It’s excited, urging me to continue.
The slight tug comes again, and a strange sense of familiarity accompanies it. Something almost like nostalgia washes over me.
Except I know that whatever I’m missing isn’t lost, it’s right there, in the next room.
I open the door.
It’s a large antechamber, and the dim light from the orb illuminates the space just enough that I spot a black hole in the center of the room. The tug comes again, and I gladly step inside.
That’s when I realize I’ve fucked up.
Because of course, there’s a soft click as the door shuts behind me. Just as I whirl around to open it, my light goes out.
I freeze, smothered by the darkness.
Nope, no thanks.
I tug at the latch, but it won’t budge.
If my life is a choose-your-own-adventure novel, I would very much like to go back and try again.
Accepting the door isn’t going to open, I blindly tie my borrowed skirts around the orb into a makeshift pouch. Hopefully, it will power back on just as soon as I find a way out of here.
In the meantime, I’d very much prefer to have my hands free.
The tug on my hand comes again, even more insistent. But this time, my rare survival instincts must kick in, because I don’t immediately follow.
Something down here has done a great job of luring me into a deep, dark corner.
Chills creep down my spine as I’m struck by how similar this feels to when the bond between Leon and me almost drowned me. And here I am, blindly following again.
A smart person would probably yell ‘stranger danger’ and run the other way.
Is this what happens when you grow up watching too many Disney princess movies? You end up programmed to see monsters and think ‘ouuu squishy!’
Or am I just an idiot?
I purse my lips. Option B checks out.
Still, I’m the idiot who’s trapped down here.
Resigned, I sigh. There’s no way I’m walking toward the dark hole in pitch blackness. While I haven’t tried to use my Reaper powers in case Need might be watching, I’m out of better options.
Reaching within myself, I call on the magic, hoping the collar only works against Creator powers. Almost instantly, silvery threads wind around my hands.
The glowing threads provide enough light to see ahead, but I still can’t make out what’s inside the hole.
Whispering static urges me forward, and I feel my dread rising.
Nothing good can come from this.
A final scan of the room confirms there are no other doors or items that might offer an alternate solution.
I hate my life.
Dragging my feet, I gingerly approach the hole.
It’s large, at least six feet in diameter, and looks like a well carved into the stone floor.
