God's Gone AWOL

[3] HERE!

WHUMP!

They both landed in darkness. One beside the other.

And then Bentley started laughing.

"Why are you laughing?"

"Because..." she said between breaths, "Because— oh I don't know. I'm just laughing, alright? Let me laugh,"

Neither of them were hurt, and yet both could feel their bodies pumping with adrenaline. They had just fled from quite a chaotic fight. There was no sign of the trap-door over their heads, nor of the angel statue. Naturally, now that they were safe, the giddy rush of relief could take over.

"I have no idea what just happened," Atticus said, smiling shyly.

"God, neither do I." Bentley rolled on to her feet, "But at least we're alright now."

Atticus stood up as well. They were surrounded by the familiar, empty darkness again. But he could still make out Bentley's expression. She was grinning. Unfortunately, the moment she turned around, her grin melted away completely. Because behind them... were three doors.

Those. Same. Three. Stupid. Golden. Doors.

"Dammit," Bentley sighed,

"We only have one door left that hasn't been opened yet," Atticus observed.

The door that read "BACK AGAIN!" brought them to a place that resembled somewhere from Bentley's past. The door that read "THERE!" took them somewhere... Well, it took them somewhere else. It took them there to the hedge maze. So they were left with the first door. The one that said "HERE!".

"Would you like to do the honours?" Bentley's voice sounded rather resigned at this point.

Atticus nodded and approached the final door. Both he and Bentley sucked in a shared breath, holding it as he turned the knob. At this point, having wandered an endless gallery of peculiar treasures, visited Pomegranate Hill, bushwhacked their way through an evil hedge-maze, and fought with a giant, killer angel statue, they were just about ready for anything. So they waited in silent anticipation as that last golden chunk of wood swung slowly open on its hinges.

On the other side... was a room. It was dark, but still brighter than whatever sort of place they were currently in. There didn't seem to be any immediate danger —nothing running at them, screaming or flapping its arms anyway. After a brief exchanged glance, Atticus and Bentley each respectively let out the breaths they were holding in. Then together, they stepped forward.

The first thing Atticus noticed was the piano music. It wasn't exactly ominous, like the wicked soundtrack of a horror movie, but it wasn't super upbeat either. The notes were clear, expertly played, and echoing throughout the entire room as if it had no true source. Despite this, Atticus knew in his heart that whoever was playing must be doing it live in real time as he and Bentley entered the darkness. Creepy or not, it was too beautiful to be a recording.

Once the golden door was no longer of use, it slammed itself closed and rapidly blended with the black drywall behind it until there was nothing left. Now shut into the darkness, both of them started to take a look around.

There was no light overhead, just a few dark blue lightbulbs hastily screwed into panels on the wall, all of them sticking out like pins. Aside from that, everything else around them was black. The walls were painted black, the wooden floor was black, several long draping black curtains hung in rows around them. It seemed like this particular room was designed for the purpose of not being seen.

"What kind of place is this?" Atticus asked.

"It's awfully messy." Bentley stepped over something on the ground. "What do you think all these wires go to?"