“I can see why someone would want to change a place such as this.” Garrison remarks, pushing on as the landscape slowly starts to change as the path dips. We must be entering another level.
Salem places her hand in mine as we squeeze through a tight rock formation that separates these two levels. I help her through and brace myself for whatever this next one brings.
“Oh my God. I’m glad Graham isn’t here to see this.” Salem says once we clear the passage, hand covering her mouth. I come around the corner and see why she said that. Plates of delicious food are spread out all over, just out of reach from people strapped to chairs. They fight against their chains, only managing to lick the exterior of the food. Salem’s hand shakes, eyes wide and prickling with tears.
“Jesus Christ.” She mutters. It’s been a barrage of suffering, and she’s starting to crack.
“Please, please! Help us. I’m so hungry.” A woman cries fat tears, her skin puckered red around the chains from constantly fighting to get the platter in front of her. Salem wavers, her toe inching closer to the edge.
“Salem, don’t.” I manage to clasp my hand around her arm, halting her from becoming one of them. My feet begin to slip from underneath me and she holds onto me. We stare at each other for a breath.
“That was too close. Come on let’s get out of here. The faster we get the box, the faster we can leave all this behind.” Garrison urges. I don’t argue. I’m fucking done with this place.
* * *
The last layeris a frozen tundra filled with people encased in ice. Their faces are fixed in a petrified scream as icicles stab their eye sockets through the back of their skulls.
My hands burn from the cold. “I guess Hell can freeze over.” I quip seeing tendrils of smoke escaping into the air from my breath. My joke lands with only a few groans coming from shivering lips.
This fucking path we’re on could use a heavy layer of salt though, because my feet keep slipping. I’ve had to stop myself from falling on my ass three times already. It’s slowing our pace tremendously. Worry gnaws at me, wondering if the sins are still on our tail, wondering what’s happening with Persephone and Skye, thinking of my brother somewhere down here and not knowing if he’s okay.
I feel myself start to slip again and Garrison yells out at me, his tone full of exasperation. “Walk like a goddamn penguin, Pierce. It’ll keep you from falling and becoming a permanent fixture down here.”
I blow out a frustrated breath as I do what he says. I look fucking ridiculous, but as usual, Garrison is right. If Pride could only see me now. He’d be pitching a goddamn fit.
“Oh, shit. There it is.” Salem says, icicles clinging to the tips of her ponytail. I follow to where she’s looking and see a large wrought iron gate looming in the distance.
Relief floods her face as she picks up her pace. We all do. I wince thinking of climbing back out of here. One obstacle at a time, I chide myself. I can’t focus on the whole picture, or I’ll drive myself fucking crazy. I’m so ready to get the fuck out of here.
CHAPTER51
Chapter Fifty-One
SALEM
SONG: FALLOUT BY UNSECRET, NEONI
The gate towers over us as I stare at the keyhole, key shaking in my hands. It’s cold as fuck down here, which I hadn’t been expecting. It’s been one horror show after another getting down here. I can see why not many people make the journey.
I press the key into the hole and hear it click. A sense of relief fills me, until I realize it won’t budge.
“Your blood, Salem.” Garrison reminds me, handing me a knife.
“Oh, right.” I slice my hand diagonally and wince with the pain, watching as blood rushes through the flayed skin. I square my shoulders to the gate and press my hand into the circular indent. The gate flashes a blinding white light before swinging open. “Holy fuck. It worked.” We slip in through the crack and are greeted with a blast of warm air. Candles light as we step into the bleak vault. The room is empty except for a lone stone table in the middle which holds a small golden box.
I go to step down the stairs, but Garrison grabs my arms, stopping me. “Haven’t you ever seenIndiana Jones? You don’t just walk right up to the treasure. There’s always a trap.” I glance around wondering if the place is boobytrapped.
“Here, toss this in first.” Walker grabs out a compass from the backpack and gives it to Garrison. He shrugs and throws it into the room.
It clatters against the floor, glass shattering as it bounces. I wait for something to jump out of the walls, but nothing happens.
“See, it’s fine.” Emmet says taking a step onto the stairs.
The moment his foot hits, the place begins to shake.
“I fucking told you.” Garrison says as the gate closes behind us.
“Fuck.” Walker says, trying to pry it open. “It won’t budge.”
