Shortly after they resumed their walk, Rosie became painfully aware of the sharp ache in her shoulder where the hollow man bit her. "I think I'm hurt." She announced weakly.
Reaver and Kaylan turned to her, both surprised to see the wound. Once again, they had proven themselves oblivious to her troubles. Kaylan stepped forward to inspect the wound with a frown. "Well, it does look nasty, doesn't it?"
Reaver moved closer as well, placing a gentle hand next to the injury to get a better look. "Yes, but it does not appear to be serious." His free hand moved to his jacket, and he pulled out a red vial from the inside pocket. "Here, drink this."
Rosie raised her brow in moderate surprise, but accepted the drink. It was a health potion; something not often seen around Bloodstone seeing as the city had a distinct lack of resident alchemists to supply them. She unscrewed the top and downed the tiny drink, grimacing at the metallic taste. But already the pain began to subside, and she allowed a grateful sigh. "Thank you, that helps."
"Of course, my dear." He had already turned away to continue walking. Kaylan offered the girl a smile before joining him. Rosie watched them, weary, and eventually followed.
"Here it is, just as I remember it." Reaver looked up to admire the giant building, hands on his hips.
Kaylan seemed less fond of the looming edifice. "Yep."
"This is the place we came here for?" Rosie's eyes bugged. The stone building was creepy. The walls were covered in cryptic engravings, moss, and lichens. As the trio approached it, she wondered if the air was actually getting colder or if that was her imagination.
"Kaylan, dear, I believe you have the seal?"
"Right," she answered, and pulled out a strange circular object. Before Rosie could get a good look at it, the lady raised it up and pressed it against a dimple in the stone doors. Like magic, they slowly swung open.
Rosie paled. "Why does it do that?"
She noticed Kaylan and Reaver exchange looks and wordlessly agree to ignore her question. They walked into the dark hall and the poor girl had no choice but to follow.
The floor was uneven beneath their feet, so they had to be very careful to mind their footing. The only sources of light came from various cracks and holes in the ceiling that connected to the outside world. Every step echoed through the corridor, agitating Rosie even more. She fondly remembered her tiny room back in Bloodstone, for once actually wishing to be back with her mattress and all its unidentifiable stains. The catty whores and slobbering thugs, once an annoyance, were now a comforting memory in this Avo-forsaken building.
Eventually, they came across monsters. They were unusual, appearing to be a combination of hollow men and other creatures: some resembled hobbes, some resembled men, and some even resembled balverines. Rosie stepped back and watched as Reaver and Kaylan effortlessly killed them all, but even after the creatures were dead, her apprehension did not ease.
It seemed as though they walked for hours through the endless hall. Sometimes, they had to climb over debris or lower themselves down precarious ledges, but nothing they came across was enough to stop them. At one point, Kaylan slowed her pace to walk beside Rosie and broke the silence. "Listen, I know you're scared," she began quietly. Reaver peeked back, giving her a disapproving scowl, but she ignored him. "It's going to be alright, okay?"
Rosie didn't like the guilt in Kaylan's voice at all. "Why are we really here?" Her voice came out a frightened whisper.
"We're here to..." The woman frowned, trying to think of what to say.
"You're scaring the girl," Reaver warned.
A flash of anger. "I'm just trying to-" Kaylan broke off, and she gave a frustrated groan. She didn't meet Rosie's stare. "Just trust me, Rosie. Everything's fine."
Before Rosie could think of a reply, the hallway abruptly opened into a massive room. The trio approached a balcony of sorts, from there they could see the walls extended far above and below them. Across from them was a second balcony, where three dusty thrones which appeared to be made of human bones sat. Rosie started as three black figures formed in each chair and silently stared out at them expectantly.
She felt something shoved in her hands and she looked down to see that it was the circular object from before, which Reaver referred to as a seal. She spun around to see that Kaylan and Reaver were watching her intently and backing away.
"What-" She began, but her voice cut off. She felt something dark and heavy come over her, and her vision temporarily disappeared as a thick mist surrounded her. She fell to her knees, the sharp edges of the object digging into the palms of her hands as a wave of pain passed through her body. She did not utter a sound, she only pressed her eyes closed and gritted her teeth.
And then, the pain subsided, and Rosie felt her mind return.
Kaylan and Reaver peered down at her, still keeping their distance. Reaver had an look of fascinated revulsion. Kaylan looked sympathetic.
One of the dark figures at the other side of the room announced, "The sacrifice has been given." And then as quietly as they appeared, they faded into nothing.
Rosie felt weak. Something was wrong. She looked at Kaylan, her eyes pleading for a real answer this time. "What happ-"
Rosie's body fell back from the force of Reaver's bullet. Kaylan and Reaver stood in silence, watching as the blood leaked from the dead girl's head. Well, she wasn't really a girl now. In mere seconds, the once-youthful body had become withered and decrepit.
Finally, Kaylan spoke. "I hope you're not thinking about docking my pay just because you decided to come along last minute." She said this darkly, angrily, her eyes fixed on her dead friend.
Reaver considered. "No, that wouldn't be fair."
"Oh, Avo forbid you do something unfair," she spat, and finally looked at him. His appearance had changed; the tiny wrinkles at the edge of his eyes and mouth had completely vanished.
Reaver turned to her as well, his expression decidedly angry. "I suggest you take a moment to think before speaking to me with that tone. I do not have the patience for such insolence."
Kaylan was furious, but she did mange to calm herself down somewhat. "Why did you come here, Reaver?" She sounded tired, as though all of the day's work had suddenly caught up to her.
The man regarded her with a raised brow, calculating. "To make a decision," he finally answered.
"Are you going to tell me anything more than that?"
"No, but soon I will," He said simply. And then, his smirk appeared once again. "Well, let us be off. This place is quite depressing. I find myself in the mood for fresh clothing and hot tea, don't you?"
Egads! What a twist! Who would have guessed that poor Rosie would come to such a terrible fate? Oh, wait, we all saw that coming from a mile away, didn't we? Anyways, soon the real story can begin! But until then, feedback is appreciated!