The bed inside the cabin looked as old as the cabin itself. Marcus laid the coughing man down on it. Ignas helped Justin and Nina, look for candles or a lamp. Charlotte kept watch, her eyes gazing out the dusty window. Searching every corner, drawer, and cabinet, they found five tall, white candles and an oil lamp. The oil lamp would have been useful, had it oil and a wick. Justin lit three of the candles they found and set them in the center of the room. Charlotte closed the curtains. Marcus came in from the bed room. “So, how is he?” Asked Ignas. “Looks like he’s already asleep.” They sat around the candles, three little flames lit up their exhausted faces.
“So...” Began Ignas, “‘Transcending,’ is that...”Ignas spoke carefully.“...What we saw?” Ignas felt regret for bringing it up. A terrible experience brought up, just when they could relax. Justin made sad smile. “If we knew that was what Dec meant by transcending, we never would have joined.” Nina spoke up and added, “Or maybe we would have.” The thought of it frightened her. “Maybe… something about Dec. You knew there was something wrong with him, but when face-to-face with him, you couldn’t help but trust him.” Justin twisted the gold ring around his finger. It was identical to the one Nina was wearing.
One of the guests rubbed his eyes from under his glasses. “He always knew what to say, like he could see into our souls.” He said. “What made us cry, what burned us deep down, the guy promised us he would take it all away.” He looked out the window. “And who wouldn’t want that?” The wind raged outside. Leaves rustled and the shadows of branches danced behind curtains, as the old wood of the cabin creaked.
“I’m watching you...” He heard it say. The great, ancient stone tower before him spoke, its words echoing out of the numerous windows that dotted it. From one window, he saw her standing there. She wore a white dress, and her eyes stared ahead, out into nothing. Ignas called out to her, “Alice! Alice!” But she did not respond. He ran to the great wood and iron double doors at the base of the tower and tried to open them but it was pointless. They wouldn’t even budge. Black clouds gathered above and it began to rain heavily. From between the stones of the tower, blood seeped out. The doors swung open, and a stairway was within, lit by torches. He flew in, skipping steps as he went, until he reached a door. He pushed it open and within was his bedroom. His muddy shoes dirtied the pristine, beige carpet. Standing naked by the window was Alice. Outside, it was clear and sunny, and a gentle breeze flowed through her dark hair. “Alice...” He said quietly. He strode towards her and embraced her. “I’ve missed you so much.” He said as tears ran down his face. “Then why did you leave?” She questioned, flatly. Alice’s grip around Ignas grew tighter and her fingers felt like they were going through his body. “I was waiting for you, but I saw you run.” Ignas looked down and saw Alice’s back was without skin. He shoved her away and saw that its face was a white porcelain mask. The sound of sobbing came from its holes. It sounded like Alice's voice. Cracks formed on the mask, and blood dribbled out from them. Then it exploded in shards of porcelain, blood and brain. Then the world went dark.
“Ignas...Ignas, wake up.” Charlotte was shaking him gently by shoulder. Ignas wiped his eyes and sat up. It was still dark outside and the wind was gentle. A dream, thought Ignas, only a dream. “What is it?” whispered Ignas. She turned her head to the window, and Ignas saw. Through the thin, dusty curtains was a silhouette of a person’s head and shoulders. It stood swaying side to side slowly outside like a branch.
Charlotte leaned in closer, “What do we-” A knock on the window cut her off. “Hello?” the figure said. “Hello? Is anyone there?” It was a man’s voice, one that sounded friendly enough and with a hint of concern. “I don’t like this,” said Ignas “Let’s keep quiet.” The rest in the room woke up to the knock and voice. Justin and Nina clung together, eyes fixed on the window. Marcus kept low and made his way to the door.
The man outside tried the door. He jostled the knob. A sudden pounding on the wood made them jump. Now the jostling was more violent. “OPEN THE DOOR!” He was angry and was like to tear the door off the hinges. Then it stopped. "Marcus," said a different voice slightly muffled by the door. "Open the door, I am not mad anymore." It assured in remorseful tone. They all looked at each other, then at Marcus. His eyes were wide, and his mouth opened. He clearly knew the voice behind the door.
All was silent both inside and out. The door swung with immense force and slammed against the wall, as if it was smashed open by a battering ram. Outside though, there was no one. The dead leaves on the ground were still and so were the branches above. "What..." Marcus looked into the sky "...is going on?" He said to himself, in disbelief. Ignas went to the window and parted the curtains. The sky was blood red. The clouds above were black and swirled around the pale moon that was larger than Ignas had ever seen. Am I still dreaming? Thought Ignas.
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