Maze of Madness

I wrinkled my eyebrows when the prince told me, “I know what will cure our boredom! Janessa, there is a great maze near the castle. We will both enter, and the last one out will owe the other person something. A lovely date that would be...”

“That’s a strange way of jesting,” I said.

“It is not.”

I got up and stretched.

“I suppose I should stop being lazy,” I said.

“That’s the spirit, my love,” said Cassius.

“So you admit that I’m being lazy?”

“What have you done since last week?” he asked.

“I don’t need to answer you,” I said, showing my tongue.

“Haha. Come on, Janessa, do it for me.”

“Huh? Alright.”

I cracked my knuckles and pouted.

“Splendid! We will go there this afternoon.”

“You sure love mazes.”

“It is adventure that I like,” he said.

“Even I like adventure, but a maze just sounds like we will get lost, and nothing will come out of it,” I said.

“It is no ordinary maze. There are twists and turns at every corner,” he said.

He mocked a monster by forming his hands into claws and smiling a little too widely.

“I’m in. Sounds fun,” I said.

“Thank you, Janessa,” he said.

His eyes sparkled, and he waved goodbye.

“Bye, see you soon,” I said.

“Indeed.”

I walked out of the living room, where there were green couches with black and white cushions. The exit had two tall plants on either side. Once I was out, I saw one of the newly recruited butlers wiping some of the glasses that were on the shelf.

Why do I have such a bad feeling about this?

Then, I walked across the red carpet, where some of the white statues had been swapped for black ones. Thus, the space looked different from when I first saw it. The vases had fresh roses every day, but this time, they added peach lilies instead. The maids were taking away the carpets part by part, most likely to clean them with soap and water. On the way to my room, there was a huge portrait of the King and the Queen, almost taller than I am. I stared at it for some time.

“Good day, Lady Janessa,” said a passing guard.

“Yes, good day.”

After I entered my room, I summoned my staff and spun it in a circular motion. Then, I slammed it on the ground, while my body became pink light.

“It’s dressmaking time.”

I unrolled a tube of pink stretchy fabric with a small, floral, printed pattern and cut out two half sleeves. Then, I cut the white collar and pinned on the chantilly lace that would go around its edge. Summoning a clay mold that was shaped like a cabochon, I filled it with air dry clay. The last part of the dress was the sheath that formed the bodice and the skirt all at once. I installed a special needle for the stretch fabric and machine sewed it all together. This ensured a figure-hugging silhouette. Then, the pixies sewed the detachable collar, and the fastening of it was the clay cameo cabochon. This means it was a gem-like fastening that had a side-view silhouette of a person. Finally, I painted the background of the cabochon in a sage green, so that the cameo would pop.

The finished outfit floated in the air, along with pink pumps with low heels and a brown crossbody bag. I jumped into the floating costume.

Returning to the previous dimension, I put my orange, curly hair in its usual half-up, half-down style with braids at the back. The braids were joined together in a criss-cross manner. I took my hairbrush and began brushing the ends while looking in the mirror.

I put the brush down and glanced at my hair from all angles, while my eyebrows raised by themselves. I added some eyeshadow and pink lipstick.

“Ready,” I thought aloud.

I waited in the living room with my back leaning against one of the pillars, and I held one arm.

“Janessa, I have arrived.”

His highness wore a white, frilly shirt, with grey, gaberdine trousers which had a faint plaid on them.

“Ooh, that’s splendid. Let’s go,” I said.

Cassius smiled at me by showing only a little glimpse of his pearly, white teeth.

Cassius’s language is rubbing off on me, but I don’t think I should stop using contractions.

We walked out of the living room, out of the main entrance and there was a pale pink carriage with the late queen’s horse. The coachman grinned at us. He was in a light green uniform that I had seen on many of the workers.

“After you,” said the prince.

I boarded the carriage and sat down. The prince followed suit. Once again, the prince closed the blinds. Sighing, I sank down on my seat. All I could see was a strip of light across Cassius’s face where he had left the blinds open.

“Are you alright?” he asked.

“Not really. When I was a kid, I would try one of those maze puzzles on paper, and never finish them correctly,” I said.

His smile instantaneously vanished.

“Ah, well, I will guide you,” he said.

“Alright, dear prince!”

The horse began walking. We bounced a little, along with the bumpy motion of the carriage.

I zoned out, and the carriage stopped.

“We have arrived.”

“Alright, let’s get down from here,” I said.

The coachman opened the door, and bright sunshine seeped in. Cassius got down and then I did, taking his hand.

Birds sang a sweet tune as we went to the ticket counter, where the entrance was a white structure with pillars.

“Excuse me, I had a booking under the royal family,” he said.

The ticket salesmen stopped sitting, stood, and bowed before us.

“Right this way, your highness,” said one of them, handing Cass two tickets.

“Thank you.”

We walked on the crunchy grass, and the prince said, “Give me your hand. I do not wish for you to get lost.”

“If we go at the same time, there isn’t a point of competition is there?” I said.

“You have a point. We will separate, for now,” he said.

The birds continued singing, and one of them stood on the green maze wall, made of grass. The walls were low enough for us to see over them.

This isn’t going to be too hard.

“Ready, go!” said the prince.

Before I could blink, he had already run into the maze.

“Argh, I’m going to lose!” I said.

I walked slowly into the opening and found three paths. Walking into the first one from the left, I encountered my first block. Sighing, I went back where I came from. Then, I went through the middle path, and all of a sudden, a huge, blue demonic mask popped in front of me. I screamed and walked out.

My heart was still racing, and I tried the third path, only to find yet another block. I panted and tiptoed back into the second path. As soon as I set foot, the mask popped up once again.

This time, I ignored it, and moved on to another path. This time, there were five paths.

“I hate mazes,” I whispered to myself.

After discovering three blocks, I stepped into the fourth space, and some lasers projected a hologram of a man with sharp teeth and a cape.

These are all phony creatures. There’s no way I’d ever mistake that for an actual vampire.

I went right past the hologram and found a block.

Ugh, you’ve got to be kidding me!

After almost thirty minutes of being stuck in the maze, I walked into one of the paths, tripped on a pebble, and fell to the open ground.

“Yay, I’m out of the maze!” I exclaimed. “Cassius?”

In front of me, I saw the King, Prince Evan, Catherine, Kelly, and two small children who had purple hair, and they held a sign up.

“Janessa, will you wed Prince Cassius?”

My hands trembled as I laughed, tucking my hair behind my ear.

“Oh my God, what a lovely surprise! I can’t believe it,” I said.

I clasped my hands and twirled around.

“But Janessa,” said Evan. “Where is Cassius?”

“He’s still stuck in the maze?!” I exclaimed.

“Oh no, he was out in five minutes. He was worried while waiting and decided to go after you,” said Kelly.

“Ah, you’ve got to be kidding me!” I said. “I’ll be back, I’ll fetch him.”

“Should we go with you?” asked Catherine.

“No, I’ve got this. If I can solve this maze, anyone can,” I said.

I went back into the maze.

Is this all a dream? I’m finally going to say yes to the prince!

Just then, I heard his scream.

“Wait for me, Cass. Ugh, these phony ghosts do seem menacing at first.”

Just then, I saw a small, black box on the ground. It was made of leather and had “C&J” printed on.

“Huh? Don’t tell me he dropped his ring box!”

Once I opened it, I found a golden ring with a sky blue, square gem, with tiny pearls and diamonds on either side, arranged in a symmetrical pattern.

I put it in my bag and said, “Cassius? Cassius!”

Once again, I found the lavender-haired man with the angel wings.

“Oh, thank God you’re here! Come on, Cass, let’s go,” I said.

“I have seen you before. Who are you?” he asked.

“Really, we don’t have time for this. I’m your bride-to-be,” I said.

He floated up with his angel wings and torn shirt.

“I am certain I would remember such a person,” he said.

I should come up with an excuse.

“Well, you’ve lost your memory, remember?”

“Oh, that explains all of this.”

"I know that to do! I'll use the special token I received from the King's birthday! It can grant a small wish."

I transferred a ball of light toward him as his eyes followed it. His body changed back to Cassius, and he fell down to the ground.

“Cassius, are you alright? What happened?”

“Janessa, I must confess this. My family is at the end of this maze, and I had a surprise for you,” he said.

“I already know that, dummy! I went to the end of the maze and saw you weren’t there.”

“Ah, how shameful. But Janessa, what if they see me in my angel form? What will they think of me? This shirt is so badly torn up!” he said.

“Relax, leave it to me! If your angel form does appear, I’ll say that I transformed you into one. Simple! Now, let’s do something about these outfits!” I said.

“Alright, but can we get out of the maze first?” he asked.

“Of course!”

We followed the maze yet again, and every time there was a block, some strange creature would pop up. Sometimes I would scream, other times, I would stare with no expression on my face.

“This maze is madness. How long have we been here?” I said.

He looked at his silver watch and said, “Around 5 whole minutes.”

“Seriously… Oh, we’re here!”

We stepped into the light, and they all cheered with confetti.

“Surprise!” the family yelled.

My face flushed as I hugged Cassius tightly. He let go and began fumbling in his pockets.

“What happened to your shirt?” asked the King.

“Oh, right! You can depend on me.”

“But, Janessa, wait! I can’t find the ring.”

I tapped on my pendant, and a staff appeared. I circled it in my hands so quickly that there was a swoosh.

“It’s time for dress up!”

We turned into light and entered the dressmaking room. Cassius’s eyes drooped as he looked at the ground.

“Don’t worry about the ring, your highness! I have a surprise for you, too.”

“Oh?”

I went to the wardrobe and searched for the first dress that I wore when I landed on Cassius’s lap.

“Got it!” I said, jumping into it.

It was sparklier than ever, with slightly puffed bell sleeves, a bodice with intricate beading and a black rose brooch, and a fluffy skirt.

I found Cassius looking away from me, arms crossed.

“Now, everything will be alright!”

I used his previous measurements and created a black and silver ensemble, with a white shirt and black tie.

His costume floated as I said, “Well, Cassius! Jump into the frame!”

He sighed and obliged. A pair of crown-shaped sparkles manifested on our heads. Mine was golden and his was silver.

“Hold my hand, and we’ll return!”

“If you say so.”

He gave me his warm hand, and we traveled back to the main dimension.

“Oh, how splendid,” said the King.

“What a lovely couple,” said Kelly.

“Janessa, everyone, I am afraid…”

“Wait!” I said.

I took my bag, which was on the ground, and placed the ring box in my hand.

“My goodness, Janessa, you truly are the best! Now, if you will hand it over…”

I laughed and got down on one knee.

“Janessa…”

I opened the ring box and said, “Will you marry me?”

Everyone laughed.

Cassius chuckled and said, “Janessa, I would be overjoyed, but I am afraid that ring will never fit me. It is much better suited for your hand.”

I laughed and said, “I was just joking.”

I gave him the box, and he kneeled before me.

“This feels repetitive. Janessa, will you marry me?” he said.

I placed my other hand on my forehead in an exaggerated motion.

“Yes! Of course,” I cried.

He slid the ring onto my finger, and I grinned as we hugged each other. They all clapped, and my heart fluttered.

“Well, Cassius, it’s too bad I can’t be your queen,” I whispered in his ear.

“What are you talking about? It is quite obvious that we will be King and Queen,” he whispered back.

I giggled and twirled around with my heavy skirt.

I’m just glad that I found such an opportunity in my second life. I wouldn’t have wished it any other way!

THE END