The fact is I haven't got a clue. I'm well and truly lost in this stupid maze and I've only got another twenty minutes to get out. I wish I'd never taken up the challenge. Keep going left someone once told me and you can't go wrong. All very well but it doesn't seem to be working. I've been this way before and it's starting to get dark. Soon the moon will be up and who knows what might be lurking out there watching my every move.



I must concentrate. I’ll try the next left. Well, that’s just brought me to another dead end. So much for the keep left theory. Blow it, I’m going right next. Two right turns and I’m in unexplored territory. Which way shall I go now? I’ve got two options. Either carry straight on or turn right. I think I’ll carry on for a bit. No, nothing here. I’ll go back and take the right turning. This looks more promising.

Fifteen minutes to go. There’s still plenty of time if I make the right choices. I notice a hidden turning off to the left. I enter and suddenly I’m in the centre. Yippee! Gleefully circling around the imposing gargoyle statue I exit by the far side. Surely it won’t take me much longer to make my way out? I’m halfway there now. I can do this, I know I can. Just keep calm and carry on cautiously. Panicking is not an option.

Ten minutes later of agonised concentration and I’m weary now. I’m going round in circles. I’m never going to make it. Time is running out fast and if I don’t find the way out soon I’m doomed.

The full moon is shining its ethereal light. I can hear things beginning to stir. Owls are hooting and soon the bats will be swooping down. And what is that unearthly howl? A loud banging and crashing from not ten feet way makes me jump out of my skin. It’s getting harder for me to see and I crane my neck from left to right and squint into the darkness. Motionless I wait awhile listening intently but hear nothing further. All is quiet for a few minutes and then the sounds of the night start up again. I decide it’s safe to carry on. Each path leads onto another and I seem to be getting nowhere.

Five minutes left. I’ll have one last attempt before I am forced to give up. I can’t take much more. I’ve never failed before. It’s always seemed so easy. I turn a corner and there it is! A dilapidated signpost covered in trailing ivy and pointing to the exit from this cursed maze. I’ve made it with three minutes to spare.

I breathe a sigh of relief, put down my puzzle book and get up to turn on the lights and close the curtains. Another early night for me then if there’s nothing worth watching on the television.