The Labyrinth Pt. 2

  I soon began to panic, no longer able to stay calm. My heart was thumping hard and fast against my ribs, beating so loud I'm sure the minotaur could hear us. Fear had gripped me and showed no signs of letting up.
  "Sister!" My brother yelled at me, snapping me out of my daze. I had been running at full speed, dragging him along. Gasping for breath I came to a quick stop. My brother rammed into me and we fell. My hand, hot and sweaty slipped from my brothers, the sword fell to the floor with a clang and I was shocked when my head hit a wall. Had I kept running I would have smacked into it.
  I lay there, head ringing and closed my eyes. What did it matter? There was no difference between my closed eyes and the cold eternal night outside of them. My brother began to shuffle around, sobbing out my name.
 "Sister?" He asked timidly. But even his small whisper seemed to echo loudly and made my head ache. "Where are you?" More shuffling and sniffling sounds.
  I could leave him here. No one would blame me if we got separated. I shuddered, not just with fear, but at my own wicked thoughts. Quickly I banished them from my mind.  
  "I'm here." I groaned when my head started to pound. Lifting my hand to my head took more effort than I thought and when I took my head off, it came away sticky and wet. "Hold on, I'll be there." I said to my little brother.
  Hooves slammed against the floor and I grimaced at the screams that followed. Was it my imagination or did someone just laugh?
  "Sister!" My brother called to me joyfully when his hand found mine.
  I forgot about the noises and untied the leather string from my waist, tying it tightly around out hands.
  "Whats this for?" He asked.
  I mumbled some excuse about it was so we wouldn't get separated, but it was really to make sure that I wouldn't leave him alone. I would never think such a thought again.
  "Come on," I leaned and picked up the sword. It's hilt was warm from my sweaty hand, or maybe my papa had somehow been there keeping it safe.
  We started walking again, going as quickly as we dared to. While in the dark my sight was gone, but to make up for that my other senses had heightened. The labyrinth reeked of animals and death. Did I imagine it or did I smell sunshine far off in the distance? I wished I could feel the warm breeze, but down here the air was hot and stiffing. Yet somehow, very cold.
  Then, and the worst possible moment hooves sounded behind us. Echoing around us. 'How bad did horns hurt?' I wondered despite the moment. We were soon running again. We did not want to find out. Running every which way, turning and twisting, we ran, faster.
  "What do we do!" My brother yelled.
  "Run!" I yelled back.
  "I..." He took a gasping breath, "cant!"
  We were doomed if he could not run faster! I stopped and we caught our breaths. But we had not escaped the speedy hooves chasing us. I crouched down and snapped the leather string binding our hands.
  "Get on." I huffed out. It felt difficult to breath, hard to draw in the stale air.
  "But..."
  "Just do it!" I snapped. "I can run faster than you. Just hold the sword."
  Quick as silver he scrambled up on my back. He seemed so heavier than a few days ago. Was that possible? I didn't have time to ponder it. As soon as I gave him the sword -which he held with two hands- I felt a draft down my back.
  How fast I ran then. My feet pounding against the floor, steeping on things I didn't want to think about. Ever time my brother yelled for me to turn, we nearly slammed into the walls. Faster! Faster! Run faster!
  "Do you see it sister!" He cheered. "Do you?"
  I could not answer, focused as I was on running. But I saw it. A sliver of light, we were close to the exit! So was the minotaur. It's huffing human like noises came from behind, pounding hooves and the sickly smell of blood. I nearly gagged and fainted of fright and disgust. 
  I told my feet to run faster, my brother was screaming for me to go faster. I was slowing down and the beast speeding up. My legs hurt, like a thousand knives stabbing them at once, they begged me to fall. Keeping my eyes on the light, I ran, getting closer and closer. Then I was there.
  "Drop the sword, I'll lift you up." I told my brother quickly. Everything had to be quick.I had to get him and out and then climb up myself.
  The sword dropped to the floor with a loud bang. I lifted my brother up and he began to climb. The proses was terribly slow and painful. It was agonizing waiting for his feet to enter the hole.
  The hooves came to an immediate stop. Right. Behind. Me. I shuddered and picked up the sword. This beast was toying with me, enjoying my fear. My hand shook as I saw the looming shadow in the light shining down. Gleaming read eyes shined from an almost human figure.