Saying that the maze was hard was an understatement. It was probably worse than going through prison for a year, walking to the jungle and back, a survivor of a house on fire and not being able to sleep for a month. That is even considered simple compared to what had happened in the maze.

Bonus: she even got to look like she went in the washing machine, drowned in three buckets of water, and landed in a pile of twigs when she came out of the maze. Meaning: she looked terrible.

(A/N: this is where the end of the last chapter takes off)

First thing she saw were doors. Many, many doors. All shapes and sizes and colors.

Then Sophie realized something.

This was a game. A test of how much exactly do you trust your instincts. If you find the wrong door, you've lost. Continuing listen to the thing inside your head instead of your heart, you'll never make it out alive. Because appearances can trick you, whether it's an illusion to your mind or your eyes playing tricks on you.

You simply cannot fool the heart. The instinct of the body. The leader of the body is the heart, although the brain may seem.

She went through door after door, each room more difficult then the next, but something, deep inside her fueled her to keep going.

Fitz is out there.

Alone.

With an injured leg.

If I can't save him, no one can.

I led him to this. If I hadn't made him come with me to the Neverseen meeting this all wouldn't had happened.

No.

No guilt. That's what Elwin said.

Her thoughts twisted and turned before the words in her mind morphed into something else.

Fitz needs you.

That was the only thing that kept her going. Those three words had an impact on her no three others words could.

Fitz needs you.

She pushed and pushed, every door causing more pain than the next. Verminions, large fires that caused her flashbacks, moving puppets, dark rooms of which only a heart and instinct could make it out, and voices.

Voices. Words.

They could hurt more than any maze.

The words morphed into only taunts that had effect on her. Like the room knew what could bite back and hurt her the most.

Why would the Black Swan want a pathetic moonlark like you? If you can't get through here without crying to your mommy, that's what you call pathetic.

You're so weak, Gethen could get to you and hurt you anytime!

Your friends don't need you. In fact, you're just weighing them down.

Your stupid fancy friend is out there alone while you're here complaining about just getting through a stupid maze? How weak.

You actually think your parents Edaline and Grady want you? Well, it's a lie. They only want you because they lost Jollie. Of course, that's what you are. A replacement. But don't worry, when you die within these walls, you'll have a replacement too.

Jollie. Jollie! Jollie. You are Jollie's replacement.

Sophie thought, "No. These words will not get to me."

Then she started pushing the voice out of her head.

The Black Swan wanted me for a reason. If you think I'm so pathetic, why didn't they pick you?

Even if you're right and Gethen could hurt me, I have friends. You don't. You just scare yours away. Hah. That's what you are. Alone. Consider actually paying attention to the kindness classes.

How could you know what my friends want? If I'm weighing them down, I'll lift them up. None of your business.

Well, since I'm "completing about getting through just a stupid maze," I wonder what you're doing. Cowering away in a room and taunting other people because YOU feel insecure about yourself.

My parents adopted me for a reason. That's a lot coming from you, someone who probably doesn't even have a mother. And when you die, I'll replace you. You'll be replaced. And the replacement will be 10 times better than you. Just wait and see.

Your words had an effect on me.

But not anymore.

They don't have an effect on me anymore.

You can't get to me.

The voice died away as the darkness faded.

There were three doors.

With a worried heart and a determined mind, she picked the middle door.
________
Silence. All that was in the room was just silence.

No sign of life. No sounds. No nothing.

There was no voice, it destroyed and wiped away from the universe.

Then the rest of the room started lighting up. Everywhere around where she stood, everything crumpling away.

After completing thirty rooms of difficulty along with an endless maze, she will not end here.

She leapt away from where she was standing and looked for an exit.

This is the room where it changes it all.

If I don't make it out, there is no more hope for Fitz.

If I do make it out, we'll once again be strong.

Be together.

Be united.
__________
Hey people! I hope you're having a nice day! Thank you for 7.5k+ views and many votes! I love you guys so much. I'm not kidding! Seriously.

I've actually calculated all the words in the whole book. The whole book (before this chapter, meaning this chapter's words are not included) has 32, 343 words. That's a lotta words.

But it's not enough to enter the Wattys. A Wattys book must be COMPLETED and have more than 50 thousand words. That's a lot.

I appreciate all of the people that have stuck with me through this book. If you guys didn't know, I started this book on March 31, 2021 (about to three months ago, seeing today's July Fourth.)

I have a question for you guys! I've actually posted this on my board but for the people who don't check my board....

What continent are you from?

I'm from North America. I feel like asking someone what country their from is stalker-ish. Well, not really. But if someone asked me what country I was from I would pretend they didn't ask it 'cause I don't feel comfortable telling them unless I know them. No offense to anyone.

Anyway thanks for reading.

Don't forget to comment, vote, and share!

Have a nice day!

Somerandomhuman88