The Monsters of the Maze

by Annie Gray

Echo woke up in the Box. She was terrified, alone, and unable to remember anything. When the box finally opens she is surrounded by a bunch of strange boys who have never seen a girl before. She has to work hard to win their trust and fit in with them as if this entire situation is normal, when in reality, it is far from normal.

13. Music

I spent the whole day avoiding Zart, Chuck, and Alby. During lunch I managed to find the Builder that died. His name is Ben.I get to dinner early and eat most of my food before Zart gets there. I can calm myself down enough to be able to sit with him, but I lost my appetite. We sit and eat and talk for a while before Winston says,
"We should play a game."
"Another game of Truth or Dare?" Zart suggests.
Newt shakes his head. "I don't wanna have to lick your face again."
"Maybe Echo should sing us a song." Winston says.
"That's not a game slinthead." Minho says.
"We could make it a game." Zart tells us.
"How?" Newt asks.
"We could give her a senario and she would have to come up with a song that represents her reaction." Everyone looks him weird. "Like... Someone asks you how you feel. Now you have to respond in a song."
"Oh. Umm..." I say thinking. Then I smile.

"I feel pretty, oh so pretty
I feel pretty, and witty, and gay
and I pity, any girl who isn't today"

"There's no way that's a real song." Minho says.
"It is! I can sing the rest of it if you want." I say smirking at him.
"No thank you. Let's move on." Minho says laughing.
"You just had a really bad break up." Winston says.
I think for a few seconds and then a song comes to mind.

"I dug my key into the side
Of his pretty little suped up 4 wheel drive,
Carved my name into his leather seats.
I took a Louisville slugger to both headlights,
Slashed a hole in all 4 tires.
Maybe next time he'll think before he cheats."

"Someone threatens you." Minho says right away and I hardly have to think at all before I know what I am gonna sing.

"Hit me with your best shot
Why don't you hit me
With your best shot
Hit me with your best shot
Fire Away"

"Someone says something you don't like." Newt says and I laugh a little.
Umm..." I say, thinking.

"Covering my ears like a kid
When your words mean nothing I go la la la
I'm turning up the volume when you speak
If my heart can't stop it, I find a way to block it, I go
La la, la la la la la la la la la la,
La la la la, la la la la la la la la la la
La la, la la la la la la la la la la,
La la la la, la la la la la la la la la la"

"Someone asks you where you're going." Minho says.

"I'm on the highway to hell
Highway to hell
I'm on the highway to hell
Highway to hell"

"Someone asks you where you want to go." Newt asks

"When I am with you, there's no place I'd rather be
N-n-n-no, no, no, no place I'd rather be
N-n-n-no, no, no, no place I'd rather be
N-n-n-no, no, no, no place I'd rather be"

"Your insane." Zart says

"I'm insane
Well, I can feel it in my bones
Coursing through my veins
When did I become so cold?
For goodness sakes
Where is my self control?
If home is where my heart is
Then my heart has lost all hope"

"Someone asks you why you did something." Newt says

"Oh, there ain't no rest for the wicked
Money don't grow on trees
I got bills to pay
I got mouths to feed
And ain't nothing in this world for free
No I can't slow down
I can't hold back
Though you know I wish I could
No there ain't no rest for the wicked
Until we close our eyes for good"

"Someone asks you what you want to eat." Winston says, smiling victoriously. I smirk at him.

"It's peanut butter jelly time
peanut butter jelly time
peanut butter jelly
peanut butter jelly"

Winston punches the table, Minho smirks a little, Newt looks impressed and Zart is staring silently, eyes wide and mouth open. I laugh.
"Wow." Is all that Zart can say.
"I am impressed." Newt says.
"Yeah. Me too." Zart and Winston say at he same time. They look at each other and I giggle.
"Yeah. How do you know all those songs?" Minho asks.
"Why is there a song about peanut butter jelly time?" Winston asks, still upset that he didn't stump me.
"I don't. I just know them all. And apparently someone wanted to write a song about peanut butter jelly time." I tell them. "I'm gonna call it a night. See you boys tomorrow." I say before walking away.

AN: The songs she sings are: I Feel Pretty by Natalie Wood from the musical West Side Story, Before He Cheats by Carrie Underwood, Hit Me With Your Best Shot by Pat Benatar, La La Latch by Sam Smith, Highway To Hell by AC/DC, Rather Be by Clean Bandit, I'm Not A Vampire by Falling In Reverse, Ain't No Rest For The Wicked by Cage The Elephant, and Peanut Butter Jelly Time by Buckwheat Boyz.