Labyrinth of Shadows by Kyla Stone

Author:Kyla Stone [Stone, Kyla]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781945410239
Publisher: Paper Moon Press
Published: 2018-10-14T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirty-Three

We are plunged into darkness.

Everyone freezes.

“Keep going,” Theseus orders. “Use the walls. Touch the vines. Hold hands or the shoulder of the person ahead of you.”

“I can’t walk anymore,” Zephyra moans. “I’m starved and dying of thirst. My feet are bleeding.”

“Just a little further,” Charis says. “We’re almost there.”

“You don’t know that! We could be walking in an endless circle!” Zephyra’s voice screeches in panic. Something slumps to the ground with a soft, scraping sound. “I told you, I can’t!”

“Get up, you lazy oaf!” Leda snaps.

“Every second we wait for you puts the rest of us in danger,” Kalliope says.

“We should just leave her,” Gallus says.

“We aren’t leaving anyone!” Charis’s voice rises. “Come on, Zephyra. Get up!”

I listen to them as if from a great distance. The darkness presses in around me, thick and stifling as black fog. I’m so tired. Leaning against the wall is a relief, easing the ache of my thighs and the sting of the blisters on my heels.

It feels like I’ve lived my whole life in darkness. The sun and the sky are distant memories. I try to conjure a picture of the harbor, the glittering, wave-tossed sea, the packed sand and cushioned seats of the arena, but I can’t.

They feel like dreams, like the tales the poets tell of faraway journeys, of heroes and kings, gods and monsters. Beautiful stories, but not real.

“I can’t,” Zephyra gasps, tears in her voice. “Please.”

“Maybe just a short break,” I say.

“She’s right,” Kalliope says, surprising me. “We haven’t slept, Theseus. If we don’t rest, we’ll only make things worse.”

Theseus groans. “Only a few moments.”

Everyone takes care of their bodily needs as best they can, privacy a luxury we can no longer be bothered with. As soon as I slump to the stone floor, a great weariness descends over me.

“I’m out of food!” Zephyra cries beside me.

“Here. Take these.” I pull two figs—my last—from my satchel and hold out my hand toward her. I have one piece of flatbread left. And then I’ll have nothing.

Her fingers close over mine. “Thank you,” she whispers.

“I’ll stay awake and stand guard.” Theseus sounds exhausted. His body shifts beside me in the dark, his hands fumbling over mine, raising the hairs on my arms and sending sparks shooting through my fingertips. He presses a thick square of goat cheese into my palm. “Take this.”

The delicious smell fills my nostrils and makes my mouth water. I swallow even as I try to give it back. “Theseus, no. You must keep your strength.”

“I said take it,” he says in a low, gruff voice. “I’ve seen you give away your food at every meal. What good will it do us if you faint, or worse? How will we escape then?”

I nod, forgetting he can’t see me. I wish I was strong enough to resist, but my stomach knots with hunger. I accept his gift. “Thank you.”

Theseus only grunts.

I inhale the cheese in four bites. It’s gone far too quickly. I lean my head back against the wall and try to keep my eyes open, but it doesn’t matter.

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