The Labyrinth

Luke stared into the dark expanse in front of him. He took his first step in and heard the iron gate slam shut behind him. No turning back. The only option left was to take another step. And another. Soon, he reached his first crossroads. He had been given no specific directions, other than a cryptic “find the center” by Master Daimen. Easier said than done in this never-ending darkness. While the moon overhead cast a faint light, it was the only natural light Luke would have, according to his instructions. The walls of the labyrinth cast great shadows everywhere as well. He was locked in a never-ending night. 

There were no sounds, he noticed. No crickets, no birds, no mice. Nothing. The chill air, along with a slight wind, made him glad he brought his cloak. The huge stone walls of the labyrinth towered over him, impossible to climb because of how smooth they were. Impossibly smooth, not rough like most other rock. The magic of the maze ensured no one would be able to cheat the system.

Luke steeled himself and made his first decision of many to come. He turned down the left path and noticed a burnt-out torch on the ground. He retrieved it and searched in his cloak for a match. He wasn’t allowed much for the trial, except his intuition, some rope, a few matches, and food for the length of the trial plus some extra. He kept all of this in his cloak; these items were all that he could take into the labyrinth. The trial was only supposed to take, at maximum, a day and a half. Then, you would get pulled out as a failure, and you could never try again. It was up to him and his wits to find the center and claim the title of Master and the magic that came along with it. If he couldn’t, he’d be pulled out and could never try again. He focused on this goal as he lit the match and held the torch up to examine the wall.

No one knew the origin of the labyrinth. Luke could see in the torchlight many ancient-looking markings on the stone walls, some of which reflected the light with a glint. The markings were an array of shapes and lines, all running along the wall. They were a more metallic gray compared to the stone. He could feel the power radiating off of them. Luke thought back to the days he had spent with Master Daimen, learning and preparing for the trial. Where do I go? How should I find my way? The answer was foggy as he searched his feelings. He knew he couldn’t follow the markings. They were there to deceive him, the Masters said. He had been taught the power of trusting himself. All he had to do was listen. 

Master Daimen said that the labyrinth wants to be solved, just like any other puzzle. It plants the answer for those who can reach within themselves and find it. But now, in the moment, Luke struggled to see anything but fear. I can’t do this. I’m not good enough. He wandered onward, knowing that no plan was the best plan. He set himself out to the center, vaguely knowing to go inward. 

He walked until he simply couldn’t anymore. Each step was aching. He figured it had been several hours already, but with the labyrinth’s eternal night sky, Luke had no concept of measuring time. He decided to stop and rest for a while and then continue when he woke.

He saw a corner down a small dead end just up ahead and to his left, so he resolved himself to walk there. He wanted somewhere where the wall could block the wind that was now exceedingly cold. Holding his torch up high, he strode on. When he reached the alcove, he gasped and reeled back. A strange smell hit his nose, like something old and forgotten. What is that? Are those bones? Of what? He examined the sight more closely, bringing his torch in front of him. He confirmed his fear, seeing they were bones. Luke hesitated and crouched down. He moved the torch closer, dug around in the pile, and saw what he was expecting. A human skull, brittle to the touch as if it had been here a long time. He backed away solemnly from the remains, bowed his head, and pushed on to find somewhere else. He wouldn’t sleep with a dead man, couldn’t bring himself to out of fear and respect. A thought crept into the back of his mind as he wandered on, searching for a safe place to rest. What if I become like that: lost forever?

He shortly found another small alcove in the wall, this one free of remains. He sat down against the stone wall and put out his torch, looking up at the night sky. He contemplated his trial while eating some of his rations. He chewed the dry bread while thoughts of freedom and power flooded his head. From his days as a small boy to now, a young man, he had always been fascinated with the maze. The Masters were the most knowledgeable, powerful people in the village. They taught all manner of kids, but they had selected him uniquely, saying he held potential unlike any they had ever seen. Only one person every ten years or so got the chance to take the trial, and he had been selected. There hadn’t been a new master in a while. No one who failed the trial had stayed in the village. The Masters said they all ran off in the night, too embarrassed to face the village again. Luke dreamed of learning the secrets the labyrinth held. He stared ahead into the night, looking at the wall opposite to him. What do these markings mean? Can I use them? He didn’t know. He had no hope of being able to find the center. He wasn’t even sure he wanted to anymore. His whole life, that was all he wanted. But right now, he wanted to get out. He thought back to the skeleton. Not much separated the two if he couldn’t find the center. It was hopeless. He was wandering with no method and had no idea where he was. He wasn’t even sure he was going inward anymore. The importance of the trial tired him as he drifted off in the silence of the night. 

Luke awoke, tired and restless. He was eager to reach the center and be done with this trial. He ate another dry piece of bread and some of the dried meat he had brought with him as his breakfast. Seeing the moon as I wake up. How strange. It was still silent in the maze, his footsteps loudly reverberating as he walked. He relit his torch and forged on, wandering through and letting his feet carry him towards the center. He didn’t know where he was in the maze, but he had to hope he was close. 

He reached a turn around a corner and saw the one thing he was not expecting: the iron gate from the entrance. I’m back at the start? How is that even possible?

Standing outside the entrance, he saw a familiar figure. “Master Daimen?”

“Ah, Luke. I take it from you being here that the trial is not going too well?”

Luke ran towards the entrance and stood a few steps back from the gate, facing Master Daimen. He bowed and dropped his torch, putting it out and letting moonlight illuminate his teacher. The moon was to the back of Master Daimen.

“Apparently not, Master. Any advice?”

“Alas, I know you are ready to do what is needed. I have prepared you well.” In the moonlight, Luke could see a small smile of pride on Master Daimen’s face. 

“Master, I don’t believe in myself. How can you? How can you believe I'll find the center?”

“Oh, I don’t,” Master Daimen said in a flat, matter-of-fact tone. He was staring straight at Luke, cold nothingness in his eyes. 

Luke was taken aback. He wasn't expecting that. 

“What?” he asked in disbelief. 

“You have no chance. No one ever thought you did.”

“What are you saying? Is this some kind of mind trick? Reverse psychology or something to make me believe?”

“Nope, kid. For once in your life, it’s the truth.”

Luke’s head was spinning. What is he saying? Has my whole life been a lie?

“Then, can you let me out?” 

“No can do. You know the rules.”

“But you just said I can’t find the center.” The realization hit him like a horse’s kick. The lonely skeleton flashed in his mind. “I’ll die, trapped in here, if you don’t do anything.”

“Correct. And I won’t be doing anything to help you, boy.” Master Daimen’s grin widened now. He seemed like he had been waiting a long time for these words. “You’re stuck in there. That’s how we intended.”

Luke held his face in his hands, distraught by what he was hearing. His whole life, all meant for this moment. Everything preparing him to die. He became angry, realizing all that the Masters had done was for his demise. “You’ve been raising me for the slaughter then?” he shouted in rage. He ran up to the gate and grabbed the bars, shaking desperately for an exit. 

Master Daimen flinched back at this, but he remained steady and held his composure. “Yes, child. The labyrinth has demands, after all. Ones that need to be met.”

Luke let go of the cage, his mind racing. Is there any way to get out? Anything at all? He patted his pockets. The rope. He pulled it out.

Master Daimen applauded, saying, “Clever. Alas, the walls are too high for the allowed amount of rope to be of any use. You seriously think we would let you in with something to escape? I raised you to be smarter than that, young man.”

Luke wanted to rub the smile right off of his face. “Well then, I’ll go find the center then. If you can do it, so can I.”

“Unfortunately, no,” he responded with a cold laugh. “You see, Luke, you’re what we call a sacrifice. Since you’ve always been curious about how the maze works, I’ll let you in on the secret. After all, you’ve got no one to tell.”

The boy in Luke was eagerly curious to finally know. The more mature part of him knew that this would probably be the last thing he ever heard from another human being. 

“The labyrinth has deep, ancient magic in it. It runs from the center, through the markings in the walls, all over the maze. Like a living creature, almost. The markings are like blood vessels. But,” Master Daimen paused, soaking in his triumph. “A creature needs food. That’s where you come in, big boy. When you die, the maze will absorb your life force and its magic will be sustained for a long time.”

“But what does that have to do with you? All the lies you’ve told the village. What’s really going on?”

“Us three Masters, we draw on the maze for power and knowledge. It’s very ancient and knows so many secrets of the world. We use that knowledge to help the village prosper. People can grow better crops, make better tools, and learn more than they ever could without us.”

“And you can stay in power.” Luke spat at him through the gate. 

“Well, yes, that too. And extend on our lives using the magic and its life force. Don’t forget that. And every now and then, we have to feed the labyrinth. That’s where you come in, champ.” He was smug now. Master Daimen had spent Luke’s whole life dealing with him, and now it was all worth it as Luke understood his fate.

Luke let the information wash over him. He didn’t have time to fully absorb it when Master Daimen spoke again. 

“I’m glad I could finally fill you in, Luke. I’d say it was nice knowing you, but honestly you were the bane of my existence. Have fun rotting away, and goodbye!”

Luke watched as Master Daimen, to his disbelief, skipped away whistling. He didn’t know what to think. There’s nothing I can do. The Masters won. My whole life is a lie, and they won. Luke sank against the iron gate. It would be mere days before he had no food or water. He had been taught that he would be pulled out after a couple days so that he wouldn’t die of dehydration. At least that’s what the Masters said. But that’s a lie too. All of the rules were built to kill. Luke was just the next in a long line of victims. 

He stared ahead at the stone wall, defeated. Its might was unmistakable. He had always been taught to follow his intuition. Now, he didn’t know what to do. He supposed there was only one thing to do. He got up, adjusted his cloak, and thought of where to go. He wanted to help anyone in the future and get back at the Masters for lying to him. Luke grabbed his torch and relit it. He brought it up to the stone wall. He was no artist, but he could send a message for anyone to see. Luke stepped back to admire his last act that would be seen by anyone whom the Masters lured in and that might help one of them realize what he couldn’t. He was satisfied with his marking on the wall, the massive skull just visible in the moonlight. He dropped the torch now, leaving it for the next victim as it was left for him, and wandered on. Luke knew his destination now. And he knew he would reach his death in just a matter of time.