Here's the next installment of our Metallum Nocturne story. If you need to catch up on any of the previous episodes, click here.
Episode Thirty-Six
The sacrifice was stretched across the altar while hundreds of followers softly chanted a name. Claire grabbed the ritual dagger in both hands, mumbling words in a language she'd never used before. Shadows caressed her lips, whispering to plunge the blade into the supine body.
Kill her.
The voice put a gaes in her mind. Claire felt the ecstasy of belief. She raised the blade above her head, preparing to slam it into Elle's exposed chest. As her friend stirred, eyes fluttering open, Claire released the weapon, letting it fall behind her into the field of ghostly mushroom stalks.
"Claire?"
The confusion on Elle's face matched her own. Claire yanked her traitorous arms down, clutching them against her chest as if she didn't trust them to be free. Elle sat up, blinking and looking around.
"I don’t remember falling asleep. I was sitting here watching the ghost-eyes shift and then I just woke up with you standing over me." Elle screwed up her face. "What were you doing?"
"I don't know," she lied even as the echoes of the voice reverberated through her head. Kill her. Kill her. Kill her. Claire feared the identity of the speaker, even as it faded away. "We should get out of here. I feel like something bad is about to happen."
Elle slid off the rock and started shoving their gear into the backpack.
"Like the warning you got when the creature attacked?"
Claire paused. "Worse."
"You're scaring me, Claire."
"I'm scaring myself. Let's just get out of here."
Elle reached past Claire's legs to grab the blade lying between the stalks. She glanced worriedly upward, making Claire feel like a serial killer who'd just gotten caught with a body. Before they left, Elle tested her headlamp again, sighing with relief when it switched on.
"Dried out, I guess. Hopefully our phones recover too."
They left the relative safety of the ghost-eye field, heading back into the tunnels, following the cairns. As they crept forward, the voice in her head grew louder and more disturbing. Kill her. I demand blood. I saved your life. You owe me one in return.
Claire glanced back to check on Elle, only to catch herself imagining plunging the blade into her neck and watching the blood spill out over her hands. She turned her head back before the visions could get worse.
"Why did you look at me like that?" asked Elle, timidly.
Claire screwed up her face. "Just keep moving. Let's get out of here."
When they exited the crisscrossing passages, the thunderous waterfall announced their return. Claire put a hand on Elle's arm, registering the flinch beneath her touch.
"Turn off the light."
Elle hesitated, but eventually switched it off. Claire let her eyes adjust, peering across the uneven cavern towards the rise where the water poured over into the misty pool. Even at a distance she could feel the cool air on her face.
"Is something here?" whispered Elle.
Claire half-turned, holding her hand across her friend's face, seeing no reaction. The darkness was absolute. For Elle, at least.
Kill her...
Claire squeezed her hands, pushing away the thoughts invading her mind. Was this the Night Mother? Or was she suffering delusions from the corruption of her flesh?
"Claire? You're scaring me again," whispered Elle, reaching out.
"Sorry. Trying to see if anything is waiting to ambush us." Claire reached out and took Elle's hand. "I think we're in the clear. Let me lead."
Traversing the uneven ground with Elle in tow took time, especially as Claire kept silent. The voice was subdued but she could feel the pressure at the back of her head where she drew faez from her mind. If she didn't have a patron, she might have thought it faez madness, but until the dark metal explosion, she'd never had a hint of trouble.
The slope leading to the higher cavern where they'd fallen required a patient scramble. The upper area was huge, far beyond what Claire could see with her darkvision, but the itch between her shoulder blades returned. Something lurked ahead, waiting for them.
"Give me the knife," she whispered.
"I don't want to."
Claire grumbled under her breath, but she understood her friend's concern.
"I think that tiger-thing is here, and I stand a better chance of fighting it off. If it attacks, turn on your light and run like hell."
"I don't like that idea," said Elle.
"I don't either," lied Claire.
The truth was that she was relishing a fight. The need to spill blood, any blood, was growing stronger by the second. Claire worried Elle wouldn't be safe with her and considered faking the attack, just to get her to escape back to Big Dave's Town.
"I trust you, Claire. Don't make me regret it."
Elle reached out and handed over the blade. Kill her now! Claire purposefully pointed the weapon into the darkness.
"Hold onto my shirt."
They crept forward. She was looking for the dead animal that would mark the passage back to safety. As she reached that location, she found it missing, a pool of old blood in its place but no sign of it being dragged away or consumed entirely. As she turned to lead them out, a low growl from further down the trail froze Claire.
"Get ready to run when I say," she said, pushing Elle behind her. "Turn on your headlamp, but face it away so I don't lose my sight."
The area around her bloomed with light, but she could still see the creature crouched on the ridge, ready to charge. Claire switched to an overhand grip in hopes she could kill the beast when it knocked her down.
"Abe?"
Elle's question startled Claire. She checked over her shoulder to see the guide sauntering down the pathway with a pistol in his hand. The weapon was pointed at them.
"What are you doing? The creature's over there," said Elle, pointing in the opposite direction.
"I know," said Abe, continuing his approach. He put his fingers into his mouth, eliciting a high-pitched whistle. "Time to eat, Sancha."
