"In the dreamscape, losing someone isn’t about distance—it’s about the shadows that pull them away."
Notty sprinted through the twisting pathways of the Tanglewood Maze, her heart pounding as the vines seemed to close in around her. The glowing threads in her hand flickered weakly, struggling to guide her through the chaos. Every step forward felt like stepping deeper into a nightmare, but she didn’t stop. She couldn’t.
“Ludikrousz!” she shouted, her voice echoing through the maze. “Where are you?”
The maze responded with a cacophony of whispers, each one mocking her desperation. Shadows darted at the edges of her vision, and for a moment, she thought she heard laughter—low and cruel.
“Great,” she muttered to herself. “As if things weren’t bad enough, now the maze has a sense of humor.”
A soft, familiar voice drifted through the air, making her pause. “Notty…”
She froze, her chest tightening. It was Ludikrousz’s voice, but it sounded wrong—too calm, too detached. She turned toward the sound, gripping the faint threads of magic in her hands like a lifeline.
“Ludikrousz?” she called again, her voice trembling.
The voice came again, softer this time. “Why are you looking for me? You should just leave.”
Notty’s stomach churned. She knew it wasn’t really him—the maze was trying to trick her—but the sound of his voice, even twisted by the maze’s illusions, sent a pang of fear and guilt through her.
“No,” she said firmly, shaking her head. “I’m not falling for this.”
She took a deep breath, focusing on the threads in her hands. They pulsed faintly, pulling her toward a narrow, overgrown path. The vines seemed to writhe as she approached, but she pushed through, ignoring the scratches against her arms.
“I’m coming, Ludikrousz,” she muttered under her breath. “You better be safe by yourself before I find you.”
The path opened into a small clearing, and Notty’s breath caught as she saw him. Ludikrousz stood at the center, his back to her, facing a woman she didn’t recognize. The woman was tall and elegant, her hair shimmering like silver in the faint light of the maze. She reached out to Ludikrousz, her expression tender.
“Ludikrousz,” she said, her voice soft and melodic. “You don’t have to fight anymore. You can rest now.”
Notty’s hands tightened around the threads, anger flaring in her chest. “Oh, no you don’t,” she muttered, stepping forward. “You’re not taking him.”
The woman turned to her, her eyes cold and piercing. “This isn’t your fight, Dreamweaver,” she said, her voice dripping with disdain. “He belongs here, with me.”
“Like hell he does,” Notty shot back, her voice shaking with fury. “Whatever game you’re playing, it ends now.”
Ludikrousz turned to look at her, his expression dazed. “Notty?” he said, his voice distant. “What are you doing here?”
“Saving your sorry butt,” she snapped. “What does it look like?”
The woman stepped closer to Ludikrousz, placing a hand on his shoulder. “He’s tired,” she said, her tone soothing. “He’s been fighting for so long. Let him stay. Let him be free.”
Notty felt her magic flare, the threads in her hands glowing brighter. “Nice try,” she said, her voice steady despite the fear gnawing at her. “But he’s coming with me.”
The woman’s expression darkened, her form shifting and distorting. The illusion began to unravel, revealing a twisted, shadowy figure beneath the elegant facade.
“Do you think you can take him from me?” the shadow hissed, its voice a guttural snarl.
Notty’s hands moved instinctively, weaving the threads into a barrier of light between Ludikrousz and the shadow. The shadow recoiled, its form flickering as the light pressed against it.
“Ludikrousz, move!” Notty shouted, her voice sharp.
He hesitated, his gaze lingering on the shadow for a moment before he snapped out of it. He stumbled back, shaking his head as if clearing a fog. “Notty…”
“I’ve got this,” she said through gritted teeth, focusing all her energy on holding the barrier. “Just… don’t do anything stupid.”
“That’s your job,” he chuckled, his usual sarcasm returning as he moved to her side.
The shadow let out a furious screech, its form twisting and writhing as it tried to break through the barrier. Notty’s arms trembled with the effort of holding it back, but she didn’t falter.
“You’re stronger than this,” she told herself, her voice a quiet mantra. “You can do this.”
The shadow lunged one last time, but the barrier flared with a blinding light, forcing it to retreat. It disappeared into the darkness with a final, ear-piercing shriek, leaving the clearing eerily silent.
Notty collapsed to her knees, her breath coming in short gasps. The threads in her hands dimmed, their light flickering weakly.
“Notty,” Ludikrousz said, kneeling beside her. “Are you okay?”
She looked up at him, her exhaustion evident. “What is it with you and getting yourself into trouble?” she asked, her voice a mix of frustration and relief.
He smirked, though there was a softness in his eyes. “Keeps things interesting.”
She rolled her eyes, but a small smile tugged at her lips. “Next time, maybe try staying out of trouble... just once.”
“Where’s the fun in that?” he quipped, helping her to her feet.
As they stood, the maze around them seemed to shift again, the path ahead illuminated by faint, flickering light. Notty sighed, her body still trembling from the effort of defeating the shadow.
“We need to keep moving,” she said, her voice steady despite her exhaustion. “The maze isn’t done with us yet.”
“Fantastic,” Ludikrousz said dryly. “Because this has been such a delightful experience so far.”
Notty couldn’t help but laugh, the sound light and genuine despite the tension still lingering in the air. “Come on,” she said, nudging him playfully. “Let’s get out of here before the maze throws another nightmare at us.”
The path ahead was narrow and winding, the walls of the maze closing in around them. The air grew colder, and the whispers returned, faint but persistent. Notty kept her focus on the glowing threads, her hands trembling as she followed their faint light.
“You know,” Ludikrousz said, breaking the silence, “for a cursed maze, this place has surprisingly good acoustics. The whispers really carry.”
Notty snorted, shaking her head. “Only you would critique the ambiance of a death trap.”
“What can I say?” he replied, a grin tugging at his lips. “I have high standards.”
Despite the danger surrounding them, Notty felt a warmth in her chest. His humor, however misplaced, was a reminder that they weren’t alone in this. They had each other, and that was enough to keep her moving forward.
As they reached what seemed to be the edge of the maze, a faint light appeared in the distance. Notty’s heart lifted, hope surging through her.
But as they stepped closer, the light flickered, and a shadowy figure emerged from the darkness. It stood at the edge of the path, its form indistinct but menacing. The air around it crackled with dark energy, and the whispers grew louder, more insistent.
Notty and Ludikrousz froze, their breath catching as the figure stepped forward, its gaze locked on them.
“Did you really think you could escape me?” it hissed, its voice sending chills down their spines.