"Urgh, Haah Haah...Urgh"
These were the grunt coming from Lilian. He was now breathing heavily with Stephanie asleep on his back. So much had happened in the time they were both in the forest. The moment they entered this unknown world, they knew that nothing here is normal. They saw glowing flowers, large trees, a large number of fireflies, a magic pond that gave them two pieces of jewelry that are seemingly forged by fairies, and most of all they met the dark monster that dwells in the shadows just waiting for anything that comes near enough to be snatched away.
And with all of this adventure, both clothes of the children were dirty and damaged way beyond than they were when both arrived in the forest. Lilian's suit is abundant with tears and holes, leaves and branches stuck between the fabric with dirt stuck on his pants. His whole suit was filled with folds and wrinkled that he looked like a crumpled piece of paper. He continued walking through the path with the soft rustling of flowers at his feet, while slowly positioning Stephanie in a more comfortable position for them both.
Stephanie on the other hand was in fact dirtier than Lilian. Her soft skin was now filled with spots of dirt with leaves and petals stuck onto them. Her bruises from their fall and the attack from the thing in the woods were now gone, it was all thanks to the jewelry they both received from the pond. Her dress was now beyond repair, large tears and cuts run through it entirely. Dirt stains now slowly turning large patches into a shade of a light brown color. The tears on her dress ruined the design, some knocking off the patterns and sewed on decorations. The tears also exposing some skin that should've been hidden, some exposing her things and hips others exposing her abdomen and sides. Thankfully, Lilian covered them with leaves and petals in order to protect her privacy and dignity.
A soft ringing sound was heard resonating from behind the children, Lilian instantly knew that it was the ring and the necklace that they both wore. Ever since the time that Lilian pulled of the root from Stephanie's heel, the gems were continuously glowing a light green color. It was completely unnoticeable at the time but the longer that they traveled, the more the glow started to change to green. It seemed that the gems were healing both of the kid's injuries and the Pollen only seemed to amplify its ability.
The path which usually was filled with ups and downs with twists and turns starts to slowly lessen its heavy terrain. It was now in a flat plane with the path only stretching forth onto a straight line. Lilian kept walking, but strangely the tiredness he felt from the long journey starts to fade away as his energy starts to return. The path then had a right curve, after turning to the right, Lilian saw the thing they yearned to find. There in front of him ended the Bluebell path and with it was a lone door.
Lilian had a smile on his face, a smile of satisfaction. "Stephanie, we're here, we're here!" Lilian said tapping Stephanie's thing excitedly waking her up. "Huh? Lilian, what is it?" Stephanie said rubbing her eye. "Look!" That was all that Lilian replied.
Stephanie looked at where his gaze was. Her eyes then opened wide expelling all drowsiness she had. She then lit up with a smile of joy and satisfaction. "We did it Lilian, we finally found it! Now we can go home!" Stephanie said, she quickly pushed off Lilian's back and stood on the flowers. The moment she did, she then tumbled down. Lilian helped her up slinging her arm around his shoulders. "My leg, it's still numb." Stephanie rubbed her leg with a sad face. Lilian patted her shoulder to comfort her. "Let's go." Lilian said as both kids start to walk towards the door with Stephanie limping as Lilian supported her.
Both kids were now in front of the door. The door was different from the one they first saw in the maze. The door had an arc shape, its body was made with strong and sturdy wood painted red. It had a metal frame adorned with different patterns all colored black. Its handle at first glance was colored black but was actually colored with gold that slowly starts to rub away. At that moment, there was a warm feeling inside one of Stephanie's pockets. With her free hand, she dug through and pulled out the key. The key starts to shine the same golden light that engulfed them the moment they entered the forest, the moment that Stephanie pulled out the key, the same bright light started emanating from the other side of the door. The light seeped through the hinges and sides of the door and even through the keyhole.
Both children looked at each other. "Go Ahead" was all that Lilian said, Stephanie then inserted the key onto the keyhole. She turned the key hearing a click from the other side. With a deep breath, she pulled open the door. The same golden bright light engulfed the kids, they both covered their eyes and suddenly were being sucked in. Both kids were lifted from their feet and suddenly fell hard on the ground.
Lilian and Stephanie both ground as they tried to get up. "I can't believe it, we're really back." Stephanie said. Lilian opened his eyes, Stephanie was still sitting down, he then sat up and observed his surroundings. Indeed it was his hedge maze, they were finally back. The sky still dark with the moon up high above shining its light upon them, it was as if they never left.
"We're back, we're back!" Lilian said happily, he then laughed in glee with Stephanie following as well. But as they laughed, Lilian's laughter starts to die down, and losing his energy.
Lilian then held his head, everything around him was spinning, the energy he had moments ago start to disappear and the fatigue returning. "Lilian?" Stephanie immediately noticing quickly moved onto Lilian's side just in time with him falling onto her arms. "Lilian! Please stop playing around." Stephanie said shaking him. She starts to lightly slap him on his cheek and continued to call him.
Lilian then looked at Stephanie with tired eyes and with a drowsy voice. "Stop slapping me, Im just gonna sleep...." Lilian then passed out.
"Lilian!" Stephanie now yelled. She tries to get up but her leg denied her.
"Help! Anyone! Help!" Stephanie starts to yell out towards the maze just hoping to get someone's attention.
*
At the fountain and on a bench was a couple of young teenagers. Both teens were lost in the moment, with their hearts filled with heated passion. Moans and loud gasps escaped their lips from their heated kiss. Suddenly the girl stopped. "What is it?" The boy asked, but the girl silenced him by placing her finger on his lips. "I heard something." She said in a whisper hearing for the noise. The boy instead of talking back just agreed to be quiet which left the air in silence. And amongst the orchestra and music from the ballroom, the couple heard the noise, a faint "help".
" It's in the maze, come one let's go." The girl bolted into the hedge maze. "Wait up!' The boy quickly followed her instantly catching up to her. The moment he did, the girl grabbed his wrist while navigating through the maze following the faint cry. The teens finally arrived in the center of the maze.
"Is anyone their?" A girl's voice was heard, wavering from fear and tears. The couple then quickly looked behind the wall and saw the kids. Lilian was lying on Stephanie's legs with Stephanie looking up at the teens, she started to tear up and the moment she saw the teen's relief washed over her face.
"it's ok honey, we got'chu." The girl said helping Stephanie up to her feet. "Wait I cant sta-" Stephanie said but was cut off from her stumbling back down, she caught by the older girl. "Its ok." The girl then carried her on her shoulders. The guy picked up Lilian and carried him in his arms. "Let's go and call the doctor." The girls said in which the guy nodded in agreement. "Lilian." Stephanie said until she then starts to feel drowsy and passed out as well.