Mara glanced around the small stone chamber. "Well, we won't prove ourselves worthy by standing here and talking."
Magical torches hung against the walls, bathing the chamber in blue light. The chamber itself was perhaps twenty feet by twenty feet—quite a bit smaller than expected. To Theo's right was the only passage leading out of the chamber.
"I don't mean to sound negative," Marek said. "But how the hell are we gonna destroy some great evil? We've got no magic."
"We'll figure out something," Dave said, but his words rang hollow.
"Let's start walking," Theo said, taking the lead. Every step echoed as they left the small chamber behind, making their way through a narrow, winding passage.
After a few twists and turns, they came upon a much larger chamber illuminated by the same blue torches. Thick fog hung in the air, obscuring the chamber's far end. The air they were breathing suddenly felt as thick as soup.
"All the hairs on my arms are standing on end," Marek said. "I don't like this place."
Theo held back his impatience. "Well, we have no choice."
"Yeah, I guess you're right."
Ahead, a vast bridge led across the chamber. The bridge had no railings, and the drop to each side descended down into darkness. Theo peered off the edge of the platform, hoping to see something. He didn't, so he kicked a rock off the edge and waited for it to make a sound.
But it didn't matter how long he waited. No sound returned. He had to take a few deep breaths, willing himself to relax. He couldn't let his fear show. He was the leader here, and the others were looking to him. He couldn't fail them.
As he'd failed Markus. As he'd failed his brother and so many others.
Pushing these doubts aside, Theo made the first step onto the bridge and motioned for the others to follow. To his surprise, no one hesitated, not even Marek. They crossed the bridge slowly, keeping an eye out for traps, but it appeared to be an ordinary bridge.
Still, Theo had no idea what this place was, and the farther they walked, the more his skin prickled. There was something evil hovering in the air, or perhaps it was just a great deal of magic. Warrick had told Theo that massive amounts of magic could change the feeling of a place. Either way, Theo doubted anything good lay ahead.
The wind came suddenly.
It slammed against Theo from the right, knocking him off his feet. Instinctively, he flung himself to the ground before the wind could push him off the bridge. He flattened himself against the ground as the wind grew stronger and stronger, roaring and whistling.
A scream sounded from his left, and he turned his head to see that Wes had not hit the ground quickly enough. He tried to grab the bridge, but its stone surface was too smooth. Theo crawled toward Wes, but he knew, even before he reached out his hand, that he would be too late. Wes slid off the edge of the bridge and plummeted into the dark chasm.
Theo let out his own scream. Wes had been a good friend, and it had been good to reunite with him. At the moment, though, Theo couldn't lose himself to sorrow. The wind was still slamming against the rest of them. They had all flattened themselves against the stone bridge, but the wind was so strong it could still send them toppling over the edge.
Then the wind stopped.
Theo pushed himself to his feet. "Everyone all right?"
They all nodded, too stunned to speak. None of them apart from Dave had known Wes all that well, but it was difficult to see anyone die so senselessly. Theo had used that word far too often recently. People were dying everywhere, and for what? The whims of a mad god?
"I'm getting off this bridge," Marek said, and began sprinting. Theo didn't feel up to running, but he still kept a quick pace, Dave and Mara at his side.
"Wes didn't deserve that," Dave said.
"Nobody does," Theo said. "I won't say Wes was a great man, because he wasn't, but there was more good in him than bad, and I'll miss him."
"Sounds about right," Dave said.
Marek had already reached the other side of the bridge. "Aren't the rest of you coming? That wind could start up again at any time."
They hastened their pace and reached the end of the bridge without incident. A few moments after they stepped onto the next area of flat stone, the wind came again. It didn't touch them, but it whistled in the air behind them.
"See?" Marek said. "You were almost too slow."
"I don't know," Dave said. "The more I see of this place, the more I think it might not be so bad to die. There's something wrong about this place. Can't really explain it."
"I know what you mean," Theo said.
"Should we get going, then?" Mara asked. "Or should we stop to pay our respects?"
Theo glanced around the chamber, spotting a nearby passage. "We can pay our respects later. Right now, we need to find our way through this place."
"And defeat this great evil," Marek said. "Should be easy, right?"
Mara glared at him. "That attitude isn't gonna help anyone."
"You know, you remind me of your brother," Theo said. "I don't know him that well, but he has the same kind of sarcastic attitude. I don't mind it."
"Well, he learned it from me," Marek said. His expression darkened. "Don't know if I'll ever see him again. Warrick told me he was doing something that could kill him. Guess that's something we all share now."
"I know how you feel," Theo said. "I have no idea if I'll get another chance to talk to Markus, my nephew, who's more like a son to me." Theo wished he could correct the wrongs he'd done in raising Markus. Yes, Markus had forgiven Theo for his actions, at least in part, but Theo could see it in Markus's eyes whenever they spoke. There was bitterness behind his gaze.
"Should we enter the next passage?" Dave asked. His expression was pale, and he was frowning anxiously. That was nothing like the Dave that Theo remembered, or perhaps it was the nature of this place making them all uneasy.
Theo let out a long sigh. "What choice have we got?"
They entered the passage, remaining alert for danger. That wind had come so suddenly and violently. What was next? Monsters? Traps? More strange weather like that wind?
During his time as an Imperial Guard, Theo had prided himself on his ability to prepare for any situation. That particular strength had led to his elevation to the rank of commander. But now Theo felt as if that part of him had vanished. He had no idea what to expect, and so he could not prepare.
They walked and walked, following the twists and turns of the passage. The air felt heavy and oppressive, twisting Theo's insides into knots. At every corner, he expected a monster. The complete absence of threats was almost more terrifying than anything they might face.
He could feel the presence of evil in the air. No other way to describe it. It was unlike anything he'd ever felt before, swirling within him, hot and nauseating.
The floor beneath them fell away with no warning.
Theo let out a panicked scream as he plummeted into the darkness, his arms and legs flailing uselessly. He couldn't see anything, couldn't hear anything apart from his companions' screams. Cool, damp air whooshed by him.
Only a few moments passed before he slammed into cold water. He plunged beneath the surface, almost sucking water into his lungs. The water was so cold it seemed to stab him from all directions. Feeling as if his muscles would all cramp, he pushed himself toward the surface. With every stroke, he thought he'd run out of breath and die in this cold, wet grave.
Finally, he broke the surface and took in a glorious breath of air.
The chamber they'd entered was pitch-black. He couldn't see the others, but he heard their splashing and heavy breathing.
"Everyone all right?" he asked, his voice echoing in the darkness.
"I'm alive," Mara said.
"Me too," Marek said.
Dave coughed. "Got some water down into my lungs, but I'll be fine."
"Now where the hell are we?" Marek asked.
Theo's eyes had not yet adjusted to the darkness. "I've got no idea either."
"How can we even know what direction to go?" Marek asked.
"We'll just have to guess," Theo said. He hated the suggestion even as he posed it, but what choice did they have? They were lost deep in some bizarre place they'd never expected to be, and there was no telling what lay at the other end of the passage above, the one guarded by the undead soldiers.
Where were Theo and the others so intent on going, and why was it protected so heavily?
"Can't see a thing," Dave said.
"I think my eyes are starting to adjust," Marek said.
Theo squinted, wondering if he could see anything, but the darkness remained as thick and suffocating as ever. "Guess we'll follow your lead, then."
"I think I see a passage up ahead," Marek said. "Follow me." He started swimming, and the others followed the sound of his splashing.
"Something just brushed by my leg," Mara said.
"Maybe you just imagined it," Theo said, failing to convince even himself.
Something heavy slammed against his legs, sending him off-balance. He plunged beneath the water for a moment, then pushed himself back to the surface. Mara screamed.
There was a great splash, and her scream died.
"Mara!" Dave shouted. His frantic splashing sounded to Theo's left, and he plunged beneath the water. Theo trailed him, following the current the creature had created in the frigid water. Deeper and deeper they went, and soon Theo's lungs were burning.
He tugged at Dave's arm, trying to get him to turn back, but Dave kept swimming down. Theo felt unbearable pressure in his lungs. He had to get back to the surface. Now.
Though he hated himself for it, he turned back and pushed with everything he had, fearing he wouldn't reach the surface in time. His legs felt as if they'd turned to stone. His lungs cried out for air. For a moment, he considered taking in the breath that would end his life.
But he had to keep fighting. He couldn't leave Marek to face this place alone.
At last, Theo broke the surface of the water. He took in the deepest breath of his life, but his lungs still ached. Exhausted, he could barely keep himself above the water.
"Where are Dave and Mara?" Marek asked. He was a few feet away.
"Whatever that creature was, it got Mara. Dave tried to save her, but I think he went down too deep. He can't hold his breath that long."
Marek's voice was high-pitched with panic. "What should we do?"
"We'll wait for now. We have to give them a chance."
"We're also giving that monster a chance to get us too."
"I know, but we can't leave them to fend for themselves."
They waited, treading water. But as more and more time passed, Theo knew there was no point waiting. Still, he didn't move. He couldn't believe he'd lost three people so senselessly. Why had Warrick sent them into this horrible place? Had he intended for them to die? Had he known Wes, Dave, and Mara would die?
Did he care? Or were they all pawns to him? Had Theo misjudged the man that badly?
"We've gotta go," Theo said. "They would've made it back by now."
"I know," Marek said hollowly. "Follow me."
Marek led the way, splashing as he swam through the cold water. In all the excitement and terror, Theo had forgotten that they'd freeze to death if they didn't get out of this water soon. Now he swam with renewed energy.
No matter what doubts Theo had, he needed to trust Warrick. Warrick had sent them here for a reason, even if Theo didn't understand it. Even if Warrick himself didn't understand it.
"I see some steps up ahead," Marek said. Theo couldn't see anything, but he trusted Marek's vision. Soon Theo felt the steps beneath his feet. Shivering fiercely, he made his way up the steps, then collapsed in the darkness, hugging himself for warmth.
"I-I can't believe they're dead," Theo said. Now that he had a chance to rest, he struggled to hold back tears. He'd been happy to see Dave and Wes again, but now they were both dead.
Gone forever in the blink of an eye.
If this place wasn't everything Warrick suspected, Theo was going to have a few words with him the next time they saw each other.
Marek huddled close to him, and they sat there a long time, trying to warm each other.
And fearing what other horrors might lurk in this place.
Chapter 47: Caught in the Webs
Berig wasn't dead, or at least he didn't think he was. Well, he could have been dead, but it didn't feel like it. He'd expected to fade into nothing or perhaps to go to some afterlife, which he believed may exist now.
This, however, was not the afterlife, but he was still aware.
And he wished he really was dead.
He floated in a sea of blackness, seeing nothing, hearing nothing, feeling nothing—apart from the bitter cold and his rising panic. When he tried to move, his arms and legs flailed around, touching nothing. His chest seized with panic. Would he be stuck like this forever?
He screamed, but no sound came from his throat.
He wasn't even breathing.
Perhaps he truly was dead.
* * * * *
Kara stared at Rador, the man she'd met in the God Realm. No, the god. "I don't understand. Are you saying I'm supposed to save the world?"
"Not alone," he said. "But you will play an important role." He began pacing across the rocky plain beneath the orange sky. "First, you'll have to save someone you know."
"Who?"
"Berig. He is caught in the Webs of Fate because he interacted with himself in the past. For the moment, he still exists, but the clock is ticking. The longer he remains in that place—you might call it limbo—the harder it will be to pull him out of it. If you don't succeed, he will eventually fade away to nothing."
Kara felt sick to her stomach. "But you're a god. Shouldn't you save him?"
"I would if I could, but as I told you, I am chained to this realm. The Webs originate from the God Realm, but they are not truly part of it. Only a Traveler can reach into the Webs and pull someone out. You're the only person who can do it at the moment."
Kara felt overwhelmed by all the new information she'd learned, but she pushed those feelings aside. She could think through these revelations later. For now, she had a mission to accomplish, and she'd never been the type of person to focus on distractions.
"All right," she said. "What do I need to do?"
"Take my hand. I already prepared a teleportation spell."
Kara clutched his hand, and her world lurched abruptly. Her bright surroundings faded into blackness, and when light returned, it revealed a dark cavern lit faintly by blue magical torches. She thought she was going to vomit, but after a few moments, the nausea passed.
"Where are we now?" she asked.
"We are near the source of the Webs of Fate."
She touched the rocky wall. "It feels like a normal cave to me."
"Don't worry. Things will become strange before you know it."
"What am I supposed to do now?" she asked.
"The source of the Webs is in the next chamber. Can you feel it?"
Now that he'd mentioned it, she did feel strange energy coursing through the air. There was a faint hum, and the air felt much like it did before a storm. She swallowed against the dryness in her throat and glanced down the passage toward which Rador was pointing.
"What am I gonna do in there?" she asked, staring toward the faint green glow coming from around a bend in the passage ahead.
"Unfortunately, I can't help you there. You're supposed to reach into the Webs and pull him out. I've never done it myself, but I can try to guide you. I can read the Webs after all, and perhaps I can make things easier for you. I can't guarantee anything, however."
"Then I'll just have to try my best," Kara said. She had no idea when her life had become this insane. Once, she would have doubted her sanity if she'd experienced something like this. But now she'd seen so much and endured so many terrible and extraordinary things that she had learned to accept the strangeness and ma
ke the best of it.
"Let us approach the Webs, then."
Kara followed Rador's lead, making her way toward the pulsing green glow. They rounded a couple of corners, then emerged in a much larger chamber, in the center of which blue and green energy swirled around, arcing and crackling.
It reminded her of lightning, but this was much more awe-inspiring than any storm she'd ever seen. Terrifying as well. Every hair on her body stood on end.
Kara stepped closer, feeling sick as energy thrummed all around her. The chamber was as large as a small city, and the pulsing green light filled it entirely. That light was brightest in the center of the chamber, above a pit that descended deep below where she stood.
"How far down do I have to go," she asked, trying to ignore the tightness in her chest.
"I don't know."
Kara took a deep breath, then started toward a ramp leading down into the pit. The energy arced all around her. She flinched as some of the blue-green substance almost touched her.
"Don't worry if it touches you," Rador said. "It won't hurt you."
Kara had trouble believing that, but she nodded, continuing down the rocky ramp. The air grew brighter, the energy stronger, her fear deeper. She walked and walked, spiraling deep beneath the ledge from which she'd started. More than once, some of the brilliant energy struck her. It burned a little, but not enough to deter her.
Berig was counting on her, and so was the rest of the world, even if she didn't understand what she was supposed to do.
The energy glowed more wondrously than ever, bits of gold and orange joining the blue and green as they delved deeper and deeper. The ramp continued to spiral down, skirting the edges of the giant pit. She glanced down below but couldn't see the bottom. The bright glow of the Webs blocked everything else from view.
She took deep breath after deep breath, but nothing could calm her. The air had become much warmer, filled with the energy of the Webs. It was beautiful, and utterly terrifying.
Hours seemed to pass as Kara and Rador descended deeper into the pit. Bright blue energy swirled in the air, striking the rocky walls, feeling warm against Kara's skin.
Rador put a hand on her shoulder. 'This is the place. I can feel Berig's presence in the Webs. Now it's your time. I can guide you, but you'll have to pull him out yourself."
World in Chains- The Complete Series Page 167