Estimated reading time — 25 minutes

Read part one here

I’d like to say the waiting was the worst part, but sadly this wasn’t the case. Nevertheless, I had no peace in the weeks that passed following Lily’s first visit. Call her what you like – sales rep, emissary, con-woman, or succubus…but my entire life changed forever after Lily Burns came to see me at my failing business.

The gorgeous and seductive Lily had made me an offer which seemed too good to be true, and of course it was. But Lily used all her skills to compel me to sign that damned contract with her ‘employer’, and now they had their hooks in me.

I had to do their bidding now, otherwise there would be severe consequences – both for me and my loved ones. For my first assignment I’d been dropped onto the deadly beaches of Purgatorio, forced to watch as sick and twisted individuals levied bets on which lost souls would be seized by hellish serpents and dragged into the abyss.

And now, every time I close my eyes, I’m back on that cursed beach, watching in paralysed terror as those monsters emerge from the waves to devour helpless victims in their mighty jaws.

This was just one of the nightmares. In another, I found myself on a plain of endless ice, assaulted by freezing winds and punishing snows as I searched in vain for my trapped family members. And then there were the dreams where she appeared – Lily Burns in all her terrible glory, her red hair flowing and green eyes twinkling.

In my nightmares, I couldn’t resist her seductive skills even though I knew what she truly was. Sometimes my dreams would be sexual, as Lily and I engaged in rough fornication. I would enjoy a moment of ecstasy before the inevitable consequences, as Lily’s naked body turned into something monstrous – a black-eyed demon with long, jagged fangs.

I screamed and fought but to no avail, as the demonic Lily overpowered me and bit deep into my exposed flesh, devouring me like a praying mantis would do to its mate.

I woke up screaming night after night, unable to cope with the trauma. And what could I do? Who could I talk to about this living nightmare? The cops? A priest? Who would believe me? Perhaps there’s somebody out there who can help me. But it’s a huge risk to reach out to anyone, because I believe I’m being watched.

I hadn’t been out in public much since Lily’s first visit. But when I did so, I experienced an acute sense of paranoia, always looking over my shoulder and through the crowds. Out of the corner of my eye I could see them watching – sometimes it was Lily, other times Hans or Sanjay – the devil-worshipping businessmen I’d encountered in the Borderlands.

And sometimes I caught sight of a truly terrifying figure – a man dressed in the finest suit, handsome and immaculately turned out, but with a sadistic smile etched on his lips, and dark menacing eyes filled with malice and barely supressed fury.

I only ever saw this mysterious figure for the blink of an eye, but even the briefest of encounters with this man was enough to make by blood turn to ice. I didn’t know for sure who he was, but I can hazard a guess…even though I don’t dare to speak his name.

Every morning I dragged myself out of bed, trying in vain to forget the nightmares as I made my way to an empty office where I sat and waited. My travel agency had been saved from the brink after my deal with the devil. The cash injection following my first assignment had paid off my debts and put me back in the black.

The business was once again solvent, and all I needed to give in return was my soul.
It was another slow Monday morning when she returned to me. I almost jumped out of my chair once I heard the buzzer ring and saw her face on the camera, those piercing green eyes staring up at me.

I remembered how I’d felt the first time she came to my door – the lust, excitement, and greed I’d experienced as a beautiful woman with a dream offer had walked into my offices. How naïve I’d been.

Now I saw Lily for what she truly was – a demon masquerading in a human body. But she still had power over me, and – as much as I wanted to keep her out – I had no choice but to let her in. The sweat poured down my brow as I listened to the click of her stiletto heels on the staircase, my mind racing as I imagined what hell she would thrust me into next.

Even at this late stage I wanted to resist, to tell Lily to go to hell…or more accurately, to return to hell. But all my resolve and defiance simply melted away once I saw those green eyes and that charming smile set upon ruby red lips.

“Good morning George.” she said amicably, whilst helping herself to the seat opposite me, “So good to see you again!”

I felt a surge of anger upon hearing those words, but the fear kept me in check.
“I wish I could say the same.” I muttered, whilst looking down at my feet.

“Oh, come now George.” she replied with a chuckle, “I know this career adjustment is tough, but you really need to get with the programme. My employer…our employer – has been good to his word. All your debts are cleared, and the future is bright for your business.”

I looked up at her in astonishment before responding.

“The future is bright? How can you say that? All you people stand for is darkness and death.”
My outburst was ill-advised, and I feared Lily would unleash the beast which dwelt within her. But to my relief she remained calm, maintaining her human face as she answered.

“Are we so different George? You really think you’re better than us? Let’s not forget your fascination with the dark corners of this world. You were obsessed with travelling to warzones and disaster sites long before our first meeting. Why do you think we chose you in the first place?”

I didn’t have an answer to that question. It wounded me to be compared to these monsters. I’d always had a dark side to me, that much was true. But I was drawn to the darkness, not consumed by it. No matter what I witnessed or was forced to participate in, I could never forget my humanity.

“Anyway George.” Lily continued, “I’m sure you know why I’m here. I have the details of your next assignment.”

My heart sank and I felt sick to my stomach. This is what I’d feared during those weeks of waiting. I knew the consequences if I didn’t comply. But still, I needed more information before being thrown into my next hellish odyssey.

“Wait a minute.” I interjected, “I have questions.”

Lily sighed deeply in annoyance before blinking. I swore I could see the darkness behind those green eyes, and I feared I’d overstepped the mark. Her voice became deeper and more hostile, but Lily did reply.

“Time is short, and so is my patience. But I’ll allow you one question George.”

My mind raced as I tried to think. What would I ask her? Should I enquire as to the identity of our employer? I suspected I already knew the answer but was frightened of my theory being confirmed. Or should I ask why I was chosen? Again, I’m not sure I was ready for the answer.

In the end, there was only one question I could think to ask.

“These clients. The people we’re bringing to these…other worlds. Who are they? And why are they doing this?”

Lily smiled and nodded her head before replying.

“Our clients are a select and elite group of individuals who have made special arrangements with our employer which allow them to travel to these unique locations. They pay a substantial price for this privilege, whether that payment is made in gold or in blood.”

“Gold or blood.” I repeated, recalling how Lily had used that same phrase during our previous meeting. “What do you mean by that?”

Lily sighed once more and rolled her eyes in frustration.
“I said one question and that’s your second. It’s a good thing I like you, George.”

She smirked menacingly before speaking again.
“Master has little need for money or material riches in his realm. But wealth and assets play an important role in our operations topside, so those who can contribute to the cause are given a seat at the table. But what our master really craves is souls, and those who can deliver him dead bodies will always be welcomed into the fold.”

My body trembled upon hearing those words, and frankly I wished I’d never asked the question. A moment of tension-filled silence followed, but Lily soon brought the conversation back to business.

“Enough talk George.” she said, before pulling a business card from her handbag and carefully placing it on the desk before me.

“I need you at this address, today at 3pm. Don’t be late.” she paused, looking me over with disdain, “You should go home and change. Wear hiking boots and warm clothing. Do you own a firearm?”

I shook my head in the negative.

“Well, don’t worry.” Lily replied, “We’ll supply everything you need. Just be there and do as you’re told. See you soon George.”

With that, she got up from her chair and casually walked to the door, shutting it behind her as she descended the stairs. And I sat in silence for a long time, unable to move from my office chair as my head spun and I struggled to breath, my panicked mind racing as I contemplated the fresh horror I was walking into.

I arrived at the location early, having followed Lily’s instructions to the letter. The site was an unusual one – an abandoned warehouse on a bleak industrial estate. This looked like the type of place mobsters would bring their victims to execute and bury in secret. I didn’t know what Lily’s organisation used this building for, but guessed I was about to find out.

Entering the warehouse through the open door, I was surprised to see a party already inside, four of whom were kitted out in outdoor clothing and carrying an array of equipment and backpacks, and with weapons by their sides.

The fifth person present was Lily, and she couldn’t have looked more out of place in this derelict environment, dressed in her business suit and high heels – her terrible beauty radiating amongst the rubble and assorted garbage strewn across the ground.

“Ah George!” she exclaimed with a twisted smile, whilst crossing the threshold to meet me. “So glad you could make it. Let me introduce you to our party.”

She turned to the other four, who I looked upon for the first time. One figure in particular stood out from the crowd – a large man with a tanned, grizzled face and hard eyes, his muscular form contained under a khaki uniform, and with a huge elephant gun slung over his powerful shoulder.

He walked over to me, looking me up and down with obvious contempt while Lily made the necessary introductions.

“George Walsh, meet Mr Kurtz…ex-South African military and big game hunter. He will be leading the expedition.”

I was nervous and suspicious but remembered my manners, offering my hand in friendship as I said – “Pleased to meet you, Mr Kurtz.”

The dead-eyed hunter didn’t reciprocate however, refusing to take my hand as he spat out his next words.

“Do you have any hunting experience? Or firearms training?”

“No, I’m afraid not.” I replied nervously.

“Then I’m not giving you a gun.” Kurtz replied sharply before pointing to a collection of rucksacks stacked on the warehouse floor. “Take a bag and a flashlight. Once we get over there, stay behind me and do exactly what I tell you.”

I nodded my head meekly, still none the wiser on what exactly this ‘expedition’ entailed. But Lily wasted no time before introducing me to the other three members of the party.

“And here are three of our most valued clients.” she said, whilst pointing me towards two men and a woman, all carrying AR-15 rifles.

The older man was bald-headed and wore thick glasses. He was clad in camouflage fatigues and a tundra hat. I was surprised to see a wide grin on his lips and an evident excitement in his eyes.

The second man was about twenty years younger and had a head of thick dark hair, but he bore a passing resemblance to his older companion, and so I reckoned they could be father and son.

I never found out for sure, but it seemed the young man shared his elder’s enthusiasm for the coming expedition. The third member was a woman in her thirties with blue eyes and blonde hair tied back in a sensible bun. She was dressed in a tanned bodysuit and had a hard look in her eyes, making her seem like a serious woman.

“No real names please.” the woman said in a no-nonsense tone.

“Of course.” Lily replied with a sly smile, “Discretion is the client’s prerogative. Would you prefer we use aliases?”

“Sure.” the blonde woman replied whilst looking towards me. “You can call me Athos. He is Porthos.” she added whilst nodding to the younger man. “And that guy’s Aramis.” she added, whilst referring to the older man.

“Good to meet you all.” I replied, whilst trying to feign some enthusiasm. “And can I ask what you’re all doing here today?”

Athos frowned in disapproval, but Aramis was more than happy to answer.
“We’re trophy hunters.” he replied enthusiastically, “The three of us have hunted big game all over the world – elephants and lions in Africa, tigers in India, polar bears and walrus in the Arctic. You name it, we’ve shot it!”

“Oh, I see.” I replied with a raised eyebrow whilst trying to hide my disgust.

“Of course, it’s become more difficult to practice our hobby,” Aramis added, “The animal rights organisation, conservation laws…You know what I’m talking about?”

I nodded my head in acknowledgement, although I wasn’t sure where this conversation was headed.

“That’s why we’re so grateful to our benefactors.” said Porthos, as he took over the explanation. “Our arrangement with Lily allows us to visit hunting grounds far from prying eyes and track down and kill the deadliest prey. That’s why we’re here.”

My jaw dropped and I struggled to find the words to respond, but Lily was on hand to move things forward.

“Okay, that’s enough introductions. It’s time we got you people over there.”

At this point, Lily performed a ritual I’d seen before but had hoped never to witness again, as her eyes turned jet black, and her hideous maw opened whilst she uttered an incantation in a language I could not understand. The temperature inside of the warehouse rose dramatically, and within seconds a whirlpool of blood red had materialised on the far wall – a swirling vortex which would take us to whatever hellscape lay on the far side.

This much was familiar to me, but Lily had another trick up her sleeve – this time speaking in English as she said – “May this orb, a gift from our master, guide you through the darkest of places.”

I didn’t know what she meant, but a moment later and a fireball inexplicably popped into existence in the centre of the space – an orb burning fiercely, so much so that it hurt my eyes to look upon it. The fireball simply hovered in front of the portal, as if waiting for orders and the opportunity to become the sixth member of our hunting party.

It soon became clear that Lily’s part in the ritual was complete. She wasn’t going to accompany us to the underworld. Instead, she whispered parting instructions into Kurtz’s ear before calmly walking towards the exit. I watched her go, noting how she turned briefly to shoot me a sly wink whilst mouthing the words – “Have fun.”

I continued to glare at the demonic woman in astonishment, wanting to flee out the door after her. But Kurtz wasn’t having it, as he put a firm hand on my shoulder and shouted in my ear.

“Damn it man! Quit stalling and get in the game! We must get through before the portal closes.”

I was more than a little intimidated by the hunt master and so did as told, gathering up my assigned rucksack and supplies before I was shoved forward with the rest of the party.

The floating fireball was the first to enter the portal, floating through the air like it had a mind of its own. The ‘three musketeers’ were next to cross over, leaping into the vortex one-by-one whilst clutching hold of their bags and weapons. Kurtz forced me to go next, crying into my ear as the hot, rancid air hit me.

“Your turn, Georgie boy.”

He literally shoved me into the crimson portal, and I stifled a scream as I was pulled in, the darkness consuming me as my body and soul was thrust into a fresh nightmare.

I awoke in a dark place – dark, cold, and lifeless. Fumbling around on bare rock, I called out for help from my companions.

“Over here George.” came the reply from a voice I could not recognise.

I crawled towards the friendly voice, but when my eyes adjusted I could see a light before me, weak at first but rapidly growing brighter.

‘Bringing light to dark places’ – I remembered Lily’s words spoken back on the mortal plane, and suddenly they made sense. The fireball was providing us with illumination inside of this dark cave, as it seemed we’d been transported to a subterranean tunnel, deep underground and beyond any natural light.

Standing up upon shaking feet, I made my way across the cave floor, seeing my armed companions gathering around the burning orb, raising torches mounted on their rifles as they surveyed the perimeter. I was the only unarmed member of the group, so I made my way to the centre of the defensive circle, staring into the darkness all around us and up at the high ceiling above.

It was a chilling and frightening environment, worse even than the deadly beaches of Purgatorio. I didn’t know what evil dwelt in the darkness of these seemingly endless tunnels and caverns, but I experienced a cold foreboding as we stood and waited.

Thankfully, Kurtz seemed familiar with this hellscape and so was able to give us the all-clear once establishing there was no imminent threat.

Next, he withdrew an electronic tablet from his backpack and brought up a pre-loaded map on screen – a maze of vast size and complexity which we were now inside. Once he confirmed our co-ordinates, Kurtz turned and looked upon his hunting party, examining our faces illuminated by the fiery orb before he spoke.

“Listen up people. Welcome to the Labyrinth, home and prison of the mighty Minotaur. This is one of the toughest and most deadly environments I’ve ever visited. And the prey we’re going after…Well, he’s more than just a dangerous predator. He’s intelligent, cunning, and this is his home turf. Mark my words, this is going to be the hardest hunt of your lives. But honestly, the Minotaur is the least of our worries.”

He paused briefly, pointing to the image on his tablet.

“This is the map I drew up during my last visit. To the best of my knowledge, it is still accurate. But there’s a problem. The Labyrinth wasn’t just designed to keep the Minotaur imprisoned, but also to keep us mortals out. It doesn’t want us here, and the dark magic in these walls will react aggressively to our intrusion.”

He paused once more, looking each of us directly in the eye to drill home the importance of his words.

“Two days…48 hours. That’s all we have. We need to be out of here by then, at the rendezvous point and through the portal. Because, after those two days are up, the maze will reconstitute itself and my map will become useless. We’ll become trapped inside the Labyrinth with next to no prospect of escape.”

My stomach dropped and I felt dizzy. All this information was new to me and was almost impossible to comprehend. But, as bad as this nightmare was, Kurtz wasn’t quite finished.
“Let me make something clear to you all right now.” he proclaimed, “I’m in charge down here, and everyone must do exactly as I say. We go where I command, rest and eat when I say so. You all must keep up the pace and stay by my side.”

I swear that Kurtz looked straight at me before speaking his next words.
“If anyone falls behind, gets lost, or goes off on their own…Know this, I’m not coming to rescue you.”

The three musketeers all nodded their heads in acknowledgement, as if they expected these harsh terms and conditions. I guess they’d signed up for this, joining the hellish hunt voluntarily for whatever screwed up reasons. But I’d come into this horror blind, or rather I’d been tricked into it by the ever-manipulative Lily Burns.

Still, now I had to adapt to my environment. And I quickly realised one thing – Kurtz might be cruel and uncaring, but following his orders offered my best chance at survival.

I don’t have sufficient words to describe the hell of the next two days, as our party struggled through the dark, cold, and terrifying tunnels and caverns of the Labyrinth. The burning fireball and our battery-powered torches provided some light, but they were no substitute for the absent sun.

But it wasn’t just the lack of sunlight which disturbed me and my companions. There was a foreboding and chilling atmosphere inside those tunnels which is hard for me to explain.
Physical dangers were one thing. On our first day I missed a step and almost fell into a deep crevice. Kurtz grabbed my hand and pulled me back up. I tried to thank the hunter, but he merely scowled at me, warning that he’d let me fall next time.

But the worst thing about that hellish maze was the constant threat and accompanying paranoia. I lost count of the times we heard scratching or scuttling around us, as unidentified creatures scurried in the darkness just beyond our light source.

I had the constant feeling of being watched, sometimes thinking I could see red, glowing eyes looking out from the black caves as we passed. And then there were the voices. I think we all heard them – distant screams or cries for help, often sounding like long-lost friends or relatives. Kurtz instructed us to ignore the phantom calls, saying that the Labyrinth was trying to trick us…to draw us out from the group so it could pick us off one-by-one.

I didn’t understand exactly what he meant, but Kurtz’s warning terrified me, and I vowed to stay by the hunter’s side no matter what.

I think the grim environment impacted on all of us. During the first few hours of our hike, Porthos and Aramis were talking amicably enough, discussing previous hunts and expeditions they’d been on. Occasionally their female companion Athos chipped in with her own stories. But, by the end of the first day, conversation had all but ceased, as a metaphorical cloud of depression fell over our small party, and we struggled to cope with the fiendish tricks of the dark maze…and this was all before we encountered the monster which dwelt within it.

We hiked for what must have been miles at a time, moving slowly and carefully through the dark and over ragged rocks and pitfalls. To add to our discomfort, we became increasingly aware of a foul smell the closer we got to the maze’s centre – a stench that reminded me of rotten eggs.

We stopped whenever Kurtz allowed us to, which wasn’t very often. And we ate MREs from our packs and tried to rest at makeshift camps, with some standing guard whilst others put their heads down. But honestly, I don’t think any of us slept a wink in that hellscape.

Kurtz was our unquestioned leader throughout the arduous expedition. He remained stoic and largely silent, only speaking to shout orders or remonstrate with one of us for falling behind. Although they never admitted as much, I believe the three musketeers soon regretted their decision to come down here. Clearly, trekking and hunting through the Labyrinth was beyond anything they’d previously done.

As for me, I was clearly out of my depth. But still, I think I held up pretty well…up until the first attack. We’d just commenced our second 24-hour period in the maze, stumbling through the darkness as Kurtz used his trusted map to guide us onwards, on towards the centre.

I remember the smell becoming particularly foul, to the point I wanted to retch. I think they picked their moment to attack, waiting until we were walking along a narrow corridor before they burst out from the shadows.

Kurtz heard them first, raising his hand to order us to halt before he dropped down on one knee and raised his rifle defensively.

“Multiple targets at twelve o’clock. Coming our way.” he shouted, “Get ready to fire.”

The three musketeers all followed his orders, arming themselves with their AR-15s and shining their torches into the darkness ahead. I wasn’t armed and so hid behind my companions, praying that whatever horrors emerged would miss me.

Soon we all heard a terrible screeching and scurrying as dozens of animals tore down the tunnel towards us. Their darkened shapes passed the stationary fireball which provided our dim illumination, allowing us to see their form for the first time.

“Rats!” Aramis cried out in astonishment.

He was right. The attackers were brown rats – dozens of them as large as cats and dogs, bloodthirsty and ravenous as they charged towards us, evidently intending to feast upon our warm flesh.

“Take them out!” Athos cried.

A second later and the tunnel was filled with the almighty din of gunfire, as the four hunters opened up on our rodent attackers. I covered my ears and watched on in horrified awe as rat after rat was shot down by a barrage of bullets, filling the tight tunnel with their corpses – but they still kept coming.

My eyes widened as I saw a huge rodent break through our lines and focus its hungry, predatory eyes upon me. I had no time to run or even scream before the beast leapt upon me with such strength that I was knocked off my feet. The giant, snarling rat was on my chest, pinning me down as I desperately tried to hold off its murderous attack, its foul breath and snapping fangs only inches from my face.

I thought I was dead for sure, but Athos came to my rescue. She charged in, using the butt of her rifle to smash the snarling rodent and force it off my chest. Next, she aimed her gun and fired three bullets into the rat’s body, ending its life once and for all.

I took a deep breath and slowly pulled myself up from the jagged rocks, looking up at my saviour’s illuminated face whilst saying – “Thank you.”

“Any time.” she replied with a thin smile.

By now the shooting had stopped, and the tunnel was filled with smoke, the smell of cordite, and dead rats piled high. I heard a man groan in pain, picking up my torch and shining it towards Aramis.

“God damn it” the old hunter swore, “One of the little bastards got me!”

I saw him clutching hold of a deep bite wound on his right arm, his blood dripping onto the black rocks beneath his feet.

“We’ll need to get that cleaned and bandaged.” Athos said, as she reached into her bag for a first aid kit. “You don’t want the wound getting infected.”

She went to work on treating her wounded comrade. Meanwhile, Kurtz shouldered his still-smoking rifle before giving us a warning.

“You better handle this quickly, because we can’t stay here.” He pointed towards the dead rodents sprawled out at our feet. “Those bodies will attract other predators and scavengers, and we don’t want to be here when they arrive.”

And so, the injured hunter was quickly patched up, and we moved on – proceeding deeper into the maze as we homed in on our ultimate prey.

Looking back now, I wonder whether we were hunting the Minotaur or he was hunting us. The Labyrinth was built as a prison to contain the beast, but this was still his home turf…and he knew the territory better than any of us, even with Kurtz’s painstakingly researched map. In the end, it’s a miracle that any of us made it out alive.

Several hours had passed and Aramis was fading fast – his bite wound succumbing to infection despite Athos’s best efforts. Perhaps there was poison in the rodent’s fangs. In any case, he became weak and slow, needing the younger Porthos to help him as our perilous trek continued.

Porthos complained repeatedly to Kurtz, saying we needed to return home immediately so Aramis could receive urgent medical treatment. But a hard-faced Kurtz dismissed all pleas and demands. It seemed there was no quick way to exit the Labyrinth. We had to reach the rendezvous point and hope Lily had opened a portal to facilitate our escape.

By now we’d all but given up hope of a successful hunt, as our sole focus was on survival. I think we were all scared and exhausted, and our trudge through the caves became something close to a death march, with the only sounds coming from the pained groans of Aramis as he became ever weaker.

In the end it was Athos who raised the alarm as she turned around and shone her torch in our faces one-by-one.

“Wait a minute. Where the hell is Kurtz?”

I looked around frantically, shining my own torch in all directions but finding no sign of the grizzled hunt leader.

“Oh my God!” I swore aloud, as the implications of Kurtz’s disappearance hit home.

He had the map and was the only one who knew the way out. Panic began to sink in, but we barely had time to think before the next disaster hit us.

The burning orb which Lily summoned had provided us with limited light and comfort during our two-day trek, but in the blink of an eye its illumination faded and then went out completely, leaving us with only our battery-powered torches to light our path.

“Jesus!” came the cry out of the darkness.

That was Porthos. I shone my torch in his direction, noting how he carefully lay the injured Aramis down on the rocks before he went for his rifle. It was then that we heard the low, animalistic growl emanating from the darkened tunnel ahead of us.

The hair on the back of my neck stood on end and an icy chill ran through my veins as I shone my torch in that direction. My companions did likewise, and our flashlights exposed something monstrous.

Our beams illuminated the form of a large horned beast which dominated the tunnel ahead of us, his huge body almost too large for the small space. The beast had the body of a man and head of a bull, and he reacted aggressively to our artificial light exposing his hiding place. I watched on in shocked terror as his eyes burnt a fierce demonic red, and he opened his large mouth to reveal rows of sharp fangs.

A second later, and the beast unleashed a horrific deafening roar which reverberated off the walls of the maze. And then he was charging towards us on all fours, the ground shaking as the beast rapidly closed the gap and launched a murderous attack.

Porthos stood directly in the beast’s path, and he cried in terror whilst raising his AR-15 and opening fire. The young hunter managed to fire two or three rounds. I don’t know whether he hit the Minotaur or not. If he did, it didn’t stop the monster or even slow him down.

Porthos screamed in his last second of his life, as the Minotaur kicked him like a football, slamming the helpless hunter against the cave wall where his spine snapped like a twig.
Aramis was barely conscious due to his infected wound, but he was aware enough of the imminent danger. He shouted for help whilst trying to crawl out of the beast’s path, but the hunter’s pathetic attempt to escape was in vain, as the mighty Minotaur easily crushed the man’s skull under his heavy hoof.

I continued to shine my flashlight across the path of destruction, watching in awestruck horror as the huge beast continued his murderous rampage. It seemed that only Athos could stop him now. And to her credit, the female hunter kept her cool, dropping to one knee and firing multiple shots at the charging beast. But the rounds were unable to penetrate the Minotaur’s thick hide, and the beast kept charging forward, roaring with a hellish fury as he came.

It seemed our end was nigh, but suddenly a piercing gunshot rang out from behind us. The bullet struck the Minotaur square in his chest, and this round penetrated, causing the beast to cry out in pain and pause his manic charge. The Minotaur was stunned for a moment, but shortly after a second shot was fired. This time the bullet struck the beast right in the forehead, tearing through his skull.

Athos and I watched in astonishment as the burning light in the beast’s eyes faded, and it groaned loudly before collapsing heavily to the cave floor. The Minotaur was dead, shot down on his home turf. But who had done the deed?

We soon got our answer upon hearing a jovial whistling from the shadows behind us. I swung around and shone my flashlight in that direction, seeing Kurtz emerging from the darkness with a smoking elephant gun in his hands.

“Well, well.” the hunt leader proclaimed thoughtfully whilst admiring his own bloody handiwork, “The bigger they come, the harder they fall.”

In that tense moment, I couldn’t understand what had just happened. Where had Kurtz gone? And why did he reappear just in time to save us? But Athos was quicker off the mark, as she shouted at Kurtz with fury.

“You used us as bait! You held back in the shadows and waited for that monster to attack!”
Kurtz didn’t deny the allegation, nor did he show any signs of guilt.

“It was the only way to kill the beast.” he replied, with a dismissive shrug of his shoulders.
“Two men are dead because of you!” Athos shot back.

“They were dead as soon as they entered the Labyrinth.” Kurtz replied coldly, “And both of you would be too, if I hadn’t saved your arses. Anyway, its done and dusted. Time to get your damned trophy.”

With that, the veteran hunter removed a hacksaw from his backpack and purposefully made his way over to the dead monster, laying down his own torch to provide light before he cut deep into the Minotaur’s left horn.

Before long, he had removed the horn from the beast’s head, throwing it over to Athos whilst saying – “There you go, young lady. That’s what you came for.”

The woman looked guilt-ridden whilst Kurtz used his tablet to take a photograph of his prey.
“So, that’s it?” I whimpered whilst still in a state of shock, “After all these centuries, the Minotaur is finally dead?”

“Not exactly.” Kurtz answered, as he backed away from the motionless body. “Yes, the beast is dead at this moment in time. But, when the maze resets, the Minotaur will be resurrected. The Labyrinth never dies…and the hunt never ends.”

His face was illuminated by the artificial light, and I saw the cruel smirk on his lips.
“What happens now?” was my next question.

“Now, we get moving.” Kurtz replied firmly, “We’re already behind schedule and must get to the rendezvous point on time. Drop everything we don’t need, and keep up the pace.”

“What about them?” Athos interjected, whilst pointing to the mangled corpses of Aramis and Porthos.

“They’re dead and we can’t bring them with us.” Kurtz responded dispassionately, “Stay with them if you want lady, but I’m leaving.”

Athos and I shared a look under the torchlight. Neither of us felt good about leaving our deceased companions behind – their bodies rotting in the dark or more likely being feasted upon by rats. But Athos and I were still alive, and we didn’t want to become trapped in this hellish maze of darkness and death. And so we followed our hunt master, leaving the bloody scene behind us as we raced through the tunnels.

Our path was barely illuminated by torchlight, and we always feared another attack from whatever monsters still inhabited the maze. But it was the Labyrinth itself which presented the greatest danger.

With the Minotaur dead, the dark maze was rearranging itself – the ground shifting beneath our feet and the tunnel walls slowly narrowing.

“Faster! Faster!” Kurtz screamed – a fear now evident in his voice. “We’re running out of time!”

The three of us sprinted for our very lives, charging down the final tunnel as the walls closed in on us. Miraculously, we saw the portal ahead of us – a swirling crimson vortex, previously so sinister but now representing our only salvation.

The ceiling started to collapse on our heads, and we took the final few yards in a desperate leap – Kurtz first, then Athos, and finally me…my body sucked into the whirlpool and hurtled through the dark void.

I came too back on the dusty floor of the warehouse, back on our mortal plane. Not the best of destinations, but a paradise compared to where I’d just come from. I picked myself up and surveyed the surroundings, finding Kurtz and Athos already there standing over me.
And Lily was back, casually walking across the warehouse floor in her heels, a wicked grin on her ruby red lips as she approached.

“I assume the hunt was a success?” she asked.

“Sure. Mission accomplished.” Kurtz replied confidently, before he tossed the Minotaur’s severed horn into the demonic woman’s waiting hands.

“Magnificent.” Lily said happily as she carefully inspected the ivory. “This artifact will be of great value to our organisation.”

I was left speechless, merely standing back and watching the exchange play out. But Athos was evidently still highly agitated following events in the Labyrinth, and she unwisely made her feelings known.

“You people are crazy!” she said, directing her accusation towards Lily and Kurtz. “Two men died in that hellhole! And you call this a success?”

Lily shrugged her shoulders dismissively. “The souls of your companions are with our master now. They knew the risks.”

Athos shook her head vigorously. “You’re all mad! Mad and evil! I’m done with you people! No more of this, do you hear me?”

Lily did hear her, and the response was terrifying. Lily transformed in front of our eyes, her face twisting into something horrific and inhuman. In an instant she darted forward, grabbing the helpless Athos by the throat and lifting her off the ground with impossible strength.

A terrified Athos was slowly choked as Lily threatened her in a deep and chilling voice.
“You are done when I say you’re done! You’ve signed a contract, and our master will have his due!”

Athos couldn’t breathe. Her eyes were bulging, and her face went red as the life was slowly choked out of her. The poor woman was about to pass out, but then Liy released her victim, allowing Athos to fall to the ground where she coughed and spluttered whilst slowly regaining her breath.

Meanwhile, Lily returned to her human form and spoke her next words in a feminine voice.
“Now, do we understand each other?”

Athos refused to meet the demon woman’s eye but did nod her head in the affirmative.
“Good.” Lily responded with a smug satisfaction, “Now, get the hell out of here. I’ll be in touch with your next assignment.”

Athos wasted no time before fleeing from the dominant Lily, scuttling across the warehouse floor and exiting into the sunlight. Next, an unfazed Kurtz stepped forward and spoke with Lily.

“I’ve completed the assignment as agreed.” he said confidently, “I trust my fee will be forthcoming?”

“Of course.” Lily replied with a smile, “The money will be transferred into your account momentarily. Enjoy your vacation, Mr Kurtz.”

“Thank you.” the hunter responded with a half grin, “I intend to.”

He made for the exit, taking his elephant gun with him. But, before Kurtz left the warehouse, he turned and spoke with me.

“Didn’t think you’d survive that, George. You did good kid. Maybe we’ll work together again in the future.”

With that said, he shot me a sly wink and walked out. And then I was left alone with Lily.
I couldn’t think of a single word to say, and so the demon woman broke the silence, shaking her head as she spoke.

“Oh George. Why do you have to make things so difficult for yourself? You see what happens to people who disobey. Why can’t you be more like Kurtz? Do as you’re told without complaint, and you’ll be richly rewarded. Think it over George.”

Think it over I did. I was physically and mentally exhausted after my experiences in the nightmarish Labyrinth, but I didn’t rest once I got home. It took all I could muster just to shower and change my clothes. But I couldn’t stay at home alone. It seemed like the walls were closing in on me.

I’d never been much of a drinker, but that evening I felt the compulsion to go to a bar and drown my sorrows. I had plenty of time to think whilst downing whiskeys in a quiet corner booth. And in my drunken state, I slowly began to have a change of heart – my exhausted and frightened mind beginning to rationalise all I’d witnessed.

Maybe Lily and Kurtz were right. I was trapped in a terrible situation for sure, but perhaps I could still make good…if I played by their rules. And yes, people had been hurt and killed…but they were far from innocent.

I had to co-operate no matter how distasteful or frankly horrifying I found these ‘expeditions’, if only to keep my family safe. Was it immoral to make a profit from human suffering? Of course. But I was hardly in a position to turn down their money.

The more I drank, the more I was able to justify these heinous actions in my head. And then I received an unexpected visitor to my corner booth.

It was Lily, as beautiful and radiant as the first time I’d seen her, walking through the bar in her heels while wearing a short skirt and low-cut blouse emphasising her breasts. Her presence was electric, and every head in the bar turned to look upon her. But Lily was coming to me, a seductive smile on her lips and a fiery passion in her green eyes.

“Evening stranger.” she said in a sultry voice, “Are you going to buy me a drink?”

I knew what she was. In Lily’s case, the beauty was quite literally skin deep. I knew, but in that moment I didn’t care. She’d got me. I couldn’t resist Lily’s seductive charms, and so I took another step into the dark abyss.

Credit: Mark Lynch

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