The darkness around seemed to pulse in harmony with the throbbing pain in her head, echoing the rhythmic beat like a macabre drum. The nearly coagulated blood traced a winding path down her face, partially obscuring the slowly returning vision.

In the background, restless whispers danced in a dissonant and unsettling chorus.

- Be careful, she could wake up at any moment!

- No, she seems to have just arrived...

- Has she seen him yet?

- Her skin is so smooth, and the hair... what a lovely scent!

The endless murmurs continued to insinuate themselves, filling the darkness with a tangible texture, like strands of sound entwining.

However, the sound she heard was not what one would expect from the open-air maze, with its imposing echoing stones. It was something more intimate, more menacing - as if she were in a wooden cabin. A tremor of fear shook her.

Then, she woke up completely. Panting and confused, her eyes met a series of strangers, all staring at her with bizarre looks. They were human bodies, no doubt, but their appearances reflected the opposite. Their gray, cadaverous skin seemed sucked in like a disease, while their eyes burned an intense orange, like incandescent embers amidst the darkness. It was a grotesquely fascinating sight, as if their eye sockets had been replaced by circular, maddened flames. They wore makeshift clothes, patched together from materials taken from the labyrinth. Some of them smiled, revealing rotten and blackened teeth. The image was disturbing, like a living nightmare in the maze of horrors.

Her screams echoed in the space, high-pitched and filled with pure terror. Immediately, the strangers retreated, taken aback by her outburst of despair. Every fiber of her being longed for freedom, but the cruel restraints of the wooden chair kept her as a prisoner. She writhed and struggled in a desperate fight, muscles tense with anguish.

- YOU MOTHERFUCKERS, LET ME GO! - Her voice resounded, permeated with uncontrollable fury, as she forced her wrists and legs against the relentless bindings.

- Look at that, she knows how to talk! - One of them exclaimed, and the sadistic chorus repeated itself, grotesque and inhuman laughter spilling into the air.

- GET ME OUT OF HERE NOW! - Fear pulsed through her veins, threatening to consume her.

- Be calm, my girl, mother is coming... mother is coming. - The voice of an older stranger emerged, a sinister whisper hanging in the air, instilling an even deeper terror. All the others fell silent at once.

The mother advanced with calculated slowness towards the central table, which marked the epicenter of the room. With exaggerated reverence, the woman settled into the chair facing the newly awakened prisoner, while the strangers hurried to assist. Some dragged the chair, creating a slow and agonizing scrape, while others rushed to retrieve her cane, a bizarre construction made from pieces of wood and fragments of the labyrinth's own walls. Still, others removed the hood that veiled her face.

The prisoner then saw a sinister face in the half-light of the room. The woman was a nightmare in flesh and blood. A large black eye patch covered the right side of her face, almost the entire thing, while the left eye, marked by advancing age, was equally horrifying like the others' - with a whitish and enigmatic gleam. The woman's mouth curved into a wicked smile, revealing a row of decayed and corrupted teeth.

- Forgive my boys' lack of manners, they haven't seen a seeker in a long time… - The mother uttered, with a sweet tone that contrasted with the ominous atmosphere.

- Seeker? What do you mean by seeker? - The prisoner couldn't quite grasp what was happening.

- It's what the maze calls those who enter its depths, my dear! - The mother continued, with a sweet laugh laden with irony - Actually, everything that belongs to the maze has a name, don't you think?

- Names... everything has names! - The strangers echoed in unison, a mad laughter echoing through the air.

- SILENCE! - The mother raised her voice. - Stop being rude to our guest. You didn't even ask her name.

Instantly, all the strangers turned their grotesque faces towards the girl, who felt a shiver run down her spine and her heart beat faster with fear.

- So, what is your name, my child? - the mother asked, staring at her with a piercing gaze.

- A-Anna. My name is Anna! - the response emerged, anxiety pulsing in her chest like a discordant drumbeat.

- ANNA! What a beautiful name, don't you all think? - the mother celebrated, as if she had made a great discovery.

- ANNA, BEAUTIFUL! ANNA, BEAUTIFUL! - Everyone repeated again in unison.

- ENOUGH! - the mother shouted, interrupting the chorus - Release Anna. She's no longer a stranger to us, right, dear?

- No! Of course not - Anna tried to stay calm and align herself with the strange fervor.

Two of them advanced towards the chair where she was bound, gnawing at the restraints with their own nails in prolonged agony. Seizing the opportunity, Anna pushed one of the strangers and made a desperate attempt to reach the door on the left. However, she was blocked by another macabre figure standing guard. The pushed stranger shot her a furious look, and in a growl reminiscent of a wild animal, he shouted. The guardian of the door did the same. Anna retreated, her heart pounding uncontrollably.

- STOP, BOYS! - The mother's voice erupted in an authoritative shout, and the strangers immediately ceased their behavior. - Please, Anna, don't leave now! Night is about to fall, and it's time for our dinner. Join us! You're our special guest.

- THEY SNARLED AT ME! - Anna shouted, terrified, staring at the two strangers who gazed at her with a mix of fear and surprise.

- Boys, apologize to our guest. You can't behave like this.

- Sorry... Anna - the two muttered in low voices.

- Please, Anna, apologize to the boys.

Anna was completely bewildered and apprehensive. Not only because of the oppressive presence of the strangers, but also the strange atmosphere that enveloped the cabin.

- I... I'm sorry for... - her eyes briefly darted towards the door - for pushing one of you.

- Very well! Matter settled. Now, sit down, Anna! Dinner will be ready soon.

She obeyed, slowly sinking into the same chair where she had been unconscious just moments before. The strangers, now calmer, settled around the mother, all eyes fixed on Anna, filled with curiosity, but also with a disturbing and impenetrable aura.

- I couldn't help but notice... but the mark suits you well - the mother said as she pointed her index finger at the labyrinth symbol on Anna, etched around her right eye.

Anna clenched her fists, feeling her anger rise. Her tone of voice began to rise uncontrollably, echoing aggressively through the room.

- Is this all a joke to you? Do you think all of this is fun? I've been stuck here for nearly three whole days. This thing in my eye is just one of the damn things in this place - Her words were as sharp as razors, frustration and fear mingling into a volatile mix.

The mother began to laugh, her empty, slightly orange-tinted eyes gleaming with a sick amusement. Her laughter was high-pitched, almost hysterical, and she had to clamp her hand over her mouth to contain the laughter, although she couldn't contain the manic gleam in her eyes.

- WHAT'S SO FUNNY? - Anna practically shouted, her nerves on the brink of collapse.

- Oh, dear girl… - the mother began, her melodic voice oscillating between sweetness and something sinister - To me, it's funny how the seekers see the world. Their perceptions are like shattered mirrors, distorted by the great barriers of this maze. There are so many secrets, so many dangers that you still don't know… - Her smile remained disturbing against Anna's features.

- If there are so many secrets... can you start by telling me what all of this is, then? - Anna gestured around herself, referring to the labyrinth, her voice laden with impatience and despair.

The mother leaned forward for a moment, her eyes shimmering with cruel amusement.

- Anna, my dear, do you consider yourself a religious person by any chance?

The question took Anna by surprise. She furrowed her brow, confused and suspicious.

- I don't understand what that has to do with my question.

The mother, impassive, ran one of her fingers over a black spot on her skin, leaving a trail of pigment. Then, she began to draw slowly on the table, sinuous and intricate lines.

- We all carry choices, dreams, loves, regrets within us... Things that intertwine and shape who we become - she said as she continued to draw, her voice oscillating between melody and threat - Every action, every choice, culminates in the formation of our being. Have you ever thought about who you could have been? A doctor, perhaps? An engineer? Maybe even a scientist...

Anna felt a shiver run down her spine. The mother's question had hit her squarely, as if she knew more than she should.

- However, sometimes, we make mistakes. Mistakes that echo and hurt the lives around us - the mother continued, her finger drawing a progressively more complex pattern - And this place, my dear, is where we are brought to reflect on our deeds. I don't like to call it purgatory, though your religiosity doubt has intrigued me. - she let out a soft, unsettling laugh - All this structure, these walls... They are beyond our comprehension. The maze calls us, envelops us, and makes us question the very essence of who we are.

As soon as the mother finished her words, the drawing on the table reached its fullness. It was the labyrinth symbol, a figure that had become familiar to Anna. At the same time, a loud bang echoed from behind all the strange people gathered, coming from inside the cabin. The sound reverberated like the tolling of a giant bell.

The mother leaned toward Anna with an intriguing smile.

- Wait a minute, dear. Dinner is finally ready. I would even consider the option of dining outside all together, but I suspect that would only confuse you even more. - she laughed, a laugh that contained a trace of malice.

- Confused, Anna is dumb and confused! - one of the strangers began to mutter, soon followed by the others, who erupted into laughter.

- QUIET! - the mother exclaimed with sudden authority, her voice now carrying a threatening tone. It seemed almost as if she were a completely different person - Come on, set the table, our guest can't eat amidst rags and debris. - she ordered, pointing to the still utensil-less table.

- Yes, Mother! - they all hurried to obey, moving with surprising efficiency to prepare the dinner table.

The cabin was modest and simple in its decoration, mainly made of patched fabrics and adorned with branches and natural elements. The strangers began to remove curtains and ornaments from various corners, bringing out wooden deep dishes from a small piece of furniture to place on the table.

- Very well! Now everyone to the table, our cook is on his way. - announced the mother, and the macabre figures obediently complied.

Anna felt a growing discomfort, but she knew she needed to gain their trust to have any chance of escape. Suddenly, three heavy knocks echoed at the back door, behind the mother and the strangers.

- The food has arrived!

- Finally, we were starving!

- Shhh! - the mother reprimanded, silencing the others - Come in, cook, we're all ready.

The door creaked open, revealing a strange, bearded, and lanky man, carrying a large pot of soup. He appeared almost as aged as the mother, and his appearance was just as macabre and bizarre as the others.

- Oh, it seems she's awake! - the cook exclaimed, visibly surprised to see Anna sitting up and alert. He narrowly avoided dropping the heavy clay pot.

- Yes, our guest seems to be adjusting! - the mother laughed, her dark teeth emphasizing her sinister figure.

Anna, in turn, remained silent. She tried to glimpse what was outside, beyond the door, but the darkness was thick, allowing only glimpses of branches and vines marking the entrance of the cabin.

The cook carefully lifted the pot of soup and placed it on the table, alongside a generous wooden ladle. The strangers were visibly eager, sniffing the delicious aroma and eager to rise and serve themselves.

- Not yet! Wait - the mother intervened, watching the situation closely.

The cook approached Anna, his eyes gleaming in the flickering light, studying her intently. Anna instinctively recoiled, surprised by the unexpected proximity.

- Enjoy your meal, Anna! - he said with a wide smile.

Anna was apprehensive. When had she mentioned her name aloud to the cook? She hesitated to ask, but it was too late. The cook stepped back and headed for the door, his thin, awkward body moving through the opening before closing it with a dull thud.

Anna felt the apprehension growing, almost as if her mind was disconnecting from her body. She tried to take a deep breath and finally heard.

- Anna? - the mother repeated her name, realizing Anna hadn't heard before.

- I'm sorry, can you repeat that?

- Great, you're our guest tonight. Please, accept our modest feast to celebrate your visit.

Anna was nervous, unsure how to react. The mother, sensing the hesitation, continued:

- Go ahead, they'll be waiting for you! - she pointed to the ladle next to the soup pot - Take your bowl and serve yourself as you please.

Anna felt torn. All those strangers watched her in a sinister manner, awaiting any sign of approval. Anna feared that any unpleasant behavior might result in a violent reaction from them.

She rose from the chair with her bowl, leaning slightly towards the pot. As she advanced, the strangers around struggled to contain their eagerness to eat. With one hand still marked by the restraints, she took the ladle and served the soup into the bowl. She quickly returned to her seat.

- You may go ahead - the mother announced, and the macabre figures lunged towards the pot like hungry animals, jostling for who would be first. Anna felt fear intensify as she watched the scene. Despite the skirmishes and scratches, everyone managed to fill their bowls. The mother was the only one who didn't serve herself.

- Where are the spoons? - Anna asked, nervous.

A gentle laughter echoed, including from the mother.

- Child, here we dispense with such formality. Our hands are sufficient for the needs of this village.

Village. The word resonated in Anna's mind. Surely, there would be many more of them outside that door if she attempted to escape.

- Eat, my dear. I know you must be famished; many lost souls don't eat properly in this maze. - The mother gestured, indicating the bowl in front of Anna.

Anna was apprehensive. As much as everything around her was a nightmare, the mother's words held an undeniable truth. She hadn't eaten properly for almost three days, subsisting on a few fruits and mushrooms she found along the way. Despite the grotesque and repugnant appearance of the strangers around her, the soup seemed surprisingly appetizing.

It was enough for Anna to make a decision she might regret.

She slowly raised the bowl to her mouth, catching sight of small pieces of meat floating in the mixture. She closed her eyes and tasted the first sip of the dinner. Surprisingly, it was delicious.

- This is... great! - she exclaimed, surprised, to the others.

Laughter echoed as everyone around savored the meal. The mother merely smiled, observing Anna.

- You seem to be a sharp young lady, Anna. Strong and fearless, I would say. What was your occupation in the outside world?

- Well, I was... I am a journalist. I wrote for a local newspaper in my town, before all of this happened.

- Ah, we have a journalist among us! A girl full of questions, I imagine. - the mother exclaimed, genuinely curious about her guest's life.

A faint smile played on Anna's lips as she continued to eat her soup.

- So, tell me, - the mother continued - would our journalist guest like to know something I might be able to answer?

- How does this place... work, exactly?

- That I can answer, at least in part. This place is infinite, my dear. The walls reconfigure after a certain time, creating new paths for us. For example, our little village is always here, but everything around us is in constant flux.

- Why are there so many barriers in this... maze?

- The maze delights in playing tricks on our minds, child. It tricks all the lost ones. To progress, one must unravel the puzzles it presents to us.

- And how long have you been here? - Anna fixed her gaze on the mother's eyes, genuinely curious.

- I've lost track of time, to be honest. - she replied with a gentle laugh - I've witnessed unimaginable events for any human being. Things that perhaps none of us should witness. I've seen rifts open between the walls, and fragments of time dancing in a tangle of paradoxes within this very place... It's a harsh existence, to say the least.

- Why haven't you left then?

At this moment, everyone stopped eating and stared at her intensely. Anna felt she had touched on something delicate.

Totally apprehensive and suspicious of the nature of those she was observing, she asked,

- Who... are you, after all?

- Ah, we go by many names, my dear. For decades, we've been labeled with terrible terms. Some know us as Aberrations, Lepers, Monsters, and even a curious nickname they gave us...

- Blind Devotees… - Anna muttered, remembering a warning written in blood on one of the walls she had passed in the last three days - Beware of the butchers of the Blind Devotees, don't believe their words.

- Exactly. - the mother closed her smile, replacing it with a serious and angry expression - Some call us that.

- My God! What's in this soup?

All the Devotees began to laugh, especially the mother, who chuckled while looking at everyone.

- Have you, by any chance, seen any animals in the maze these past three days?

Anna slammed the bowl onto the table, spilling the remainder of the soup. She was agitated, a potential crisis looming. The atmosphere in the room grew even more ominous, the eerie laughter of the Devotees echoing off the walls.

- It was you... YOU SONS OF BITCHES, YOU PUSHED ME OFF THAT MOUNTAIN! - Anna erupted from her chair, launching her words like arrows, her voice resonating with fury through the room, tautening the air.

- Lower your voice, girl. I won't tolerate insults in this house. - her mother declared, her gaze fixed on Anna, a silent warning in her expression.

- GO TO HELL! WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME? - she shouted at the macabre figures, nervousness oozing from every syllable.

- You asked yourself why I haven't left yet. Look into my eyes, Anna. LOOK AT THEM! - her mother displayed pure fury, and the devotees writhed in growing frenzy - Can you catch a glimpse of any trace of humanity or hope? Of course not. My time for redemption in this hell has long passed its limit...

- All of you... - Anna pondered for a moment, but she was already beyond any point of return - I WANT YOU TO ROT! To wither here, like the worms you are! I want you to decay, just like the carcasses you call skin!

All the Devotees began to snarl, even more sinisterly than before, towards Anna, except for the mother, who still regarded her with disdain.

Taking her cane, which was by her side, she struck it once on the ground with authority and all the Devotees fell silent again. The expression of contempt in her gaze soon dissipated, replaced by a deceitful sweetness.

- Help us, daughter... We are no longer worthy of glimpsing the walls and exits of this place... the maze has imposed this punishment on us, all because we tried to survive in our own way. We are sick, Anna. I need you to help us find the way out of this place, to guide us back to the world we came from.

Anna looked around at them all. Creatures consumed by anger, greed, and, above all, despair. Despair that led them to commit acts they could never have imagined. As horrified as she may be, Anna could see something that the burnt eyes of the Devotees could not: humanity.

- I... I won't help you, I can't. You are condemned to this because of what you've done. If the maze has willed it so, perhaps it's time for all of you to change.

The Devotees took deep breaths, their labored rhythms bringing an almost tangible tension to the air inside the cabin. The mother, clearly disappointed, began to laugh, incessantly. But this time, the Devotees didn't join in, heightening the atmosphere of restlessness.

- What's so funny to you, anyway? - Anna asked her, nervous and anxious.

- Time. Time is funny, my child. I've been waiting for this moment for many years, yearning for every minute, every second in which I could hear your voice in front of me. I remember every word of yours, every tense breath, how frightened you were, for I was there too.

Anna began to rise slightly, as she didn't like where the conversation was heading.

- It's just that… - the devoted mother continued - even knowing the outcome, I still had hopes that things could be different, that your answer would be different. But the hourglass symbol has remained the same since I arrived here, so it couldn't be different.

She stood up, breathing heavily, the cane tightly held in her hand.

- I know I can't rely on your help...

The mother removed the eyepatch from the right side of her face, revealing an empty eye socket, marked with scars from a not-so-sharp knife. They were ugly and irregular scars. Around the empty eye, was the same labyrinth symbol etched into the skin. The same imperfections as her guest. It was like a delayed reflection, as if Anna could see a dark future ahead of her.

- I just need the good eye! - the mother exclaimed, her teeth almost grinding with such rage.

And then, swiftly, she removed the top of her cane, revealing a not-so-sharp knife hidden inside. With a sinister yell, she shouted at Anna with all her fury. The devotees around the table did the same. Anna quickly began to move, trying to reach the exit. Every second was a race against destiny itself, and the room seemed to shrink as the cruel truth unfolded before her eyes.

The mother then lunged over the table towards her younger self, with a surprising agility and strength for her age. She moved like a quadrupedal creature, all twisted and terrifying, roaring and growling like a beast.

In the blink of an eye, she reached Anna, plunging the knife into her left shoulder to immobilize her. Both were now on the ground.

- QUICK, HOLD HER! - the mother screamed at the devotees, who acted with terrifying precision.

- HELP! - Anna screamed, feeling the piercing pain in her pierced shoulder. However, her cries echoed only into emptiness, for no one there had the slightest intention of helping her.

- SHUT UP! - the mother removed the knife from Anna's shoulder with her right hand and, with her left, forced it into the victim's mouth, stifling any scream.

Anna was desperate. She tried to scream with all her might, but was prevented by the mother's bloodied hand. This, she smiled with satisfaction, enjoying the torment of the young woman. It was sadistic cruelty, but for the Blind Devotees, it was only a familiar ritual.

Almost by instinct, Anna began to bite with all her might into the mother's hand, tearing off a piece of the bloodied flesh. The woman roared in anger, retaliating by delivering brutal blows to Anna's face with her stained hand. Blow after blow, until the young woman could barely stay conscious.

- Do you need help, mother? - a devotee holding Anna's feet asked.

- No... She's mine!

Lifting her right arm with calculated slowness and gripping the knife firmly, the mother reflected on all the horrors that this cruel environment had made her witness. She knew it was necessary, a final opportunity for her own liberation. This made her smile again, blood dripping between clenched teeth.

With cold precision, the mother drove the blade around Anna's right eye sockets, who let out a piercing scream of pain. Carefully, she began to maneuver the dull blade, sawing in circles through the sensitive tissues and muscles. Anna was on the verge of fainting, at the mercy of the agony.

Finally, the circle was marked in blood, the liquid cascading down. With delicacy, the mother removed the newly cut eyelids. Her long, dirty nails scratched the symbol etched into the skin around.

And there was the prize she so desired. With her right hand, she began to press inward, attempting to extract Anna's intact eyeball. The young woman pleaded for the end, for the end of that torment. She screamed, vociferating with a mix of hatred and unrelenting agony.

Finally, the mother succeeded. She dropped the knife to the floor and held Anna's eyeball in her now blood-soaked hands. She gazed at it with a mixture of ecstasy and tearful emotion.

She stood up, trembling with emotion, turning her back on the devotees who had abandoned Anna. The young woman remained on the ground, crying in despair. The mother, without hesitation, placed Anna's eyeball into her empty socket. To her surprise, the symbol on her skin began to glow again after so many decades. The glow was so intense that it illuminated the cabin with an ominous light.

- I... I can see everything again! - she murmured, moved, observing the world as before and beyond, thanks to her visions through the symbol.

The devotees, in ecstasy, began to gather around her, reverencing her fervently. All except Anna, who grabbed the knife lying beside her.

In a surge of energy, she lunged at her mother, grabbing her by the hair and pulling her close. Blind with rage, she began to mercilessly stab her older self in the neck. The mother screamed in pain, her eyes wide as the symbol's glow began to falter. The devotees watched in despair, unable to move to help the mother.

- DIE, YOU DAMNED HAG! - Anna shouted, repeatedly stabbing, each blow accompanied by a roar of hatred. The mother-devotee's body soon became lifeless, her blood darker than usual flowing from her mouth and gushing from her neck.

Anna held the lifeless body by the hair like a puppet suspended by its strings, displaying it before the devotees, a statement of dominance. She let it drop at their feet, an empty husk. The devotees howled in despair, growling at Anna and screaming in panic.

- Anyone else? - she declared, firm and menacing, gripping the knife tightly.

They grew more nervous, grouping together in preparation for a joint attack.

- If anyone moves, I'll rip her head off and make you eat it! - Anna's voice sounded icy, and her defiant gaze made the devotees back off.

They hesitated to attack her. The room was suffused with an almost palpable tension, a reverberation of the brutal act they had just witnessed. Power was, in a way, in Anna's hands, and the devotees seemed to realize it. It was as if they were looking at a predator who had just taken down the alpha of the pack.

Anna slowly retreated towards the door, keeping the knife raised and her eyes fixed on each of them. Every step she took seemed to echo as a silent warning.

They followed her, keeping a safe distance, still processing the unexpected turn of events. Each of their looks mixed perplexity with anger. On their way out, they passed by the remains of the mother-devotee, trampling her without ceremony.

Anna reached the wooden door and pushed it open, revealing the dark night beyond. The cool night air caressed her face, bringing a breath of freedom. She descended the steps with determination, keeping all the devotees under her watch, until she finally reached the solid ground.

Turning around, Anna was met with a grotesque and surreal spectacle. Other devotees, in a number greater than she could count, were arranged like a silent and shadowy audience, with torches arranged on the ground in a large circle. Among them, the cook and two other elders wore white robes, their hoods obscuring their faces.

The atmosphere was charged with a stifling and expectant fervor. Vines and wood adorned the space, as if nature itself were a witness to the event. It was as if they were preparing for a passage, a dark rite at the heart of the labyrinth.

Anna stood still, her eyes sweeping the chaotic and ritualistic scene before her. The devotees who had once watched her with hatred in the cabin now looked at her with a mixture of veneration and terror. With no other choice, she began to advance towards the center, where the three awaited her.

As she walked through the crowd, outstretched hands touched her as if she were a goddess. She was the new leader, the chosen one to guide the devotees through the intricate paths of the labyrinth.

Reaching the three elders, the cook, positioned in the center, offered her a crown made of intertwined thorns and wooden ornaments, their details reminiscent of pieces of the labyrinth's own walls.

- Do not worry, dear. We knew you might not return from that cabin. - the cook whispered with a hoarse calm, as if he had already foreseen the outcome.

- Time will follow its course again, and we will explore dozens of paths in search of the way out. - echoed another of the devotees on the left, his hand resting on Anna's shoulder.

- The labyrinth deceives us, but you will lead us to glory. You are destined for this, mother. - the devotee on the right added, his hand resting on Anna's right shoulder.

Anna dropped the knife to the ground, her breath uneven. The flames danced around, illuminating her face, marking her repeatedly. They marked her as the new leader of those macabre followers.

Raising the crown, the thorns piercing her flesh, she positioned it on her head, feeling them scratch her skin. Despite the pain, she endured, for she knew the worst was already behind her.

Turning to the assembly of devotees, they were all in ecstasy, moved, each kneeling one by one. Their hands reached upwards as they looked down, forming a symbol with two crossed fingers from each hand. In a bizarre and ritualistic cadence, they chanted:

- May the labyrinth bless the mother among these walls.

- May the labyrinth bless the mother among these walls.

- May the labyrinth bless the mother among these walls.

- May the labyrinth bless the mother among these walls.