Stuck

You feel unrested and drained, small movements reminding you of the pain of your aching head. As your eyes scan the sky, your view of any horizon is impossible. Soaring walls obstruct your view, and freedom once found in the open sky is gone in an instant. You are overwhelmed with feelings of hopelessness, the realization about being trapped enraptures you. Limestone walls soaked with dew and lichen create a labyrinth of never-ending proportion; walls that scale for miles create boundaries that will never appear. An exit exists somewhere between the walls; unfound and unused it sits waiting. [[Look Around]]

You've been here for a while; you feel it in your bones. The walls are immovable and unclimbable; weathering for years has eroded any features from the stones, leaving them smooth and slick. You sit in a wide garden corridor rather than the narrow halls that stem from the lush den. In the garden there is a pool of calm water, tadpoles swim, disappearing from sight under scattered rocks. Light beams from the peaking sun scatter through the leaves of trees with narrow trunks, and patches of wildflowers reach towards the sky and lean in the breeze. [[Keep Looking]]

Upon closer inspection, there is a marble column peeking out from underneath a tree. A polished light purple orb sits on the corner of the column. The sphere has fallen from a golden circular stand fixed to the center of the platform, and tetters concerningly on the corner. [[Let the Sphere Fall]] [[Catch the Sphere]]

You stand stationary in the garden, watching as the sphere inevitably works its way over the edge of the platform. Hitting the floor, it instantaneously shattered, sending chunks of purple glass across the ground. As the shards settled on the ground, the purple started to dissipate out of the pieces like a piece of raw fish slowly oxidizing. The bits transformed from purple to grey as the color leached out of the shards. (align:"<==")+(box:"=XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[(text-colour:(hsl:0,0.8039,0.5,0.45))[// WHY ARE YOU JUST STANDING THERE! You didn't even try and catch it, you're always just taking up space. I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS ... // ]] Turning to face the voice, you are met with the tall form of a minotaur. The creature looks strong, its large horns proudly point to the sky. The towering creature possesses simple clothes, a long well-groomed mane, and a nose ring that rattles with each rage-laden breath. [[Wait for the Minotaur to Speak Again]]

Propelling yourself around the lake, you move to catch the sphere right as it wobbles from its perch. Catching it as it falls, you let out a sigh of relief as you return it safely to the platform. You stand for a second longer, admiring the glint of sunlight off the orb's purple surface. In your effort to rescue the orb you didn’t notice the tap of authoritative footsteps marking the arrival of another creature. A booming voice behind you shakes you from your thoughts about the orb and almost sends you jumping from surprise into the column. (align:"<==")+(box:"=XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[(text-colour:(hsl:0,0.8039,0.5,0.45))[//Wow! I can’t believe you have the gall to touch my shit again. I thought we had this conversation when you first got here. ALL THESE TREASURES ARE MINE. THIS IS MY HOME. DON'T TOUCH MY THINGS! Couldn’t be any simpler than that, I mean, are you so small-minded you can't follow simple instructions?// ]] Turning to face the voice, you are met with the tall form of a minotaur. The creature looks strong, its large horns proudly point to the sky. The towering creature possesses simple clothes, a long well-groomed mane, and a nose ring that rattles with each rage-laden breath. [[''Sorry, it was going to fall'']]

Even though the minotaur is lashing out, you refuse to do so back. Believing it would not help the situation, you instead decide to try and de-stress in the garden. As they walk off, you busy yourself trying to grab a fruit that hangs lowly from a branch. The gargantuan task for you would be simple for the minotaur, but you refuse to talk to them again, fearing their wrath after the trouble with the orb. The sun peaks high in the sky and in no time falls. You find your place in the grass once more and let your eyes begin to flutter closed. Before drifting off to sleep, your thoughts drift to the minotaur. The garden in all its beauty is lonely. You remember the times when this shared space used to feel so warm. Things are different now compared to when you first arrived at the maze. Conversation used to flow so easily, and the minotaur’s presence used to feel welcoming. Things weren’t always this tense. As these thoughts swirl around your head, you unconsciously fall into darkness. Things will get better I just need [[a new day]].

Glancing to the pond, the crisp water reflects your image perfectly until the water's surface is broken by tadpoles swimming below. They pop up to investigate leaves that have fallen on their hunt for food, eventually returning to the depths to voraciously suck algae from stones. Maybe investigating the pond could offer up something interesting. On the far-right side of the courtyard, a songbird caught your attention. It’s a rare sight in the labyrinth; few creatures brave the tall walls. The bird's feathers are a blend of neutrals; it appears soft, puffing up as it chirps while releasing a beautiful sporadic song. Maybe you should get closer to listen. Or maybe the garden’s adventures aren't for you today. You're tired and you would want nothing more than to [[sit]] on the soft bed of grass.

Tears run down the minotaur's face. The breaking of the orb seems to have greatly upset them. (align:"<==")+(box:"=XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[(text-colour:(hsl:0,0.8039,0.5,0.45))[// I just feel like we've had this conversation so many times already. I'm tired of explaining myself. I can't do this right now; there are issues with paths beyond the courtyard where the walls are crumbling in on themselves. Let's talk about this later. // ]] [[Nod in Agreement]]

You awake, eyes opening to a brightening sky; warm light softly morphs the navy blue imperceptibly lighter as time progresses. You lay still taking in the peaceful sight of clouds drifting lackadaisically in an ocean of blue. You inhale deeply and close your eyes. The soft scent of wildflowers sweetens the air to a light degree and in your self imposed darkness you can pick up on the faint melodies of crickets playing their symphonies, a declaration of loneliness, a hopeful longing for courtship that dies out as the sun rises. The soft bed of grass is warm underneath you, cushioning and slowly uncurling as you move to sit up. The garden rarely changes in appearance. As time passes there are small developments, tadpoles get bigger, the sun is less intense, and fruit ripens heavying the branches they hang from. You search the area that has begun to feel increasingly tight with time, looking for the next big adventure that you could busy yourself with. [[Investigate the Garden]]

As you wait for a response, the tension increases with the silence, adding to the discomfort of the moment. (align:"<==")+(box:"=XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[(text-colour:(hsl:0,0.8039,0.5,0.45))[// I don't believe that. // ]] The Minotaur visibly tries to calm down, taking deep breaths and closing their eyes. (align:"<==")+(box:"=XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[(text-colour:(hsl:0,0.8039,0.5,0.45))[// I came over here, and your hands were all over it. It’s reckless to be lifting it from its perch. You know, this was a gift from my mom. I don’t have much left of her. I would have been devastated if this had fallen. I just feel like we've had this conversation so many times already. I'm tired of explaining myself. I can't do this right now; there are issues with paths beyond the courtyard where the walls are crumbling in on themselves. Let's talk about this later. // ]] [[Nod in Agreement]]

You return to the place where you start and end each day. You have spent countless hours watching the clouds come and go from here. They may be the only thing that truly changes around here. The clouds are free to go wherever they want, and you’ve become jealous of that. This garden once had everything, and it still has everything, it just stopped satisfying you. [[Watch the clouds]]

[[Take a drink of water]]

(align:"<==")+(box:"=XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[(text-colour:(hsl:0,0.8039,0.5,0.45))[//Hey. You seem like you're having a tough time lately.// ]] The voice comes from the minotaur who approaches from the back hallway. Even though it was said softly the words echo off the walls. The appearance of the minotaur spooked the songbird away leading to the absence of its song. The courtyard garden is quiet. You sit next to each other in the grass watching the clouds flow in the sky in silence. ''I think I’m ready to leave.'' (align:"<==")+(box:"=XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[(text-colour:(hsl:0,0.8039,0.5,0.45))[//I understand.// ]] … (align:"<==")+(box:"=XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[(text-colour:(hsl:0,0.8039,0.5,0.45))[//It wasn’t all bad?// ]] ''It wasn’t all bad. '' (align:"<==")+(box:"=XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[(text-colour:(hsl:0,0.8039,0.5,0.45))[//It wasn’t all bad// ]] It’s a bittersweet moment you share with the minotaur. You sit absent mindedly picking at the grass as you recall the happier memories, sharing small conversations until the sun falls and you both drifft off to sleep in the grass. [[Wake Up]]

You awake early. The courtyard is dark, aside from the dim luminescence coming from the moon and fireflies that coast calmly around the garden. You inhale deeply and close your eyes. The soft scent of wildflowers sweetens the air to a light degree, and in the darkness you hear the loud begging melodies of crickets. The bed of grass is warm underneath you, cushioning and slowly uncurling as you move to sit up. You see something odd in the glow of the fireflies. During your slumber, a chipped wooden door has materialized on the north wall of the courtyard. It’s the first change you’ve ever seen in the labyrinth. [[It's time to leave.]]

You walk to the door, passing the pond on the way. You spare it a small glance, presenting you with a sparsely lit image of your own horns. Pulling on the door causes it to creak open on rusted hinges, and peering through the open frame reveals the outskirts of a forest on an open prairie. Before stepping through, you look back to the minotaur as you both occupy the courtyard one last time. You give a small, solemn wave. (align:"<==")+(box:"=XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX=========")[(text-colour:(hsl:0,0.8039,0.5,0.45))[// Goodbye // ]] After the small exchange you walk through pulling the door shut behind you. You're ready to start out on a new journey.