Niall

I walked deeper into the tunnel, soon I was faced with 5 entrance's. I guess this is why it's called a Maze I thought. Picking the last one on the left randomly, I walked into it. I faced a door at the end of the path and two numbers scratched on the door? Embedded into the wood?
2,101 and 2,085.

What did those numbers mean?

Suddenly a boy with black hair appeared next to me, I jumped out of my skin, before I could react the boy said way to calmly for my liking "I am Thomas. Alexis's brother, I will help you along the way"

Thomas said before I could ask "The number on top, 2,101, is the number of how many Demi-gods came into this challenge, the bottom numbers, 2,085, is how many Demi-Gods completed this challenge"

I gulped as I asked warily "And what happens if you don't complete the challenge?"

His expression turned grim, it said it all. I looked at the numbers feeling my stomach twist uncomfortably. 16 kids never came out of this challenge alive.

I tried desperately not to think of what had happened to them or what was going to happen when I got inside. I grabbed the door handle and pulled gently. I gasped at what I saw...

There where 10 steps. All were rocks that rose out of the water below, some where higher than others and reached up to sharp ledges, up high. Thomas flickered in front of me making my heart skip a beat, he said not caring he'd almost given me a heart attack "This challange is called the Leap of Faith. Find the blue Jewel that is hidden is this challenge. There are two doors, one jewel will lead you into a gaping pit of fire where you will be burned alive, another door will help you on to the next challage, good luck'

With that Thomas left me.

Okay!

Okay I thought.

I can do this!

I stepped near the edge looking down at the water rapids below. I had the sudden urge to jump into the water and be never seen of again. It seemed so much easer that way. Suddenly a skull floating along the water snapped me out of my trance. What on earth was I thinking? Pull yourself together Niall! I thought angrily.

I looked at one of the steps, I was going to have to jump to. The leap of faith, how ironic, I thought grimly. I then steped of the edge before I could back away which I so wanted to do, I jumped.

For a moment it felt like I was falling through air, I had nothing to grab on to.

This was one of those times I wished Zeus was my father instead of Neptune, it would make this soo much more easier. I managed to grab onto the step but I couldn't get all the way on!

Oh my god!!

I'm dangling from an edge of a step by my finger tips!

Shiiiiiiiitttttttttt!!!!!!!!!

Dam it!

I grunted with effort as I tried to push myself onto the the step. I cheered with releaf when I managed to get one leg over. Then the other leg over.

I was on!

I was panting like a dog, sweat shined of my forehead. My eyes were huge, round and terrified and what could of just happened. I got up swaying slightly, the step creaked under my weight.
I glanced at the other steps I'd have to go to. The second one was swaying dangerously making my head spin.

I was going to have to jump onto that?

It looked like it would tumble into the river any second!

With a groan, my legs and arms sore from the mountain climbing before hand and from me pulling my self up onto the first step and I prepared to jump.

I lept to the other step, this time I managed to get into the step with no problems, though there was one tiny problem. The step as soon as I'd leapt on it...started to tip to one side.

I thought it was just swaying at first but it stared to tip even more in the right direction and didn't stop!

Oh crap.

As it crumbled down I had no choice but to jump to the next step but under my weight that started to tip to but it tipped forward crashing into the other steps sending everything tumbling down into the river below, including me. I'd like you to think I was being brave while I fell to my possible death. That I took it head on.

Er no...

I was screaming with my eyes closed "Aaaaargh!!!!!"

My thoughts were similer Aaaaaaargh!!!!!

I grabbed onto the step as I fell.

It smashed into the river. Water sprayed all over my face, instead of getting a rush of strength, I just felt wet and cold, it made me feel weak. What type of water was this?

The current raged and splashed with determination at the step I was holding on to for dear life started to move. It was big enough so it had hit the bottom of the river and it wasn't small enough to be completely emerged by the water, thank god.

The currents pushed at the step making it move. I gripped on to the step tightly thinking, what on earth am I going to do now? Suddenly I saw a ledge coming up, I without thinking grabbed hold of the ledge and somehow managed to swing myself up onto it. The step I'd just been on was washed away by the current, going deeper under water.

I looked up the wall I was now facing. There were ledges going up the cave wall, it looked like a climbing wall. Then I saw it.

Something glittering up along one of the highest ledges, near the ceiling. My eyes widened as I released a breath I'd been holding. It was the blue diamond! I started to climbed carefully up, testing the ledges weights before I stood on them. Every now and then I'd slip slightly but I always managed to hold on.

Step by step.

Easy does it.

I was almost there, sweat poured down me like rain and my arms and legs trembled under the strain. I was just about to try and grab the diamond when a thought came to me. What Alexis had said.

My eyes narrowed as I studied the blue diamond but not touching it, what had Alexis told me?
"Grab the green jewels but..."

But what?

"But not the blue"

I took my hand away from the blue Jewel sharply, breathing hard I glanced down, a crack had opened up in the river below me, the water swirled out of the cracks way like something was stoping it from going into the crack. The crack opened up wider and I could see flickers of flames inside the crack, a pit fall of fire.

I shivered remembering what Thomas had told me. But he'd told me to get the blue diamond?
Though Alexis had told me to get the green. What was I going to do?

I looked up even higher. I saw a hole in the wall. It looked big enough to fit me in so I could get a little rest and think about what to do...I slowly made my way up the wall, I avoided touching the blue diamond all together. I gripped onto the sides of the hole and pulled myself inside.

I then noticed a strange diamond shape in the wall, like it could fit a diamond in? My heart quickened, could this be the door? I licked my lips nervously, sighing I glanced down at the blue diamond still sitting on one of the ledges. Time to see if what Thomas told me was true.

I picked up a small bit of rock and lined it up with the diamond then let it drop. As soon as the rock touched the diamond there was a loud snapping sound. I jumped startled as all of the ledges snapped of the walls and fell down into the pit of fire, including the diamond. There was a hiss and the fire grew larger, the heat stinging my eyes.

My eyes widened and a shudder of fear slammed into me. If I'd touched that diamond I would of been being burt alive. I'd been so close...

A whimper of fear was pulled out of me.

I curled up feeling in shock. I'd almost died. I could of been in that pit screaming in agony, like other kids before me. My eyes started to tear up as my imagination took its tall. I felt like I could hear their screams, feel their agony and fear. Like ghosts they haunted my mind.

After I got over my shock I yelled out "Thomas! Thomas!!"

Thomas's form flickered into view next to me. My fear and shock turned into anger quite suddenly, I growled "You told me to get the blue diamond! You could have bloody killed me!! Is that what you do? How many kids have died listening to you!?"

Thomas winced at my angry voice and said his voice slow and measured "It was part of the test, to see if you remembered what my sister told you before you came in"

I said my voice shaking "A test that could of gotten me killed"

Thomas said his tone grim "All of these tests could get you killed"

Then he vanished before I could even react or reply. Gritting my teeth I looked around, what was I going to do now? The door I saw looked like it needed some kind of diamond inside it to open it.

I then remembered what Alexis said about the green diamond, maybe I needed that to open that door? If it was a door. But where on earth in this stupid cave like Maze was I going to find a green diamond?

Notes