For some reason, the black fluid on the first door sends a shiver down your spine; you don’t want to go there. And the fact that the Guard was torn to pieces in seconds makes staying here sound like a very bad idea. Lighting up your horn, you run at the door with “There is no way out” written on it. Shoving the door open with your magic, you blindly run into whatever happens to on the other side.
The door swings shut with an ominous click, assumedly locking you on this side of the door. The hallway in front of you is long and dimly lit. Immediately to your right is a dead, decomposing body with missing hind legs and a trail of blood leading from the door to him. Looking down the hallway, you see another exit sign! The way out continues!
Just one problem.
The Beast is standing in between you and the door. Nonchalantly leaning against the wall and inspecting his forehoof, he rasps, “I’m impressed. Almost didn’t think you would make it.”
Gently setting Wisp in between you forelegs, you growl, “No thanks to you.”
“Look, I need an ally, not a weakling; by not helping you, I tested you, and you passed. Now quickly, come with me before the Demons break through.”
“No. You need to tell me what’s going on.”
“In due time.” He stands up completely and motions you towards him. “But we need to leave.”
“What? No! I need answers now! Who am I?”
“Well . . .” His jawbone flaps as he struggles for words.
“Who are you?”
“I’m you, Brother. You’re me. We’re all a big happy family!” He lets out a single sharp laugh, spraying dark blood from his mouth. He wipes his mouth. “Now please, hurry.”
Behind you, the foals beat on the door. Quickly glancing over your shoulder, you can’t see any shadows seeping in around the cracks: this door must be different somehow.
“What do you mean? What does any of this mean!? I haven’t gotten a straight answer since I got here!” Stomping you hoof on the floor, the hallway reverberates, giving your words added volume.
“We don’t have time—” Seeming to collapse in on himself slightly, he looks up at you and hisses—though, it’s not an intimidating hiss. “You want to know who you are? You want to know why we’re here? You want to get out?”
“Yes!” you shout. “That’s what I’ve been looking for ever since I woke up!” Wisp looks up at you, slowly blinking. She cheeps softly and looks around. “You okay?” you ask her, lowering your voice to a whisper. She nods and nuzzles your leg.
“I’ll tell you the truth: I don’t know . . . You know just as much as I do.” He pauses. “But I do know that the exits never take you outside. They all lead right back into the heart of this hellhole.”
“You can’t possibly know that.” You ears twitch as the pounding on the door changes in pitch: it sounds closer—weaker.
“Those ‘exit’ signs lead to places that would break you and your little friend—they broke me! Do you think I always looked like this?” He chuckles lowly, his voice sounding like gravel. “No. But I know the secret now. . . .” He jawbone forms into an eerie imitation of a grin. “I know where the secrets are. I know where they’re kept!”
“Where?” you ask, glancing over your shoulder at the door.
“They were hiding for so long, just out of sight, and yet always there; but I never stopped looking! And now I know where we can find out who we are, who they are, where we are, and how to get out. . . . Because . . .” He lowers his voice to a whisper. “I finally found it—them—him—everything.”
“Found what?”
“What I’ve been searching for.”
“What?”
“And I need your help.”
“Help. For. What.”
“The Director’s Office. I’m going to pay the director a visit.”
>Go with the Beast.
>Push past him towards the exit.
Chapter is closed. No more votes please.