Day #10, Hide and Seek – by Elizabeth Averay
Having exhausted every possible avenue to progress in the maze, I slump against the wall. After a moment I hear a soft snick and a scraping sound. Turning my head to the left I see a section of wall next to my head has moved to reveal a cavity with two pieces of old paper in it.
Grabbing them out, I read them.
The first says, ‘Please return to resting place in the wall and push closed when finished reading your next instructions – thank you.’
The second reads, ‘Take the third passage on the left from entry point. Go half way down and lean on the odd peacock to proceed.’
Looking at the paper I think, The odd peacock? What is that? Shrugging, I replace the papers in the wall and lightly press on the stone, and it glides back into place. No hint of it being different from the rest of the wall.
Retracing my steps to the now closed entrance I count off the passages on my left, one, two, turn down three. Not sure how to tell halfway, I figure I’m there when I come upon a mural of twenty peacocks all splendidly coloured. Gazing intently at them, I notice after a while a peacock that has only one colour whereas all the others have at least four.
What was the instruction? Press the odd peacock. With a twinge of nerves I press the all-silver bird. It moves inward a few millimetres and the mural slides sideways to reveal a new passage.
Taking a deep breath I walk through the opening, jumping in surprise as the mural quickly snaps shut behind me.
No going back, then.
On this side there is no beautiful picture but a carved inscription.
The Maze has hidden secrets within.
To advance you must seek out the clues.
You have a small idea of what to do. Press on walls, floors, paintings, and statues to find the hidden clues to move on. But be WARNED – if you prove to be greedy things will not go your way. If you wish to forfeit your chance of riches beyond your wildest dreams, walk forty paces to the right and press the angel. If you wish to proceed turn around and walk down the corridor behind you and place your left hand in the opening in the wall level with your waist. GOOD LUCK.
Stop now? I don’t think so.
I walk to the end of the passage and place my left hand in the hole in the wall…and wait.
After a few minutes a thumbnail sized emerald lands in my hand. Not sure what it means, I just stand there looking at it. Maybe I am not smart enough for this maze. I turn to go back, but again it has all changed. There behind me where I had walked is now a large scale with two plates – one with a sign reading ‘gems’, the other saying ‘stones’.
Ok, no brainer. I place the emerald on the gem scale. A tinkle of windchimes sounds around me, then the scale vanishes from sight and a sheaf of paper replaces it.
CONGRATULATIONS! You have made it through the true entrance. Remember the lesson of truth – it will help you greatly.
Your clue: every third step up is false.
What the hell does that mean? There are no stairs.
Another snicking sound – quite loud – comes and to my right another sliding wall. This one has a spiral staircase leading down.
Oh boy. This maze has different levels. I’ll never keep track now!
Every third step is false… Does that start with the very top, as in the corridor/entry to the stairs is step one?
Trying to puzzle this out, the grooves on the first stair form a number one. Well, that clears it up. I go down one, two, skip; one, two, skip. Carry on in this way for fifteen long minutes. Out of nowhere there is suddenly a floor. Forgetting to skip a step I fall the last ten steps and land hard at the feet of a great lion statue. Between his front paws is written: If you are reading this then you know your place.
Again, no warning comes – just as I finish reading the message spikes thrust up from the ground surround me. Making a cage, with the lion as my gaoler.
Then my gaol starts to quickly rise up. I believe I’ll be squashed to the ceiling of the room! With my arms covering my head I fly up ever higher. Higher than the ceiling could be.
I’m still in darkness but a lighter form than before. Sneaking a glance up, I see the spikes have gone; I am on a piece of floor that is still rising.
With a shudder, at last it stops.
Directly above me there is an ornate grill with amazing filigree work. A hole the size of a finger is to the side near the edge. Reaching up, I place my finger in it and feel around; I find a catch and pull on it. At the same time I see a note appear saying, Hold tight.
My finger is still trapped on the catch; my piece of floor falls away and I’m hanging, dangling, only holding on by that one digit. Screaming in pain, fear, agony as said finger is suddenly sliced off.
In a state of shock, I fall.
I failed. I failed the maze and now I will never leave.
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