Secrets - A KOTLC story

Chapter 4

Sophie's POV:

"oh my" Sophie said, wiping off the dirt from her simple white tunic and dark blue leggings as she took in her surroundings

"I know right" Tam agreed, doing the same

All around her it was dark and coated with mud, rocks, grime, and dirt, and the stinking polluted-water underground smell didn't help.

It looked like a tunnel, with dark passageways placed randomly and small fires on the walls the only source of light in the place. The ceiling stopped low, and it was also covered in filth. Water dripped down from it, making a small splat sound as it hit the floor

"Where are we?" Tam asked

"underground" Mr. Forkel answered, trudging forward

"Yeah, I know we're underground, but where exactly?" Tam prodded

"A maze" Sophie whispered, grazing her fingers along the wall to her left. The wall had jagged edges and was rougher than sand paper, thick layers of dust on it.

She glanced around and saw many, many passageways leading to different places, and by the looks of it, without a proper guide you'd get lost in here.

"This way" Mr. Forkel indicated to a opening to her right about 20 feet away

Sighing, she and Tam followed him, taking a bunch of twists and turns which she was sure was too much even for her photographic memory. Nevertheless, she tried to remember as much as possible using a trick that Keefe had thought her.

Keefe.

The name twisted something inside her

He's going to wake up. That's why I'm here. She reminded herself

"Come on!" Tam shouted, snapping her out of her thoughts and she saw him 50 feet away near another opening

Sophie jogged up to him, yelling, "Wait for me!"

"Are we there yet??!" she huffed, resting her hands on her knees as she bent over to catch her breath.

"Just a few more turns" Mr. Forkel assured

"Few more?" she groaned, slumping against the wall behind her.

They'd been walking around the never-ending maze for so long that she'd lost count. The foul smell along with the dim lights didn't help either.

"What time is it?" asked Tam, tugging on his bangs

"I guess around evening;" Mr. Forkel answered, "Now come along" he started walking

Sophie got off the wall and followed him, Tam trailing behind

"Ah, here we are" Mr. Forkel announced after a while, motioning to a brick wall in front of them that had ivy's with very thick thorns cascading down with mud closing around it

"um.....I see no...entrance?" Sophie said, looking around

Without answering, Mr. Forkel strode forward towards the wall.

Fearing that he would hit the wall, she yelled for him to stop but he didn't stop; and as his body touched the wall it shimmered (the wall, not his body) and he was completely swallowed up by the rocks

Sophie blinked in confusion a few times before her mind pieced together that the wall was actually an illusion. She turned to see Tam inspecting the wall, with one of his hands hesitatingly reaching for it.