Neville Park pt. III

There was an underwater cave ahead just within sight, narrow enough that these slithering phantoms might not squeeze through. But they were gaining. I wasn't going to make it.


Mindlessly, I reached into my back pocket: a pack of gum was there. I stuffed the whole thing in my mouth, without any water spilling in, and chewed as quickly as I could while swimming. The snakes were close now, shrieking like drowning sirens. There wasn't any more time. I spun around and blew the chewed up gum through my lips. The bubble inflated fast, like my lungs were a gas station air valve, and soon it was three times the size of my body. I freed it from my lips and let it float straight into the incoming snakes. They all went right for it, darting into the marvelous pink bubble and becoming instantly trapped by its gooey stickiness. Soon they were held secure within that perfect spherical shape, granting me the chance to reach the cave.
Once I was inside, the water within completely drained out, leaving me in a dark underground canyon of sorts. The chasm in the centre of it all was endlessly deep, meaning the only way forward was to carefully scale the thin ledges around the rock face. I began to do so, and immediately a horrible laughing startled me and I nearly fell.

'Look at you! Ha ha! Holding on like your life depends on it! Ha ha ha!'

The echoing voice was jolly, though harshly mocking. I tried ignoring it but each time it spoke the voice cut deep into my nerves.

'Climbing a wall like a spider! Ha ha! Maybe you could be a superhero with that ability! Ha! Wouldn't that be something!'
'There's already a superhero who does... wait why am I even talking to you?'

My left foot slipped and my weight gave out. Only by my quick hands was I able to grab the ledge before it was too late.

'Uh-oh! Ha ha! Guess you could call that... a misstep! Ha ha ha!'
'You're not helping!'

My hands were still wet and my grip wasn't up to this impossible challenge. They gave up and down I went, the hysterical giggles echoing louder as I fell.

'Have a nice trip! Ha ha ha!'

I plummeted for what felt like an eternity. Or maybe a minute or two. By the end of it there was a bright red light that made me dizzy, yet comfortably warm. It faded and I was sprawled on a patch of green grass, my foot resting against a hard slab of some kind.

'Have a nice trip?'

It was her, the woman in the red hat, unmistakably pleased with herself. I jumped to my feet, confirmed I was in the exact same garden with the same marble statues as before, and turned to face her.

'What do you want?' I had to ask.
'Nothing.' She smiled. Again my first thought was obedience.
'Then... why am I still here? You're obviously behind this. Just let me go.'
'Sorry, my intentions are set in stone.'
'Does everybody here have to make ridiculous puns?'
'Who's everybody? There's only one person here...'

Again that smile. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad. Everyone else seemed so happy. She sensed my faltering resistance and reached out to touch my face. Right then I snapped out of the trance and sprinted off down the path I hadn't taken yet. It led to an enormous series of hedge walls. There was nothing chasing me this time as I reached the entrance, which was not comforting. Still I was convinced I could lose her in here and then have time to plan a proper escape.
Knowing that wandering into randomly appearing mazes without any kind of plan usually ends badly, I grabbed a bag of chocolate raisins from my pocket which I'd stolen from Gregory's party. As I went deeper into this hedge labyrinth I left a smattering of these candies around each corner I turned, if I ever needed to retrace my steps. After a trio of left turns my path was blocked by a tall reflective man in front of a red pond.

'Say you what?' The reflective man snarled.
'What?' I replied.
'Right! Off you go.'

He stepped aside and gestured to the smooth red water. A series of stones broke through the surface and formed a makeshift bridge from one shore to the other. I thanked the strange man but he only grunted:

'Try not to look into the water. And definitely don't touch it.'

It was only fifty metres across the pond (there was a handy sign) and so I went. About halfway (there was another sign sticking from the pond reading "About Halfway") I heard singing. Forgetting the man's warning, I looked down into the water and saw an incredible sight. Behind my own reflection was a young girl swimming alone, the soft tone of her voice coming through the surface of the water and filling my ears. I knelt down as she noticed me. Smiling, she drifted towards the surface and reached up her hand for me. My own hand descended to the pond, ready for this innocent, welcoming touch. Finally I remembered and pulled back, just as a vicious sharp claw broke through the surface of the pond and swiped at me. Over my shoulder I saw the reflective man shaking his head at my foolishness.
I skipped across the remaining stones and once on shore ran as fast as I could until the next turn in the hedges. After a few more left turns, I reached a marble wall with three identically unmarked doors.