NINE TIME MACHINES: Do you want to undo your entire life on planet earth?

CHAPTER 182

Somehow, the serpent senses my readiness and reappears to help me exit all those wrong rooms.

"Before we go any further, there are some things you should know."

"Like what?"

"Every step you touch is ruled by a different throne; their masters, shown as your mind allows."

"And? What other crazy thing can possibly happen to me today?"

"This is very important. In order to leave as a master, you must enter as a slave."

"Break it down, serpent; or whatever your name is."

"Three things. Bow before the throne. Empty yourself. Sit on the throne and rule."

"Anything else I should know?"

"Yes," it says. "Up is down. Right is left. Whatever you've heard is bad is really good."

"Opposites. I've got it. How do I get out? Just walk through how I entered?"

"You assume that's how you really entered?"

"I'm not even going to breathe life into that. Just tell me, serpent. How?"

"Stand in the centre of the room."

"For what? To be the perfect target?"

"No." It laughs. "But I like how you don't trust anyone. Mary, just stand at the centre."

I move towards the centre as told. A ladder appears before I get there. When I attempt to climb up, the serpent clears its throat. "Forgot everything I said already?"

"What? There's a ladder and I'm using it to get out of here."

"Ah! This has definitely got to stop."

It exhales in my direction and two mirrors accompany the ladder like Ebony's fat yellow candles once stood on my dresser. Then it becomes clearer that we're not climbing up. Suddenly, tiles fall away from the extremities of the room, leaving me standing on the first step down.

"This is where the tour ends. There's no way I'm going down there."

The serpent looks down. "That's not too far. We'll be out of here in no time."

"Hey! That's no basement I've ever seen."

"You'll be fine, Mary."

"Until I run out of air, you mean?"

"If that happens, you already know what to do. Inhale. Exhale."

"That's easy for you to say."

"Relax, Mary. This is the top, remember? That means you already ascended what you fear."

"You know what? How about I just close my eyes and leave them that way until it's over?"

"If you close your eyes, you'll fall asleep," it reminds me. "And you need to see everything."