Whimper
Woof
Growl
Bark
That's the pattern Alex heard as he ran through the maze. His hair filled with leaves and twigs; his knees covered in bruises and his clothes ripped from constantly tripping over vines and roots.
His lungs burning from every twist and turn he took, his heartbeat nearly drowning out Max's sounds of agony.
His vision blurring from exhaustion, he tripped on his own foot and fell face-first on the ground with a groan.
Lifting his head, he was welcomed with the sight of Max cowering, growling and biting the cane in that order repeatedly every after two seconds.
But what caught Alex's attention was his bloodied paws with bite marks and the canine's closed eyes, as if he's struck in a nightmare and was unable to wake up.
"Max?"
Max barked then bit the cane with a growl, swinging it around before dropping it and barked.
Suddenly, Max lifted his paw and bit it hard, blood seeping from the wound as he sunk his teeth.
"Max!" Alex got up and stumbled towards him, trying desperately to pry his jaw open, his hands trembling in exhaustion at Max's strong grip.
"Max! Stop it!"
"Grrr...." Max opened his jaw, glaring at him with red, unfocused eyes.
"Max?" Alex let go of him, stumbling back until he fell on his butt as he approached him slowly, growling viciously with drool pooling from the corner of his mouth.
"Max?"
Max pounced, his white teeth gleaming in the moon light.
Alex didn't think. He didn't have time to as he raised his arms to shield his face, closing his eyes.
"AAAAHHHH!!!.... OUCH!!"
A strong metallic scent mixing with the earthy smell around them, the grass being painted red and blood dripping from his arm as Max sunk his teeth deeper.
'FUCK!!! WHY DIDN'T I RUN?! IT SO MUCH HURTS!!'
Tears streaming down his face as he bit his lips, the metallic taste filled his taste buds.
"MAX!!"
Mom?
Mom!
Where are you?
MOM!!!
Max was still running, but this time he was being chased by sticks.
Creatures made of sticks
Humans made of sticks
Objects made of sticks
Trees
All having the man's eyes
All glaring at him
"....ax!"
Max stumbled, his paws aching.
"—ax!"
What?
The road shook slightly
"Max!"
Max?
Who's that?
The road began to wiggle and break. The sticks crumbling and turned to dust then into a tornado.
He ran as fast as he could.
The dust blurred his vision and the wind pressed heavily against him, pushing him backwards.
"MAX!"
Who are you?
His footing faltering as he was sucked onto the eye. Suspended in midair.
"Max?"
Am I.... Max?
The tornado began to glitch and soon, Max found himself staring into a familiar void.
Suddenly, the space rippled and a screen appeared before him and he saw himself trotting happily on the beach beside a boy, but he couldn't see his face.
He could practically feel the salty air, the sand under his paws and hear the joyous laughter around him.
Who are you?
The image changed, and he saw a smaller, weaker version of himself sprawled unconscious on a pond underneath a tree. Whimpering in pain.
His fur dull and sticking out, wet from the rain. His body trembling from the cold air.
The sound of heavy boots on the ground made him flinch and a large shadow looked over his unconscious self.
NO!
The image changed again and he saw himself, more healthy and bigger than the last image, curled up against a crying boy.
But the boy's face was blurred.
Suddenly, the boy looked at his curled up self with glassy eyes and wrapped his arms around him. Fingers tangled in his shiny golden fur.
The scent of washing conditioner and vanilla filled his nostrils, followed by the steady sound of the boy's heartbeat gave him a sense of calm.
Who are you?
The boy lifted his head and Max saw warm dark brown eyes staring at him.
Before he could study them further, the image shifted and he saw himself running in the forest with his mom.
Mom?
It shifted again and he found himself in a cage and staring into warm greenish brown eyes gazing at him with affection as the door opened with a soft click before he was engulfed in a warm embrace.
So.... warm
It shifted again and he found his weaker self drowning.
"Max?"
Huh?
The image shifted again and he found himself standing next to a woman in a kitchen. The mouthwatering aroma of food made his tail wag.
The rich sound of the woman's chuckled reached his ears as he gazed into her loving brown eyes, feeling the warmth of her palm on his head from her gentle pats.
Mom?
The image changed again and he saw smaller self being thrown in the air, before hitting a tree.
It shifted again and he saw himself standing next to two adults trying to comfort the boy, but this time, the boy was upset— screaming in anger, but he couldn't hear everything except "I don't want him!"
He didn't know why those words hurt as he watched the boy storm to his room.
The image changed and he found himself sitting on the boy's bed, facing him as the boy stared at him with an excited grin.
"My name's Alex," the boy said, "And you're Max.... My friend."
Alex?
Suddenly, the images shifted rapidly, with new scenes each time.
"Max!"
"Haneul."
"Bark."
"Max."
Those words echoed around him, clouding his thoughts as his breathing erratic.
Who are you all?
Finally, the screen stopped on a scene of the boy sitting in between of two adults on a white couch.
"I've decided on a name!" The boy, Alex, said excitedly with a grin.
"Really?" The man chuckled.
"Yeah! His name is now Maximilian! Max for short."
"That's a bit dramatic," said the woman, scratching behind Max's ear, "I think he's more of a Haneul."
"That's also dramatic, my love," the man teased.
"I like it," said Alex, holding Max's head gently in his warm palms, "Your name is Maximilian Haneul Carter."
"Y'know what? It's perfect."
"Welcome to the family, Max."
Their faces finally came to view.
Family?
My family?
Max stared at Alex's smiling face, a tear dropping onto his paw.
Alex.....
Suddenly he the screen vanished and he opened his eyes and found himself staring at Alex's pained expression beneath him as he teeth remained deep inside his arm.
"Max?"
Max didn't speak as he slowly remove his teeth and backed away from him, whimpering at the bitter metallic taste in his mouth. Realization dawning on him.
".....A-a-alex...I—"
Click
[Thirty minutes left]
There was a tense silence between them.
Alex stood up, clutching his bleeding wrist and bent down to grab the torn cloak, wrapping it around his wounded up.
He turned to the cane, about to pick it up but stopped upon seeing Max flinch from the corner of his eyes. He stopped and stood up straight.
"Let's go."
Max followed behind him, his tail between his legs and his eyes downcast as they walked through the labyrinth.
[Twenty minutes]
Alex glanced at him for a moment before gritting his jaw and focusing his gaze forward.
[Fifteen minutes]
Suddenly the walls began to close in on them. Thorns glinting in the light.
They began to run.
[Ten minutes]
The roots grew larger and vines began to sliver towards them, intending to restrain them.
The duo clumsily dodged them, stumbling on the roots.
A familiar light shining ahead as they ran faster.
[Two minutes]
They arrived at a clearing filled with colourful, glowing trumpet-shaped flowers and at the center stood a table with a fluffy blanket and earmuffs and a teddy bear holding the small crystal. And a bright magic circle was drawn around the table.
[One minute]
As they were running towards it, a vine snaked around Alex's ankle and tripped him, causing him to fall on his arm.
He hissed in pain, gripping his wounded arm tightly.
[Thirty seconds]
Max ran to him, about to tug him towards the table but stopped and just barked loudly.
Alex slowly stood up and ran with Max next to him.
[Ten seconds]
He stretched out his uninjured arm.
[Nine seconds]
The flowers sweet fragrance filled the air.
[Eight seconds]
They began to feel dizzy. Stumbling on their own feet.
[Seven seconds]
Their legs gave out.
[Six seconds]
The duo began to push their bodies forwards.
[Five seconds]
The runes around the table slowly vanished as they entered the circle.
[Four seconds]
Max pushed himself up, struggling to steady his footing as he tried jumping on the table.
[Three seconds]
Alex supported himself on it, his injured arm reaching out for the crystal.
[Two seconds]
Max pushed the items towards Alex, and his snout touched the crystal the same time his fingers touched.
[One second]
[Time's up]
Suddenly, the crystal vibrated with a loud buzz and Max and Alex vision turn black.
"—jun-a!"
"—injun-a!"
"Minjun-a!"
"Alex Min-jun Carter!"
Alex jolted awake, sitting up on the floor, only to clutch his head, hissing in pain at the throb.
Once it subsided, he checked his body, finding his clothes wrinkled, but clean and without rips.
He rolled up his right arm, and found no scar despite the dull pain he felt.
He turned and saw Max slowly sat up, still covered in mud from digging the hole in the lawn.
"ALEX!"
He flinched at his mother's voice, already sensing irritation, worry and frustration in her tone as she opened his door.
"I've been calling you for ten minutes—" she looked around his messy room and the still muddy dog before glaring at him.
Alex immediately stood up with a nervous look, "M-mom..... I, um..... I can explain...?"
"Then explain why I heard a loud thud. Explain why Max's still like this. And explain why you haven't been responding!"
He gulped, nervously playing with a strand of his hair, "I stabbed my toe and fell down...."
"And you cried because of that?" Eun-hee pointed at the crusty tears on his face.
Alex's cheeks burned in embarrassment as he nodded, his eyes drifting everywhere but her.
She sighed, "Y'know what? Just clean your room and come down for breakfast."
She gestured at Max to follow her out of the room, who looked back at Alex for a second before turning away and walked out the door.
"Wait!" Alex fidgeted under her gaze, "I just wanted to say that..... I love you, mom."
She stared at him with suspicion then took off one of her shoes with deliberate slowness that made him take a step back, "Just clean your room before you kiss my shoe."
"Yes, ma'am."
With that, she closed the door with a soft click and Alex sighed in relief before he went to change himself in front of the mirror, wore his house shoes before he quickly cleaned his room.
While cleaning, he constantly checked for the crystal and found nothing, then he scratched his head and shrugged.
"Guess it was just a dream. A weird dream."
After making sure everything was neatly organized, he went downstairs.
"I'll just confess to Mia tomorrow..... Or never. It's easier."
In his room, a soft ding rang above his bed and an orange holographic screen appeared. Hovering in his room.
[Trial Quest: Complete]
[Reward: Title— Holder Candidate]