I'm Not The Villain, Despite What You're Always Preaching [Saph/Quest Related Topic]

In the neverending dark of the labyrinth, two girls stalked.
And one is very very bored
Sighing deeply, I turned the next corner, moving maybe three meters ahead of Taylor, who was unfortunately accompanying me. For wood. Why the hell did I need someone tagging along with me, to find wood?
We'd moved on only a little from Alec, and the Camp we'd set up for the night. Or the day? Whatever. Before we'd left I'd found a nice little private spot, as in a dark hole in the tunnel right by where we'd set up, and put on fresh pants, a fresh hoodie and a fresh t-shirt.
My pants were grey like the last ones, with a pretty peach side design, and the hoodie was the same. My top was a darker pink, with the picture of a panda on the front of it, and it said "I'm Not Angry, I Just Don't Like You." My converse were grey, and blue, and pink, and I was wearing silver hoop earrings I'd found at the very bottom of my bag.
For the first time since we'd come in, I was wearing my brown hair down in large curls around my face, cause I didn't really expect anything to go down.

Kicking at the ground, my foot encountered something and I flashed the light I held down, spotting a small, dry piece of stick.
'Hallelujah, praise the lords. We have found the ever mighty stick. Hail stick,' I said sarcastically, bending and picking it up in one swift movement, hefting the nonexistant weight and tucking it under my arm.
Whats that now? Two sticks? Three? At this rate, we'll be dead by the time we have five.

Turning around, I flashed the dim light behind me, and squinted to find the figure of the girl there.
Catching the slight glimpse of her, I reached into the pocket of my hoodie and took out one of the cigarettes I'd left there, at the same time pulling out the lighter and withdrawing my hand.
Once I had them, I stuck the cigarette in my mouth and expertly lit it, drawing a large puff and then flicking some of the ash away.
'What about you Popsicle? Had better luck then me?'

I had the vague suspicion Ice-cream had come because she was afraid I'd set off another trap. Which was stupid given how it hadn't not been my fault before. I'm sure I'd know if it was me who set off the trap which had almost stopped our quest before it had started. It was one of those odd, random things which happened and no one (Unless it was Alexis and Popsicle) could be blamed for.

When Taylor didn't take the bait with the stick thing, I settled back into silence, flashing the light in a full circle and then down on the ground.
Life would be more interesting if Smudge hadn't wimped out at the prospect of going into the Labyrinth. I would have been able to tell Taylor the Ice-cream I didn't need her accompanying me for wood, cause my cat could beat her up and down Half Blood Hill before she could blink, for one. For two, he didn't complain about my smoking.
Spotting another one of those amazing sticks, I picked it up and put it with the other two I'd gathered.
We probably wouldn't even be able to start a fire. The wood was all dry and stuff. Didn't wood need to have a reasonable amount of water in it too actually burn? And even if it did burn, dry wood produces more smoke. We'd be smoked like smoked salmon for all those monsters who wanted to eat us.

'Stop what? My addiction? Nah. Even if I wanted to, I didn't bring any of those Nicotine Gum pieces or patches, so I'd just relapse,' I smiled sweetly at Taylor and adjusted the sticks I held again.
She waved her sticks, and I noticed that she only had two, which brought our grand total too.... five. Five sticks. Not even enough to make enough fire to light a cigarette with. We'd need at least double that for a decent fire, given how large the sticks were.
'Please. The Labyrinth's time moves quicker than the above worlds time, but Lung Cancer takes years to develop. You aren't gonna suddenly drop dead, however much I'd like you too. If anything, you'll develop the cells with which Lung Cancer comes from, and then later in life you'll suffer from the cancer.'
My smile grew wider as I took another drag and turned away, flashing my light in front once more.

I hated the smug smile on Popsicle's face, and vaguely registered that it was like those childish things teachers told you when you were younger: If you don't like it yourself, why do it to someone else?
Oh, I don't know. Maybe because people are annoying and its more fun to annoy them than speak to them?
'Look. You didn't pay for those cigarettes. For little pieces of paper wrapped around tobacco, they actually cost quite a lot of money. So do not start educating me about Life Being Unfair and having to deal with it when I paid good money for them.'

The smoke was stick and stung my eyes, which I was sort of ashamed of. I'd been smoking for years, and you'd think I'd be used to the smoke that came from them little sticks, wouldn't you? But the sticks were dry, and the smoke was thick, and the stench out of them was just nasty. I had to blink against the sudden dryness in my eyes, and cover my mouth with a sleeve, trying to hold back the cough which came from deep down.
'Oh shut up Popsicle. Afraid a little smoke and fire will melt your iciness?'

But opening my mouth to the smoke and taking the sleeve down so my voice wouldn't be muffled was obviously the wrong decision, and I doubled over, the cough I'd been managing to hold back erupting suddenly, along with some friends.
It was one of those terrible lung hacking coughs, which I wasn't able to stop for the life of me.
I Settled on the idea to cover my mouth with my sleeve once more and hope the horrible coughs would stop after a few minutes. The lack of being able to take oxygen through my mouth made me sorta lightheaded, and I fought to suck in a few deep breaths.
'Moving... would... be... good... yes?' I managed to cough out, not even bothered with one of my usual retorts.

Another hacking cough doubled me over for another moment, and instead of holding two hands over my mouth (which was probably the safest option), I put out one hand, feeling along the wall. I closed my eyes, the dry stinging too much to bear. It didn't help Popsicle wasn't speaking a whole lot, so I had no idea which way to go.
Well there's left and there's right. Backwards, forwards. Seeing as though we've had a bad experience with right, lets just do the right thing for once and go left.
Considering I was the smoker in the group, I wasn't doing really good in this situation. My argument was cigarette smoke had a different texture to this poison. Cigarette smoke was thinner (and slightly blue), and it was inhaled like you'd inhale oxygen (only with a different taste, and a different feeling when it was inside). This smoke was putrid in both smell and texture, and I'd taken a good few lung fills of it.

'Possibly... dying... of,' I coughed again, opening my eyes and blinking against the dryness again, 'smoke... inhalation.'
Yes. Dying of smoke inhalation. For a smoker, that's pretty hilarious Rana. You inhale smoke daily, hourly even. And now some black smog has you coughing and spluttering? Seems almost like Irony in all honesty. Your lungs are filled with disgusting smog, and yet you have the biggest chance of anyone else in Camp to die of lung cancer.
I had to fight a bitter laugh at that, realizing that it wouldn't do a very good job at keeping the horrible ugly black smoke from entering my lungs.

I rolled my dry, dry eyes at her remark about passing out, continuing to move along the wall. My head wouldn't be clear until I was able to breath better air.
It got worse for a few moments, as I walked past the part where the sticks had actually fallen, the smoke there thick and sickly, seeming to be like water.
Right. Best to motor on then.
Which I did.
I emerged from the cloud of blackness to see Taylor looking over her shoulder, her gaze not as hard (Or as angry) as I would have imagined. Was that a look of concern? Of course not. Popsicle wouldn't be concerned about me.
I continued until I was right beside her, and then I coughed again, shaking my head at the clouds of black smoke, already wanting to move away to cleaner air.
'Not out... of the fire yet. There should be... better air.. up further.'
The smell was worse seeming now, and it was only a matter of time before the smoke spread.

I disregarded the moment where I'd thought I saw a look of concern on her face. Nope. Popsicle was just as disgustingly obnoxious as usual, with her stupid "About time"'s.
Didn't anyone ever teach her manners? Like the kind your mommy and daddy tell you when you're like seven? "Don't ever rush a mean girl who smokes when she's coming from a thick wall of smoke in a Labyrinth." Surely they'd mentioned that to her over dinner once or twice?
And there was the hardened face I was used to seeing on Popsicle's features. Yep. Back to normality.

Using the hand I had yet to press tightly to my mouth again, I wafted some of the smoke away from my eyes, not doing a very good job. The sleeves of the jacket I was wearing helped some, but not enough that I could hold off the onslaught of smog. So instead I put it to my mouth with my other hand, and breathed deeply, trying to suck in some good air before it was gone.

'Hurrying... equals good. But... rest a moment?'
A wave of nausea passed over me and I had to force myself to close my eyes and breathe through my sleeve as deep as humanly possible, even if the air I was taking in was slightly tainted. Stupid ugly black smoke coming from equally stupid ugly sticks.
Your fault destructo-gal. When was the last time you tried to balance your chi thing? Couple nights before coming on the quest? Well. Seeing the results of that now aren't you?

A very sudden tug around my neck pulled me back to earth. My head jerked back and I gasped, realizing it was the wrong move a split second too late, although the insistent tugging on my neck distracted me from the inhalation of yet more smoke. Straightening I turned and broke Taylor's grip on my hood, raising an eyebrow.
'No resting. Note... taken,' I said in a voice horribly crackly.
Forget smoke for a while and move
Taking my own advice I walked a few paces forward as fast as I could, short on breath, but desperate to get out of this tunnel.

Obviously Popsicle was being smarter than I'd been, keeping her mouth shut and everything. Not even a sarcastic comment.
Well, you're the idiot. Always needing to get the last jab in, even when YOU'RE IN A UGLY TUNNEL FULL OF SMOKE! You can't keep your stupid mouth shut, and it gets you into more harm than good. Exhibit A, this situation.
But she had her hand clutching my hood, and since my breath had already been short with the smog, it was getting worse with a her tugging me along. I walked with her, slightly backwards, stopping not an option. If had been just me, I would have sat back where we were. Just sat and given up, because that smoke just brought back memories. I might not have ever been in a smoky room before, where my life was at risk from the thick fumes. But the tightening of my throat, the stinging in my eyes, the coughs. They reminded me of the last year of my normal life, where I'd had a Dad, a Step-Mom, a Sister and a Brother. Where we'd all been slowly getting worse... not knowing why, or how....

Taylor quickened her steps, and I had to speed up. It was an odd feeling, being sorta detached from my body, walking around twists and turns, stumbling slightly over rocks and twigs.
We'll need to get more sticks. Sigh. Well, your fault darling. You can't keep your anger at bay, and then you get into things like this.
Popsicle finally let go with a huff, a pained huff at that, and I breathed deeply through the suddenly clear air. So it wasn't beach air, or forest air, or fresh-half-blood-hill air, but it was air that didn't contain a load of smoke.

I was determined to not follow Taylor down onto the ground, where the ground was slightly wet (And when it was wet, it was obviously muddy). But after standing in a toxic tunnel, a little bit of mud didn't bother me, and most of all, I couldn't physically stay standing.
And so I slid down the wall after her, coming to a rest sitting on the wet ground, my back against the wall. I let my head flop back, and closing my eyes I breathed deeply through my mouth, trying to clear my lungs. Realizing with mild interest I'd been clutching my flashlight with my left hand, I also realized around the same time that I'd been digging my nails into my palm. Not bothered to actually check to see the little half moon marks, I could feel the dips and the slight pain as I loosened my grip and set the light down on the ground beside me.

The air was beautiful! Eyes closed, relaxing against this wall, it seemed like a gods send. Was there a god for clean-nonsmokey-labyrinth-air? If there was, I owed him (or her) a sacrifice or two.
Maybe I could sacrifice Popsicle and Alexis. Or a couple goats. Or even some chickens.
But the feeling of breathing in the air that wasn't disgusting was amazing, and I relished it, savoring the feeling of being able to inhale without a problem, and exhale just the same.

'Resting is good. Peaceful. Nice. I will rest now,' I mumbled to Taylor, eyes still closed, not even turning my head.
I felt like if I did move, my arms would fall off, followed by my head and legs. To be honest though, as long as I had my lungs filled, and I wasn't choking, I was quite happy to give up my arms and legs.

After a few moments, my throat started to ache, the after effects of the smoke. So (eyes still closed), I sat forward ever so slightly and pulled my rucksack off my back, finding the zip and opening the bag slowly, too slowly for my liking. After another few seconds of rooting, I pulled out a full bottle of water, the top not broken yet. I'd sorta been hoping to survive on a couple sips of water a day, seeing as though we didn't know how long we'd be in the labyrinth. But whatever. Water was needed.
It made a satisfying crack when it opened, and holding it too my lips, I gulped down a few mouthfuls, the water as precious to me as the oxygen I was breathing.
Never, ever take water or air for granted again Rana Midnight Jackson.

Remembering that I was with someone else, I opened my eyes and turned my head to Taylor. It took a few seconds of debating to decide if I wanted to hand over my water to a girl I didn't particularly like... but it seemed like a good thing to do.
'Well... Thanks Pop-....' I caught myself before saying Popsicle, reminding myself about manners when someone's just saved your measly life, '...Taylor. Probably would have stayed there if you... hadn't pulled me by my hood. I guess... well thank you. Water?'
And with that I held my water bottle out to her, slightly awkward feeling.

Hm.
Not a trick Taylor. I am willingly saying thank you. Take a picture or video, and you can always remember this moment. You can show Alexis and be all smug.
It wasn't like I never said thanks, but I hadn't ever wanted to say it to her. Not cause I'm horrible, but because I'm me.

Slowly, Popsicle reached out to take the water I was offering, I resisted the urge to roll me eyes. I wasn't gonna snatch it away, jeez.
'Welcomes,' I replied to her, just as simply, not making a big deal out of it.
I even gave her a little half smile, and lent back while she drank.

Taking it back, I replaced the cap carefully and left it on the wet ground, knowing that it wasn't worth putting away two inches of water. Might as well keep it out, and if I needed it, I could drink it. Or Taylor could. Whoever.
I followed her gaze, and shrugged.
'Dunno. Wall of smoke that way though. So it looks like we'll have to walk the other way.'
Then I realized we weren't with Alec.
Crap.
'But the labyrinth changes. We're gonna have to find another way back to Alexis.... Or we could just leave him. Either works.'

'Well... I'm just saying, we might be better off if we don't look for him. The Labyrinth would know we're moving trying to find a way to the other person in it, and it would send us a different way on purpose. So if we don't... we might stand a better chance of actually finding him.'
I picked up my own flashlight, though I held it loosely, letting it point at the ground instead of having it pointed in front of me.

I nodded in agreement though, and stood carefully, holding onto the wall until I was up. Then I sorta turned to the way we'd come, and then turned the other way.
'Both ways look the same. Which means we're not on Level 5 difficult now, we're on Level 20 difficult. Like in Mario, when you're like crap this tower is hard, and then you realize that there's a castle at the end of the world you need to do, and that its like six times worse than the tower.'
Has Taylor even ever played Super Mario Brothers?
'Basically, it was hard when we thought "Crap the Labyrinth changes". Now its just gotten harder, cause all the ways look the exact same.'

Turning back to Taylor, I raised and eyebrow and my smile grew.
'If we'd brought him, you may very well have had to pull two people out of that other tunnel. At least he hasn't had to swallow a load of black smog. He's safely back there without a burning throat.'

She probably thought I was trying to not find Alec at all, but really, what I'd said made sense to me.
'Okay I actually want to find him. Of course, if you tell him that, I will deny ever saying it and tell him you're making it up. And he'll believe me cause I've never actually made any effort. The Labyrinth isn't just a normal tunnel. It grows and stuff. It moves around, has set up traps and everything. If I'm being honest, it makes a lot more sense to not look for him, then it does to look for him.'

Making a note to drag Taylor to a Wii and play Super Mario Brother's with her sometime, I almost started planning the game. She'd do pretty awesome in a Penguin suit. Or with the Ice Power. If I voiced that to her though, and she did have experience with the game, she'd probably retort that I'd be the fire suit.
I watched her nod, coming to the conclusion she probably knew of the game, even if she hadn't ever played it.

Rolling my eyes (Again), I shook my head.
'No. Alexis would have just panicked and done something stupid. And I didn't really intend to rest there. Obviously I knew that was the wrong thing to do.'
Hahahahaha not.

I smiled wryly at her shrug and nonchalant attitude to it, hoping I had least convinced her.
Which evidently, I have.
'If we had a better plan, I'd be the first to voice it. But this seems to be the only one which makes sense, so its probably the best one we can use.'

Angrily, I turned on my heel and stormed down the opposite way to where Taylor was, which was down the left side. We'd come from the right, so left it was on short notice.
'Shut up Popsicle.'
The tunnel I'd walked down didn't go straight however, and instead, a couple meters away from my companion, there was a fork. Left or right.
'Well. Looks like its decision time,' I muttered, and however much I was angry at Taylor, I was reluctant to walk away from her too far.
And anger is never the answer Rana, apparently. Let that anger take hold again, and you're screwed. What would be next? Another fire? Making the tunnel collapse? Keep your mouth shut, and count to ten, cause otherwise it could get a whole lot worse... er.

Crap... I left the water... now I can't even refill the bottle if the time comes...
Instantly though, I dismissed the thought. Taylor seemed like one of those people who would savor even the tiniest little bit of water which would be left in a bottle. I knew she was following me, from the sound of her footsteps. She'd probably picked the bottle up.
'A dramatic walkout only works when you aren't followed,' I mumbled unhappily, but didn't spend too much time caring.
I wouldn't admit it, of course, but I was sort of grateful she was even still here. I was pretty sure that even I would not want to be alone in the Labyrinth. At least having Taylor there provided some sense of safety, cause at least there would be two to fight if we came up against something horrible.

I probably would have held out a hand to hold her back if she'd decided to walk straight down one of the tunnels, but she stopped as I did, her snickering fading with her grin.
That's right popsicle. Another choice. The last one didn't go too well for us, did it?

'Flip a coin and leave it to some Goddess of Luck to decided if we're going to be eaten today or not? I'd rather approach this in a more... well a way which doesn't rely on luck. Given the luck we've been having since we've come into the Labyrinth, I doubt we'd come out top if we did do something like that.'
Thinking about it, I peered down the left tunnel and then down the right, hoping to see something down one of them which would make me choose the other. Nothing. They were identical, unfortunately.
Suddenly inspired, I fished my lighter out of my pants pocket, and holding it too the mouth of the left tunnel I clicked it on. The flame didn't move unnaturally, instead bobbing normally. Stepping to the mouth of the right tunnel, I repeated the process. But this time the flame moved, and then went out. 
'Well, there's a breeze coming from the right way. Now, that could mean something good, or it could mean some wind blowing monster is sitting at the end. Why not just... choose? Like, we'll just choose a tunnel based on something. Maybe what hands we write with? If we each write with different hands, and so can't decide, then we'll try the flipping a coin option.'