Page 7 - My FlipBook

THE RED LABYRINTH

“Dare you to run up to the entrance,” the boy says. He’s got
dark brown skin, curly hair, and a gold pendant on his chest
worth several times what Ma makes in a year.
“No way.” The girl shudders, making the blonde pigtails
framing her pale face quiver. “I dare you to get really close
and say his name.”
The boy puffs out his chest, but fear glimmers in his eyes.
“I’ll totally do it.”
“You totally won’t.”

It’s a common dare—to stand against the labyrinth wall and
say Dex’s name aloud. They say it summons him, and he’ll grab
the speaker immediately and drag them inside. I don’t know if
anyone’s been brave enough to try it and find out.
The kids crouch by the corner of the stage and peek out. I
roll my eyes; they think they’re being sneaky, but it’s so obvi-
ous they’re trying to catch a glimpse inside the labyrinth. The
foggy maze entrance behind the stage always draws at least a
couple troublemakers who don’t take the warnings seriously.
Our immortal Leader built this labyrinth centuries ago to
protect his palace, at the other end of the maze. Legend has it,
he wanted to ensure only those who truly deserved his consult,
who were brave enough to weather the labyrinth’s dangers,

could complete the maze and reach him. It’s the only way to
see him face to face; he usually communicates with us through
a giant screen. But no one’s ever completed it—or even survived
more than a couple minutes inside—so I’d say it’s impossible.
Especially when Dex lurks in its corridors.
I bite my lip. Drawing attention to myself isn’t at the top
of my list today, but I’m not about to let these kids wander

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