Wall
“I think you would have to agree that signing this thing, right here, would be pretty short-sighted of me,” you say. “This is practically a page from a ‘How to Scam’ manual!” Incidentally, you had collaborated on one yourself, though the existence of the manual itself was a scam.
“Short-sighted or not, you do not have any other options,” says Faria calmly. “Sign, and be free of this place.”
“How about I don’t sign and break free anyway?”
“Like how you were doing before I found you? I fear that is not a very successful path.”
“A temporary setback,” you say, dismissing his words. “I am perfectly capable of making my way to the top without the assistance of this dodgy tome.”
“Are you, now?” The wrinkles on Faria’s forehead deepens, his mouth curling into a grin that is entirely unfriendly. “I do not share that faith, angel.”
“You don’t have to. I’ll show it to you,” you say confidently.
“It would be much easier if you signed, however,” he presses again.
“Has anyone ever told you that pestering people only reduces their likelihood to buy into what you’re selling? You don’t make for a very good merchant, Faria.”
“I suppose that is a resolute no, then?”
“Of course. I can do this by myself. Your aid is unnecessary. Now-“
“Now you do realize I cannot let you go that easily now, can I?” The quality of Faria’s voice changes, cracking, as if layers of creaking rust have peeled away to reveal a solid core of cold metal underneath. “I have shown you this place, now I must take care lest you reveal it to others.”
“There is no reason for me to-“
“I do not trust you, just as you do not trust me. Why, you could turn me in to whoever the Warden is this year the moment you left this room!” Faria chuckles as he steps backwards. Behind him, on the far side of the room, a passageway opens up, the walls crumbling and folding away in the reverse of how they behaved when you arrived here. The flames lighting your surroundings begin to wink out, one by one. “Still, you may yet earn my trust and my confidence in your abilities if you pass this one little test. If you do not, you have no hopes of reaching the top of the tower as you are.”
“More of these silly games? Don’t you find this tiresome?” you grumble, moving towards Faria. But your feet refuse to budge. You glance down, and in the fading light you see that somehow they have fused with the earth. The ground begins to creep up, climbing your ankles, your calves, and your knees. “Faria,” you growl. “What is the meaning of this?”
“Ah, what a predictable response. What a boring question. This is your trial, angel. If you manage to break free and find me again, then we may talk.”
The earth has encased your waist now. “You do know that when I break free this is only going to make me want to punch your rotten teeth in, don’t you?” you warn. “Now, if you let me go I might settle for just a gentle box to your ears.”
Faria laughs. “We shall see about that. We shall see.”
Your arms freeze in position, trapped within the cold earth. Were you not so debilitated by the tower's seals you could have broken free easily, but as you are now, any resistance is futile. It has now covered your chest, exerting a tremendous amount of pressure, and you find it difficult to draw breath. The earth circles around your neck, constricting it, and you cannot even speak. Still it climbs, up to your chin, to your mouth, and over your nose. As the clammy mud flows into your ears, walling you into a block of absolute silence, you pick up, faintly, Faria’s last chuckles. “…then I shall wait, and hope.”
And then you hear, and see, no more.
---CHAPTER END---
