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// Bloodsucking Warhorse 
// Story: Blue's Ideation Dreamland 
// by Blue Horizon 
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I hate waking up. The feeling of cold stone worms its way into my mind whenever I open my eyes. The privilege of sight only further reminded me that the raggedy blankets did nothing to protect me from the sleep before, which provided neither warmth or comfort. 

The only thing that was nice about where I slept was the view. If I were lucky enough to have one. But, at least there was the novelty of the whole thing. I mean, how many get to sleep in an abandoned castle? Sure, there was no readily made food, water, or technology to keep me company. But it was novel, and that had to count for something. Plus I was getting paid too, and that's always a bonus. It took a few moments, but I did pick myself off the cracked and chilly stone. I grabbed my gear and left the room.

The journey into the innermost sections of the castle were fairly straight forward, and a little boring. Which is what it should be. The only thing I wanted to worry about was being crushed under millennia-aged stone; not sudden pitfalls, giant rolling crusher balls, and hidden poisoned darts. So imagine my relief when the ancient map and blueprint's that cost an impossible fortune actually had the right details on it. I found that hidden pathway on my very first try.

And imagine my despair when a voice called out from below. The feminine voice carried itself through the narrow passage with clarity and precision that the best phones could only dream to replicate. My heart skipped a beat, too. I leaned into the stone walls and trudged downward into the darkness, doing my best to ignore the voice's sweet calls. There were risks, sure, what if the voice was real? But it couldn't have been. Right? 

"Hello?" It called out again, the voice tickling my ears.