Run. Run now." Lee warned. He grabbed Gwen by the wrist and pulled her away as the vines slithered towards them at a terrifying pace. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="95db06e908d99f397a73168c4a268836""C'mon, Didymus!" Gwen called behind her. Didymus sped past his companions and showed no signs of slowing down. The vines were everywhere except in front of them and that was the only way they had any intention of going. Gwen shouted as she was struck at the ankle with a thick fiery whip. The searing pain only made her run faster. Another vine whipped at them, charring Lee's shirt. A log sized trunk fell in front of them. They leaped over it in an instant. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="528862b9e6ff8425639da7291907523e""THIS WAY!" Didymus yelled, waving them over to a loose tile. Lee crashed down and threw the tile aside with adrenaline filled muscles. The tile went flying and broke against a wall. Didymus jumped down the pitch black hole. It seemed to lead into a narrow tunnel, leading only to blackness. Lee clambered down after Didymus. Gwen followed swiftly, but hesitated. The dark nothingness below her stopped her. Filled with dread, her body shook. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="78e165023d07e5e6166ff9390a057127"Lee reappeared into the light where Gwen could see him. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="52206e4ad3dcfaf2253980d529d7b25a""Gwen! Hurry the hell up!" He shouted. Behind her blazing ropes crashed to the ground with great thuds and remaining whipped the air wildly. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="5ae913d202a1915548b0d655d7c5a8e7"Lee took Gwen's hand and tugged her further down into the hole. She gained her wits back in all too sudden realization. A vine lashed out as she dove down. Gwen screamed. The sound echoed into the tunnel as Lee pulled her along after Didymus. Gwen swatted at her shoulder, certain that she must have been on fire. The pain in her shoulder boiled down past just her skin. The smell of burning skin and a sizzling sound of boiling blood filled the tunnel. They didn't dare stop. The light of the fire and the sky faded and they stumbled blindly through the darkness. Following only the sound of Didymus' directions that he shouted over his shoulder. Gwen couldn't tell what was more powerful; The pain or the fear?/p
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p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="391ebf420f14a30510c1762756cc906d" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="0b33bce0ff90b5f124c17db49cea55f4" /p
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p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="c9546dea3f1643d9779401a2f45047f4" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="15ef6d0a73a93c5f9a351b6cc37b1145"Smoke rose over the walls of the labyrinth. Emrys smiled as they balanced gracefully on the edge of a wall. Their golden silk robe billowing behind them. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #555555;" data-p-id="0f563bf1d47d402343d039d34660a121""Oh dear," Emrys said, "The poor children aren't very good at hiding are they?" /p
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