Where the minotaur led us.
My fingers grope blindly until a hollow sound echoes into the space. Metal. I feel around some more. What is this ? A frame with a hinge?
Running possibilities through my head, after a moment I understand and push the small metal door outwards.
A dim light floods into the crawl space, making my eyes water. Shifting forward on my stomach, I stretch my neck until I can see what’s on the other side of the hatch.
A large ventilation shaft.
Averticalventilation shaft, complete with metal rungs that disappear upwards.
A way out.
Though there is a problem.
I will not fit through this exit.
But the girl can.
Yes.
I pull her up my body until we are face to face, then nod towards the opening.
Look. You can escape.
She stares at me, but doesn’t move. Doesn’t hear my thoughts. Of course not.
Gods.
It’s hard to make hand gestures in this tiny tunnel, but I do my best. At least this time I get a response. Her little body presses harder into mine.
She doesn’t want to go without me.
I cannot go with her.
Running scenarios through my mind, I quickly realize the priority is to keep the girl from being taken away to the unknown location. If I persuade her to climb this shaft, it won’t get her to freedom, but it will keep her hidden for now.
Minotaur?
The dark magic of the cells is beginning to leave my body. With time, I believehewill be able to manifest. But currently—no.
Climb out, child. Find somewhere to hide.
I work to keep my frustration under check, but it is difficult.
She needs instruction.
Speak, Ludo. Just fucking speak.
My mind knows the words I want to say, but can’t connect to my tongue.
SPEAK.
Suddenly, a memory sears into my brain. I shrink down to the ghost of the child I once was.
I am small. Smaller than the girl even.
I remember the smell of sun-warmed grass and the comforting scent of my mother as I watch a flock of birds overhead.
