A Key To Another World

Chapter nineteen

A pair of massive, medieval-looking doors were pushed open, creaking loudly in the vast, unfamiliar hall lit by torches on the walls. A humanoid, dinosaur-like shadow strode through the hall, walking toward a much larger, human-like dinosaur sitting on a throne of some sort, hiding in the shadows. It was probably three times the size of the smaller one. The smaller one knelt in front of the one sitting on the throne and spoke. His voice was shaky and rather quiet.

???: "General, I... I have news for you."

The taller one growled in disbelief and puffed in annoyance as smoke escaped from his nostrils.

???: "Good or bad ones?"

???: "B-b-b-both, my general."

The tall one, who was known as the leader, slammed his fist against the throne with such force that it nearly knocked the smaller Redclaw off his feet.

???: "Well, what are you waiting for!? Spit out the bad ones first!"

The smaller one trembled in fear as the general, his general, raised his voice.

???: "I-I have been informed that our targets have defeated the mighty tree."

The general rose from his throne. The throne creaked loudly with relief as the heavy weight no longer pressed down on it.

???: "W-well General, before you get any angrier, you haven't heard the good news yet."

The general took a deep breath.

???: "Well, what are the good news?"

The smaller redclaw smiled slightly.

???: "The targets were captured alive, as they were all unconscious."

The tall general turned and stomped towards the massive doors. As he did so, he growled angrily.

???: "Finally! It took you morons long enough! I had my doubts and was this close to doing it myself!"

The general gestured with his claws how close he was to doing it and exited the huge hall, slamming the oversized doors with such force that a cloud of dust fell from above, burying the smaller Redclaw underneath.

Oh man! Not again!

Meanwhile, a frustrated young man named Michael was sitting somewhere in the middle of nowhere, in an endless void full of darkness, but for some reason he could see himself. He could even move and feel his body, which was new to him because the last few times he had spent there he had been completely paralyzed, invisible.

How many times have I ended up in there? I've already stopped counting. As if that mattered at all.

He got up slowly, his legs wobbly because he couldn't see his surroundings, but there was still something holding him from below and that scared him a little.

Alright, I guess I should look around. There has to be something somewhere, right?

After walking a few steps, Michael suddenly felt no ground beneath him, and he dropped down into the endless dark void. Have you ever missed a step on a dark staircase because you thought it was over, even though it was still going on, because that's what it felt like to Michael, only ten times worse. After that, he gasped and sat up, his eyes finally fully open.

Michael: "Damn, that was intense!"

As soon as he got up, he was greeted by a familiar voice.

Connor: "Rise and shine, boy!"

Michael turned to face him. Connor was sitting in a corner, leaning against a wall.

Michael: "Morning, I guess."