OOM - The Labyrinth Part II

[theresnodoor]

For the record, Rachel has been issued enough homework to know the name Daedalus. But in a cave, behind a waterfall, in a forest, inside a cupboard, lurking in a gloomy castle is not the best place for memory recall. And by the time she'd dragged herself out of the water and up onto the rocky shelf behind the fall, there were only so many questions she wanted to ask.

Bear in the castle. Eagle in the woods. Dolphin in the water. Not to mention swinging a torch around and running hard through the forest floor.

On her hands and knees on the stone floor, Rachel watches a puddle of water form beneath her hair and clothing. At the moment, it's the only thing keeping her from falling over from exhaustion.

Comments

[tobeclosetohim]

"Thanks."


Beat.


"For."



There's a nod toward the curtain of water.

[theresnodoor]

"Yeah."


Breathe.

Drip-drip.


"That was fun."


Breathe.


"Let's never, ever do it again."

[tobeclosetohim]

Jo pulled the bag off of herself.
The bag stayed. But the rifle sank.



Started trying to ring her shirt.

"It won't get friendlier."

[theresnodoor]

A small breath, a puff of humorless laughter. There is not verbal answer, though the sound is obviously a substitute for one.

Of course it won't.

Lack of friendly, restful place means no naps. Sleep can happen later. For now, Rachel contents herself with sitting back on her heels, then twisting to put her back to the cave wall. Watching Jo try to get her clothing dry.

"So," she begins. Triangles and Daedalus and freshman English with the big book of literature, memorized by Monday, quiz on Tuesday. "What is it?"

Because high school was lacking on practical application of labyrinths.

[tobeclosetohim]

A place to get lost and die. Jo's mouth stay shut for that.

"A riddle. A maze. A trap. Each room worse than the last."

[theresnodoor]

"Why?"

Which doesn't always matter, unless you can't see a way out. Then it matters for the loopholes.

[tobeclosetohim]

Her hair was a mess. Joy.

"Why in history? Or why now?"

[theresnodoor]

"Yes."

She shifted. Wet lycra on a cold stone floor. Today is the best day ever.

"Whichever one explains how to get out."

[tobeclosetohim]

"Well, historically there's always a way out. Hidden."


She tugged her fingers through her hair.
Watching the lights darken and bright the water.


"In Milliways, I've heard too many things while tending. To some people its a game. There are doors out, there are not doors out. It's easy. It's hard. There are treasures hidden. But everyone agrees it will keep upping the ways it tries to kill you."

[theresnodoor]

Rachel scowls at this lack of coherent explanation. "Well, great, I'm set then," she says, deadpan. "How about you?"

The welts that had melted from her skin with the morph are still adoring Jo.

[tobeclosetohim]

"I'm good." Blankly honest.

She doesn't even look at her skin.




She's in a labyrinth trying to kill her.
Five minutes ago she could have drown.
She'll be lucky if its only welts.

[theresnodoor]

Simple, too. Succinct.


If they get out of this alive, or at least as dead they went in, Rachel will have to admit more than a little liking for the woman.

She nods at the welts, though Rachel's gaze doesn't stay on them, starting to look around the cave for-- anything. "What about those? Do you need something?"

[tobeclosetohim]

Jo looks down only because she has to.
The barest twitch to her mouth.



"I've carried worse, and isn't like we have supplies."

[theresnodoor]

"We could always find another magic satchel."

Half deadpan, half hopeful.

Visual search of the cave turns up more cave. Moist rock and darkness where the sunlight coming through the waterfall can't quite reach.

[tobeclosetohim]

Jo stood up, careful on the slick rocks.

The lights kept buzzing, brightening the water.
That way was blocked form them now. So that meant.


She surveyed the small cave they were in.
Air and water and shadows. Stupid symbol.

"I don't get why this would be in here."

[theresnodoor]

Buzzing lights, blocked in, and if she has to morph again, walking after the final demorph would be a serious problem.

Still. Jo got up and started walking and she's covered in welts. Pride alone demands that Rachel push herself to a standing position, at least, then pretend to be useful by examining the space of the cave.

"Your triangle? It's supposed to let us know where we are, isn't it?" Rachel runs a hand along the stone, frowning when the cave proves to be much shallower than she'd hoped.

[tobeclosetohim]

"Don't know. People have mentioned seeing it in here."

If she was linking this to the right place even.
If it wasn't just messing with her head, too.

"It could just be a signature."

[theresnodoor]

Rachel pauses, hand against the stone. Uses it as a convenient place to rest while she looks back at Jo.

"You don't really know where we are, do you? That was just a guess."

[tobeclosetohim]

"I've never been in it before." Sharp.
"But I've seen the symbol from those who have."



Jo reached out a hand and touched the triangle.
Traced on side length. Ignoring the welts on her arm.
Ignoring the way her whole body ached from impact still.

[theresnodoor]

Probably ignoring the frustrated cursing coming from Rachel, too.

"Great," she says quietly, mostly to herself. "Just great."

She has no welts and her body doesn't ache. But she is weary the way only morphing rapidfire can manage, and no closer to knowing where she is or why than before they found the triangle.

[tobeclosetohim]

Definitely ignoring Rachel.

Who might get hurt, but had no chance of dying.



She traced her finger along the edge of the triangle.

Before frowning faintly. "Come here."

[theresnodoor]

Jo gets a glance but nothing else. Not immediately.

"What?"

[tobeclosetohim]

"I think this is getting warmer."



She couldn't really tell.

Her body wasn't reliable yet.

But she was pretty certain considering.

[theresnodoor]

Even before the waterfall jump, Rachel wasn't exactly comfortable with the temperature. She's been shivering since climbing out of the water and still is as she leaves wet footprints on the stone, crossing to join the other woman.

"Meaning what?" she asks guardedly.

[tobeclosetohim]

"Meaning come touch it."
Jo's look was withering.


"At least I'll know if it's all my head then."

It's almost a little too easily said.
At least concussions were predictable?