Chapter Text
Reddoons woke up to what sounded like birds chirping, the warmth of the Sun beaming down on him and causing him to shift a bit in the grass he was on. The light from the Sun was making it a bit harder to sleep, as he was about to doze off again, realization dawned on him.
Why was he hearing birds chirping? Why was the Sun beaming directly into his sunglasses? And most importantly, why was he laying in the grass?
His eyes shot open as he sat up, taking in where he was. The towering stone walls surrounding where he was, with various bits of plant-life making themselves known within the large cracks in the walls. The trees around him showing their age by their height, gently swaying in the light breeze that seemed to pass through the air. The single cabin that occupied the area, close to where two of the walls met, imposing, yet welcoming to anyone other than him.
He was back in the Clearing, somehow he wound up back here. As he was grappling with all the information he was hit with, he tried to recall what landed him here in the first place.
He was just settling in for the night, before hearing a heavy banging on his door. Curiosity got the better of him that night, and he decided to answer. Next thing he knew, something hard hit him on the head, and now he was here.
“Damn it,” he groaned. He couldn’t be here again of all places, why was he here? His contract with STARR had run out who knows how long ago, yet they decided to drag him back into the Maze. He had a game plan in mind.
Before he got too lost in his thoughts, a familiar voice pierced through the silence.
“Red?”
Reddoons perked up at his name being said, his eyes landing on the demonic figure who called his name. He hadn’t seen them in who knows how long. Their name rolled off of his tongue before he truly had a chance to process everyone.
“Apo?” A flurry of emotions and questions had rushed through him. How were they here of all places? He thought they had died- could they have just been lost in the Maze this entire time? Most importantly, they were here again, right there in front of him. Red felt his legs carry him and his arms attempt to pull Apo into a hug, letting his vulnerability out for just a moment to see the friend he had cherished so much see how much he had cared about them.
Apo hugged him back, letting the taller demon just hold them close. “It is great to see you again,” they smiled. “I wish it was under better circumstances, but it is really great to see you.”
“It is great to see you too.” Red nodded, before pulling out of the hug and composing himself. “So, how did you end up here?” He asked the hornless demon.
Apo’s face darkened, before shrugging it off and starting to walk towards one of the entrances to the Maze, gesturing for Red to follow them.
The older demon obliged, letting them lead the way. He noticed the little pep in their step, something that he had never noticed before. The demon seemed a bit too cheery for being in these circumstances. Red took note of it, but never directly pointed it out. “So, do we just want to do a simple run and remap the Maze?” Red asked- or well, suggested- to Apo.
“Yeah, sure, that works. We should probably split up though.” Apo replied, causing more alarm bells to go off in Red’s head. The type of alarm that screams at you to not listen, yet curiosity keeps you locked into whatever situation you are in.
“Uh huh… alright. Which path-” Before Red had a chance to ask Apo which path they would be taking, the hornless demon disappeared. Snapping Red to reality as he heard the heavy walls of the Clearing close behind him, being plunged into darkness the Maze had to offer as even the Sun was gone from the sky.
Before he had a chance to get his bearings, the pittering of lots of tiny feet on the stone floors pierced through the darkness, causing Red to just start running.