Chapter IV : Inside the Illusionary Labyrinth

After finding a beautiful arc hole, that was decorated by crystals, inside the crystal cave, Reed finally leave her protective dwelling.

Blop. Blop. Blop.

Bubbles. Bubbles. Bubbles.

What she did not know is that, from the moment she swim outside, the surroundings of the cave seems to stop.

All glowing light orbs halted their tracks and hover in place, like time suddenly stops. The already silent cave grew more quiet that the silent became eerie for some reason.

Then a moment later, as if realizing something, all light orbs shines brightly in unison, illuminating the entire cave with blinding blue light and went crazy. It flew all over the place, completely overwhelmed by panicked and did not know what to do.

Soon after, a much more larger orb stop. And from the center, this orb beam azure light that was more brightly even with all these light orbs together. with its eyes catching light, it stole all light bubbles' attention and all of them stop.

Silently giving a command, with the larger orb as a lead– they rushed towards the hole at center of the tree creating a graceful line of light. Anyone seeing this will thought that these orbs will just passed through the hole to the other side, and they did. They completely disappeared towards the other side.

Bubbles. Bubbles. Bubbles.

Blop. Blop.

Leaving an empty crystal cave devoid of life and light.

Where would they go?

Well, at the other side of the tree of course!

Blop. Blop.

...

...

...

Bubbles. Bubbles. Bubbles.

Blop. Blop.

Looking left, then turn right, what about up and down...

"..."

'Should I laugh or should I laugh? This was a f*cking nowhere! Ha.ha.ha. I'm laughing now, because this is a total b*llsh*t!!'

For the first time in her life– even from her past life– Reed curses many times inside and even wanted to cursed out loud. But she can't even do that!

She is a mermaid! An underwater creature! She can't talk! Bubbles and not words come out of her mouth!

'What the hell is happening?! Shouldn't I'll be celebrating now that I'm out of that cave. Why am I regretting it now?!'

'F*CK YOU! Now you're asking yourself! This is a f*cking maze! And was set in an extreme difficult mode to the boot!'

'How can I get out, it was so dark... I can't even see my hands... What to do...'

Just imagining her future within these dark corridors... Relying only with her senses... Reed wanted to cry...

'I'm almost hugging these f*cking wall!'

'Sh*t! Just where is this...'

...

...

...

Almost crawling and hugging the walls, Reed manage to explore the maze who knows how much from who knows how long. With nothing to guide her, she does not even know whether she went back from where she came from or was moving forwards or was just circling around.

She just wanted to get out...

At this moment, even if she already made up her mind– besides, finding 'Echo' was only her choice. Aside from that person, Reed doesn't know anyone in this new world. Though she knew she can meet and find many others that she could be her friend. Or she might just find a suitable place for her to trully enjoy life.

But there's a tiny seedling in her heart that was growing within each passing moment– a twinkling desire of finding this person.

It was screaming, shouting inside of her. She need to find 'Echo'. That person was the one who held had of her life. It was telling her that, Reed can't live with 'Echo'.

Reed doesn't know the person. Her memories were crippled and this bodies memories were sealed.

More than that, Reed was uncertain whether what she's feeling was hers or the original.

And right now, Reed could only bemoan her own unfortunate self.

...

Reed's mind was getting chaotic. She doesn't know how long have she stayed in this maze, but she was positive that this maze was messing with her thought.

As she continued on with her journey out of this freaking labyrinth, flashed of images penetrated her mind making her see something...

She ignore it. She proceeded forwards, but it went worst and worst as the time goes by. She can now hear voices, and the images... They stayed in her head more than before.

This time, she can clearly see them. This is where Reed realizes that this Labyrinth was a total badass. She knew this world was dangerous, but she did not expect that she will face one just as she gain her freedom.

'...am I really that unlucky? This maze is giving me hallucinations! What the hell! Why is this happening to me... I just wanted to get out!'

Feeling grievance building up on her chess, Reed decided to stopped for a moment and calmed herself down. She inhale and exhale and bubbles can out of her mouth.

Bubbles. Bubbles.

Blop. Blop.

Reed's mind reel in jumbled thought. She tried to distract herself away from the voices she heard and images she was seeing.

She tried to convince herself that it was nothing– out of mind, out of sight.

She slightly smile, all the voice she heard became murmurs. She closed her eyes and she felt a little proud that she somehow manage to over come it. With a closed eyes she won't see those images again.

But it seems she was wrong again.

<"...do you hate me?..">

A voice sounded very close to her ear. She felt slight tingling where the voice sounded and her ears folded to cover the sounds.

The voice sounded familiar.

She somewhat felt cold, freezing cold. Hearing that voice made her heart beating very fast and hard, slamming her chest until she felt pain from a single thump. She was feeling dizzy and her body is stiff.

That voice was very familiar.

It was a woman's voice– cold and sounding distance, like it came from a very far away place. A place she would never reach.

Thinking like this, sharp pain stab her painfully beating heart. She does not want that, why could she not reach that voice. And why did does it sounded sad... Nonetheless, Reed wanted to hear more of that voice.

And the Labyrinth granted her wish–

<"I know flute does not need a reed. But most wood instruments need them. And Reed you know, for those instruments– reed was very essential part inorder for them to play a beautiful music.">

That's right, this is the voice Reed wanted to hear. This cold, unfeeling voice yet this voice sounded more appealing and charming to Reed's ears that any music existed.

It made her feel relax and safe. Just hearing those voice makes her defenses useless. And because her eyes were close, she does not know when but she already fell unconscious.

<"Do you hate me?">

She was perplexed why the voice was saying that. Why would she hate? How could she? It was impossible for her to feel like that.

Then suddenly she felt cold sensation touching her neck. This made her abruptly opened her eyes, and she was welcomed by a sight of a stone faced woman.

The woman does not have any expression but she gave out most of her emotion through her eyes. Her eyes looks sad. She gazed at Reed affectionately, lovingly, sweetly. But crazy and insane deep love were more prominent swirling in those eyes.

She was baffled. Reed did not know why this woman was looking at her like that. She did not even recognized this person. Reed stared at her trying to figure out who she is but it seems that this Missy will not gave him that chance.

The stone faced woman brushed her fingers and trace a long mutilated wound on Reed's neck and smile mockingly at herself.

Reed was confused, she looked around with just her eyes and was surprised to found that she was now inside a room. A room with only a bed and with the windows and door both blocked and locked.

'Where is this place?' she asked herself. Reed knew she have a large memory gap. She knew she died but she don't know how, where or when it happened.

She doesn't know this place. And more importantly where is she?! She was just in the maze just a while ago! She just closed her eyes and when she opened them again, she was now here...

Where is this?

And who is this?

"...do you hate me?" The stone faced woman asked.

Now Reed knew. This woman was the owner of the beautiful cold voice. Reed wanted to answer but something blocked her throat.

Then, the stone faced woman moved closer and affectionately kissed her neck. She wanted to doged, she was horrified. A woman she does not know suddenly kissed her. But her body's reaction contrast to what she was thinking.

Soft moan came out of her mouth, she even arched her neck so the stone faced woman could touch her more.

"Do you hate me?" She asked again. While she was busy kissing Reed's neck her hand slid down and grasped something hard.

Reed yelp. Her eyes widens in disbelieve, she gasped hard and her breathing stagnate for short while.

She have it!

She could feel it!

The stone faced woman moved her hand up and down, pleasuring Reed's hard shaft while her mouth shifted from her ear.

"I took yours too. I destroyed your own reed– your precious throat– because you keep talking to other people aside for myself. You sang for strangers, you cheered them up using your voice. You spoke to them, greeted them, conversed with them. You always used this voice for others..."

She licked and sucked Reed's ear until they become red. And Reed...she was feeling so pleasured that she almost didn't catched what the woman was saying.

Nevertheless, she knew the glimpse of it. Reed was now imprisoned by this stone faced woman. She was jealous so she somehow slitted her throat– the reason why Reed was having a hard time speaking.

And the weird thing is, Reed didn't feel angry at all.

Nothing. She even felt happy– not because of the pleasure below– but Reed knew, that even if she was imprisoned she choose to came with her without any negative feelings.

Why?

Because Reed knew this person.

Reed understand now.

This woman was Echo.

"but I want to be the only one who can hear it. I destroyed it since it's impossible." Echo continued. She then, hasten her hand movement– roughly moving her hand and stimulate the tip more making Reed felt exhilarated.

Reed grab Echo's clothes and clenched them tightly. And with one final push, Reed releases and lay lifelessly on the bed; feeling tired and exhausted.

But even so, Echo gathered Reed in her embraced and continued confessing.

"It's not just that, I crippled one of your feet and chain the other. I imprisoned you in this room for five years, so that you can only sense me and received everything that came from me. Everywhere in this room have my mark."

Every words that came from Echo's mouth cut Reed heart deep and harsh.

"Your body, your heart, your soul, your mind. I want it all. Reed, I'm selfish. Forgive me. You can only be mine. I'm sorry, I won't let you go."

Then her mouth moved on its own. Reed speak, "D-Did Alex–" only to be interrupted.

"Don't utter other woman's name with this mouth! It's mine! You can only say my name!"

Reed helplessly smile. This is the first time she met this woman. So, this is Echo. She was scary, cold, apathetic, selfish, and terrible person. Yet, Reed can't help but see her as a kid throwing a tantrums right now. Her eyes might have been tinted by rose-colored glasses, because she thought she was cute just now.

So, she nodded. Reed didn't noticed her eyes turning gentler and soft, like she was pampering her princess lovingly.

Seeing Reed nodded, Echo calmed down and held Reed more closely and tightly to herself. If she can, she wanted to mold Reed to her body. That way, Reed will and always be hers. And there will never be a chance for them to separate again.

But Reed groaned, she lightly pushed Echo away from her. Her brows were knitted and she looked like she was thinking something deep and serious. This makes Echo somehow hurt and anxious. Reed just push her away...

"...i-its...unfair..." Reed complained. She stared Echo and happened to meet her eyes that were slowly building up crazy madness from what she did.

"...y-you can...h-have 'me'...b-but...y-you...a-also have...t-to give...m-me...'you'...o-ok?"

Reed saw Echo just stiffly and dazedly staying in place and did not respond to her. Reed thought she was dissatisfied, she frowned deeper. She was ponderind why Echo became like this and was thinking about what she just said.

She didn't see anything wrong with what she just said. So, why is Echo just keeps staring at her?

"...d-dont...be w-willfull...l-let's exchange...o-ok?" She persuaded.

"Mn. Don't talk anymore, it's hurts right?"

Reed shook her head in denial, as she turned her head she saw a white box. She smile. She then, reached over her hand and urged Echo to gave her something.

"...t-then...g-gimme...I won't..t-talk after..."

Echo eyes widened at first but she immediately smile. She fetched the with box and opened it. She took two vials– A dark purple and light blue– and showed it to Reed.

When Reed saw it, she mischievously smile towards Echo and swiftly snatched the two vials. Echo just let her be, and watched as Reed curiously examined the two vials.

"...p-poison?" She asked.

"Mn. The darker one is mine and the others is yours." Echo replied. She saw Reed letting out bunch of question mark above her head so, she just proceed with her explanation.

"You know how my body was immune to many types of poison. That's why I have to made a more potent one for myself."

Sniff. Sniff.

While Echo explained her reasoning about the two poison, Reed who was listening smell something peculiar. She lightly turned her sight across Echo and saw dark smoke rising from the narrow opening of the door.

Ignoring the weird smoke, Reed coughed and Echo patted her back.

"...t-then...o-open your m-mouth...t-this is m-me g-giving you...m-mouth to m-mouth feeding...so..."

"Mn. Thank you. Reed, I love you."

"...h-hehehe– cough! Cough! –I l-love y-you...t-too...t-the same c-raziness too...I g-guess..."

Reed doesn't know why she said that. But her heart was beating very much alive right now. She was excited. Reed felt it was weird, they were dying– she was dying. But she was happy instead.

"Mn. No normal person can keep up living with a psycho for five years, more so alone in this room for so long." Echo agreed.

Echo witnessed it all, and from the very start, the smile on her face did not faltered. Presently, even though they were going to die with the poison she made to boot. She can't help but feel relieved and satisfied instead

With this she can have Reed forever.

"...t-then a-aren't I s-special...?"

"Mn. Special."

"...w-we're both i-insanely...loving e-each o-other crazy...s-so we f-fit...together...v-very much."

Echo chuckled. "Mn. Very much."

"...d-drink e-everything ok?" Reed opened the dark purple vial and put all the content into her mouth.

"Mn." Echo then, nodded looking at Reed with bright shining eyes. She moved closer and steal the liquid content in her mouth.

Gulp. Gulp. Gulp.

After those series of action, Reed quickly opened the blue vial and drink the contents directly. She didn't gave Echo a chance to snatched the poison to do the same thing to her. So, after she successfully drain all the poison, she looked proudly at Echo then collapse.

Echo smile and move closer to her.

"...I....I l-love...y-yo– cough!"

Reed spat out mouthful of blood. She smell the scent of iron, the fire and smoke slowly devouring the whole house. Her body felt numb. She didn't feel pain at all. But she kept on coughing blood.

"I love you"

Echo came closer, she put her cold hands on Reed cheeks and said, "It's alright. You can wake up now." She softly kissed the top of Reed's head and smile.

Reed didn't know why. Maybe it's the poison but Echo's image somehow grew blurry. It flickered, like a fire disappearing. And as her image continue to flicker, it changed.

Shoosh~

White robe flutter together with a long snow white hair.

But Reed didn't get to looked carefully as her consciousness already going black. She did hear 'his' voice though.

"...wake up, you can ask the water to guide you out..."

Then everything went dark...

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...

...

Opening her eyes, Reed saw the same murky and dark corridor of the maze.

She remembers the dream. No, more like a memory.

That's how she died. That's how they died.

She saw it– with her own eyes. She can still remember it vividly, the taste of the poison Echo work hard to make just to kill herself.

It was bitter and spicy. It burns her tongue just from a slight touch, totally different from the sweet tasting poison she prepared for Reed.

From Reed's own mouth, she feeds those poison to Echo. She clearly saw her swallowed. Witness how her healthy body deteriorate. Athough she can't recall her anything about her anymore, but she can still remember how potent her poison is.

Reed's already frail and broken body almost died from the instance she drink her own poison.

There was no exist.

Because Echo already set up a fire that would certainly burn their body before she presented the poisons. They were already determined to die without any much leeway for backing out.

She raise her head and cried. At least this once, she will let herself cry. After this she will stand up and get going again.

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