Read Online The Maze - the Lost Labyrinth by Jason Brannon - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Jason Brannon
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was pretty skeptical that my efforts would have any effect since the minotaur hadn’t been able to gain access, but the door miraculously slid back on an unseen track. I braced myself, fully expecting to see something with rippling muscles, blood-tainted fangs, and claws still wet from the recent battle. Nothing growled or leapt out of the darkness.
Relieved, I took a deep breath and was about to enter the hallway again when something moved. I jumped back and immediately prepared myself for a battle. My efforts, however, were wasted.
A black Labrador with golden eyes and a cheerful disposition stared at me curiously. I was sure my mind was playing tricks on me or that this was some sort of illusion manufactured by the labyrinth until then the dog jumped on me and licked me. I had never been much of an animal lover, but I welcomed the touch of this creature. Wherever this dog had come from, it was most certainly real. More importantly, it was friendly.
Was it possible this was the creature responsible for the minotaur’s retreat?
“What’s your name, boy?”
The dog wasn’t wearing a tag of any sort. Because the hallway was dark, I pulled him back into the illuminated room and inspected him, wondering if he‘d been hurt in the fight. Although the dog showed no obvious signs of injury, I noticed that he was covered in blood.
“Did the minotaur hurt you?”
I combed through his black fur with my hands, expecting him to wince and growl at any minute. The dog surprised me; instead of flinching, he kept nuzzling my hand and licking my face. It was the closest thing to comfort I had felt in a very long time.
After giving the dog the once-over and not finding any outward signs of injury, I came to the conclusion the blood belonged to the minotaur. Evidently this dog was a more formidable adversary than he appeared. As a reward for his help, I sat the jar full of jelly down in front of him and watched as he lapped up the sticky treat with his tongue.
The dog didn’t seem in any hurry to leave. Evidently, I had a new friend.
“What should I call you?” I noted that his most striking feature was his black fur. “How about Midnight?”
The dog didn’t argue. Instead, he showed his approval of the name I had given him by licking my hand again.
Chapter 12
I wandered deeper and deeper into the maze with Midnight by my side. Every so often, I stopped to rub him behind the ears or to stroke his fur. I wanted him to know that I was his friend, and to stay with me as I tried to find my way out of this hellish place. Thankfully, he didn’t seem in any hurry to leave my side.
For a while, we followed the blood trail that the minotaur had left behind. The blood was copious and had already started to coagulate. It looked like Midnight had done quite a number on the creature. It was only after we had been walking for ten minutes or more that I realized my mistake and took a path that veered away from the blood and off toward another wing of the labyrinth. The last thing I wanted to do was to run into the bull creature again, and tracking it seemed like an assurance that we‘d have another encounter. Midnight was pleased with my decision, and nuzzled my hand to tell me so.
At length, we reached the beginning of a fresh set of hallways. A block of marble had been inlaid into the floor and embossed like a grave marker of some sort. It read “The Hall of Barabbas.” The thought gave me chills, and I couldn’t help thinking of the murderer mentioned in the Bible who had been set free so that Christ could be crucified in his place. Mama didn’t just take me to church; she read the Bible to me every day until I could read it for myself. I never thought it would come in handy like this.
Sets of rusty shackles had been fastened to the floor with lengths of heavy gauge chain. Instruments of torture were lined up across the opposite wall, ready to be used on whatever prisoner was unlucky enough to be restrained. A
Relieved, I took a deep breath and was about to enter the hallway again when something moved. I jumped back and immediately prepared myself for a battle. My efforts, however, were wasted.
A black Labrador with golden eyes and a cheerful disposition stared at me curiously. I was sure my mind was playing tricks on me or that this was some sort of illusion manufactured by the labyrinth until then the dog jumped on me and licked me. I had never been much of an animal lover, but I welcomed the touch of this creature. Wherever this dog had come from, it was most certainly real. More importantly, it was friendly.
Was it possible this was the creature responsible for the minotaur’s retreat?
“What’s your name, boy?”
The dog wasn’t wearing a tag of any sort. Because the hallway was dark, I pulled him back into the illuminated room and inspected him, wondering if he‘d been hurt in the fight. Although the dog showed no obvious signs of injury, I noticed that he was covered in blood.
“Did the minotaur hurt you?”
I combed through his black fur with my hands, expecting him to wince and growl at any minute. The dog surprised me; instead of flinching, he kept nuzzling my hand and licking my face. It was the closest thing to comfort I had felt in a very long time.
After giving the dog the once-over and not finding any outward signs of injury, I came to the conclusion the blood belonged to the minotaur. Evidently this dog was a more formidable adversary than he appeared. As a reward for his help, I sat the jar full of jelly down in front of him and watched as he lapped up the sticky treat with his tongue.
The dog didn’t seem in any hurry to leave. Evidently, I had a new friend.
“What should I call you?” I noted that his most striking feature was his black fur. “How about Midnight?”
The dog didn’t argue. Instead, he showed his approval of the name I had given him by licking my hand again.
Chapter 12
I wandered deeper and deeper into the maze with Midnight by my side. Every so often, I stopped to rub him behind the ears or to stroke his fur. I wanted him to know that I was his friend, and to stay with me as I tried to find my way out of this hellish place. Thankfully, he didn’t seem in any hurry to leave my side.
For a while, we followed the blood trail that the minotaur had left behind. The blood was copious and had already started to coagulate. It looked like Midnight had done quite a number on the creature. It was only after we had been walking for ten minutes or more that I realized my mistake and took a path that veered away from the blood and off toward another wing of the labyrinth. The last thing I wanted to do was to run into the bull creature again, and tracking it seemed like an assurance that we‘d have another encounter. Midnight was pleased with my decision, and nuzzled my hand to tell me so.
At length, we reached the beginning of a fresh set of hallways. A block of marble had been inlaid into the floor and embossed like a grave marker of some sort. It read “The Hall of Barabbas.” The thought gave me chills, and I couldn’t help thinking of the murderer mentioned in the Bible who had been set free so that Christ could be crucified in his place. Mama didn’t just take me to church; she read the Bible to me every day until I could read it for myself. I never thought it would come in handy like this.
Sets of rusty shackles had been fastened to the floor with lengths of heavy gauge chain. Instruments of torture were lined up across the opposite wall, ready to be used on whatever prisoner was unlucky enough to be restrained. A
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