“Jackie said she’d be here in about an hour,” Jill reported, setting the phone down.

“Great,” Edna replied. “It’s really good of your sister to come out here just to check on Angela.”

“She’s a good person most of the time,” Jill agreed. “Do you think maybe I should make some soup for Angela, in case she wakes up before Jackie gets here?”

Edna made a face. “If you mean that onion and garlic soup, then no.”

“What’s wrong with it?”

“It’s onions, garlic, olive oil, and water. It tastes like it’s missing stuff,” Edna replied. “Like, a pizza crust and some sauce and things like that.”


Angela peered into the monitors, chuckling softly to herself. What she was watching was far better and more entertaining than any reality show, that was for sure! She reached out to administer a random electrical jolt, just to make things more interesting, when she felt a hand on her shoulder. Without turning around, she said, “Dunstan, what are you doing here so soon?”

“I came to check on the progress over here,” Dunstan replied, peering over her shoulder at the monitors.

“Damn it, AJ, just tell the truth!” Emily screamed.

“No one needs to know if I like to dance around in my underwear while singing goofy songs while no one else is home!” AJ yelled back.

Dunstan chuckled softly. “Fascinating stuff there,” he remarked.

Angela turned to him, a slight frown on her face. “So,” she said, feigning nonchalance, “how’s the other one doing?”

“You mean Ophelia?”

“Yes.”

“Good, so far. However…” Dunstan reached over and pressed a button, bringing up an image on one of the monitors. It was a live feed of the labyrinth. Angela squinted at the monitor.

“What happened to the hedges?” she asked.

“Apparently, Ophelia decided to literally go through the maze,” Dunstan sighed. “Call Garcia Gardening, and tell them that repairs will be needed by Thursday.”

Angela nodded, then said, “So, why did you pick her? Because she’s the best, right?”

Dunstan turned away and said, “That’s one reason.” Then, with a brief flash of light, he was gone.

__________________________________

“Gotta get through… gotta get through,” Ophelia muttered, crawling out of a hedge. She tossed some branches aside, then looked around, trying to determine her next course of action. She could hear someone nearby, calling a name. The person seemed to be getting closer and closer. Ophelia squared her shoulders, ready for a fight.

“Himemiya!” the voice called. “Himemiya!”

A strangely-dressed girl with pink hair turned the corner and nearly collided with Ophelia.

“Hey,” the girl said, “have you seen a friend of mine?”

“What’s she look like?” Ophelia asked.

“Short, with long hair and glasses.”

“Funny, I’m looking for a friend fitting that description too. This jerk decided to kidnap her,” Ophelia responded.

“Yeah? What’s he like?”

“Manipulative, lives in a big house, has a shiny red sports car, likes white couches and young girls.”

“Sounds like this jerk I know,” the pink-haired girl replied. “Good luck with your search. I need to find my friend.” She ran past Ophelia, calling out, “Himemiya! Where are you?”

Ophelia raised an eyebrow, puzzled, and muttered to herself, “Seemed nice enough. Good luck to her.” With a sigh, she dove into the next hedge. Much to her surprise, she felt herself being yanked out.

“Whaaaaat?” she yelled angrily.

“Still haven’t given up yet?” Dunstan asked, setting her on her feet.

“You,” Ophelia growled.

“You’re ruining my hedge maze! I’m supposed to be the angry one,” Dunstan replied, rather calmly.

“What do you want?” Ophelia snapped.

Dunstan smiled serenely. “Tell me, Ophelia, what do you think of my labyrinth?”

“It’s a--” Ophelia started, then stopped herself. Remember what happened last time you said something positive about this place, she thought. “It’s… it’s interesting.”

“Just interesting?”

“It’s the best I can say without having bad stuff happen.”

“I see.”

“Is that all you have to say? I’d really like to get to saving my friends,” Ophelia said, preparing to climb through another hedge.

“I would like to give you another chance to accept my offer.”

“Drop dead.”

Dunstan sighed and intoned melodramatically, “Ophelia, I ask for so little. Just fear me, love me, do as I say, and I will be your slave.”

“I bet you say that to lots of chicks,” Ophelia called over her shoulder, having made her way through several hedges by this time.

Dunstan stared after her and muttered, “How‘s that for brainpower? She‘s a smart one. She reminds me of the… oh, never mind.” With a grumble, he disappeared.