Chapter 6: Between Rocks & Hard Places

Hen took a steadying breath as she stepped out of the darkness into an expanse of stark, unnatural brightness. She squinted, adjusting her glasses as she adjusted to the harsh white light that illuminated the space. Her gaze swept over her surroundings, taking in the pristine white walls that stretched up to an unseen ceiling. Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves lined each wall, filled to the brim with countless books in every imaginable size and colour. Green plants dotted the corners, their leaves frozen mid-sway. A few paintings adorned the walls, but they seemed faded, their subjects blurred and indistinct.

In the center of the room stood a glass table, gleaming and spotless, surrounded by sleek chairs. Hen let out a low whistle as she spun in place, taking it all in.

"So when it said go to the library, it meant literally," she muttered.

But the humor died in her throat as a chill slithered across her skin, the temperature dropping with unnatural swiftness. Wisps of shadow began to swirl around her feet, dark tendrils rising from the floor like smoke. She took an instinctive step back, her pulse quickening as the shadows thickened, coalescing in front of the nearest bookshelf. The light dimmed, and an icy chill licked at her face and hands, making her shiver.

The shadows gathered, pooling together until they formed the tall, hooded figure she had only seen in the glass. its face shrouded in darkness beneath the heavy fabric hands long with claw-like fingers that clutched an hourglass, green sand shimmering within its glass.

Hen's mouth went dry as she forced herself to stay steady, though every instinct screamed at her to run. "This is… so much freakier in person," she murmured, trying to control the tremor in her voice. She swallowed, taking a cautious step back. "Are you… one of those shadow creatures?"

The figure remained silent, hovering a few inches off the ground, its empty gaze seemingly fixed on her, though its face remained hidden. Then, a voice — a cold, disembodied echo that resonated through the room, filling the space with an unsettling, hollow timbre. It was detached, emotionless, like the voice in one of Denny's fighting games.

"Within these tomes lies the key to victory," it intoned. "Find it before the clock runs out, and move on. Fail, and face the consequences."

Hen's eyes widened. "You want me to search through all these books for a key?" she demanded, panic seeping into her voice. But the shadowy figure remained motionless, its grip tightening around the hourglass. Then, with a single, deliberate motion, it flipped the hourglass over. Green sand began to pour downward, marking the countdown.

Without a word, the creature faded into the darkness.

"Hey!" she shouted after it, but only silence answered her. A cold dread settled in her stomach as she turned back, only to find a spectral hourglass now sitting on the glass table in the center of the room. The sand inside it shimmered with an eerie green glow, spilling grain by grain into the bottom half.

As she watched, the ceiling seemed to stretch upward, pulling further and further out of sight. The bookshelves, too, grew impossibly tall, rising beyond what she could even comprehend. An endless, dizzying array of books now loomed over her, filling the space with their silent, ominous presence.

"Great," she muttered, voice thick with frustration. "How am I supposed to sort through this haystack?"

She took a few tentative steps forward, her eyes scanning the endless rows of books, their spines a riot of colours and textures, but offering no clues. Some were bound in rich leather, others in faded cloth, and others yet in strange materials that seemed to shimmer and shift in the light. The titles were indecipherable, written in scripts that twisted and writhed under her gaze.

"Am I even looking for an actual key?" she wondered aloud, frustration giving way to suspicion. "Or is it some kind of metaphor? Is that the challenge?" She let out a harsh, bitter laugh, shaking her head. "It would be just like a cursed game to send me in circles… or make me think it wants to."

Her mind raced, trying to decipher the twisted logic of the game. Was it leading her on a wild chase, planting doubts, hoping she'd waste precious seconds? Or was there a simpler answer, something hidden in plain sight?

Fuming, Hen stomped over to the table, her hands clenched into fists. The weight of the silence pressed down on her, heavy and suffocating, her heart pounding with a mix of fear and rage. She slammed her palms onto the glass, the sound echoing through the empty room.

"Damn it!" she spat, her voice shaking.

The table rattled under Hen's hands, but the hourglass remained unyielding, its sands shifting steadily downward. Her eyes locked onto the sand as it slipped from one half of the hourglass to the other, each grain counting down her dwindling time. She forced herself to take a deep breath, her own words echoing in her head like a mantra. Breathe, Hen. You can't get out if you panic. Her gaze hardened as she tore herself away from the mesmerizing hourglass and stalked toward the nearest bookshelf.

She plucked a large, nameless book from the shelf and flipped it open. Nothing. The pages were blank, vast emptiness spread before her like a taunt. With a frustrated growl, she snapped it shut, only to watch it fly from her hands and snap back into place on the shelf. "There's got to be more to it," she muttered, reaching for another book, her movements growing sharper and more determined. "Think, Hen. Think."

She began pacing, her mind racing. "Okay, let's review. The game loves riddles, sure, but it's been pretty literal so far," she mused, glancing back at the hourglass. "It doesn't play with metaphors… So if I'm looking for a key in a book, then it's probably right in front of me — somewhere." A faint determination settled over her as she scanned the shelves. "Alright, then let's start with books about keys."

Hen yelped as she jumped back when the shelf in front of her groaned. A clicking and grinding sound, like moving gears echoed through the room as the shelves began to move like they were on an invisible track. When they finally stilled, she was faced with volumes upon volumes about locks, keys, and unlocking mechanisms. Her eyes swept over the titles — A Comprehensive Guide to Lockpicks, The Art of Key Making, Keys: Their History and Collection.

"Okay… that makes things easier. Let's get started."

She plucked one book after another, flipping through the pages with focused intent. But each was void of anything useful, no hidden compartments, no concealed objects, just an endless sea of words and paper. A shuffling noise caught her attention. She looked up just in time to see movement behind the shelves. Heart hammering, she grabbed the heaviest book she could find, raising it as she edged around the corner.

But there, hobbling on bruised knees and clutching a bloodied leg, was a small boy, a very familiar boy.

"Denny!" she gasped, dropping the book as she rushed to him. She crouched beside him, eyes filled with worry as she took in his tear-streaked face and the bright red staining his jeans. "What happened?"

"I fell," he whimpered, his face a picture of confusion and pain

Hen bit her lip, her heart twisting, and led him to the glass chair. She knelt beside him, her hands fumbling as she searched her surroundings, desperation clawing at her. There was nothing here—no medical supplies, no way to tend to him. "I wish I had my kit…" she whispered, barely daring to hope.

But as if responding to her plea, her med kit materialized on the glass table, solid and waiting. Hen's eyes narrowed, suspicion flaring, but Denny's soft whimper spurred her into action. Grabbing the kit, she hurried back to him, working quickly to clean and patch his wound, her hands moving with steady precision.

"There," she said gently, brushing a hand through his hair. "All done."

Denny looked up at her with a small smile, then wrapped his arms around her in a quick hug. "Thanks, mama," he whispered before slipping down from the chair and darting toward the stacks

"Denny! Wait!" she called after him, reaching out as he vanished between the towering shelves. Hen took a few steps, her heart aching, but he was gone. She stood still, her mind reeling. What was he doing here? Was it really him? No… her Denny was older. This was…

A dull thud jerked her attention back to the table, where a book had fallen open, its blank pages rustling as though it had something to say. She exhaled, her gaze falling to the scattered titles around her. Books… keys… She grimaced, frustration swelling again. This wasn't working.

But then, the hourglass caught her eye. The sand was still green, flowing as slowly as ever, but she sensed time slipping away. Her jaw clenched, and she muttered under her breath, "What about books with secrets?"

Once again, the shelves around her shifted, each grinding into place as though obeying some silent command. Titles like Secrets & Lies, Hiding in Plain Sight, Two Can Keep a Secret and The Art of Keeping Secrets lined the shelves. Her fingers brushed across the spines, a shiver crawling up her arm as she selected one and riffled through it, hoping for some clue, some spark that might reveal her way out. Yet page after page yielded nothing, each failed attempt chipping away at her dwindling resolve.

"Henrietta."

The voice echoed, trembling with familiarity and exhaustion. She spun around to see her mother, looking worn and weary, stumbling toward her. Hen's heart clenched as she rushed to her side, guiding her into the chair. Her mother's face was pale, her breaths shallow.

"Mom… Mom, what's wrong?" she whispered, pressing a hand to her mother's cheek. Her pulse thundered as she reached for her med kit. With a tender efficiency, she attended to her mother, calming her breathing, and reassuring her with soft murmurs until she seemed to relax. Then, just as quickly, her mother slipped from the chair and disappeared between the shelves.

"Mom! Wait! You can't just go off like that."

She took a few steps after her but a bookshelf moved in front of her blocking her off. Hen blinked and stared at it for a moment. "Right. Find the key." She turned around and went back to the shelf she had been attacking, pulling out books faster and more haphazardly, growing frustrated with each failed result.

"Hen.."

Another figure emerged from around the shelves — a woman, cradling a wounded side. Hen's heart lurched as she recognized Karen, her wife, her face pale, her hand pressing against a patch of blood soaking her clothes.

"Karen — no, no, no. Karen!" she cried, rushing to her side as she collapsed. Hen dropped to her knees, fingers trembling as she brushed Karen's face, hoping, praying she was still alive. "No, Karen come on wake up, wake up for me."

A sudden flash of red drew her attention to the hourglass. The sand had changed colour, and crimson grains were now pouring into the bottom half. Her eyes widened as they flicked back to the woman in her arms and a creeping horror began to fill her. She scrambled to her feet, backing away.

"This… this isn't real," she whispered. "You're not Karen… None of this is real!" Her voice filled the room as she glared up at a force she couldn't see as she screamed, "You've been trying to distract me!"

"Hen… Help me."

She closed her eyes and turned away. "It's just a distraction. It's not real."

"Hen…"

She felt her chest constrict as she kept her head turned away. "Not Karen. The real Karen is at the other end of this. She opened her eyes and stared at the bookshelf before glancing back at the hourglass. It pulsed in response, the red sand seemingly trickling faster.

She turned back to the shelves, her mind racing. So far, you've given me the books I wanted, but there's been nothing in them. So… maybe I need to ask for exactly what I want. Her heart pounded as she squared her shoulders. "Alright then, Hail Mary time… Show me the book that contains the key I need to get out of here."

The hourglass shimmered, pulsing in sync with her heartbeat, and the shelves began to spin again. Hen took a step back as books whirred past in a blur, her head spinning until they finally stilled.

In front of her, on a lower shelf, a thick tome gleamed with a cover the same ominous green as the hourglass, its spine inscribed with intricate golden markings. In the center of the cover, the same symbol as Maddie's mark was emblazoned, glowing faintly.

Hen reached for it, her fingers brushing the rough leather. She opened it slowly, and there, nestled within the hollowed-out pages, lay an ancient brass key, cold and heavy in her hand.

Eddie reached out to steady Hen as she was thrown out of the game to the same place she standing before she went in. Her eyes were wide and her hands were trembling as she looked down at her hand and found a token with a key etched in it resting in her palm.

She looked up to see everyone looking at her and she tried to smile but couldn't manage anything more than a twitch of her lips. She nodded to Eddie and placed a hand on Athena's shoulder offering her nod. But when her eyes locked with Buck's she stumbled forward and pulled the taller man into a hug.

"That was… That was strange… beyond strange."

Buck's arms circled around her, his own confusion and fear woven into his steadying grip. "Are you okay?" he murmured, pulling back slightly to look at her.

She took a shuddering breath, her gaze unfocused as she tried to find words. "You felt it too, right? Like your mind…"

"Was in some kind of fog. And even though you know it's not real, it felt really real."

"Yeah, that," she mumbled as she pulled away and moved around the coffee table to sit on the sofa. "It was not fun."

"So not fun," Buck echoed.

"We're just relieved you made it back," Bobby said, moving to Buck's side. "You kept stopping, staring into space. We weren't sure if… if you'd be able to make it out."

Hen buried her face in her hands, trying to steady herself, while Chimney moved beside her, resting a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Hey," he said softly, squeezing her shoulder. "You're Hen. I never doubted for a second you'd get through it."

She managed a weak nod, taking comfort from his presence. "I need to call Karen," she whispered, digging for her phone with shaking fingers. But when she finally pulled it out and tried to turn it on, nothing happened. Panic flickered in her eyes as she pressed the power button again and again, her frustration mounting.

Athena gently took the phone from her hands. "Hey. I don't think… whatever this is, it's letting us call anyone for help or comfort. But it's going to be okay. We're all here, and we're going to get through this." She wrapped her arms around Hen in a reassuring hug, murmuring gently, "We're going to finish this game and get you home. Just hold on a little longer, okay?"

Hen nodded into Athena's shoulder, her grip loosening as she sank back against the couch.

After a moment, Bobby took a deep breath and held out the dice to Buck, his hand hesitant but resolute. "Alright, Buck. It's your turn. Let's keep going."

Buck's eyes met his, and he nodded, taking the dice and rolling them across the table. They revealed a total of 8, and the small white piece moved forward, landing on a blank space. Buck let out a breath, his face a mix of relief and tension as Bobby clapped his shoulder.

"Guess I lucked out," Buck said quietly, his gaze flitting to his sister's empty seat. "I'm gonna grab some water. Be right back."

Bobby nodded, giving Buck's shoulder a reassuring squeeze as he passed. As he walked into the kitchen, Bobby turned toward Eddie, who was watching the dice with a frown.

"Your turn," Bobby said quietly, handing Eddie the dice.

Eddie glanced down at the ominous game board before looking back up, a mix of skepticism and frustration lining his face. He turned to Athena, voice tense. "Do you really think this game killed your victim, Athena? And did… that to Maddie?"

Athena's expression was cautious, but Hen interjected, her tone sharper than usual. "You saw what we did, Eddie. You felt her heart; it wasn't beating. There's no other explanation."

"I don't know what k… turned them into lifeless shells but it looks like the game is the catalyst, or at least involved somehow. That mark on their foreheads is proof enough. It can't be a coincidence," Athena said calmly, gently squeezing Hen's shoulder.

Eddie's brow furrowed, his fingers rolling the dice absently. "It just… doesn't make sense. How does a game from your vic's house get into a toy store's donation bin? It's not logical."

Chimney's voice broke through, barely containing his frustration. "It's cursed, Eddie. It doesn't have to make sense."

Eddie shot him a glare. "There's no such thing as curses."

Chim bit back, his tone steely. "Eddie, this game just killed Maddie. Rational or not, take your damn turn."

Eddie exhaled, letting Chim's words sink in, his hand clenching around the dice. "Alright, if we're right… then all we have to do to bring her back is win this thing, right?"

"That's the idea," Athena replied warily, eyeing him as if reading his thoughts.

Eddie set the dice down and reached for his game piece, his gaze scanning the board with determination. Without a word, he moved his piece directly to the finish square.

"Eddie, don't—" Bobby started, reaching out, but it was too late.

Eddie pulled back, raising his hands as Buck returned with a glass of water, handing it to Hen. But then he froze, catching sight of Eddie standing over the board.

"What's going—"

The square under Eddie's piece turned pitch black, a void that swallowed his token in an instant. A heartbeat later, Eddie collapsed, his body hitting the ground with a lifeless thud.

"Eddie! Eddie! Eddie!" Buck's voice cracked as he dropped his glass, rushing to Eddie's side. He slid to his knees, pulling Eddie's limp form into his lap. His eyes widened in horror as he saw the faint symbol on Eddie's forehead — the same twisted mark that had appeared on Maddie's.

"No… no, Eddie," Buck choked, his hands trembling as he held his friend's unresponsive body.

"What happened?" he demanded.

"He cheated," said Hen. "Went straight to the end. The cursed game apparently didn't like that."

"He chea… Eddie," Buck sighed, the fight draining from him.

With Bobby's help, he lifted him onto the chair and let him fall back, just like Maddie. "And you call me the idiot, he whispered as he shook his head.

"Hang in there, Buck," Athena said, her voice steely as she picked up the dice. "This game has done enough harm. We'll finish this and get both of them back. Then I'm going to find out who's responsible for this menace." She looked determined, but Buck's gaze didn't lift to meet hers. He was focused solely on the ominous symbol branded on Eddie's forehead, his knuckles white as he gripped his friend's hand.

Athena shook the dice in her hand, casting a wary glance at the board. The dice tumbled forward, clacking ominously as they came to a stop, revealing a total of 10. The blue game piece moved on its own, flying across the board to land on Draw A Card.

She exhaled, trying to steady herself. "I guess it's my turn to see what pops out of this game," she muttered, reaching for the card. As she flipped it over, her voice echoed in the tense silence, reading aloud: "To play or not to play? The answer can only be yours, but tell me this: What is it that given one, you'll have either two or none?"

As the last word left her lips, a ghastly figure began to rise from the board. It was monstrous, a grotesque shape with a skull-like head tilted at an unnatural angle and a wide, lumbering body that narrowed at the waist. Long, spindly arms stretched outward, each ending in clawed, tapered fingers. Purple flames flickered ominously within its hollow eye sockets, and similar flames protruded from its shoulders as a purple substance dripped down its form, like wax sliding down a burning candle.

Athena's instincts kicked in, and her hand reached for her gun — but it wasn't there. She backed up, eyes fixed on the creature, heart pounding as it advanced on her with a slow, predatory grace. Without warning, it swiped at her with a clawed hand, forcing her to duck. Some of the purple ooze splattered off its fingers, landing on her exposed skin. She hissed in pain, grabbing her hand as a searing burn spread across it, the substance eating away at her skin like acid.

"Athena, focus on the riddle!" Hen shouted, her voice strained as she searched frantically for anything she could use as a weapon. "It's the only way to get rid of it!"

Athena's gaze darted to a dining chair nearby. She seized it, swinging it at the creature in a desperate attempt to put some distance between them. The chair collided with its body, momentarily shoving it back, but the ooze clung to the wood, hissing and smoking.

"What is it that, given one, you'll have either two or none?" Athena murmured, stepping backward, her mind racing. She repeated the riddle aloud, trying to keep herself grounded even as the creature's unholy gaze tracked her every movement. "Either two or none….Two or none. Two or none."

The creature twisted its head toward her with a jerking motion, its hollow eyes seeming to burn brighter as it resumed its pursuit. She swung the chair again, landing a solid hit that sent it sprawling to the floor, but more of the caustic ooze splashed onto her hand. She cried out as the searing pain shot through her, forcing her to drop the chair. It landed perilously close to the creature's flaming shoulder, where it ignited in a burst of eerie, purple flames.

The creature looked almost amused as it slowly rose, purple flames flickering brighter as it inched closer.

"Hey, that was new!" Chim exclaimed.

Buck jumped to his feet and Bobby was caught between wanting to help but not knowing how. They couldn't see the creature Athena was facing off against but for the first time, they saw it interacting with things around them.

"It's not like she has a choice, Chim," Hen snapped back, desperation lacing her voice.

"Choice…" Athena whispered, her eyes widening as the answer clicked into place. "That's it. The answer is choice."

As the word escaped her lips, the creature froze, its flaming eyes dimming. A low hiss filled the room, and then, like a melting candle, it began to dissolve, collapsing into a pool of viscous purple wax that evaporated into nothing.

Athena took a staggering breath, the adrenaline leaving her all at once. She returned to the others, her face pale and shaken. "I'm beginning to see how people might lose their souls to this thing," she admitted, a haunted look in her eyes.

"Hey, at least you didn't get sucked in. That's when it really messes with your head," Hen said, her voice sympathetic but tense.

"Are you alright?" Bobby asked, stepping closer, his brow furrowed in concern.

Athena rubbed her hands where the red spots had formed, angry burns where the creature's substance had touched her. "More or less. I wasn't expecting that," she replied, attempting to sound nonchalant but wincing as the pain flared again.

Bobby reached for her hand, brushing his fingers gently over the patches. She flinched, and he pulled back, worry deepening on his face. "I'm fine. Go on," she insisted, though her voice was tight.

He gave her a reluctant nod and turned back to the game, picking up the dice.

Thanks for reading. Hope you ejnoyed it.

Reviews are always welcome.

Till next time...