The shock of sudden immersion in the icy cold water was so great that Marcus couldn't think straight. He knew that there was something he was supposed to be doing, but he couldn't remember what.

Only when he felt Tyson's hand pulling him up did he start kicking up and joining his friend in the effort to reach the surface of the freezing lake. When they finally broke out of its icy prison, they breathed hard to get some much-needed air.

The brisk air that met them on the surface didn't really help their swimming efforts. However, knowing that they didn't go in too deep helped them stay motivated and keep swimming. Their teeth were chattering, and they had trouble moving their legs and arms in a synchronized way. Still, they weren't about to let themselves be defeated when they were just a few steps away from home.

When they were at the end of their strength, they finally saw the familiar shore with the ruins of Urquhart Castle clearly visible in the rising sun. Even after their little trip into the past, after so many castles they had seen, Urquhart was still the most beautiful one for them.

"Come on! We are almost there!" Tyson said encouragingly, unsure if he was the one needing the pep talk or Marcus.

Whatever the case was, seeing the ruins glittering in the morning sun gave them all the strength they needed to reach the shore. However, once they were there, they just collapsed on the stretch of land near the castle, unable to do anything but shiver uncontrollably.

"I t-t-t-told y-y-ou the wa-a-ater w-a-as t-too c-c-cold," Tyson said, his teeth chattering loudly.

"We. Should. Move. To. Warm. Up," Marcus said but didn't show any signs of moving.

Tyson and Marcus both knew that the danger wasn't over for them. If they didn't move soon or do something to warm up, they could die from the cold. However, after everything they had been through, they didn't have the strength left to do something about it.

It was as if they used up all the energy they possessed to leave that horrible place and were now empty. Thinking that even if they died, at least they died at home. They won.

"I-I-I'm s-s-sorry," Tyson said, barely moving his head to look in Marcus's direction. "I-i-if I s-s-said s-s-somet-t-thing that hurt your fee-lings. Y-y-ou are my be-s-s-st friend."

"You. Too," was all Marcus managed to say through his convulsive shaking.

It was strange and humiliating for them that after all the dangers they had managed to survive, they would be defeated by something as simple as the cold. There was no honor in dying like that, no glory.

"Not. Like. This." Marcus said, somehow managing to pull himself up.

He offered Tyson his hand, which Tyson hesitantly accepted, and they started stumbling together towards the civilization. Their progress was slow, and they felt they wouldn't make it, but at least they would meet their deaths head-on.

As they stumbled along, they heard familiar sounds. The sounds of salvation. An ambulance was approaching.

Soon enough, they saw paramedics rushing toward them. And before they knew it, they were inside the warm ambulance where their wet clothes were removed. Then, they were covered by space blankets and rushed off to a hospital.

Even before reaching the hospital, they felt warm enough and quite tired. Thus, they fell asleep comforted by the idea that they were in the safety of their time and place, that they would be taken care of. It didn't even occur to them to wonder how the ambulance found them. Having in mind that no one knew that they were about to do something as stupid as swimming in Loch Ness, which was never warm enough, let alone at night.

*****

The first thing Tyson noticed upon awakening was the annoying persistent sound. A consistent beep woke him up from the weirdest dream he had ever had.

There was a Maze. A Time Maze. Everything was in the past. The past was dangerous.

As his thinking processes started knitting back together, Tyson's eyes flew open, quickly scanning the room without moving too much. He needed to assess the situation quickly and help Marcus.

Was he hit by a Time Eraser? Was that the reason everything felt slightly off?

After a quick scan, it became clear he was in the hospital and that Marcus was lying on the bed next to his. At least they didn't separate them. That was good. It would make it easier for Tyson to get them out.

However, even though he knew where they were, that didn't explain when they were. Thus, overwhelmed with impatience and fear, he quickly jumped up, ready to take action as soon as possible.

"Easy there, tiger. You'll pull some of those things," a familiar-looking woman said, pointing at the IV in his hand.

"When am I?" Tyson asked, still groggy but determined to get to the bottom of everything.

"Now, now. Don't start that crazy talk, or the doctors will put you in the psych ward," she said through a smile. "The question you should ask, like every regular person, is where am I? And the answer is in the hospital."

"What?" Tyson said, rubbing his eyes, unable to believe what they saw. "Sybil! Sybil, is that you?"

"Can you two keep it quiet? Some of us are trying to sleep," Marcus mumbled in his sleep.

Then he turned to the other side, away from the annoying chatter.

"Shh, Marcus is right. You need to keep your voice down," Sybil said. "It's me, and you are okay. You are home. The Maze delivered you right back into the lake where you started from. However, idiots that you are, you almost died from the cold!"

Sybil sounded stern and worried, something Tyson wasn't used to hearing. Something that made him question if it was just an elaborate dream that his Maze-crazed mind conjured up to escape from the insanity of it all.

"Sorry?" Tyson said, unsure of what was expected of him to say. "I guess we weren't ready for it. But how did the ambulance get there so quickly? How did they even know where to find us?"

"I told them. With your track record, I figured you might find a way to get in trouble even back home. So, I called in anonymously to say I saw two idiots going into the lake. That they might need medical assistance," Sybil said as if that was the most natural thing ever. "And I was right."

"Hey! We are not idiots," Marcus said yawning, as he finally decided their conversation was more interesting than his dreams. "We are just...adventurous! That's it! We are adventurous!"

"Sure, sure," Sybil said agreeably. "I just wish your adventures weren't so dangerous.

"But Sybil, how are you here?" Tyson asked. "I thought you went home."

"I did," Sybil said, uncertain how to explain her presence there without sounding like a mother hen. "I just arrived earlier and thought you guys might need a hand."

"So, you are like from our time and place?" Marcus asked, shocked.

They had assumed that she was from a different time, and it never even occurred to them that she could be a local. It was quite a shock, but they were grateful for it. Not only did she save their lives again, but they also had a friend who was loyal to them. A friend whose loyalty had been tested through the hottest of fires and which stood true. After a bumpy start, that is.

"Something like that," Sybil said cryptically. "And I am here to ensure you don't get into more trouble than you can handle. That is if that's okay with you."

"Yes, I would love that," Tyson said, smiling brightly at Sybil.

It would be nice to have a friend who would understand him and help him out, not the other way around.

"Why not?" Marcus said, thinking that they might need someone to save their lives in the future, and Sybil seemed to be really good at it.

"So, boys, what did we learn from our little trip in the Time Maze?" Sybil asked mischievously.

"Don't trust hot chicks. Think before you act," Marcus said instantly like a good little student trying to impress his teacher.

"That friendship is stronger than anything else, and that one should stay true to themselves," Tyson said, playing along.

"Anything else, Marcus?" Sybil asked.

"Nope," Marcus said after thinking about it for a moment. "So, guys, where do we get some food in this joint? Can we like escape to a restaurant or something?"

"Well, I guess you can't learn every lesson there is to learn just because you are stuck in a Time Maze from hell," Sybil said defeatedly.

"What? What did I say?" Marcus asked cluelessly.

Tyson and Sybil burst out laughing as some things never changed. Maybe they shouldn't. Perhaps one of the lessons Sybil was referring to was aimed at them. They needed to learn how to enjoy the moment the way Marcus did. Without worrying too much about the past or the future as they were finally further apart and couldn't destroy their lives.

"Nothing at all," Sybil answered Marcus. "I'll go get you guys some food while you rest."

As she left, Marcus turned suddenly serious, more serious than he had been in a while.

"Thanks," Marcus told Tyson. "For always having my back."

"Always," Tyson replied, looking up at his closest friend. "And thank you too."

"For what?" Marcus asked, surprised.

It was rare for people to show him any gratitude, so Tyson's statement caught him by surprise.

"For showing me how to have fun. For teaching me that even in the worst situations, we can find something good, something fun." Tyson said.

"You're welcome," Marcus said, grinning from ear to ear. "And when we get out of here, I will take you and Sybil on a grand food adventure that you'll love!"

"As long as it doesn't involve any mazes, I am in," Tyson said.

"No mazes. Never again," Marcus confirmed.

And that was how their new adventure started. The most beautiful adventure ever, living one's life to the fullest.

THE END