1 Chapter 1

Somewhere, in the middle of two forests facing each other but divided by a clean spot, a show of colourful lights was spoiling the beauty of the stars. The loud music from a mansion was destroying the quiet and peaceful night attracting the attention of the dangerous creatures which lived in the woods.

The house was completely flooded by different people going in and out, not minding the presence of the animals behind bushes and trees. In the huge parking lot, near one of the many parked cars was sitting a man, smoking a cigarette and watching the moon. Suddenly, his attention was stolen by an approaching limousine and his green eyes fell slowly on a blonde girl coming out of the elegant vehicle. As he saw her coming his heart missed a beat and his thoughts started to tremble in his mind. She managed to attract everyone's attention as she walked in her black tight dress which let delicately one of her legs out. Her serious expression did not change as she stopped in front of him but her brown eyes made a flicker which he could not miss.

-Good evening Miss Vivien, I am here to lead you to the party.

-Shall we go in then?

-Of course, after you.

He politely offered his arm, but she rejected, raising her head and walking ahead making him run a little to catch up with her. The party was crowded, being held in a giant room of the house. It was the most beautiful and elegant room, with a big dance ring and little round tables set aside for the few guests who did not want to join the rest in the middle. Servants were walking from guest to guest offering glasses of champagne and mini desserts and appetisers. The big chandelier and the DJ from the corner were transforming the party into a beautiful mix of elegance and modernity.

As she walked all the glances were thrown at her, smiles were shown in the big crowd and silent laughs and whispers from woman to woman. But she was not paying attention to them, she simply continued walking to the corner of the room where three men were chatting. As she came closer one of them turned to her and smiled.

-I see you made it to the party, welcome my darling.

He came closer to hug and kiss her when he noticed the dark stare of the man behind her.

-Marcus, thank you for bringing Vivien to me. You can go, I will take care of her from now on.

-Of course sir, I hope you have a great night.

He watched Marcus leave the room then turned again to Vivien.

-Let me introduce you. Vivien this is my good friend and business partner Erik and his employee Daniel. And this is Vivien, my fiancée.

-I am glad to finally meet you Vivien. Oliver talks about you all the time, he told us that you are a rare beauty, but I never thought you were this rare.

-Thank you, Erik. I am glad to meet you as well. Now, if you excuse me, do you know if Jennifer arrived, Oliver?

-Yes, she is upstairs. Are you leaving us already?

-She is probably waiting for me. I will meet you again later.

-Okay sweetie, come and give me a kiss before you leave.

He dragged her and pressed his lips on hers forcing her to respond to his kiss, then freed her and turned to the two men.

Vivien hurried upstairs, searching for Jennifer. The corridor was long with a lot of rooms but behind an open door of one of the bedrooms she saw a brown-headed woman looking at herself in the mirror while putting on lipstick. She smiled and entered the room.

-Jen!

-Viv you finally arrived!

The two women caught each other in a tight hug then sat on the bed.

-I thought you won't come honestly, why did you change your mind?

-My dad, he forced me to come. After all is my engagement party.

-One you didn't want at all, because you didn't want an engagement at all.

-Shhh, somebody may hear you, said Vivien laughing then making a sigh.

-So, I suppose Marcus had to lead you to the party, how was that?

Vivien raised her eyes at her surprised, then got up and closed the door. She did not sit again on the bed. She began walking around the room examining it. It was a beautiful room, in black and white with a window in the right side and a large bed made of wood in the middle which had black sheets and big white pillows. In front of the bed was a white vanity and beside the bed in front of the door was another mirror, a black simple mirror. Vivien stopped in front of it and stared at herself. She lost herself in the fresh memories until a voice woke her up…

-Vivien! Are you here?

-Oh, sorry. Yes, I got a little bit lost in thoughts.

-I can see that. So how was it? Seeing him again?

She turned again to the mirror, her attention focused on her eyes, she could see a little tear trying to get out. She wiped it quickly and headed to the window.

-It was fine I guess. He was staring intensively at me, but I didn't pay attention to him, I just kept walking.

-Did you? Or did you try not to pay attention?

Vivien smiled and turned around to her friend, who was sitting on the bed with a questioning look on her face.

-How can you twist words like that?

-I have a talent, but seriously were you okay, seeing him again?

-I was fine.

-Are you sure?

-Yes, hey what's with this maze? I didn't see it before here.

-Oh, they just built it. Oliver requested it I don't know why, but everyone says it's splendid inside.

-Really?

-Yes, why are you changing the subject?

-I'm not.

Vivien approached the bed and stood in front of Jennifer.

-Jen I am okay, don't you see?

-No, but I believe you. So, what do you think of the party?

-Ahh, I just want to go home honestly.

-Me too.

The two girls started giggling until they heard someone at the door. They both turned to it and then to each other again.

-That was weird.

-Yeah, maybe just somebody who searches for a place, said Jennifer winking.

They started laughing again.

-Hey I think I am going to see that maze.

-Okay, want to come with you?

-No, sorry. I just need a little bit of loneliness, everything is so crowded here.

-I agree, I'll see you later then Viv.

They hugged each other again before Vivien made her way back to the party and outside the house.

She went to the right side of the house, to the maze.

After he was dismissed, Marcus went outside again. He could not bear the sight of Vivien and Oliver together. He did not go to the same place, by the red car he was standing. It was a beautiful old Volvo, his grandfather gave it to him and they rebuilt it together. He loved that car but he could see Vivien's limousine from there. Right now he wanted to clear his mind, to avoid getting in there and punch Oliver hard in the face, like he always fantasied he would do. He walked around the house a few times, every time observing something new about that place. The fourth time he noticed the big maze, he wondered how lost in his thoughts could he be to not pay attention to its greatness. He stood there watching, amazed and also questioning why someone would build something like that. After a while he decided to enter, he did not have something better to do and his curiosity was eating him alive.

It was fascinating, the maze was large and its beauty astonished the two of them. There were little bulbs spreading a warm light all around the maze and burgundy roses in tall vases made of white marble in every corner.

Vivien walked surprised by the breathtaking inside of the maze, on the ground she observed was a pavement made of little stones and petals from different kind of flowers. She could tell there was orchid, sun-flower, snowdrop, daisy and a lot more.

Marcus raised his eyes, at the end of the high walls made of bushes he could see the stars and the moon, there was no roof. He walked looking at the sky when he found a door. It was an actual door made of wood, it looked very old and rustic. He opened it and found himself in a circle. There were benches surrounded by portions with grass. There were no lights hanging on the walls anymore, but there was a huge net with lights on top of the walls replacing a nonexistent roof. In the middle was a fountain with a statue of an angel splashing water everywhere.

Marcus looked in the opposite side of the circle, he saw a door and by it stood a blond girl who was also watching fascinated the place until her eyes fell on him.

Vivien just entered and was admiring the beautiful centre of the maze when she saw Marcus looking at her. When he caught her stare and hold it still she could feel all the memories coming in again. She did not move, paralysed by the sudden remembering and she knew the reason he was also standing still was because he was experiencing the same thing as her.