Chapter 32 - A prison of stone and pain

It was long before Miriam spoke up again, I was starting to get worried that something was wrong. "Hey guys, huddle real quick," Miriam spoke from behind me, her tone far from comforting. I turned back to look between her and Opal. Their expressions didn't scream 'we're all going to die' or anything but I know Miriam, I know when she's confident and this isn't it. We formed a tight huddle, Penelope turned her back on the group to keep her eyes on the Sphinx. Opal was next to speak, presenting the answer "I think we solved the riddle? Or at the very least we're close." Opal looked at Miriam. Miriam didn't look back. "The first one's either love or passion…I'm not so sure. The second one is definitely memories, that was the easiest. It…kind of makes sense for the last one to be fate? It talks about string and three strangers who I'm assuming are the fates? It checks out," Miriam shrugged, I can hear her shoulder or neck cracking. I always really hated that sound to be honest. "That wasn't our answer," Penelope said, a little too loudly. "Well do you have anything better to suggest-" I started to snap but when I looked Penelop's way I noticed the Sphinx was much closer as if it was about to pounce. "...Sorry," I mumbled, I felt my cheeks burn. "Well obviously that isn't the answer, me and Miriam are assuming that we need to take all the first letters and make a phrase but we can't figure it out. Any ideas?" Opal was looking mostly at Penelope but Mckensie was the one with the real answer. "Punch my face?" she suggested, after getting a few less than amused stares Mckensie furthered "Well if you take the first letters and mix 'em up you get PMF…punch my face? It's an action I guess". I bit my lip "I mean it is an idea?". Penelope was not a fan of that idea, "So you want us to punch it in the face? Have you finally lost it?" She snapped. "It's not like you've got anything better," I snapped right back "So unless you've got something helpful to say I'd shut it". Miriam put a hand on my back, I…shut up pretty fast after that. Penelope scowled, turning to look back at the sphinx. I stared down at my shoes while the others discussed. There's no point in me talking anyways. I'll just mess everything up. Again. "So we're really going to punch it?" Opal questioned, her worried tone making me look back up again. Miriam nodded "It's the best idea we've got," Her gray eyes shone with the pride they always did when she'd solved a riddle but she still fought a beast of uncertainty. "I can do it," I offered, trying to look as brave as Miriam. "That's a horrible idea…and the only one we've got," Penelope sighed, I could tell she was holding back a much ruder comment. With an encouraging look from both Miriam and Mckensie and definitely…something from Opal I turned back to the Sphinx. It's smile was cunning and cruel, I was ninety percent sure I was about to get my arm bit off but here goes nothing. With each step I felt my heart climb up and up and up until I was staring the creature dead in its eyes and it shot down, tail between its legs. I balled up one of my fists, remembering how Basil always used to warn me to punch with my thumb outside of the fist. That came in handy when boys in school were being stupid, not so much when I got angry…I braced myself, I had this. Just hit it. I did hit it, my fist collided with its tough skin right between its overgrown eyebrows. It hurt. Like a lot. I retracted my hand immediately, stumbling back, hissing, and shouting some not so Pg13 words that Penelope did not appreciate. I closed my eyes tight, waiting for the sphinx to hit back. But my likely painful death never came. I felt someone tap my shoulder "You can uh…you can open your eyes now," Mckensie said softly, a hint of disbelief in her voice. I opened my eyes but I didn't see anything, the sphinx was…gone? "Where'd it go?" I questioned, Penelope shrugged "Just…ran away. Ain't sure where it was going." Well that's just fantastic. "Do we…follow it?" Opal suggested, poking her head down the hallway I assume the Sphinx had run down. "We could, I mean it did say we'd get something important but nothing's…here," I mumbled, rubbing my eyes. Mckensie shook her head "No need, I know where we're going. That sphinx was just the first step, remember the flags?" Oh yeah, that was like half the note. I've honestly been too busy like dying and stuff. "Well then, lead the way," Penelope gestured forwards. I could tell she was at the very least not pissed, not thrilled, but not bad. Mckensie nodded, checking around the corner before turning and walking out of sight. Miriam took my hand, leading me along with her as we followed Mckensie. "That was some good work back there," I smiled, rubbing my thumb along the side of her hand. "Thanks, that was a decent punch," Miriam complimented back. I chuckled slightly, "No it wasn't." Miriam agreed, "It really wasn't." I was glad Miriam was being honest because my punch was kind of ass. I honestly hate doing all this walking, I feel like I'm starving and the thought of Basil being alone is haunting. Also, I feel like living hell. My hair's greasy, I've got scratches and blisters, I'm starving, my legs are sore, my hand hurts from the punch, I'm bruised, and over all I'm just…done. I have to wonder why I never saw any of this on TV. All of the sacrifices always looked at least…somewhat good, TV ready and such. Sure they looked pretty depressed most of the time but not nearly this bad. I guess it makes sense for the gamemakers to maybe put on like a filter or something, I don't know why I never noticed before. The games are so…different from what I watched growing up. They focus on the interesting things, you never see the walking, the sleeping, all the moments where we're able to just…exist in peace for just a moment. I wonder what they're focusing on right now, I mean we're surely doing some very interesting things, but there's no reason they wouldn't focus on another victim while we walk. Is someone dying right now? They could be only meters away, separated by the thick walls, and I would never know. It could be Basil…anything could be happening to him right now. Is he okay? Goddess above how I wish I hadn't fallen for their games, how I wish I hadn't left him. What if we never find him again? Or what if it's too late? Will my mother have to watch the only family she has left die because I was so stupid I split up? If we don't make it back…she'll be all alone. Will she move on? Is she strong enough to keep moving even as grief weighs her down? Or will my bloodline really end here? In a prison of stone and pain.