Sin pauses at the mouth of a tunnel, listening. I peek around the edge to see a large, open cavern. Along the space’s edges are at least a dozen other tunnel entrances. Small torches line the walls, removing the option to go in unnoticed. If someone comes through any of those tunnels, we’ll be seen.
I wish that was the worst thing about the room. But the floor is dotted with rotting corpses, each in different stages of decay. Their mouths are twisted open as if they died screaming.
I blink. Well, that explains the smell.
Sin points to a tunnel opening almost directly across the room. The entrance is no different from the others except for a small black mark on the torch beside it.
Sin’s memory is doing pretty good for his age. I’m impressed.
Another breath and Sin gives a gentle tug on my hand. I nod at him so he knows I’m ready. We step out into the light, straining to hear every sound.
So far, so good.
Maybe this place isn’t as dangerous as Morgana hinted.
And maybe I need to stop jinxing my life.
Once we reach the center of the cavern, Sin collapses. He goes down hard, and I barely stop his head from slamming into the floor. “Sin!” I whisper-yell, rolling him over to see what’s wrong.
His eyes have rolled behind his head, and he starts convulsing.
“Sin!” I call him more loudly, trying to shake him out of whatever episode he’s having. I don’t see any signs of a wound, and there’s no one around.
Suddenly, to my horror, he sits up and starts yelling, “No! No, don’t take them! Please! Take me instead!”
His eyes are still rolled behind his head, and my heart starts thundering in my chest.
Oh fuck, this is bad. So bad.
“Sin, stop! Wake up!” I yell back at him. I slap his face, trying to snap him out of whatever is happening.
He continues to scream, his face twisted in terror, oblivious to me. “No! Take me instead! Kill me! Leave her alone!”
I don’t want to panic.
That doesn’t mean I’m not panicking.
I grab one of my daggers and slice it across Sin’s arm, hoping the pain will snap him out of it.
Nothing.
He keeps screaming.
I can’t even hear if guards are coming. But with the noise he’s making, I know we don’t have long.
It’s like he’s stuck in a dream, reliving a horrible memory.
More screams, and I hear yells in the distance.
Sin is too big for me to drag out.
His words from earlier ring in my head. To leave him and hide if anything happens.
I look at him, desperate, but I can’t do it. I won’t leave him.
I grasp at anything to try and get him out. Sin is trapped in his pain, reliving a memory, just like the faceless back in my realm. It’s a long shot, but I have to try.
Blocking out the sound of yelling and footsteps, I take a deep breath. I focus on Sin, on his pain. He’s hurting. Whatever he’s seeing, it’s horrific. I can’t stand to see him like this. My heart aches for him, and with that, the silver energy I use on the trapped spirits flows from inside of me, circling Sin.
