THE SECRET SEA: EXPANDED EDITION

29

We sit down with Jesus as he makes some peanut butter sandwiches and initiates a lengthy conversation about Alejandro Jodorowsky's film adaptation of Dune and the lasting impact it made on Hollywood despite never being produced. After lunch, Jesus directs us across the room to a tapestry covered with a complex mandala and pulls it aside, revealing a white door. He opens it and my heart jumps.

I stare into nothing but a black void. "Where are we going?"

"Brazil, to the Amazon River Basin," says Eve. "Danica used to haunt the forests of Russia, but now she calls the jungle home. Don't worry, I have mosquito repellent."

"Oh, well no problem then," I say, rolling my eyes. I suddenly recall the journal entries Eve had me read. "Wait, is this the same Danica that Pteridophia battled? The horrific monster that nearly killed her?"

"Well, yes, but she's been much calmer since then," says Jesus, after a moment of thought. "She's also quite a bit more insane. Before you step through the threshold, make sure to put your shoes on the wrong feet and turn your clothes inside out."

I lift an eyebrow as my blood flows cold. "Excuse me?"

"Danica is a Leshi—a shapeshifting trickster demon," says Eve. "If she suspects she can make us laugh, she'll torment us...likely until we die. Wearing our clothes inside out should keep her off-kilter long enough to allow me to steal some of her blood."

I pinch my brow ridge and squint. "Torment us until we die, huh? Lovely."

Eve wrings her hands. "She usually resorts to tickling people to death. Not a good way to go out."

"Like tickle," says VarnLiqn, attempting to tickle himself. It works. Raccoon laughs are grating.

"Oh, to hell with everything about this," I say. "Tickle? She nearly bit Pteridophia in half!"

"Tim, this is a serious matter," says Jesus. "The only way to survive an encounter with a Leshi is to turn your clothes inside out. It confuses them. I recommend you do so."

"Yes, it's incredibly, remarkably serious!" I'm tired of questioning everything. I start stripping with the rest of my 'team,' too preoccupied to be embarrassed about being momentarily naked. We redress quickly, looking absolutely ridiculous with our pockets bared and our tags jutting out. VarnLiqn puts his robe on backwards, his hood partially covering his face.

"Confidence is key." says Eve, grabbing my arm. "If Danica senses weakness, she'll destroy you."

"Take this," says Jesus. He places a black, crystalline cube in my hand. "It's a void cube. Once Eve steals Danica's blood, break this and another portal will open. You'll only have a few seconds to step through the tear. Don't hesitate."

"Thanks, Jesus...for everything," says Eve. "May you find peace."

Jesus nods. "And you as well." He winks at Eve. "I'm excited to see how this plays out. You have a card up your sleeve, don't you, girl?"

"Come on!" says Eve, grabbing my hand. Before I know it, I'm dipping back through the void with a racoon wrapped around my leg. The last thing I see is the umbrella waving goodbye with its long red tongue.