My stomach drops. I can’t quite figure out who they think I am.
This is the weirdest case of mistaken identity ever.
“Okay, right there.” I wave toward his face. “The way you said that was creepy as fuck.”
I pause and take a deep breath. Elowen would want me to be diplomatic and respectful of my hosts’ culture.
“Probably a cultural difference,” I add, training my voice to sound patient, “but it was weird, just so you know. And where is the rest of the outfit? This can’t be all of it.”
Am I crazy? Or is this legitimately weird?
“My deepest apologies. I would never want to cause displeasure. Your clothing is perfect. You look quite fetching in it.”
His apology seems genuine, so I dial it back a notch. Plus, the flattery feels kind of nice. I’m still getting my bearings, and I don’t want to seem ungrateful. After all, they did save my life.
There has got to be a comms system around here somewhere. If this weirdo won’t help me, I’ll find it myself. I’m mildly annoyed he didn’t directly answer my question, and it’s probably written all over my face.
The robed man turns and beckons me to follow down the hallway. I don’t have much choice but to trail after him. He leads me through twisting and turning stone tunnels. It’s quiet down here and feels miles away from the brutal surface.
Completely lost, I’m at his mercy to lead me wherever we are going. The tunnels lack any distinction between them. Where’s the emergency exit map when you need it? The old-schoolYou Are Heresign with a giant red arrow.
“Right this way. The brethren are eager to lavish their praise upon you.” He pulls back a heavy curtain, leading me into a large room. Hushed voices go silent when we step in.
“What the fu—” I cut myself off when all the hooded figures in the room turn toward me in unison.
A few dozen sit in circles. My new friend leads me through the crowd to the middle of the room. A spotlight shines down on me when I step into the center.
The long shaft of light narrows to a pinpoint at the top, confirming my suspicion that we are really deep underground. I look back over the crowd and it takes a minute for my eyes to adjust to the dark room again. Everyone in the room has the same robes on with the hoods pulled up, blocking their faces from view. The “brethren” sit quietly. I guess they are waiting for me to say something.
“Uh, thanks for saving me,” I say and look around, hoping someone else will fill the silence.
“Luminescence, it is you who has saved us,” someone says from the circle closest to me.
“We have awaited your arrival for many turns of the wind. We never gave up hope the prophecy would be fulfilled,” another in the smallest circle says.
“I think there has been some misunderstanding. I’m Bri. And my lifepod crashed here. I need?—”
“Heavenly Rain-Bringer, please forgive my interruption. We already know who you are. We have been preparing for your arrival.”
This feels like a prank. There is no way this is actually happening. Is this some heatstroke-induced fever dream?
“What’s going on here?” I ask.
They all jointly lower their hoods.
I catch a glimpse of their faces and notice they each have pale skin and black eyes. Two vertical ridges frame their wide foreheads. In place of a human-like nose, a long slit stretches above their mouths. Big gums and tiny teeth show as some of them smile at me, or bare their teeth. It’s impossible to tell.
“Our mighty goddess has at last descended. The brethren welcome you and are ready to do your bidding.”
Where the fuck am I?!
TEN
Tai
DANGER! IMMEDIATELY VACATE THE PREMISES! The visor flashes with the bright red warning across my eyes.
DANGER! IMMEDIATELY VACATE THE PREMISES! It repeats the message, as if I could have missed it the first time.
