“Alright, let’s go!” Serenity turned on her heels and beamed, “We shouldn’t stay here, the sign ups will end soon. Just follow me and don’t lose sight.”
I grimaced. I can barely stand, but you make it sound like we’re about to run a marathon.
Despite my inner griping, Serenity turned around, weaved through the patches of people, and slipped into another black stone crevice. I stumbled to pick up my pace before I lost her.
Each step felt like my feet would be swept out from under me at any moment. The hard wood floor felt like it jammed at my heavy legs like a sledgehammer and my hampered speed made me feel like I was drowning in syrup. To make everything worse, Serenity was already gone.
Thistles! Was riding on a saddle really that difficult? It’s not like I’m out of shape! Get. Your act. Together!
When I reached the black stone crevice, I saw nothing but black. Pure, dark, pitch void yawned before me. I tentatively ran my fingers along the jagged surface beside me and walked forward.
Step by step the warmth of the floor seeped into me and the cold of the stone crept along my fingers. Then I ran into a fluffy garment and heard a giggle. I glared into the darkness.
My eyes fought to adjust to the gloom, but—as though running into Serenity made my brain realize she existed—her white clothed figure came into dim focus. It was very slight, but it was there.
“Whoa,” I heard her breathe. “Your eyes are— How are they—? Are you—?” she paused and seemed to consider her words, like carefully rolling a ball between her hands. Eventually she turned around with a simple, “Never mind,” and walked on.
I raised a brow and followed behind her as she ran off again. It was much easier to find her now that I could see the slightest grey outline of her movement. Granted it was like watching a blob of wet ink move along a dried black canvas, but it was better than nothing.
We twisted and turned, climbed up, climbed down, went left, went right, went back, went forward—I was so twisted around that I eventually stopped mapping myself at one point because I thought we had returned to the stables at least twice already.
How on Thera was Serenity navigating this? There had to be a trick. . . One I was incapable of thinking about at that exact moment, but I was sure I’d figure it out eventually. As an enforcer, I would probably need to, I silently told myself.
We turned once more and there was light filtering into the tunnel. Serenity’s figure came into full view before stepping out of the crevice and I followed a moment after with closed eyes. When I was sure my sensitive eyes had adjusted, I saw Serenity wearing a smug smile, and the grandest hallway I had ever seen.
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