That would be Kody in a bikini. But not even that was helping. “It’s a small world after all…” Nope, that song didn’t help either. In fact, it was creepier than his Bauhaus playlist.
So, he moved on to his mom’s favorite song. “I think I love you.”
Wait, ew! He’d never before considered how creepy that Partridge Family song was until now. Yeah, it would be a perfect serial killer theme.
“Is there anything not creepy right now?”
“What are you afraid of?”
Nick froze at the sound of that unfamiliar voice. “Who are you?”
“Who are you?”
Right now, a scaredy-cat Malachai who wanted to run back the way he’d come. “No one.”
“What does No One seek?”
Nick came to a small opening that had three different paths he could choose.
“I want to get to the center of this maze.”
“Then choose your path.”
Great. Now he was channeling Lady and the Tiger. Pick the wrong path and he was sure there was something waiting there to eat him.
“Want to give me a hand choosing it?”
“When all things are open, you have to select the one that seems best for you. No one can help you make that choice.”
But he’d have to live with the consequences. That was terrifying. “I’d rather you pick so that I’ll have someone to blame when it all goes wrong.”
The disembodied voice tsked at him. “We are all responsible for the paths we choose. No matter what others say, or suggestions they give, only you pick the path. Only you bear the consequences.”
“Not true. Whatever I decide will impact all the others in my life.” Especially if he died. “The consequences will hit them just as hard.”
“You’re right. So which one will you pick?”
Nick closed his eyes and tried to pick through his inherited memories. Had any of his predecessors ever been here?
Sadly, he couldn’t find any at all. All he had to go on were his instincts.
You can do this. Do what Ash would do. Think it through.
Right and left looked good. His instinct was to go right.
Don’t. Think about what you know of the gods.
Moderation. Never lean to the extreme. That was the one lesson that permeated so many stories. It was the thing Kyrian and Ash harped on.
In all things, moderation.
That meant the middle path. He headed for it.
“Are you sure?”
He was beginning to hate that voice. “Pretty sure.”
“What if you’re wrong?”
