Temple IV:  Maze

It's been a day without food or water. Now that we're just walking trying to find our way out, I feel exhausted, hungry and tired. I trail my legs on the dusty floor. Holding Mimi in my left hand. We walked continuously up and down in the temple puzzled. 

We stopped to take a break because everyone was tired. I sat on a rock, with Luiz next to me. And we realized we've been going the same way the whole time in a maze, I don't know if anyone among us knows where we are going because the prince was irritated, fuming in anger, and somehow look scared, he passed back and forth trying to find a way out, his 24hrs are almost over.

The prince sat in the opposite direction and opened the book but to his amazement it was empty. He tried flipping the pages one after the other, but none of them had a word written in it. He threw it away slamming his hands on the wall next to him. He stayed there leaning his head to the wall. Heaving heavily. I was afraid he'd grab my neck again. But this time he didn't. He just stayed there for a few minutes calming himself and then stood up full of courage, don't tell me, the break is over. But I was just getting started. 

Baldy picked the book but the prince yelled at him.

"Keep it, It's of no use to us."

Baldy kept the book bowing his head a little in respect and the prince turned walking ahead glaring at me to get moving, before him and his guards dashed out.

Me and Luiz trail behind them, when I made sure they were out of sight I ran back and picked the book, it doesn't have a bit of ink written in it. But that didn't make it useless. There must be another way to read it, a unique light or place. If it doesn't have anything in it then we risk our lives for nothing. Anger built up in me too, I wanted to be free from this devil as well. I want to have a normal life. If we don't even know what is written in the book, how are we going to do something? This is the only option we have to unbond ourselves.

Well, I'm keeping it even if there is nothing in it. We're not just gonna throw it away after all we've been through, I can keep it as a treasure, and show it to my grandkids giving them the story of how I survived the trap.

Okay, okay I guess I'm going too far. I hit my head with my hand. You're not out yet, remember.

I quickly hid the book under my shirt tying it in my flat tummy and it rumbled in hunger. Don't we have anything to eat? I feel hungry.

"Hurry up, before they notice our absence." 

Luiz that was waiting for me called and I ran and caught up with him.

"I'm here, let's go."

I smiled at him, and he just rolled his eyes.

"Hey, I'm hungry."

I nudged him rubbing my tummy with my hand. Pouting.

"What did you want? I should turn into food so you can eat me?"

He questioned and raised a brow at me, snickering. I slap his hard chest playfully.

"Well, find me something to eat or else I'll have to eat you. Raw."

I retorted pointing at him, and he turned his flushed face away from me. Is he blushing?

"Silly girl."

He ruffles my hair. And I slapped his hand but he didn't bulge.

"When will you grow up?"

He finished up mumbling under his breath.

"Stop it, aargh." 

I struggled and pushed him away and didn't hear what he said.

"What?"

I asked him but he shrugged and continued.

"Who are you blaming now? Huh you didn't eat your food that night and now you're complaining."

He stopped walking, folding his arms.

"Well, who knows I'm not gonna be kidnapped?"

I stamp my feets, and walked past him.

"Wait, where is your bandage or your stitches?"

He grabbed my hand pulling me back and holding my head looking closely at the place where he sitche my wound.

"I ... I ... kind of healed."

I stammered scratching my head.

"You what?"

I yelp, his mesmerizing honeyed eyes bulging out.

"How did that happen?"

He added, amazed by my words.

"I don't know. I just woke up and it was, uurgh well, the prince said there was no wound. But that was not even mind-blowing till he drilled my skull in search of his gem. It healed at once, I can feel my flesh and skin growing back in place."

I spoke all at once, I bet Luiz couldn't get all of it. 

"What'd he do?"

Luiz shouted this time, I think he only got the prince to drill my head.

"He said he was looking for his gem in my head, so he opened it up and searched for the gem, but unfortunately he didn't find it. That's why we're here to find a way to unbond him. Thank God I healed, if not I'd have been dead by now."

"He ... really did … that?"

Luiz was frozen and couldn't take in what I was saying.

"I told you he was dangerous. Don't worry I'm fi-"

I struggle but was cut off before I closed my lips he dragged me into a hug. I could feel his heart beating fast in his chest. Like a prisoner wanting to escape from it's cell. He hugged me tight. Squeezing me.

"I'm... I'm sorry Nyla. You have to go through this alone. had it been I came a little bit sooner."

I rest my head head on his broad 

chest feeling safe.

"It's not your fault Luiz, I'm grateful to have you here with me."

I looked up at him and melted in his now watery eyes. He's so cute.

"I feel safe with you here."

I completed burying my head in his chest. And we were cut off by the prince's voice that made us unwrap ourselves stepping away.

"Well, well, well. What are you too up to?"

He paused, asking us angrily, glaring at us up and down.

"You think you can run from me?"

He continued walking closer, sending dead glares at us with his guards standing behind. My chest pounds with every step he takes closer to us.

"No, it's ... We're not running away from you, we-"

I stammered, my heart beating fast but the prince didn't wait to hear me out. He cut me off ordering his guards.

"Kill him, he has no use for me. "

The prince ordered his guard and they started to walk towards us. 

"You think you are brave enough to take her away."

He turns his head to Luiz wishing he'd be dead by now, his guards approach us and I quickly hide Luiz behind me.

"Leave him alone, he didn't do anything. I want to answer the call of nature and I asked him to stay close by."

I explained to the prince  hoping he would leave us alone.

"Well, next time you're gonna ask me. Finish him."

The prince ordered again. And the guards walk closer.

"I thought they might be of use, but they are useless. Kill the cat too."

The prince regarts letting Luiz live for the first time, leaning back to enjoy the show.

"Nobody touched my cat or Luiz."

I screamed and my voice vibrated and echoed bouncing the guards back and they all lie on the floor. I turned to see the prince covered his head with his hands. The three guards get up to attack again. But the prince stopped them. Holding his ears with his other hand. As he saw I was about to scream again.

"It's okay, leave them alone."

The prince said, walking forward and he grabbed my hand.

"Looks like you're having lots of fun with what's mine."

He sneered in my ears grabbing me forward and removed the already loose tie from his neck and tied my left wrist with it and tied the other end to his right wrist.

"What are you doing?"

I asked snuggling to go.

"Let go of my hand."

I whimper again as he ties my hand tight.

"From now on you stay close to me, I don't care whether you answer the call of nature or the call of God."

The prince ordered, making me gasp, staring into his eyes. He's joking right. His blue eyes were pure ice, sending me icy glares. 

"You can't do that-"

Luiz chipped in but was cut by the prince.

"Shut your mouth or I'll make you never use it again."

He instructed flaring hot glare at Luiz. And walk with me an ince behind him.

"Run if you can."

His lip curved up in victory. As if he won some medal or something. I turn my head away, rolling my eyes.

I wasn't trying to run, but it's useless to explain that to him, feeling high of himself, he won't even listen. I hope to get rid of him as soon as possible. 

"Put an eye on him."

He commands his guards. 

"Yes, Master."

The three said in unison bowing a little. Why did they keep doing that, making him feel so high of himself? They can just beat him up. And be free. I hate to be the boss around. And hate people like that.

***

Rays of light peek through small holes in the walls enough for us to see our way. I was feeling thirsty again and the water in the water bottle Baldy was carrying was finished.

"I'm thirsty."

I winned for the hundredth time annoying the prince every single time I said that. I ate some chocolates that were in the bagpack an hour ago, giving Mimi some of it and finish the remaining water. But I still feel hungry and darn thirsty. The sun is so hot making me sweat badly. My feet are burning from the heat and I walk a lot. And the prince would not give me some space.

"I'm thirsty."

I whine again, stamping my feets.

"I'm so, so thirsty."

I whine in a sing-song way.

Trying to annoy him so he unties me. And he stopped and turned to me annoyed, searching for what to say.

Just untie me. Just untie me. I mentally begged him, feeling proud of myself, I'm finally getting free.

"Well, did you want to drink my saliva or urine next?"

"Well, what did you want to drink this time? My saliva or my pee?"

The prince questioned and I looked down frozen and embarrassed, my cheeks flared up. This man has no shame. He turned away with his lips twitched up seeing I give up. Feeling proud as always. I just want to wipe that ego out of him.