Apparitions - Ch. 2: Problems Arise
"I am hardly human anymore. My composition is that of dust and my emotions are only existent because I remember them, not because I feel them." We had been talking for some time now. I still hadn't been told a name or nickname to call the figure.
"But how? How has all of this happened to you? Why? Hell, I don't even know where we are. There's so much I haven't a clue about." I began to ramble out of curiosity and frustration.
"Be calm, friend. In time many answers will be given to you. As for how and why I am like this, another time, another time," nodded the ghost. A deep wisdom was felt with every word. Somehow I was content being told to wait, so long as this entity was giving the command. "For now, we move. Even if this were the time to discuss all of your inner quarrels, it is not the place. The Hijinx will come soon."
"Hiji-", and we were off before I could even repeat the word. I was forced to maintain a near-running pace as we traversed dark passages in this underground complex. I had no time to be confused, I simply followed. My feelings of panic, my need to escape from a notion of danger were returning. I wanted to dig but doing so was not on my agenda, it seemed. We eventually entered a slightly more open and accessible corridor, and our pace seemed to slow quite a bit. The ceiling sloped high above us, completely out of sight.
As the walls seemed to tear away, large stone barricades were passed frequently. Many had spikes of iron lining them, often sporting a red hue. I had a slight idea of what it was but I hated to ask more question. Beyond the ghost's faint glow, nothing could be seen. I suspected this place was very large. It was how large that I was curious of.
What seemed like a cliff was just ahead. We approached the ledge slowly but it turn out to only be a steep hill. Even so, one would be quite unfortunate to lose their footing. After taking in the sight of the massive drop off, I realized there was a shocking amount of light. This light was surely not made by a few torches in the distance, that was impossible. My gaze slowly rose to an unexpected sight. It was a city, glowing brightly in a gigantic cavern that must have reached well over four-thousand kilometers.
"Another few hours of walking, if that's what you're wondering. A day or so if things get tangled up," it answered before I could even ask. "Expect anything and listen to my every word as we pass through this valley. We'll meet many challenges. Please, do not panic."
"Easy for you to say, you're only a ghost!" I felt panicked despite the instruction not to. I was reluctant to face these obstacles and even more nervous to actually get to the city and see what exactly we were going there for.
"A ghost I may be, but do not think foolishly. We are not dealing with humans in these realms. This is not your home." His tone was deep and struck a serious chord. "This realm is home to the bastard children of the Cosmic Divide, the very creatures that haunt people in their dreams. No one is safe." His body language grew intense and I felt like death was eminent. And what did he mean by, "the very creatures that haunt people's dreams"?
I just wanted to go home already but that option, I knew, was well beyond me. I began eying the small winding path that was carved into the rapid decline before us. Torches were placed here and there. Off in the distance I could tell there were many paths because the dots of lights were scattered about the vast darkness, as if it were a sky full of stars. This would be the closest thing to a night sky I'd see in a long time.
It was time to begin our descent into the black.