She awoke, uncomfortably sprawled on rough stone steps. Looking around, she choked back a sob. Winding staircases wove through the dark hall every way possible. Upways, downways, sideways, right ways, wrong ways, left ways, diagonal ways, to-the-side ways, up-side-down ways… and even more ways possible. Right out of the M. C. Escher painting she had on her bedroom wall for years up until a few months ago. Until she was lost in the actual room.

Her breathing became panicked as she stood, feeling the chill dusty air of the hall sink into her nightclothes. Still dazed with sleep, she stumbled through one of the stone doorways that lead only to the same hall, flipping the world a little. When before she was right ways, she now was diagonal ways. Always rearranging her perspective, the Underground was. Never the same, always changing.

How you turn my world, you precious thing…

You starve and near exhaust me!…

Running faster, down these stair and up those, she ran from the dulcet voice rippling through her mind that had haunted her heart for months since her first trip into the Underground. Since her first and last, in actual form. But the underground never ceased to call her dreaming mind into it's maze of nightmares and dreams come true.

Everything I've done, I've done for you…

I move the stars for no one!

No, her heart returned each night to where it had been stolen, broken, and returned in shreds. Each shattered piece carrying the taint of he who held the power to steal it in the first place. The taint that each day, as her heart healed in the lulling world that raised her, broke it again in the secrecy of the night, as it returned to the new world where she felt she belonged. Exhausted, she leaned against a doorway, squeezing her eyes against the voice in her head, hot tears burning their way down her pale cheek.

You've run so long…

You've run so far!…

She felt a gloved hand brush the tear from it's path to her lips. Weak, she leaned into the warm hand stroking her skin. She felt lips hovering near her ear as another hand brushed her hair from her neck. A hot breath rushed over her skin, raising the hairs on her neck in a mix of fear and anticipation.

Your eyes can be so cruel…

She jerked away as the voice in her head sang into her ear and turned to face the object of her hate and love. His pristine face was unnaturally open, and she saw his flawless features twisted in pain, love, and, again: rejection. Anger graced his face, contorting it again to it's usual mask of evil. Her tears coursed down her face, knowing what was to come.

Just as I can be so cruel…

Stepping backwards, away from his lying features, she stepped one too far, and over the edge. Flipping her world again, upside-down. She flew up the stairs she had just run down on the flipside, trying to run from the memory of the man her dream's ran to. Love and hate, building in her, flying through her heart in the multiplying confusion of the Maze Staircase. Run from something, and your wrong ways path will lead you straight to it.

Though I do believe in you…

She at the top of the stair, she found a dead-end high in the center of the hall. Overlooking everywhichways. She heard the soft footfalls of unparalleled grace crossing the platform behind her. Gentle hands enfolded her waist in comforting love. A pleading, desperate, fearful love. Borderline worship and envy. Adoration and jealousy. Warm, enticing lips grazed her jaw line where it meets her neck, trailing up to her ear.

Yes, I do…

She turned to face him, his arms tightening their hold, refusing to let go, sadness like no other screaming in his mismatched eyes for her not to leave him again. Pleading.

Live without the sunlight…

Gently, but firmly, she took one step back, his hands just holding her waist. His hands fisted in her nightgown as it turned to a white ball gown, shining a pure beauty reflecting at her in his eyes. Tears of pain and love marring her features, falling to the ground and shattering into thousands of crystals. Heartache.

Love without your heartbeat…

Another step and his hands, refusing to leave her, slide to her arms, grasping her mid-arm, as if his life depended on it. Baring his heart and love for the world, all for her. Her tears glistening in his eyes. Her pain ravaging his heart. Her hate enveloping his mind. Her love touching every fiber of his soul. Desperation.

I, I can't live within you…

She slid back, over the edge, his hands slipping to hers, tightening his hold. The tinkling of his magic crystal rolling to them on the edge tore her eyes from his. Within in, a sparkle of silver and red. Floating over their tight hands' embrace, shattering in a showering of glitter, a ring appeared on her left hand right as his last glace spoke of undying love and she slipped from his hold, plunging back into the hall, darkness overcoming her.