Author's Note: I know that Labyrinth was originally a one shot, but people liked Labyrinth so much, and several of my friends pestered me into writing a sorta sequel. It was rather exciting, because the first chapter of Labyrinth is being published in a book being put together at my school because there was a writing contest and I decided to enter it (and won!).

Labyrinth

Just as soon as all feeling left my body, a prickling sensation came to my skin, covering almost my entire body. I opened my eyes and I met total blackness, where was I? My last few moments before that… thing stabbed me flooded back into my memory, only bringing up more questions. Where was I? What was this prickly feeling that spread across the length of my body? A shudder passed through me and I felt breath enter my lungs. Suddenly, I felt as if I was experiencing vertigo, any sense of direction I might have had in this black void was now erased completely. My whole body ached and my head throbbed with an unbelievable intensity. I let out a scream when my vocal chords suddenly became active as my body felt as if it were being consumed by a white hot flame.

Suddenly, the pain stopped, and my body went limp. Then slowly, ever so slowly, shapes started to fade into my vision. The world around me was starting to take form. Unlike that horrid Labyrinth I had found myself trapped in, this world contained light. It was a dull, gray light, but it was light. I blinked several times and then the world came into focus.

I was in a graveyard, shrouded in a thick mist that forbid me look any further than a short distance. I was sprawled out across the ground, my fingers digging into the soft ground beneath me. The feeling of soil gripped in my hand was much more welcome than the rusty, blood-crusted walls of the seemingly never-ending hallways of the Labyrinth. I closed my eyes in sheer bliss, enjoying the coolness of the surrounding air.

Several moments had passed, and my body refused to move. Not only that, but my mind refused it as well. I did not want to leave the solace of the graveyard, I wanted to stay. Although the atmosphere was gloomy, it was calming as well. I closed my eyes once more and listened to the welcome silence.

It was in my quiet reflection that a disturbing notion came to mind, I had died… I had been killed by that monster. Was this heaven? It couldn't be, I had been a wretched human being in my life, but this couldn't possibly be hell. No, hell would be much, much more unpleasant than this graveyard. It was in my pondering when I felt the will to move my limps to raise myself from the ground.

As I sat up, I took another look around the graveyard, and saw that I was lying near an empty plot. A rectangular hole was dug into the earth, a little larger than the average coffin size, and deep enough to burry a body. At one end of the hole was a simple gravestone that stated the would-be occupant of the grave.

Kiara Williams

1984-2007

No one will miss her anyways.

A sudden chill came over me, and I knew that it was not from the gentle breeze. Tears began to fill my eyes as I imagined my grave years from now. Uncared for without even a wilted flower left by a loved one placed before it. I blinked and the taunting inscription was gone, now replaced by what would normally be put on a gravestone.

Rest in Peace

How could I rest in peace if I was standing here at the place of my would-be grave? Why was I here? My confusion soon resulted in tears. I just couldn't take this. The pain of death was nothing compared to the pain of sorrow that I felt now.

It was in my self-pitting that I missed the voice. A strange voice that I had never heard in my life called out to me. I looked up from the ground and caught sight of a figure running towards me. Instincts caught hold of me and I started to run. The voice called out to me, this time sounding concerned. I turned, facing in the direction of the voice that still called out to me. A man faded in from the mist, his face was contorted with anxiety and worry. When he reached where I was standing, he stopped. As he breathed heavily he spoke in a breathless tone. "I thought I was the only one out here." The sound of another human's voice rang pleasantly in my ears and I lunged forward, wrapping my arms around the man's neck. I felt him stiffen under the contact and I pulled back, wiping a tear from my eye.

"I'm sorry," I said sheepishly, "I've just… been through a lot." The man then did something I didn't expect, he smiled at me.

"You look like you have. How long have you been here?" The man's question made me really wonder, how long had I been here? It honestly felt like forever. When I didn't answer, the man placed a hand on my shoulder and I returned my gaze to him. "Are you okay?" He asked, his voice filled with sincere concern. I nodded weakly and he took off the jacket he was wearing and placed it over my shoulders. "You looked cold," he said in a factual tone.

"Thanks." I murmured. "I don't mean to be rude, but who are you?"

"Oh, where's my manners? The name's Arthur." He outstretched his hand to me and I timidly reached out and shook it.

"It's nice to meet you, Arthur, I'm Kiara." Arthur smiled down at me warmly and I returned the smile shyly. "So, why are you here?" I asked Arthur. It was then I noticed a small cut and bruise above his left brow. "How did you get hurt?"

"Car troubles," Arthur sighed and rubbed the back of his neck, "The engine just died on me about a mile back. I'm not sure why, either, that car is practically brand new and has never given me any trouble before this." Shaking his head, he looked back at me. "So, what about you?" Millions of fabricated explanations entered my head, each sounding more ridiculous than its predecessor. Was I just supposed to tell the man that I was stabbed and woke up here by some sort of magic? I fought the urge to snort; I would hate to see what kind of magic would be responsible for this.

"Honestly, I'm not sure." Arthur nodded, signifying his understanding. After a moment of silence, Arthur spoke again.

"Well, how about you and me get out of this grave yard and find a way out of here?" I nodded, it was a suggestion that I could agree with. With that, we turned and left the graveyard together, neither of us sure what we would find beyond the rusted gates.

Author's Note: Heh, well… it didn't really become a sequel, but it seems as if the one-shot has been morphed into a story. Funny how my muse works like that. Well, if you liked it (or even if you didn't), please comment; I would like to hear from you. Catch you later! –Miss DM