Part one

HIDDEN DEMON

-”Where am I?” I remembered myself asking my consciousness.

I even remembered waking up in a long,narrow,dark corridor. I pulled myself to stand up and managed to,slowly and with wary. I squinted over the darkness with a little light over the roof to guide me. Wait,what is that smell? I think something is rotting down in here. I scanned the area without stepping any further, but what I saw freaked my mind out because,it seems like whenever I stare towards my back or front,the corridor seems to stretch to the endless horizon. Blood stains,mosses,scratches and bones scattered across the floor and walls, with cobwebs covering the ceiling. Considering the fact that I have both Claustrophobia and Arachnophobia, this strikes fear and cringe towards my spine. Right now, I just wanted to curl up and cry,waiting for someone to rescue and hug me, I really just wanted to give up now, but despite this fright I felt, I managed to remain calm, I ain't saying I'm not scared, I have this ability to remain calm in any situation, that's all, and I'm no brave either. The first thing that comes into my mind is that I need to find the exit,but it struck me, I don't know the direction. Am I between the up or down? Or in between the left or right? If so,which is which. There are so many questions running in my mind right now. UGH!! How in the world I even got here in the first place? THIS IS SO FRUSTRATING!! But then I reminded myself I have no time for swearing and complaining. I then examined the wall next to me at my left, hoping to find any clues, but instead of clues, I heard a bumping noise from the.....um.....I really don't know what direction it is, but let's just say that it's coming from my left if I faced the wall to my right...ugh never mind. To be honest it startled me because I don't know what is in that dark hallway. I remained silent,because I really don't want to attract any further attention. If I can't see that God-forsaken creature lurking in the dark, then there is a higher chance that it can't see me too,can it? I don’t know yet, but it is the best time to find out. I proceed to where the sound came from with caution, I stepped forward and bit by bit darkness engulf my whole body. I braced myself for something big to happen and wanted to call out,but then a hand grabbed me by the left shoulder from behind and pinned me against the wall,sending jolts of ache across my back. I barely even have time to react, the next thing I know is that a BIRD OF PREY dagger laid before my neck threatening to cut through it if I move even just an inch forward. The dagger casts a dim glow of violet but the darkness is stronger and overwhelms its eerie glow. It also seems the dagger's blade is etched with symbols that glows a little darker violet than the dagger itself. I could tell this is a Runic Dagger. An artifact that was lost eons ago. What is it doing here? And who in the world can wield such powerful weapon that even the supreme elders cannot even try to go near it? So much for my idiotic,nonsense thoughts,I know they were just myths. For a quick second,when this phantom creature pinned me on the wall, I swear I heard a horrifying noise coming from my right hallway,and not from the creature in front of me. I really don't know what it is,a screech? A cry? A moan? I just don't know. I think it is the mixture of these three. But first things first, I need to focus on the threat that laid before me. I squinted over the darkness to refocus my eyes, I can never know if I’d almost blacked out or not. As little light enters my eyes, I slowly made out the form tugging against the wall with one hand in my left shoulder which is aching now of pain and one hand holding a bat dagger against my neck. At first I thought it was a humanoid monster from everyone's nightmare,but as the form shimmer out of existence in the darkness, I concluded that the form is like mine, only a little thinner. The creature has a lilac-colored streaks in it's moon shadow-black hair that flows freely on it's back. A pair of thin eyebrows arched down over its enticing but keen,constellation-violet eyes that stared at me with pain,anger and hopelessness over its puffy lips. It had a sculpted figure which was twine-thin. its waist was tapered and it had a burnished complexion. it wore a black leather long-sleeve coat over its plain violet t-shirt with a hoodie that is laid in its upper back.It wore a pair of black-tattered jeans. It wore black shoes which I can’t seem to know what brand it is,thanks to the darkness.

“A human girl.” I dumbly said still awe in her beauty.

 “What!? is it the first time you saw one?” she said.

 I ignored her question and turned over the hallway which the sound came awhile ago. She let go of me and lit a torch using her dagger on her right, now I can almost see her body type now. Her Amazonian figure sat well on her thin body. She had a decanter shaped waist and her complexion had an impeccable, ochrous hue. Her pencil-thin eyebrows eased down gently to her black, beetle’s-leg eyelashes. A sculptor could not have fashioned her seraph’s ears and pixie’s nose any better.

 “You’ll never escape and survive this labyrinth without anyone to help, my name is Xyriel Decarabia, what’s yours?” she smiled. She has a cute tone when she pronounced her name. When she broke into a smile, her beguiling, halo-white teeth lit up the room.

What am I thinking? I should focus more on this matter. WAIT!! Did she just said LABYRINTH?? How in the world I even got inside this old maze? I just knew I was.... HOW IN THE WORLD?? I don't remember what I do for a living before all this happens, I EVEN FORGOT MY WHOLE NAME! This is so weird, I must be dreaming and I really need to wake up, like NOW!! I must looked like I must've seen a ghost because Xyriel looked at me puzzled and at the same time,while smiling thinly.

“It’s okay, every one of us felt what you just feel right now.”

EVERY ONE OF US?? So there must be others under this freaking labyrinth.

“How many are you in here all?” I asked.

 “Finally a response.” she said sarcastically never letting go of her beautiful smile and the torch still in his right hand and the dagger on her left, “but to answer your question, about 39 of us since before you came. We were separated by sex since we were brought down here. Both camps know how to navigate the labyrinth and the location of the nests of monsters and the other camp.”

 “so you were telling me that I should go to the boys camp, and train to navigate the labyrinth? If every members of the 2 camps know how to navigate this maze,then how are you still stuck up here?” I asked with a low tone trying to control the urge not to cause tantrum and attract this so called monsters.

She sheathed the dagger to its holder hanging from her waist. Her head bows down and looked to the floor in front of me. Tears started to trickle down from her eyes. She held the torch with her right hand over her head.

‘It is not as easy as you can think, no matter how united we stand against this labyrinth, problems always finds its way to both of the camps. Sometimes we stand against each other, trying to kill each other. If it wasn’t for some of the standing officials. I may not be here talking to you.” Then she lost her beautiful smile, which was now replaced by frown. I tried controlling myself not to cause any scenes between me and her. I don’t know how to comfort this girl. But all I could think of is wrapping my arms around her waist and feel her chest bump into mine. I really just wanted to comfort Xyriel. But then out of a sudden, the sound I’ve heard a little while ago has been born again. This time, the sound is nearer.

 “They’ve must sense us. Two great fighters together in the tunnel of Oblivion? Sounds intriguing enough for Dreambornes.”

I got her point, she meant RUN!!! Together we ran passed this so called “Tunnel of Oblivion” I don’t know what are their basis of naming this and how they name this “area” but the name is cool, though. We ran past the endless walls light up with small holes in the ceilings. That was weird,as we passed this lights I have the feeling that this is only artificial, that it was not part of any sources from the over world. Where on earth I am now? But what if I'm not anymore on earth, but somewhere more ancient and sacred. It feels like I am in a dream. I can’t stand this anymore, I really need to wake up now, if ever this was a dream.

A hand grabbed my own from behind while we are running, stopping me from my tracks. “Wait, I heard something in front of us.” true, We heard the noise, that grumbling sound not from our back but in front of us. I could sense the “dreamborne” that was chasing us awhile ago is lagging from behind.

 “how many dreambornes live in this labyrinth?” I ask dumbly, but I really wish my thoughts were wrong.

“We really don't know, there were so many nest of dreambornes scattered across the labyrinth and each nest carries over a minimum of a hundred each.” she smiled weakly.

I looked over the darkness in front of me, and realize we were surrounded, we have no way to go. We are already finished, and there is nothing we can do. Do you know what's worse? The torch that was our only source of bright light has been lost while running.

“Great.” I murmured.

“This may be our last chance to talk to each other, but I want to introduce further myself,I am Xyriel, the Keeper of Love.” she said clutching both of my hands.

Million responses came running in my mind. From “yeah and I am the keeper of happiness” to “That's cool because you look like the best model of Love.” but I just kept quiet for I don’t have any good things to say without going macho or being sarcastic.

I can still hear the faint noises from both sides,maybe a kilometer away, I just don't know, but I think they've slowed down, taking their time.

“This is a trap!”

“Thank you for telling me that, Mr. Obvious”

“I am just letting you know, in case you've forgotten.”

“Why would I even forgot about this?”

“The same thing why you lose our torch.”

She kept quiet, I am sensing that I've just pained her feelings. But to tell you what, why would I even apologize? It wasn't my fault that we were surrounded in the middle of a dark tunnel without a brighter light. I sat down in frustration, and she also sat down in front of me.

“You know what, you sound like the past leaders of the two camps. Stubborn yet born to be leaders.”

“I am not that stubborn, for your information.”

“Yes you are, those 15 past leaders we have, nearly possesses the same personality. And guess what, these 15 didn't have the chance to meet each other. They died protecting both camps from attacks of dreambornes. What a coincidence.”

“how can they protect both camps if both are separated and place a million miles from each other?”

“I hope you were exaggerating because both camps are located directly parallel to each other.:

“Then what is the point of separating it if you can just make a one giant camp?”

“It is easier said than done, my friend. We separated it to ensure our resources are equally divided among each members of the camp.”

“I still don't get it.”

“some things are not meant to be explained,it is your duty to understand everything around you.”

“Do you think I can understand this FREAKING labyrinth!??”

“You must understand the mechanics of this maze in order to survive,Idiot.”

“Then tell me how??”

She glanced to her left.

“Dreambornes are pretty self-explanatory,They were born from dreams. They are powered by dreams and nightmares of person opposing them.”

“How is that supposed to help me?”

“In order to survive,you must know thy enemy.”

“everything is an enemy when you are a newcomer.”

“what do you think of me? A double-crosser?”

“maybe.”

“The goody-two-shoes has spoken.”

For the first time in here I smiled despite the threats. I am satisfied dying by her side now. This is the first person I met here and the first ever person to make me feel comfortable talking to. The sound from both sides died down a little bit. I cañ sense that the threat is near. A moment now a “Dreàmborne” emerged from the darkness. Long story short, have you ever seen the apparition thing in the harry potter series? What was its name again? Oh.. Dementors. The most famous beast from harry potter series. Now try to cross that with a chimera.Can't picture it out yet? You are not different from me too. To make it short, a ghost chimera. A gray chimera with foggy aura, but this time the aura can be seen. Never mind, I can go all day staring at it with awe, but I don't have all day, much more, I don't have a minute. Xyriel released her dagger from its sheath, the dagger now emits a very small purple orbs that vanish instantly after it escapes the blade. Seeing the blade the dreamborne roars and then retreats a foot away. The next dreamborne emerged from the darkness. The 2 of them groaned at us showing of their perfectly white canine teeth.The two of us stand back to back against each other.

“How do we fight this things?”

“Stay close to me,do not let them wound you, or you'll suffer a searing pain.”

“Do you have any weapon to spare?”

“I'm sorry newcomer, but i don't”

“who in the world travels in a dangerous place with only a dagger?”

“me,myself and I”

Great! What now? We are surrounded and our only weapon is a dagger. Nothing else! But    one thing’s for sure, we’ll never go down without a fight. I grabbed Xyriel’s dagger and charged to the dreamborne in front of me.

TO BE CONTINUED…