Maze of Doom Read online

  You put it back in the box and never take it out again.

  You follow Xandra down the stone steps. Reaching the bottom, you see a light up ahead – a doorway. Xandra is standing beside it. You race up to her.

  She is staring through the entrance, at a wall of thorny brambles. On either side of the doorway hangs a sword.

  You ask her if she’s going to enter. In answer, she grabs one of the swords and heads out. You’ve come this far, so with a sigh you take the other one and follow.

  Stepping through the doorway, you find yourself in another maze. The wall of brambles extends in either direction, to junctions at both ends. The brambles are so thick you can’t see past them.

  You wonder how a passage under a fun-fair attraction could lead out to this. You look back to the doorway you came through … but it’s not there. Behind you is another wall of brambles.

  This is certainly no ordinary maze!

  You catch some movement out of the corner of your eye. You turn to look … but it’s gone. You suggest going that way.

  ‘No,’ say Xandra. ‘I’m going this way.’

  And without waiting for you, she’s off.

  Do you let her go, and follow your own instincts? Go here.

  But maybe it would be safer to stay together? Go here.

  You let Xandra go her own way, while you take the opposite direction.

  After numerous twists and turns, the maze leads you to a wide open area, like a courtyard surrounded by bramble walls. In the centre is a tall, slim tower. There is no door.

  ‘Help me!’ calls a voice. ‘My name is Prince Bart and I’ve been trapped here by an evil enchantress.’

  You look above you to see a single window and someone looking down at you.

  ‘Climb up,’ the voice calls.

  Braids of long golden hair cascade out the window and all the way to the ground.

  Prince Bart? Long golden hair? This is almost like that Rapunzel story, except in that fairytale it was a princess trapped in the tower – and the prince who climbed her hair ended up falling into the brambles where he was blinded by the thorns. So … do you risk the wrath of the enchantress and being blinded?

  If you think it’s not worth the risk, continue on your way and go here.

  If you feel you should help Prince Bart, climb up to the tower window. Go here.

  You take hold of Xandra’s hand and mouth the word ‘run’.

  The two of you sprint across the drawbridge, expecting to feel the heat of the dragon’s breath at any second. But you make it to the door … only to discover that it is locked!

  ‘Well done,’ says the dragon, lumbering towards you, the wooden boards of the drawbridge sagging beneath his bulk. ‘I couldn’t roast you without burning this bridge here. But you didn’t seriously expect the door to be unlocked, did you? How remarkably stupid of you! You know, I think I might be doing the gene pool an enormous favour by removing you from it.’

  The dragon extends a massive claw, pinning Xandra to the door by her shirt.

  ‘I think I’ll start with you,’ he says, opening his mouth wide and leaning closer, displaying razor-sharp teeth.

  What should you do? He seems quite intelligent. Maybe you should reason with him?

  If you’d like to try talking the dragon out of eating you, go here.

  But if you think that actions speak louder than words, you might be better off using your sword. Go here.

  You look at Xandra, then nod at the dragon. The two of you walk along the drawbridge towards him.

  ‘Thank you ever so much,’ says the dragon, bowing low as you quickly walk past him. ‘You’re very kind … but not very smart. Now that you’re back on solid ground, I can cook you without fear of burning the drawbridge.’

  He inhales a long, deep breath.

  You and Xandra sprint towards the maze.

  But just as you reach the opening in the bramble wall, the two of you are engulfed in flames. Within seconds, you have become a crispy-fried dragon snack.

  You throw yourself at the hedge and begin to climb.

  You are part-way up the hedge wall when a branch snags the sleeve of your shirt. You shake it free. But another branch has hooked your pants. You pull away and continue to climb, the machine coming dangerously close.

  Again, the branches stop you. You try to jump down but can’t. The branches are wrapping themselves around your arms, entwining your legs, holding you in place.

  You look up. The hedge-trimmer is bearing down on you, blades extended, the driver still singing happily.

  You don’t even have the time to scream.

  It’s all over in seconds …

  And you’re mulch!

  You pull free of the branches and drop to the ground. You’re safe … or so you think.

  The hedges are rustling all around you, the branches quivering with rage.

  You nervously resume your trek through the maze, but a wave of angry movement follows you through the hedge wall until …

  A root bursts out of the ground and trips you up. The matchbox that Madam Zoltar gave you drops from your pocket as you crash to the ground.

  More roots rise from the soil, grasping at your clothes. Vines snake out from the hedges, entwining themselves around you.

  You try to get up, but can’t. You try to pull free, but can’t. What can you do?

  Your eyes focus on the box of matches. You reach for them, straining against the vines. Your hand closes around the box.

  Struggling against the vicious vegetation, you fumble with the box, managing to get a match out.

  You strike it. Nothing happens.

  You strike it again. Still nothing.

  You strike it a third time and it sparks into life.

  Immediately the vines and roots retract. You smile, holding the lit match towards the retreating vines.

  You get to your feet, feeling safe at last.

  But the match burns down and sputters out.

  Again the roots and vines snake towards you.

  Quickly, you take out another match and light it. You wave it around and it goes out. You quickly strike another. But there’s only one match left.

  You reach into your pocket and pull out some crusty used tissues, left over from the cold you had last month. You scrunch them into a ball and hold it to the match. The flame leaps to the ball, and you quickly toss it into the hedge wall.

  WOOF!

  The hedge ignites in a burst of flames. You watch the fire spread along the length of wall, leaping from one side of the passage to the other. The heat around you is suddenly unbearable.

  You are now in the middle of a maze inferno!

  You drop to the ground and cover your head. Seconds later, the heat is gone.

  You look up to see the last of the fire and the hedge wall fade away, revealing cold metal.

  You jump to your feet. You are standing in a passage with grey walls – a metal maze. In front of you is a screen with strange numbers and symbols scrolling across it.

  This is insane! Has everything been an illusion?

  You stare at the screen, wondering if it controls the weird maze.

  Now what do you do?

  Do you try touching the screen? Go here.

  But doing that might make things worse. Perhaps you should continue along the maze and try to find a way out? Go here.

  You walk along the metal passageway and the walls begin to shimmer. Right before your eyes they metamorphose from metal to stone.

  Labyrinthine patterns are carved into the wall. You run your fingers along the stonework. It feels real. You begin to wonder what’s real and what isn’t.

  You turn right at the next junction.

  On the wall is a large carving of a fierce bull’s head. There are two spears, one on either side of the carving. You’re getting a bad feeling about this.

  Suddenly a deep rumbling roar echoes through the maze.

  You freeze, breathing hard, and wait … listening.

&nbs
p; Another roar breaks the eerie silence, reverberating through the stone walls and into your very bones. It was closer than the last!

  You look at the spears and wonder if you can face whatever monstrosity is coming your way.

  If you think you have what it takes to face the approaching challenge, grab a spear and head towards it. Go here.

  If not, maybe you should run in the other direction. Go here.

  You watch Xandra walk off along the bramble passage. With a huge sigh, you set off after her.

  Ahead of you, she turns right and walks out of sight. You increase your pace to catch up.

  When you finally turn to the right you see her – tied to an altar-like slab of rock, her sword lying on the ground. A pendulum with a half-moon axe blade is swinging back and forth above her, descending with each swaying motion.

  ‘HELP!’ she screams.

  You race towards Xandra.

  ‘HELP!’ another voice screams behind you.

  You turn to see your teddy bear tied to another slab of rock. Suspended above it, from a fraying rope, is a larger rock, with jagged edges on its underside. The rope is coming apart at its weak point and the rock has only seconds before it falls.

  You stare at the bear. It’s your teddy bear! Your favourite toy from when you were really little – Cuddly-Wuddly Boo-Boo!

  ‘HELP!’ calls the teddy bear, looking at you pleadingly with its big, sad glass eyes.

  It’s crazy! How can your teddy bear be here? And how can it be talking?

  You glance back at Xandra. The blade is drawing ever nearer. It is only seconds from slicing her in two.

  You can only save one of them. But who do you choose?

  You know that the teddy bear’s peril must be an illusion, created to distract you from saving Xandra. So, of course, you should save Xandra. Go here.

  But what if that really is your teddy bear? Your favourite toy? Your most precious childhood memento? To save Cuddly-Wuddly Boo-Boo, go here.

  You go past the tower and into the maze. It’s not long before your path is blocked by an ugly old woman dressed in black. She has a pointed hat and an enormous wart on the end of her hooked nose.

  ‘Hello there, dearie,’ she croaks. ‘Can I interest you in a pumpkin?’

  She reaches into her basket and pulls out a miniature pumpkin, about the size of an apple. It’s bright orange.

  ‘Free to a good home,’ says the woman. ‘Excellent for soups, roasts, even stir-fries. As an added bonus, the seeds inside it are magic. Plant ’em and grow yourself a giant vine.’ She holds out the pumpkin to you. ‘Lots of vitamins, oodles of flavour and hours of fun await you.’

  You ask her if she’s a witch.

  ‘That’s a bit personal, dearie,’ she says, scowling at you. ‘It’d be like me asking you if you enjoy picking your nose while no-one’s looking. Now, are you going to take the pumpkin, or do I have to cast a spell on you?’

  Should you take the pumpkin so she doesn’t bewitch you? Go here.

  But maybe it’s poisoned? Perhaps you should just run away? Go here.

  You start to climb the golden braids.

  ‘Ouch!’ yells Prince Bart from up above. ‘Ow! Eeek! Oh, the pain, the pain!’

  You continue to climb.

  ‘Ow! I just can’t bear it.’

  You finally reach the window – only to discover that you’ve been climbing Prince Bart’s beard, and that his head is as bald as a billiard ball. He is red in the face and clutching his chin.

  You let go of his beard as soon as you enter the window. He falls to the floor, gasping.

  You suggest that the best way to escape the tower would be to cut off his beard and tie it to the bed, so both of you can climb down.

  ‘My beard?’ says the prince. ‘Not a chance. It is way too beautiful to cut!’

  You explain that it’s the only way to escape.

  ‘Well, I’ll just have to stay here, then.’ The prince crosses his arms defiantly.

  You’ve had enough of this. You should never have come up here. You grab his beard and are about to climb out the window.

  ‘No, don’t!’ he screams. ‘It hurts too much! You’ll have to stay here with me.’

  You ignore him and start descending. Prince Bart pulls at his beard, jerking it up and down. You’re finding it difficult to hang on. He swings his beard from side to side, all the while yelling abuse at you. You lose your grip and fall into the brambles …

  You spend the rest of your days wandering through the maze – blind, just like in the fairytale.

  You decide it’s not worth risking the witch’s spell.

  You agree to accept the pumpkin, thinking that you can always throw it away after the witch is gone.

  The moment you take hold of the pumpkin, it turns to gold. You stare at it, light reflecting off its shiny surface.

  You look up to thank the witch … but she is gone. And so is the bramble maze.

  Suddenly you realise: you are back in the fun fair’s Maze of Doom.

  You make your way out of the maze, which now seems very easy, and go off in search of your parents.

  They take the pumpkin to the Gold Exchange to have it valued. It is solid 24-carat gold and worth thousands of dollars.

  Now all you’ve got to do is work out how to spend the money!

  You race to Cuddly-Wuddly Boo-Boo’s side and use your sword to slice through the ropes binding it. As the last of its bonds fall to the ground, the teddy bear fades away.

  Behind you, Xandra’s bloodcurdling scream fills the maze.

  You made the wrong choice.

  Taking a deep breath, you turn quickly to find yourself back in the fun fair’s Maze of Doom.

  Perhaps it was all an illusion? You cling to that thought as you find your way out of the maze and go to meet your parents.

  But what if it was real?

  Either way, you are weighed down by a massive burden of guilt – which you will have to carry for the rest of your life.

  ‘Wait!’ you call out, taking a step towards the dragon. You say you want to talk to him.

  The dragon looks down at you with surprise. He withdraws his claw and crosses his arms in front of his chest.

  ‘Very well,’ he says. ‘I can spare a minute or two. And I do like a good chat.’

  Quickly, you launch into the story of how you entered the Maze of Doom and met Xandra, and how you’re trying to help her find her missing boyfriend.

  ‘Well, why didn’t you just say so?’ says the dragon. ‘He’s up there.’ The dragon points to the topmost turret of the castle.

  Suddenly, the dragon reaches out and snatches you both – one in each clawed hand. You struggle and scream, but your arms are pinned by your sides.

  ‘Oh, relax, would you,’ says the dragon. ‘I’m going to fly you up there. I’m a sucker for a true-love story.’

  The dragon unfurls his massive wings and within the space of three flaps has you level with the turret window.

  ‘There you go,’ he says, showing you through the opening. ‘Best of luck.’

  Go here.

  You grab the spear and hold it with both hands. Another roar, closer this time, and your hands begin to tremble. You swallow hard and force yourself to walk forward along the stone passage.

  A deafening roar signals the beast’s arrival.

  You watch in horror as the creature rounds the corner. It has the body of a gigantic man, and the head of a massive bull. Its eyes are red with menace, its horns are sharp and steam escapes its nostrils with each breath.

  It is the minotaur of Ancient Greek legend. And it is terrifying!

  You feel your knees go weak. Perhaps facing this creature was a foolhardy course of action!

  If you think it best to drop your spear and run, go here.

  If you are determined to confront the beast despite your fear, go here.

  Your teddy bear can’t be here. It’s just too silly. It must be an illusion.

  You race to Xandra�
�s side and use your sword to slice through the ropes that bind her. As the last of her bonds fall to the ground, she rolls off the stone … just as the blade drops.

  You look back to Cuddly-Wuddly Boo-Boo. It’s standing beside the stone, the ropes gone.

  ‘Well, now I know where your loyalties lie,’ it says, hands on hips, stern expression on its furry face. ‘Cuddle you. Look after you. Spend years being dragged around and thrown around and left lying around. And this is the thanks I get?’

  ‘But you’re not real,’ says Xandra, getting to her feet. ‘And you’re just a teddy bear.’

  ‘Oh, details!’ snaps Cuddly-Wuddly Boo-Boo, before vanishing in a puff of smoke.

  ‘Thank you for saving my life,’ says Xandra, picking up her sword. She sets off and then stops, turning back to you. ‘Which way do you think we should go?’

  You say that it probably doesn’t matter, and head off in the direction Xandra has chosen.

  It’s not long before you reach a junction.

  To the left, the bramble passage continues much as it has been thus far. You see two white bunnies, hopping along in the distance. To the right, the brambles are even thicker, twisting out onto the path and forming obstacles that will need to be carefully stepped over or crawled under.

  Xandra leaves the choice of path up to you.

  If you opt for the easy path with the bunnies, go here.

  If you’d rather take the more difficult path, go here.

  You decide not to take the pumpkin. You dodge the witch and run.