The Maze The Lost Labyrinth - By Jason Brannon Page 0,53
“This is a lake of blood.”
“Better than a lake of fire,” Connie said. “Now do as I told you and immerse yourself. You do want to live, right?”
“It will never work.”
“Trust me. I know Asterion better than you do. I also know the way this place works. The minotaur has sniffed you out by your sins. Blood is the only thing that can cover sins. If you go under, you’ll be invisible to the minotaur.”
The approaching sound of hooves on stone convinced me to dive deeper into the crimson pool when nothing else could. Being submerged in blood was like being back in the womb, insulated from all sight and sound. I had absolutely no idea what was going on above me. For all I knew the minotaur was getting ready to jump in after me. I hoped Connie knew what she was talking about.
I must have held my breath for a full minute before the need for oxygen forced me to the surface again. I gasped for air the moment I emerged from the pool. Thankfully Asterion was gone. No doubt he had gone back to the fork and taken the right passageway, thinking I might have chosen that route instead.
“This isn’t Christ’s blood.” I swam to the edge of the pool and hauled myself out. “How did it protect me?”
“It’s symbolic,” Connie said. “Haven’t you been taking notes this entire time?”
“Symbolic. Right. Is my family going to be safe since I eluded capture?”
“If Asterion is anything, he’s honest. If he told you your family will be safe, then there won’t be a hair on their heads that’s harmed.”
“Darrell Gene Rankin is in my house.”
“True. But God is dealing with him. You don‘t have anything to worry about.”
“Is God dealing with him because of the things that are going on in this maze?”
“God works in mysterious ways.”
“So I’m learning.”
“I’m going away now,” Connie said. “I’ve helped enough for the moment. I’ll be back when you need me.”
I didn’t get a chance to argue. Connie was gone again.
Cautiously, I emerged from the cave on the far side. I was still wary of running into Asterion, but there was no sign of him. Instead there were various souvenirs of the man I’d become scattered about. An empty whiskey bottle. An adult video receipt. Around one bend, there was an emaciated bank account statement that suffered from a terminal case of compulsive gambling. Hiding in another dark corner was a police report for DUI. Then there was the broken clock whose only purpose was to remind me of all the time I had wasted on selfish pleasures that could have been better spent with Amy and Peter. Would my torments ever end?
Although the labyrinth was dark, the walls glowed with a purple effulgence as if illuminated by black light. Strange indecipherable glyphs and sequences of raised numerals tattooed the polished stone hallways. The labyrinth was just as weird as it had always been, and I was just as lost.
I didn’t know which way to go now, what to do or which side Asterion would be on the next time we met. The best I could tell, everything in this place was designed to make me reevaluate my life and my behavior. In that respect, the labyrinth was functioning marvelously. I was scared to death of the man I’d become. In confirmation of that fear, I nearly jumped out of my skin when I heard a sonorous thudding sound reverberate through the maze.
Boom!
The sound was loud enough that I could feel it, jarring my bones and rattling the fillings in my teeth.
Boom!
It reminded me of a rock concert I’d gone to in my rowdier days. I’d had front row seats. The bass was elevated at such a level that each new thud and beat was like a slap to the face.
Boom!
It sounded like a giant hammering away at an enormous door.
“Connie?” I hoped she might still be close by, but Connie wasn’t in much of a giving mood at the moment. It was up to me to figure out what was causing all the commotion. I just wasn’t sure I wanted to.
Boom!
It was the kind of concussion that would accompany the demolition of a skyscraper by dynamite.
Boom!….
--came the cannon fire.
Boom!….
--was the sound of two cars colliding head-on at ninety miles per hour.
The noise seemed to come from everywhere, like Connie’s voice, only much, much louder.
“Why won’t it stop?” I placed both hands over my ears to help block out the roar.
The thunderous sound