"Well we're here." Justin said as they pulled up outside a massive building. It was boarded up across the doors. A sign was stuck across the window. It read 'Closed for repairs' they knew better.
"Who do you think is behind it?" Vanora asked Justin as the snuck round the back of the building. Justin found the back-door.
"I have an idea, I just hope I'm wrong." He said. A blade shot out from his arm. He then set to work on the door.
"Do you think it will be a witch?" Vanora asked inspecting the building. "It doesn't quite seem the normal attack from a witch." Justin broke through the door.
"Well we'll just have to find out." Justin turned to look at Vanora. "You sure you want to follow me?" He asked her.
"I'll be fine, don't worry. Remember fastest runner." She smiled. But she could see the concern in Justin's eyes. This was no normal enemy. What was Justin not telling her?
"Just remember, we stick together. No wandering off. And if we get separated call Lord Death. He'll call me and direct me to you."
"Who do you think is in there?" Vanora asked. Justin paused and looked at the door. "You know who it is! Tell me!" She shouted at him. She hated not knowing things. Justin looked back at her.
"If you hear a grinding of a saw. Run in the name of everything good. Run as fast as you can." Justin replied. Vanora nodded. They both went inside the building.
Inside the building there was room after room of waxwork figures. Justin had picked up a pair of torches for them to use. Vanora shuddered as they went past a group made to look like a famous pop band. She didn't like them at all. Justin didn't seem to keen on them either. They found the gift shop and pulled out a few maps of the complex.
"Looking at this, the whole building is a loop. If we walk round long enough we'll get back to here. The only exception is the mirror maze at the centre of the building. I wouldn't like to get stuck in there." Justin explained. He looked over at a door. "That should lead round to the start of the tour. We'll go round and meet back here. Hopefully we'll catch the guy." Justin coughed. "The girl who's doing this." He seemed to correct himself. Vanora was now even more curious on who it could be. She picked up a pen from the gift shop.
"I'll cross out the rooms that we've been through. But surly it will be best if we both go in opposite directions, then we can't miss them." Vanora suggested. Justin turned to her and grabbed her shoulders.
"You are not to wander off alone! You don't know who were dealing with!" Justin shouted at her. Something had really spooked him. He let go of her shoulders. "Sorry. It's just... this place." He turned to the door. "We need to keep our guard up."
"What is it? Nothing normally bothers you this much." Vanora asked. Justin looked back at her.
"I think I know who's behind this. I hope I'm wrong but if I'm not. I want you to promise you will run as fast as you can if I ask you to. If I'm in a fight I want to know you will leave me behind, when I tell you to run. You must leave. I'll be fine." Justin was serious now. Vanora sensed it. She sensed the evil in this place.
"I'm supposed to leave you in the heat of battle? What if I'm a weapon I could help?"
"And if you're a meister you'll get slaughtered." Justin cut in. Vanora shut up after that. She knew until she was able to fight the best she could do was to run. Justin walked towards the door. "Let's go." Vanora nodded and followed him.
They were walking for ages it seemed. There was only a small chance they would find the person responsible. They could easily miss them. Justin kept alert at all times. Nothing much seemed to happen. They went over half way round before they really found a room that really freaked them out. The room was a massive big top. There were all sorts of performers about the room. The room in the shadows made the figures creepier. They went round checking each one. Vanora didn't like wax works at the best of times. There fixed expressions and glassed over eyes that stared at you. Smiles that looked forced instead of natural. The fact it looked realistic as well only added to the fear. Justin didn't look like he liked the situation any more than she did. He walked round checking everywhere, behind figures, round the corners, under the seats he didn't leave any stone unturned. Vanora came up to a group of clowns. She shuddered. They were more grotesque than any other figures she had seen. The painted smiles plastered on forced sneers. They smirked at her in the shadows. She moved round the group checking to see if anyone could possibly be hiding. She glanced over to Justin. The two had agreed not to talk to each other, both of them alert to the slightest noise. Justin was completely focused on the search. She had never seen him this edgy. She turned away from the clowns sighing as she turned her torch to the ring master standing in the centre of the room. She took a step towards him, she tried to take a second but a cold wax hand tightened round her shoulder. She froze. Her heart started to race as she heard the figure moving towards her. It creaked and moaned as it lifted its foot up. She knew what she had to do. Dropping her torch she raised her fingers to her mouth she blew a shrill whistle. Justin's torch immediately spun round and lit up her and the clown. Vanora was temporarily blinded by the light but dropped down. Justin drew his blade and lunged for the figure. He cleanly sliced through the clown and it stumbled back and collapsed.
"Vanora, get ready to run faster than ever before." Justin whispered to her as he helped her up. His torch searching the shadows.
"Who was that?" Vanora asked. A figure lunged at Justin through the shadows the whirring of a saw echoed through the room. Justin's torch smashed on the floor plunging them into darkness. Vanora tried to recover her torch.
"Don't turn on the torch! Just run!" Justin shouted through the darkness. Vanora left the torch and ran to where she thought there was a way out. There was only enough light coming from a doorway for her to pick it out.
"Protecting your girl are you Father?" A voice said in a mocking tone. Vanora ran through the doorway and out of the big top. "I can't wait to catch her." Justin saw Vanora run out of the room. He sighed in relief. She had escaped. Now all he needed to do was survive this battle. The figure that had attacked had disappeared into the shadows. Suddenly the whole room lit up. Justin shielded his eyes as the light blinded him. "Well it's good to see you again."
"Giriko! What do you want?" Justin shouted. He lowered his arms away from his eyes and spotted the chainsaw weapon standing near a control panel. He was wearing a white shirt, blue jeans and had brown gloves running up his arms. He grinned back at Justin revealing a set of shark like teeth.
"I wanted to know why you haven't been fighting recently." Giriko answered. Justin looked at him slightly confused. "Now I know you've been looking after a girl. I guess it answers my question."
"Giriko nothing is going on. I've taken on an apprentice. That's it." Justin argued.
"Okay." Giriko said quickly. He walked round the room circling Justin. "I was just curious."
"What are you doing here?" Justin asked. He was on guard again. Giriko grinned at him.
"I wonder how well you've trained her." Giriko growled. "I guess we'll find out soon." Giriko stopped near a doorway. Justin realised where he was. Giriko quickly changed as his saw blade came out round his legs. "Catch me if you can." He sneered before turning to race off through the door. Justin took off after him, he had to save Vanora from him.
"Ah!" Vanora was blinded by the lights suddenly switching on. She rubbed her eyes. She didn't know where she was or what had happened. She didn't know if Justin was alright or who the other figure was. She looked round the room. She needed to contact Lord Death. She saw a massive sign hung above a black curtain. The sign read 'Mirror Maze'. She looked back the way she came and back at the curtain. If she didn't go in, she would be fine. She walked over and moved the curtain entering the maze. She could call Lord Death from here. Replacing the curtain over the entrance she walked over and knelt down near the first mirror. She blew onto the glass, then placing her finger to the glass. "42-42-564 whenever you want to knock on deaths door." She traced the numbers on the mirror. After a few ripples Lord Death soon appeared in the mirror.
"Hi! How are you? Where's Justin?" Lord Death looked around.
"We were attacked. I left as ordered and rang you." Vanora said.
"Right, well done. Did you see the witch?" Lord Death asked.
"Can a witch be male?" Vanora asked. Lord Death tilted his head to the side in confusion. "The person we met was able to control the waxworks, but I didn't hear any magic being cast. Also there was a rather loud grinding noise when we fort him."
"What sort of noise?" Lord Death asked. Before she could answer the chainsaw noise came nearer to them. "Oh that one. Vanora get out of there! Find Justin and leave!" Lord Death said quickly before cutting out. Vanora waited at the start of the maze. The noise became louder as Giriko approached. She shut her eyes and wished he would go strait past her. The noise cut out. She shuddered, if it had faded she would be fine as he'd gone past. It had cut so he was standing outside. Giriko paced about a while.
"I know you're here girl." He shouted. "And believe me, I will catch you." He had an evil tone to his voice. She looked out from beneath the curtain. She saw his feet moving around. Giriko seemed to turn to the Mirror Maze. "I guess your hiding in here." He walked towards the maze. Vanora got up. She hoped she wouldn't have to enter. His footsteps were heavy, she edged away from the curtain. Looking over her shoulder if she kept going, she'd get lost in the maze. Did she want to risk it? "Got yah." Giriko growled.
"Not yet." Vanora set off into the maze not even looking back.
"I enjoy a chase." Giriko set off after her. Vanora ran round the mirrors trying to escape him. Luckily as disorientating it was for Vanora, it was the same for Giriko. Soon the two of them were as lost as each other but that didn't comfort her.
"Where's the way out!" Vanora shouted in frustration.
"I can get you out of here." Giriko said, his refection appearing in front of Vanora. She jumped. "I've been here so long I know how to get out."
"If you know this maze, how come you haven't caught me yet?" Vanora shouted. Her reflection appearing in front of Giriko.
*"Because I don't know where you are." Giriko growled. The game of cat and mouse continued. Vanora ran round a corner she was getting tired of this game. She didn't like it. Giriko's reflection flashed up in front of her. She stumbled back away from it. It reached for her and she backed away. Suddenly a hard came over her mouth and another round her waist and pulled her back. Vanora tried to scream but it was muffled. Suddenly she saw the black curtain brush over her. She was out.
"Thank goodness I found you before he did." Justin said releasing Vanora. She took a few steps forward and dropped to her knees. Painting heavily.
"How... did... you... find me?" She asked. Justin crouched down in front of her and lifted up her head. She looked at him. The relief in his eyes.
"I just waited for you to run past me." Justin said. Vanora managed a smile.
"We don't need to stay any longer now do we?" Vanora asked. Justin smiled.
"No we can go back home now." Justin stood up and offered his hand to help her up. Vanora took it and they both nodded and left the entrance of the maze. As they pulled open the door they heard a shout from the maze.
"You may have escaped this time. But I will track you down and catch you." Giriko shouted from the maze. "You won't always be there to save her Justin, that's when she'll be mine!" Justin half pushed Vanora out the door.
"I'd like to see you try Giriko." Justin growled. He left slamming the door shut behind him. He turned to Vanora. "Let's get back home."
"Sure." She smiled. Justin finally was able to relax. He had accomplished his mission and Vanora was safe. They both survived. Justin walked over to the car parked outside, he opened his door and climbed in. Vanora also climbed in the passenger seat. Justin started the car as she turned on the radio. Justin passed her his D-Pod and she plugged it in to the radio. Soon enough they were on their way home.
"Well it sounds like a successful mission." Lord Death said bouncing about the mirror.
"Yes, we found out who it was and made it back without too much trouble." Justin reported.
"Well done, yes very well done! I'll start working on a team to stop him." Lord Death said.
"What do you mean a team?" Justin questioned.
"I know of your history and if what you said was true it's safer to transfer this mission to another team. I think Spirit and Stein would do it." Lord Death said.
"I want to continue this mission!" Justin said in a raised voice. "I want to see it through."
"But what about Vanora? Do you wish to continue this mission?" Lord Death and Justin both turned to her. Vanora looked between the two. She got to make the decision. She thought for a while. Then made up her mind.
"I want to continue this mission." She said confidently. Lord Death was wishing she would say no, but he accepted her decision.
"Very well, you two can stop Giriko but on one condition." Lord Death announced.
"What would that be?" Justin asked.
"We must find out whether she is a weapon or a meister. Only after that you two may peruse Giriko."
"It sounds reasonable." Justin commented.
"I accept." Vanora agreed. Lord Death gave them a thumbs up.
"Well I'll send Stein over tomorrow. He's good at these things." Lord Death said.
"What happens if she's a meister?" A voice asked from the Death room. Spirit came into view. This time he was being serious. "I doubt Justin would let her wield him. You need a weapon there in case."
"Oh yes very good point Spirit. I'll contact Marie as well." Lord Death agreed. Spirit collapsed in a corner, crying about something not being fair. Vanora giggled. Spirit wanted it to be him.
"Don't worry Spirit. I'm sure we'll meet at some point." Vanora called. Spirit looked round, he seemed to cheer up at that.
"Well you two get a good night sleep and training will begin tomorrow. Good night!" Lord Death disappeared. Justin turned to Vanora.
"Well I can't wait to see what happens." Justin said.
"I can't wait either. I want to know now." Vanora said excitedly.
"Well, we both need a good night sleep so..." Justin walked to the door to the bathroom. "I'll see you tomorrow." He went through it. Vanora went off to her room, after getting changed into her pyjamas she climbed into bed and fell asleep.
People who are wondering why there was a * near Giriko's line. The reason for this is because I got bored and wrote a spin off where something very diffrent happens. I'm probably going to publish it at a later date.
Thank you for reading! Next chapter will be up soon!