Page 8 of My Fated Minotaur Hero

“With my mouth?” He says, looking at me for all the world as ifIam the anomaly in this situation.

"Breathe Liv..." I squeak, backing away. On top of a crate to my right I spot a sort of heavy earthenware stein.

Maybe?

In desperation I pick it up firmly in both hands.

This has to work!

"I'm not thirsty anymore!" I say in my most assertive tone, which admittedly is not super impressive. Nothing happens. “Knowledge is totally overrated.” I notice a look somewhere between wonder, amusement, and confusion on my minotaur friend’s face. “Ignorance is bliss! Take me back!”Nothing.

I take a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart.

Okay, Liv. Think. There has to be a rational explanation for all this. Maybe I've been drugged?

No, I didn’t even drink anything.

A psychotic break makes much more sense.

If I can even use the word ‘sense’ in this situation at all.

I take a deep breath, trying to steady myself. This is insane.

Or am I'm insane?

I have to get out of here. But if it’s a psychotic break, is it even real?

I am tired of thinking.

The minotaur – Kalen, he said his name was – takes a step towards me, his hands raised in a placating gesture.

His horns are impressive though.

What does that even mean? Clearly, I have lost it, but that isn’t stopping the way even his voice seems to be sending tingles shooting through my body.

"Look, you must be from the outside, I mean obviously. This must be a lot to take in, but I promise I'm not going to hurt you.”

What the hell is he talking about? The outside? Outsidewhere?

That’s it, it’s now or never I decide.

You’re going to try and escape a hallucination?

Shush you!

Without thinking any more, I make a break for it, darting past him towards the stairs. For a big guy, he's surprisingly quick. His hand catches my arm, and I feel a jolt of electricity at his touch.

Oh my god. What the hell was that?

My blouse tears as I wrench away, leaving me feeling exposed in more ways than one.

Wonderful.

I stumble up the steps, heart pounding. Maybe if I can just get outside, everything will make sense again. But as I reach the top, I peer out the crack in the door and I freeze. The room beyond is filled with... creatures. Beasts of every description.

Monsters.

Oh, for fuck’s sake.

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