I gaped at her. “Did you just quoteGuardians of the Galaxyto me? Movie quotes aremything! I'm getting really tired of people copying me.”
“I thought perhaps if I spoke a language you understood, you'd get on with it.” Atropos smirked.
“Fine.” I gave her a sassy look. “I wish I could free us from Narcissus' prison.”
“Great; that'll work.” Atropos rolled her eyes.
“Um...” Clotho pointed at a wall.
We all turned to look at a new corridor that had opened up. The one that had brought me to them had disappeared but this one seemed identical to it; completely coated in mirrors.
“What the fuck?” Atropos blinked at it.
“Narcissus gave me access to his magic,” I explained as I hurried to the hallway. “Not enough to get my magic back, but enough to give me whatever I wanted within his territory.”
“Within his territory,” Lachesis repeated. “Which means that it won't let us out.”
“And yet, it's given us a path.” I waved a hand toward it.
Atropos scowled at me and stepped into the corridor... and then promptly screamed. She lurched back into the room, shivering as her sisters rushed to help her.
“What is it?” Clotho looked from her sister to the corridor with trepidation.
“The... it...showedme things,” Atropos whispered. “I can't... no; I can't walk through there. I'm sorry.”
“What are you talking about?” I went to the corridor and peered in.
A few seconds were all I could handle before I jerked back into the room. My loved ones were in that hallway; each one being tortured in horrendous ways. The scenes lingered in my eyes; traumatic even with that brief flash. I didn't want to know what Atropos had seen.
“The territory can't refuse your request, but it won't let us go easily either,” Clotho whispered.
“We must get through that corridor,” Lachesis said. “We'll simply walk it with our eyes closed.”
“And have the magic lead us off course?” Clotho asked. “I don't think we'll be able to leave if we don't look. The looking is the price of passage.”
Atropos began to whimper.
“I will look and the rest of you will hold onto me with your eyes closed,” Lachesis said sternly. “I'll lead us out.”
“No,” I said, “I will decide okay?” When I realized I was quotingBird Box, I felt more confident—more myself—and I added, “I will decide; just give me a second!”
Lachesis and Clotho stared at me until Atropos finally lifted her stricken face and hissed, “Well, fucking decide then!”
“I'll do it,” I whispered. “I've seen enough horrors to be able to block overcome them.”
“Your face says otherwise, Godhunter.” Clotho shook her head. “And you've already paid much more than we have to help Fate.”
“Just get her up,” I said harshly. “Narcissus was supposed to return for me soon. We don't have much time.”
Clotho and Lachesis nodded crisply and helped their sister to her feet. Atropos huddled between them as we went to stand at the entrance to the corridor. Lachesis grabbed my waist in a death grip, Atropos pressed herself against Lachesis' back, and Clotho caged in Atropos with her arms, holding onto Lachesis' waist. We were more a mass than a chain, but it would have to do.
I led them into the hallway of horrors.
Chapter Forty-Two
The corridor was only fifty steps long. I counted.
I focused straight ahead of me at the redemption of light at the end of the hallway. The magic did everything it could to stop us. It pushed visions into my path that will haunt me forever. Terrible things that I won't speak of. My brain shied away from most of them, unable to process the atrocities. I cried as I walked but I didn't stop, and I didn't stumble. Lachesis' hands on my waist reminded me that I was walking for more than myself. My hands over my belly reminded me that escape was worth any price. Illusions, no matter how horrifying, would not keep me from freedom.
