The Labyrinth

“What have I gotten myself into?” I question as I round another corner. This place…it is infinite. I’ve been here for so long that I’ve forgotten how or why I’m even here in the first place. Did I agree to this or was it forced upon me? Am I a prisoner? Am I in Purgatory, or hell, or some combination of the two? What am I to gain from this: wealth, fame, freedom? I do not know. All I know is that I must move on. I’ve been at this for so long, in fact, that I’ve even forgotten how I’ve come to learn the means by which to advance. Did someone teach them to me? Certainly I did not enter this realm knowing that my words, when combined, had this much power. All of these questions are pointless however; as well as silent, and thus they shall remain. For if I speak my thoughts aloud, I am uncertain as to the ramifications of this action.

For you see, I am trapped…trapped in this place without end…a Labyrinth would be a sufficient noun. I would divulge the duration of my adventure; however, I no longer have any such perception of time. Nor have I in…ah, again I attempt a chronological categorization of events, or my perception of the duration of those events….forgive me, I digress. Perhaps this is how I’ve allowed myself to become lost so many a time. I must stay focused at all times; if my mind wanders, sometimes I find myself rambling, no longer attending to the words dripping out of my mouth. Without sense and order to my speech, I am furthering myself from relief.

I suppose I should explain; I wouldn’t want to bestow confusion upon any other parties. You see, the only way for me to advance in this Labyrinth is to speak aloud. Whatever I say, is…what I mean by this is that by using my words aloud I create. Like a divine architect: I am creating the tools, which I am using to find the end of this maze out of nothing but my own words. If I desire, or think a staircase will lead me closer I just say, “Rising staircase.”; if it is too steep I say, “Lower” and if too low than the same method but the other way around. I do wish I knew how close I was though. I’ve been at this for what seems an eternity and I’ve no indication of how far I’ve gone and how close I am to the end.

But how could I have forgotten! If I wish to bring you along on this journey with me than you must be keen to my whereabouts; by whereabouts I do not mean my geographical location, for that is impossible to tell from where I currently reside. I had simply forgotten, until now, to describe the conditions I find myself in. I find myself in a long corridor. It is damp and dark, with torches, ever so evenly spaced, lighting the walls. Each step I take, each breath I make, echoes from here to the depths of hell; which I am beginning to suspect is not much more than a murmur away. With the exception of minor differences, each time I adapt my surroundings to further my progress it seems almost identical to the position I was in last. I turn a corner, there’s a corridor; I turn four corners, there is a corridor; I ascend a set of stairs, corridor; descend a spiral staircase that I decide opens into the mouth of a pit, which I quickly create stepping stones to descend, corridor. Perhaps not the most suitable of conditions for one upon whom wit and decisiveness, and altogether sanity so heavily rely.

Perhaps I have rambled already, I do not recall what I say or of what I speak. I am, quite understandably, losing my mind. For instance I talk to you now but it is only I who is to suffer this fate; only I who is in this corridor…for if someone else were here I would have heard their echoes by now…unless my own drown them out…ah, now there’s an idea. Perhaps there has been someone following closely behind for the duration of my dilemma; perhaps I should check…nothing, no one, only darkness and the sounds of my footsteps.

So here I stand; in the same corridor I’ve visited innumerable times, frantically thinking of what might bring me closer to the end, speaking to my own self…I’d prefer to say this situation is rare…I’d be lying. Another thing that strikes me as curious is my lack of the necessity for subsistence. I do not crave food or drink, nor sleep; I only desire the burden that is this labyrinth be lifted. Perhaps the strangest aspect of this world though, is that I know where I want to end up, I have the means by which to reach my destination…I just cannot find the right combination. Each time I try I end up in a different location…I can get fairly close, but never actually reach my destination. The longer and harder I try, the more frustrating this becomes…I’m racking my mind attempting to figure out the right combination to finally get me there, “Left turn. Ascending staircase. Steeper. Right turn. A crevasse…one stone, another, another, another, ano… er, another. Ascending staircase.” Nothing…nothing is working! This is insanity! Perhaps I should just create a pit and simply step off the edge…but wait; would I ever stop falling? Like those first explorers who met their demise at the edge of the earth? No, I cannot give up…I must find the end to this labyrinth.

I grow weary…frantic…erratic…helpess…hopless. I only desire an end. Cannot this simple wish be granted? I care not who answers my prayer…surely Lucifer grants some prayers…fiddle of gold says he’s a part of my predicament, which in itself is a severe understatement. No…no one is here to aid me…no gentle, guiding hand from above; nor mutilated, clenching claw from below…I must conquer this labyrinth on my own. I must keep searching for the end…though I am beginning to believe it cannot be found…is it even possible? “Left turn”, “What have I gotten myself into?” I question as I round another corner.