The tunnel stretched on… and on… and on, and on, and on. And on. This was so clearly not a Labyrinth. The dictionary definition clearly stated that a Labyrinth was 'a place in which it would be easy to become lost'. And I was not lost. How could I be? The corridor just kept going on and on, and on… hmph. This was going to be a very long, horrid walk. And I had failed to bring shoes. Hans effing Christian Anderson…

"Ouch!" I stumbled over a protruding rock. Massaging the offended toe, I leaned against the wall.

"'Allo." Someone said from somewhere near my elbow.

I shrieked, and fell over.

"Allo."

I turned my head. A curious little blue worm wearing a stripped scarf stared critically down at me from near where I'd been standing moments before.

"Did you say hello?" I asked slowly. Yep. That's me. The intelligent one.

"No, I said 'allo, but that's close enough." The worm chirped cheerfully.

I blinked.

"You're a worm, aren't you?"

"Well, I'm 'arldy a cucumber, now 'm I?"

Okay, then.

"You wouldn't happen to know the way through the Labyrinth, would you?"

"No, I'm jest a worm." The worm said sarcastically.

"Oh." That seemed like an adequate response.

The worm brightened up visibly after a moment of awkward silence.

"Would ye care to come inside and meet the missus?"

"No, thank you. I'm sorry, but I have to solve this Labyrinth thingy rather soon."

I sighed.

"But there don't seem to be any turns or openings. It just keeps going on… and on… and on…"

"It's full of openings." The worm mumbled grumpily, interrupting my long-winded rant. "Ye just ain't seen' 'em."

"Where?" I was rather curious now.

"There's one right in front of ye."

I stood up, glancing to both sides. The walls were just as they always had been.

"No, there isn't." I frowned belligerently.

"Are ye sure ye wouldn't care to come inside and have some tea?" The worm asked hopefully.

"But there isn't an opening!" I protested, ignoring the invitation.

The worm sighed exasperatedly.

"'Course there is."

I looked at him expectantly.

"Try walkin' through it." He suggested grumpily.

"It's a wall."

"Yes."

"And I'm supposed to walk through it?"

"Yes."

"But it's a wall!"

"Yer point being…?"

"It's a wall."

"Jest try it!"

You know, I think I might have been beginning to annoy him.

I shrugged, and walked towards the wall. And ran into it.

"Ow." I moaned, rubbing my nose.

"The other wall, ye insipid child!"

That sounded vaguely familiar.

I tried the other wall, and passed through it without maiming myself.

"Yah!" I squealed, clapping my hands gleefully.

"Oi! 'Ang on!" The worm shrieked after me. "Don't go that way!"

"Wha'?"

"Never go that way." He scolded sternly.

"Oh, thanks!" I chirped, and skipped off down the other way, failing to hear the worm mutter,

"If she 'ad kept on going down that way, she'd 'ave gone straigh' to that castle."

Ah, the irony.