Chapter Fifteen
Jacinth
Iimmediately dodged the attack, retaliating with a punch sent towards them, only for my hand to sail through right through thin air. I staggered for a second, off balance from the attempted hit, before I straightened in shock as what just happened registered fully.
How was there no one there? I’d felt the attack, the air moving as a hit sailed towards me, my intuition screaming at me that it was heading right towards me.
I dodged its attack, but ended up crashing into the wall. I huffed angrily as I looked around critically, trying to figure out what in Adamah was going on. I finally caught the barest glimpse as it approached once more; a dark shadow, barely noticeable in the darkness surrounding me. All I could make out was that it was shaped vaguely like an Elf, only with no features or true form to it. As I dodged another hit and tried to counter with my own once more, I still couldn’t land a single hit, my fists meeting nothing but air.
That told me one thing:It wasn’t real.
It had to be an illusion of some sort, one that kept coming at me, likely trying to force me off course like the water. I wasn’t sure if it could actually touch me, it would depend on what kind of magic was used in its creation, but I wasn’t taking any chances. Examining the tunnel, I could see it wasn’t strictly a tunnel, as other paths split off from it, making it all too easy to get lost in the darkness. I could only guess that I had to make it to the other end without getting sidetracked.
More shadows appeared, but I forced myself to ignore the projections chasing after me, barreling onward so I wouldn’t lose the path forward.
A new illusion popped up, trying to wave me over to a tea party that was taking place at the entrance to one of branching paths. All the ladies around the table invited me to join them with loud shouts of welcome. Fortunately, I had absolutely zero desire to spend time with most noble ladies, so the temptation failed to take hold. I merely shook my head and continued.
More illusions popped up as I went, and I ignored each and every one, unwaveringly set on my course. As I neared the end of the visible path, I expected it to continue or open orsomething, but instead I hit a wall, nearly smashing my face off where the tunnel apparently came to an abrupt end. I immediately began running my hands along the wall, looking for a lever or a rock to push, anything that would trigger an exit. A spike of panic shot through me as I realized there was no way out.
No way, except doubling back.
Fuck.
One of these illusions had to lead me to the right exit. My very incorrect assumption of how this worked had already cost me precious time. I hadn’t paid any attention to the illusions after passing the tea party, but I would need to evaluate them and see if there was any way to determine which was the right one. The wrong choice would only cost me further. I slowly retraced my steps, ever mindful of how much time it was taking me. Every second counted when it came to my chances of winning.
My vengeance counted on those seconds.
“Linnea.”
Every muscle in my body froze, and my heart contracted like someone had reached into my chest and squeezed. That name had no place here. There was no way for anyone toknowthat name—not in connection to me, at least.
“Linnea. Come here, my little pearl.”
My breath caught in my throat alongside the sob I tried to strangle down.
This was too cruel.
I hadn’t heard my father’s voice in years, but I remembered its resonance easily enough, and there was no mistaking it now. My feet led my trembling body forward without my mind’s command, aching to be closer to the voice calling out.
“This way.” he whispered, and I sped up, his voice a lighthouse in the suffocating darkness, a shining beacon to save me from the storm of my existence.
Except…he wasn’t there.
I tried to see through the gloom, but even Elven eyesight was useless in this. I put my hands up to feel for anything that may be around me. I found a rock wall on my right, and slowly started to walk along it, my fingertips never leaving the anchoring stones.
My father’s voice echoed from a different direction, and I spun around, only to realize it was the same illusion as before. I stood still, gathering myself mentally and trying to regulate my breathing, all to prevent my body from moving toward the mirage it desperately ached for. The pieces of my pulverized heart slowly released the agonizing pressure on my chest, until?—
“Mommy!” A little voice called, “Mommy!”
Fuck. These illusions weren’t some preset image, which at least meant that no one had figured out who I really was, but they had to be using magic to divine our innermost fears and desires. I couldn’t think of anything else this could be. Not when it somehow knew the things I kept closest to my heart.
My fear of attack. My desire to fit in. My parents.
They started out small and got worse the more we ignored them, digging the knife deeper each time.
My horrible, stupid,uselessdesire for family was now manifesting into the impossible. A future once promised to me, its potential torn cruelly away. I blinked, trying to rid myself of the moisture gathering in my eyes; tears were worthless here.
I instead focused on the rock wall under my hands. Feeling my way along it, I realized the wall bent to the left, except, no illusions were in that direction. Tilting my head to the side curiously, I followed the wall instead. The illusions began popping up then, getting stronger the further I went. So maybe my supposition about them was wrong, and this game was something else entirely. I forced myself to ignore them and continue along the contours of the wall.
