Chapter 30: The Maze of Shadows with Audiobook

 

By: Asa Montreaux

The cold stone walls of The Andrews School loomed over Hugh, Eliza, Fiona, Mish, and Sam as they ran through the darkened corridors, the eerie silence of the building broken only by the pounding of their footsteps. The dim, flickering lights added an unsettling feeling to the already tense atmosphere. Behind them, shadows darted in and out of the hallways—agents of the terrorist group that had infiltrated the school grounds. 

“We need to get to the portal room!” Hugh shouted, his breath ragged as he sprinted alongside the others. He could hear the distant sounds of footsteps closing in, echoing through the halls like a countdown. He could sense the minds behind them, determined and malevolent, their focus honed on one goal: capture the students.

“Which way?!” Fiona’s voice trembled as she skidded to a stop at a fork in the hallway, looking at the two diverging paths. Sweat trickled down her forehead as her fingers twitched, ready to ignite at any moment if needed.

“This way,” Mish said, her voice low and confident, her eyes gleaming with a strange, almost otherworldly glow. “Trust me.”

Without hesitation, they followed Mish into the left hallway. As they entered, the building seemed to shift around them. The walls stretched, the floor beneath their feet rippled, and the familiar hallways of The Andrews School morphed into an entirely different place—a maze.

“Wait…what?” Sam gasped, slowing down as he looked around. “The school… it’s changing!”

“It’s a defense mechanism,” Hugh said, his voice steadier than he felt inside. He’d heard rumors of this, that The Andrews School was capable of protecting itself, transforming into an enchanted labyrinth during times of threat. It was ancient magic. Old wizarding families spoke of it in hushed tones, and only the most elite students were aware of its true extent. 

“But that means we’re trapped too,” Eliza said, her voice tight with worry. She glanced back, hearing the distant sound of footsteps behind them. “We need to move. Fast.”

Suddenly, the walls began to shift again, narrowing into a single, winding corridor. The air became thick, almost oppressive, as if the building itself was watching their every move. Ahead, the corridor forked once more, but this time the paths stretched into darkness.

Hugh stepped forward, focusing his telepathic abilities, searching for the minds of the pursuers. But something was wrong—he couldn’t sense them anymore. The magical interference was too strong. His heart raced as he realized they were completely cut off.

“They’re getting closer,” Mish said quietly, breaking the silence. “I can feel them.”

Hugh gritted his teeth. “We need to keep moving.”

Just as they took off again, a shadow darted from the corner ahead of them. The figure, cloaked in dark robes, stepped into the dim light, their face hidden beneath a hood. In their hand, they held a wand, crackling with dark energy.

“They’ve found us!” Fiona cried out, raising her hand and summoning a burst of flame from her fingertips, sending it flying toward the figure. The flames licked at the cloaked assailant’s robes, but the figure deftly blocked the attack with a flick of their wand, extinguishing the fire in midair.

Before anyone could react, more figures appeared behind the first, their eyes glowing with a cold, predatory light.

“Scatter!” Hugh shouted, but it was too late. One of the cloaked figures raised their wand, and a jet of dark, smoky energy shot toward them, aiming straight at Sam.

Eliza reacted instinctively, thrusting her hands out and summoning her powers. The air around Sam shimmered as he was lifted off the ground, the dark spell missing him by inches. “Go, Sam! Run!” she shouted, lowering him back down.

They broke into a sprint again, weaving through the twisting corridors, trying to lose their pursuers in the shifting maze. But the figures were relentless, their presence like shadows, constantly lurking just behind.

The hallways grew narrower, the walls closing in on them with each step. The magic of the maze was disorienting, warping their sense of direction and space. It felt as though they were running in circles, and yet, they had no choice but to push forward.

Hugh’s mind raced, frantically searching for a way out. His telepathy wasn’t working in this magical interference, and their pursuers were closing in fast. They needed help.

Just as despair began to creep in, there was a deafening crack, followed by a blinding flash of light. Hugh shielded his eyes, but when he looked up, a group of older wizards—professors and mentors from The Andrews School—stood in front of them. Their presence was overwhelming, their power radiating through the air.

“Get behind us,” one of the professors said, her voice calm but commanding.

The older wizards raised their wands in unison, their spells intertwining in a brilliant display of light and energy. The air crackled with raw power as the professors cast a powerful protective barrier, pushing the cloaked attackers back.

“You’ve done enough,” another wizard said, glancing at Hugh and the others. “We’ll handle the rest.”

The students nodded, too exhausted and overwhelmed to argue. They huddled together, watching as the older wizards clashed with the dark figures. The corridor exploded with magic—bolts of light and shadow colliding, the air thick with the scent of burning ozone.

Mish’s eyes were wide as she watched the battle unfold. “This is beyond us,” she whispered. “We’re not ready for this.”

“But we’re part of it now,” Hugh said, his voice low and grim. “Whether we like it or not.”

After what felt like an eternity, the last of the cloaked figures was vanquished, their forms dissolving into nothingness. The older wizards lowered their wands, their expressions unreadable as they turned to the students.

“Come with us,” one of the professors said. “It’s time you learned the full extent of what’s happening. There’s no turning back now.”

Hugh exchanged glances with his friends. They were all thinking the same thing. The battle was far from over, and they had been pulled deeper into a war they barely understood. The bank theft was only the beginning.

As they followed the older wizards through the now-still corridors of The Andrews School, Hugh couldn’t shake the feeling that the real fight was just starting. And this time, they wouldn’t be running.