"Sometimes, allies come from the unlikeliest places—and bring more chaos than comfort."
The shadowy figure loomed ahead, its form flickering like a dying flame, radiating an unsettling energy that made Notty’s chest tighten. She glanced at Ludikrousz, whose hand hovered near his side as though he had a weapon—though neither of them had anything tangible to fight with except her fragile threads of magic.
“Shall we fight it or run?” he asked in a low voice, his usual sarcasm replaced with tension.
Notty swallowed hard, the glowing threads in her hands dimming as if they, too, felt the weight of the figure’s presence. “I don’t think we can run,” she murmured, her voice barely audible over the eerie hum that filled the air.
The figure stepped closer, its silhouette shifting, the darkness around it rippling like water. And then, suddenly, it stopped. A bright, unexpected voice shattered the silence.
“Well, well! What do we have here? Travelers! Lost, confused, and in desperate need of flair, I see.”
Both Notty and Ludikrousz froze, their eyes snapping to the source of the voice. Out of the shadows emerged a creature unlike anything they’d ever seen: a sprite no taller than a child, its body shimmering like iridescent fabric that caught the faint light of the maze. It was draped in an absurdly flamboyant outfit—a patchwork of colors that clashed so violently it was almost painful to look at.
“I am Zindle,” the sprite declared, striking a dramatic pose. “Master of threads, weaver of wonders, and your savior from this dreary darkness.”
Ludikrousz blinked, trying to stop himself from laughing out loud. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“Do I look like I’m kidding?” Zindle huffed, placing tiny hands on its hips. “I’ll have you know, I’m a highly sought-after guide in these parts.”
“Highly sought-after by who?” Notty asked skeptically, still clutching the glowing threads as her eyes darted between Zindle and the shadowy figure.
“Oh, everyone who values a good stitch and an even better sense of style,” Zindle replied, ignoring her tone entirely. “Now, are you going to thank me for interrupting that very tense standoff, or do I need to spell out how much trouble you’re in?”
Before either of them could respond, a raspy, gravelly voice chimed in. “Don’t let Zindle fool you. He has more sparkle than other substances.”
From behind Zindle, a small, round imp scurried forward, its skin a deep charcoal gray with glowing red eyes. It carried what looked like a tiny sewing kit slung over its back, and its mischievous grin revealed a set of sharp teeth.
“And you are?” Ludikrousz asked, his eyebrows raised.
“Lervz,” the imp said with a dramatic bow. “The brains of this operation. Zindle’s just the flair.”
“Flair is crucial!” Zindle snapped, glaring at Lervz. “Without me, this maze would have eaten you alive by now.”
Lervz rolled his glowing eyes and turned back to Notty and Ludikrousz. “Anyway, you two look like you need help. Lucky for you, we’re available—at a reasonable price, of course.”
“Reasonable?” Notty repeated, her suspicion growing. “What’s the catch?”
Lervz smirked. “Nothing major... just a memory or two. Maybe an emotion you’re not using. You won’t even miss it.”
Notty’s grip tightened on her threads. “We’ve already paid enough in memories. If you’re trying to trick us—”
“Trick you?” Zindle interrupted, his tone feigning offense. “Darling, we don’t trick. We negotiate. And besides, helping you would be so good for our reputation.”
“Our reputation with who?” Ludikrousz asked, crossing his arms. “We’re in the middle of a cursed maze. There’s no one here to be impressed.”
Zindle waved a hand dismissively. “Details, details. Now, if you’re not interested in surviving, feel free to continue stumbling blindly through the maze.”
Lervz leaned closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “But if you do want to live long enough to regret your choices, we might be able to point you in the right direction.”
Notty exchanged a look with Ludikrousz, who sighed heavily. “Why does every solution in this place come with strings attached?” he muttered.
“Because it’s a maze,” Zindle said, rolling his eyes. “Strings, threads, weaving—it’s the whole theme, darling. Keep up.”
“Fine,” Notty said, cutting off the bickering before it could escalate. “What do you want in exchange for your help?”
Zindle’s shimmering form brightened, a grin spreading across his face. “Nothing major,” he said. “Just a promise.”
“What kind of promise?” Notty asked warily.
“That when all this is over, you’ll remember us as the exceptional allies we are,” Zindle said, placing a hand dramatically over his heart. “And maybe—just maybe—you’ll mention our names in your tales of heroism.”
Notty blinked, caught off guard. “That’s it? No memories, no emotions, no tricks?”
“Just our names in lights!” Zindle declared, striking another pose.
Lervz sighed, muttering under his breath. “He’s always angling for fame.”
Notty couldn’t help but smile. For all their quirks and dramatics, Zindle and Lervz didn’t seem dangerous. At least, not yet. “Fine,” she said. “We promise.”
“Fantastic!” Zindle clapped his hands, his outfit shimmering brighter. “Now, let’s get you out of this mess before the maze decides to swallow you whole.”
With Zindle and Lervz leading the way, the maze seemed to shift around them, the oppressive darkness retreating slightly. Zindle hummed as he floated ahead, pointing out hidden traps and illusions with a flourish.
“Watch out for that vine,” he said, gesturing to a seemingly harmless patch of greenery. “It’ll wrap you up faster than a bad hemline.”
Ludikrousz snorted. “Do you have a metaphor that isn’t fashion-related?”
“No,” Zindle replied cheerfully. “Now keep up.”
Lervz scampered along behind them, muttering about Zindle’s theatrics but occasionally offering useful advice. “If you see a reflection of yourself, don’t touch it. Trust me, it gets messy.”
Notty couldn’t help but laugh, despite the tension still thrumming through her veins. “Do you two always bicker like this?”
“Only when he’s wrong,” Zindle said.
“Which is always,” Lervz retorted.
Their banter lightened the mood, but Notty’s unease lingered. The maze might have loosened its grip for now, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was watching them.
As they neared what appeared to be the edge of the maze, Zindle suddenly stopped, his shimmering form dimming. “Hold up,” he said, his voice uncharacteristically serious.
“What is it?” Notty asked, her heart skipping a beat.
Zindle turned to face her, his expression unusually somber. “You’re being watched,” he said, his voice low. “The entity knows where you are.”
Notty’s blood ran cold. “What do you mean?”
Lervz nodded, his glowing eyes narrowing. “The maze was just the appetizer. The entity’s got its eye on you now. You’ve stirred the pot, and it’s not happy.”
Ludikrousz frowned, his hand twitching toward his nonexistent weapon. “Great. So what shall we do?”
Zindle’s grin returned, though it was tinged with nervous energy. “Simple,” he said. “We have to keep moving... faster.”
As they stepped through the final passage of the maze, the air around them grew heavy, and a low, guttural growl echoed through the shadows. Notty’s hands tightened on her threads as a dark shape emerged from the darkness, its eyes glowing with malevolent intent.
“Too late,” Lervz muttered. “It’s here.”