Ensnaring Darkness

XXIX. In which he gets a reading

The loud music faded like background noise as Julien stared at the notification. Even when the screen turned black, his eyes didn't move away. His mind was racing a mile a minute. Was there any reason to continue this with just a 50% chance of survival?

Hesitation once again flashed in his mind. He was about to turn back when his phone vibrated once again. The screen lit up and a notification pop-up as if it heard his thoughts.

View Survival Tip for 200 Dark desires!

Holding his breath, he pressed the VIEW button.

Survival Tip

The oracle wants her heart back.

He read the line over and over again and couldn't help but feel disdainful towards the app. Why are hints given in riddles. How was he to use it?

"Excuse me? Is everything alright sir?"

Julien forced a smile and pocket his phone. "Oh yes. Everything is fine. But, I'm sorry I can't just leave my boss alone here."

"But sir-"

"You see, we have an important thing to do so I can't come-"

"You can go. I'll wait for you outside." Knox spoke in a nonchalant voice and Julien's words trailed off.

He opened his mouth to refute but his mind had turned blank of any more protests. He glanced at the purple tent dejectedly and turned to the young woman patiently waiting for him.

"Uh, please lead the way." The young woman's smile was bright as she started to walk towards the purple tent. The visitors queueing up all glared at him as he bypassed them. Some even protested but with just one glance from the woman in front of him, they all fell silent.

Julien wondered what her expression was as he was only following behind.

By the time he reached the entrance, he felt nauseous at the prospect of experiencing danger once again.

"Please head in." The young woman pulled the tent flaps open and ushered him inside before he could even utter a word. The next thing he knew, he was standing in a dimly-lit tent. The inside was quite spacious and while the outside of the tent is purple, the inside was pure black from the ceiling to the vinyl-tiled floor.

It gave the illusion of stepping in a vast nothingness. In the middle were concentric circles, the outer circle was filled with water where lily pads dotted the surface. While on the inner circle was a circular platform with a round, red table. The circles were connected by a narrow path made of glass. A girl with hair as white as snow and eyes blindfolded sat silently, a huge contrast from the dark hues around her.

Is she Minerva?

"Hello?" He called out but the girl didn't move nor give any other indication that he heard him.

Julien walked closer and notice that both her arms rested on top of the table, palm facing towards the ceiling.

It was only when he stood by the glass bridge did he saw why her hands were positioned this way.

In both of her palms were eyeballs. It rolled towards his direction and blinked. On the right hand, the green color of the iris was so vivid it reminded him of the forest while on the left, the green color looked almost translucent.

"You've made me wait for a while, Julien Alderean." The girl opened her mouth to speak yet a woman's voice sounded from her dark red lips.

Julien was stunned. He took a step back only to almost fall to the black void had it not been for a vine that appeared from nowhere. It curled around his wrist and yank him back to the glass bridge.