Maze Read online

  Maze by Tessa Elaine

  © 2019 by Tessa Elaine. All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any written, electronic, recording, or photocopying without written permission of the publisher or author. The exception would be in the case of brief quotations embodied in the critical articles or reviews and pages where permission is specifically granted by the publisher or author.

  Cover Design: Dee Ellis

  Interior Design: Dee Ellis

  Publisher: Tessa Elaine

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  Other Books by Tessa Elaine

  Chapter 1

  Mia

  Not sure why I agreed to this, or how I ended up in the woods all alone. When your roommate says ‘it will be fun’ and then continues with ‘don’t be such a chicken shit’ it might be a good time to evaluate your life decisions. I thought going to college was supposed to be an adventure, something fun that would give me the life experience I was lacking. I signed up for a dorm room and was so excited to make friends.

  I lived a sheltered life, in a small town in Kentucky with my grandmother until she passed away. My mother had an addiction to drugs, and bad men. So when she dropped me off on her doorstep at six years old, I was forever grateful. I’m not sure what was worse, going to bed so hungry your stomach would cramp up, or watching whatever man my mother brought home that night beat her and make her do awful things. Crying myself to sleep was an every night thing until I moved in with Gran. The last thing I remember about my mom was her telling my grandmother she could have me.

  At six years old it does something to your head when not even your own mother wants you.

  Gran had a small house right outside of town and it was just the two of us. She lived off her disability check; we didn’t have much, but it was enough. I had a warm place to sleep and I never went hungry again. The people in town thought Gran was crazy, but she never cared much about what others thought. She had her own way of living life and she trusted no one. If you were dumb enough to show up on her property, she would meet you with a shotgun cocked and loaded. So, I was homeschooled, and we only went to town when we needed to.

  Gran never wanted me to go to college; she thought the world was too big and scary for a young girl. That’s why I’m twenty-years-old and a freshman in college. She passed away last winter, and I had nothing to keep me in that small town. I couldn’t pay the bills on the house because I didn’t have a job. The only thing I had was my computer that Gran bought me. The internet and a computer weren't luxuries we could really afford, but she caved after I begged her all summer.

  I spent almost all my time on that old computer.

  So, when Gran passed, and the city put the eviction notice on the door, I had to do something. I had no one left and I was about to be homeless. I went online and applied for every student loan I could, then I applied to every community college that was close enough I could afford a bus ticket to get there. I had my bus ticket and one suitcase of everything I owned and took off for West Virginia. I have been in college less than 3 months and I have learned quickly that most of the student body does not come for their education; they come to party.

  Lucky me, they shacked me up with the campus party girl. My roommate sleeps all day and parties all night. Honestly, I’m not even sure she has been to one of her classes yet. But I kept to myself and tried to stay out of the way, even when she would bring her one-night stands back to our room. Sometimes I think she forgets she shares the space with another human being. That’s why I was so surprised when she invited me to join her and some other students on their little road trip. They were headed a couple towns over so they could go to this new Haunted Maze, a Halloween attraction.

  I never got to celebrate Halloween like the rest of the kids in town; Gran kept the lights off and told me Halloween was for devil worshipers.

  Looking back now it’s silly, but what could you do? She was set in her ways and nothing would change her mind.

  I really didn’t want to go with them; I might be twenty years old, but I am still afraid of the dark. I don’t watch scary movies and I still sleep with a night light. I know what you're thinking, monsters aren't real. Let me tell you, they are. They might not be in the form of vampires and werewolves, but they are real. I remember hiding under my bed when the bad men would hurt my mom and that is something that stays with you forever. It’s not the fictional monsters you have to fear; it’s the real-life ones that you have to worry about. The ones that will pass you on the street and smile at you, talk to you as if they know you, and then hurt you because they are bigger and stronger than you.

  Nicole, my roommate, wouldn’t let up. She kept telling me it was time to have some fun; I needed to pull my nose out of the books and live a little. I let her taunting get the best of me and I agreed to go with. Well, that was a terrible decision because after only thirty minutes into a two-hour walk through the Haunted Maze, my “friends” ran off and left me.

  I use that word with as much sarcasm as I can.

  I am lost and scared, my flashlight is not very bright, and I’m freezing. I have no idea where I am and every few seconds I hear a growl or a chainsaw and then someone screams. I have to keep telling myself this is all pretend. Maybe if I find someone that works here and tell them I’m lost they can help me find my way out.

  It’s so dark all the surrounding sounds are making me freak-out. I don’t enjoy being out here all alone and if it wasn’t for the screams, I wouldn’t have a clue if I was still in the Haunted Maze attraction. So, against my better judgment I follow the sounds of people screaming.

  I didn’t know what to expect before we got here but this wasn’t it. It is so dark and cold; the ground is wet and muddy; I keep sinking into it and getting stuck. I did not dress appropriately for this outing. I put on tights, flats and a sweater. Not the best idea, but I was going for cute and warm.

  I jump when I hear a sound behind me. Spinning on my heels I shine the light into the tall cornstalks, but I see nothing. Turning back around, I take a few more steps and hear it again. The sound of leaves crunching on the ground and a stick breaking make me pause again. There is someone out there.

  “Hello?” I call out, hoping it's someone who works here and can help me get out of here.

  No one answers so I continue walking. The flashlight shakes in my hands and I’m not sure if it’s from the cold or fear? Probably both. Just when I think I can’t get any more scared, I see two dark shadows step out in front of me and I freeze.

  “D... Do you work here?”

  They say nothing, just stand there side by side. If this is a part of their job scaring people, it’s working.

  “I’m lost and I can’t find the people I came with.”

  They both look at each other before looking at me again. A chill runs up my spin and this time it’s not because it’s cold. You know that fight-or-flight response thing? Well, mine is screaming at me to run. I don’t think these two are just looking to scare someone.

  I take a few steps back when they start to towards me. Swinging my flashlight around, I try to look for the best escape route. I have no clue where I am or how the hell to get out of here. As my light shines back on them, I see they are too close and I take off into the maze and veer off the trail. I hear them laugh behind me and then one of them yells at me.

  “Run little girl, we love a good chase.”

  My stomach drops and I picture all the bad things that used to happen to my mo
m happening to me. If they catch me, I won’t make it out of this alive, I know that deep in my bones.

  I am running as fast as I can and I hear them getting closer, but I won't look behind me. I can’t stop for even a second. I need to find people; someone that works here, anyone that can help me.

  My legs are burning, my lungs hurt, and my eyes are watering so bad I don’t see the fallen branch on the ground until I trip over it and I am flying through the air. I land hard knocking the air out of my lungs, as if it wasn’t already hard to breathe. Tears are streaming down my face, and I am covered in mud. I’m trying so hard to take a breath but it feels impossible.

  I turn over on my back to see the two dark shadows approaching me. I crawl backwards, trying my hardest to catch my breath, and get away from them. I want to scream but I can’t.

  “Please,” I wheeze, forcing the plea out of my lungs.

  Both guys laugh and start surrounding me while I’m lying in the mud begging them not to do what I know is coming. My vision is blurring and my body hurts from the fall. I’m trying so damn hard to force the air into my lungs so I can scream for help. It burns so bad.

  A fist grips my hair so hard my scalp burns, and my neck is pulled back until I’m looking into a set of dead eyes. There is nothing there, no remorse, no sympathy. This person feels nothing for the fear and the pain he is causing me. I move away from them again and I feel two strong hands grip my ankles.

  I try to look down but the one that has my hair only holds tighter, and I feel it being pulled from my scalp. With a deep breath I scream as loud as I can, praying someone will hear me.

  “Scream little girl, the fight just makes it that much better,” the one gripping my hear growls in my ear.

  I feel my legs being pried apart and I want to vomit. This can’t be happening; my life wasn’t supposed to end like this. Two men taking something from me that is not for them to take.

  I want to give up; I want to lay here and just let them get it over with. The fear is paralyzing and I’m exhausted. I know I’m not strong enough to fight them off but I can’t give up. I pull my knee up so I can to get out of the second guy's grip.

  As soon as his fingers slip from my ankle, I kick out as hard as I can, hitting him right in his chest. I hear the wind leave him as he falls back on his ass. But just when I think I’m getting somewhere, the back of the first guys hand lands hard across my face. The blow leaves me dizzy and crying out in pain.

  “Fight you little bitch, fight,” spit is flying from his mouth as he yells down at me.

  He smacks me across my face again and let's go of my hair, going to help his friend. I take the opening and get to my hands and knees to crawl away as fast as I can. Just as I get to my feet, another hand grabs me and rips me back, leaving me face down in the mud.

  I can’t see or breathe and the big body that lands on my back pushes me harder into the ground. This is it; the moment I cease to exist and become a faceless victim. No one will miss me or be sad that I’m gone. No one will fight for justice against my predators. I’m just another stupid girl, lost in a maze and all alone.

  Just another number to add to the many others of someone lost and never found.

  Chapter 2

  Ethan

  Fall is my favorite time of the year with the leaves changing colors and the weather cooling down. I come out here every year about this time. It’s my time to decompress and get away from the city life. My parents have owned this little piece of land all my life.

  We used to come out here every summer and have family weekends. Aunts, uncles, grandparents, and cousins. We would all come out and spend the summer swimming, grilling, and just hanging out. We haven’t done it in a few years; everyone works and has lives of their own. I still make time each year to come out, but I prefer the fall to summer any day.

  This year, I wish I would have known dad told a friend he could have his Haunted maze on our land this year. I guess the normal place they have it at is under construction, so now I hear screaming and chainsaws until late at night. Not exactly my idea of a vacation.

  The night has cooled off so I head out to get a stack of the wood I spent all day splitting. After making a nice pile next to the door, I head out back to make sure I locked everything up. This house is remote and away from the cornfields the Haunted maze is in, but I don’t trust that some kids won't walk off the trail and start fucking with shit that doesn’t belong to them.

  It’s as if Halloween brings out all the crazy people and the last week in October is the worst. Being a doctor, I have seen it all. Pranks or scares gone wrong and criminals think it’s a good night to do their worst. It’s a night when anything can happen.

  I’ve been thinking about opening a private practice and becoming a family care physician. Things at the ER have been a little more stressful than I want lately. Helping people is who I am, but I want more. I want to settle down and start a family. I have tried dating but women can’t handle the hours and the time the ER takes from them. Not that I can blame them.

  As I’m walking back to the cabin checking things over one last time, I hear another scream. I have heard screams for the last few days and this should be no different, but this one has me stopping in my tracks.

  This girl sounds absolutely terrified and that pisses me off.

  This scream sounds closer than the others. As if someone left the designated trail that is set for the haunted maze. I walk towards the sound when I hear a man shout, followed by the sounds of a struggle. They aren't far from me and only in the light of day would someone notice the drive leading to the cabin.

  I jog down the path and stop to grab the axe I left in the log earlier. It’s just instinct that’s guiding me now. Something is wrong and I can feel it in my gut. Just as I make it to the end of the drive, I second-guess what I heard. Looking all around, I see nothing out of place.

  Turning back to the cabin, I take a step and hear a small whimper. Looking over to my left I can see a flashlight lying on the ground. It is shining into a set of green eyes that are filled with tears. Just as I’m about to take a step towards her I look up and see two men holding her down.

  My vision goes red. I think I black out from rage because when I come to, I’m screaming like a madman and swinging the axe in my hand. I am cautious not to hit the small thing curled in a ball on the ground. The two men scramble to their feet but not before I get one in the arm with the axe.

  I know I’m supposed to help people and save lives, but right now, I want to take a life.

  As the men take off running, I want to chase them, I want to make them suffer. That is until I hear soft sobs coming from behind me. Kneeling down to inspect the young girl on the ground, I take on the voice I use for the kids in the ER. Soft and soothing.

  “Sweetheart, are you hurt?”

  I need to see if she has any injuries. Her clothes are still intact so I think I arrived in time. The poor thing is trembling and when I reach out to touch her, she flinches away. It hurts, her not trusting me. But I reason with myself that I’m a stranger in the middle of the woods and she was just assaulted by two men.

  “I promise I won't hurt you. My name is Dr. Ethan Reed; I just want to help.”

  The first thing I notice besides those deep green eyes is how small she is. Curled in on herself and shaking like a leaf.

  “Can you tell me your name?” I ask in an attempt to pull her out of the state of fear she is in.

  Those breath-taking eyes finally meet mine and she looks so vulnerable, so scared.

  “M… Mia,” she whispers.

  That’s a start, she's talking.

  “Okay Mia, first thing we need to do is get you out of the cold.”

  Her teeth are chattering and her little nose is all red. I’m sure some of it is because of the trauma but it’s still freezing out here and her being on the cold wet ground is no help. Mia shakes her head to agree with me, but doesn't move to get up.

  “I promise I won't hurt you, ok?
” I try reassuring her one more time.

  I lean down and reach out for her, this time without her flinching away. Wrapping one arm behind her back and the other under her legs, I scoop her up into my arms. The second she is pressed to my chest and the smell of honeysuckle reaches my nose, my legs almost buckle. She is so small in my arms and she seems so innocent. It kills me that someone would want to hurt something so precious.

  Walking back to the cabin as fast as I can, I’m thankful I had a fire going and the place is nice and warm. I lay Mia down on the couch and go over to the closet for some blankets. Taking them back over to her I see she is wet and covered in mud.

  “I will step out of the room, take off all your wet clothes and your shoes. Just leave them on the floor then climb under these blankets,” I say before she nods her head and I walk to my room to find her fresh clothes.

  The best I can come up with is a pair of sweats and a white t-shirt. They will have to work. I wait a few minutes to give her time to get under the blanket. Walking back out, I stop before I reach the end of the hall and ask her if she’s decent.

  “Yes,” she whispers back and I step the rest of the way out.

  She's got the blanket pulled up to her nose but I can still see her trembling beneath it.

  “Put these on and I will grab more logs for the fire.”

  When I come back in, she's sitting on my couch, in my clothes, and under my blanket. Nothing has ever felt more right in this world than what is right here in front of me.

  I shake off that crazy thought, remembering what just happened and that we are complete strangers. She’s scared out of her mind right now. Hoping to ease her fear as much as possible, I walk over to the table and grab my wallet. I take out my hospital ID and bring it over to her.

  “I’m an ER doctor at Saint Regional in Belmont, the city a few towns over,” I explain gently as she takes the ID and looks it over before she hands it back, “I just want to check you over if that’s ok?”

  Mia just shakes her head but I need to get her talking, so I ask a few questions. “You know your name, but do you know where you are?” I press and again she just nods her head