His steps were sure and true.

The strike of his shoes hitting the rough stone was the only sound to be heard.

He walked on.

This maze, this labyrinth, had been a dare, a challenge from one of his friends.

Alcohol had played a big part before hand, fuelling his decision, landing him here, in this moment in time.

Mere hours ago, he had been out drinking with his mates, all of them fresh out of university, the world at their feet.

It had been his oldest friend, Simon, that had struck up the dare. And he had never been one to back down from a challenge.

He knew of the labyrinth of course. Everybody did. It loomed over the city, with its imposing stone walls casting long and foreboding shadows over the entire town.

The inside of labyrinth, however, was a mystery, at least now to all but him. Its imposing sight and sheer size was more than enough for people to stay away from it.

Even the bravest soul would break out into a cold sweat at the thought of entering the maze.

_How cool and awesome would it be for him?! _He thought. _The first to enter the labyrinth and the first to know and see the inside of it! _

It was those same thoughts and and boldness, mixed with the alcohol in his system that found him here, walking through the maze with his steps echoing.

The stone walls sat several hundred feet high. The only views were those of the endless corridor stretching out in front of him and of the sky above.

The buzz of alcohol kept him going.

The walls and the floor was bare stone, rough to the touch and full of cracks, it was like someone had crudely chiselled away at them with nothing more than a penknife. No vegetation grew, there was no water in sight, nor animal.

The only living thing in the labyrinth was him.

After spending, what felt like a long time, walking in a straight line, he approached a turning in the maze.

He would have to turn and follow it. He refused to turn tail and run. His friends would forever mock him for it.

He quickly glanced back in the direction he had just walked but there was nothing there, just the same endless stone walls.

He couldn’t even see the entrance that he had walked through. He shrugged to himself and walked around the corner.

The sight was the same as before, an endless stone corridor stretching out before him.

There was no movement, not even a breath of wind to stir the air.

He couldn’t tell what time of day it was, he had no watch and part of his dare had been to leave his phone behind as well.

_Frankly, a stupid rule_, he thought. No doubt the alcohol was starting to wear off a little.

His steps kept echoing. Each one, drawing him deeper and deeper into the labyrinth.

Another corner appeared and without any hesitation he kept moving forward.

Again his steps echoed.

On and on he walked, waiting, hoping, praying, to see that golden sight. A statue, a sign, something he could see that told him he had found the middle of the maze.

But it never came.

On and on he walked.

His steps echoing.

It wouldn’t be until his own mind drove him mad, until the very clothes on his back came apart under his own hands, until thirst and hunger were his only concern, until the echoing of his footsteps drove him mad, that he would realise he was trapped.

But until then he walked on.

His footsteps echoing.

Unaware his sanity was beginning to slip.