Fallen

Chapter 15 "Welcome to the Jungle"

That's it—just pitch black! As I circled the room with my gaze, I found nothing out of the usual. I still couldn't see my hand in front of my face.

"C'mon—let's go!"

—Go where?

We were still in the bathroom on some street in New York. With all those freaks out there, where would we possibly be going?

Shaking my head, I reached my hand out. Another hand grabbed mine, and he opened the door. I was immediately struck by a repugnance—putrefying stench of rotten flesh. If the odor of death wasn't enough to deter someone from walking further, the annoying sounds of crying children and screams filled the air with a dub-step beat. And, there was dancing as these rather large figures enjoyed such horrific sounds of anguish.

We're not in New York anymore!

"Welcome to AM," said Arion.

A bustling city no different than New York, I was overcome by the sheer size of this labyrinth. However, littering the streets and sidewalks were not human beings. These things were oddly humanoid with mannerisms further from human and segregated in groups of their liking. It's as if I just stepped foot into a Star Trek convention. Could these creatures be real? They moved and talked like real beings, but this was impossible.

"Stay close to me," said Arion, tightening his grip and pulling me closer to him.

My gaze caught an interesting sign reading, "Candyland." Although I felt oddly at ease finding something I could relate to, this was short lived. With children on display in the window, gawked at by these creatures like—candy?

"Wait!" I snapped, pulling Arion closer to me. "What are those children doing there?"

"Kidnapped from your world—brought to mine," said Arion, shaking his head as he continued, "Don't stare. It'll only consume you."

I noticed similar characteristics to my world but perverse in manners I couldn't fathom as Arion ushered me deeper into the depths of his world.

"AMburgers!" shouted an over-sized street vendor with a pig's face, glaring malevolently in my direction as it snorted, "Hungry, kitty?"

I glanced over at the chopping board, noticing body parts of human remains on display. I nearly collapsed; this was the stench that hit me as soon as Arion opened the bathroom door.

"Arion!" I yelped, pulling him into me. Covering my eyes, I snaked my arms around his waist, burying my face into his chest.

Oddly, he felt warm—comforting. I felt protected in his presence, but a stranger in his world. If this was his home, I wanted nothing to do with it.

"Please—take me back. I can't bear this anymore," I whispered.

"Lydia—be strong!" spoke Arion, pulling me away and gripping my shoulders, gazing deeply into my soul.

Not another word was said as we continued through the city.

"In here!" said Arion, pulling me into a shop connected to a towering edifice.

The cries of a baby echoed instead of bells chiming to signify the entrance of patrons had arrived; it was as if these creatures celebrated Halloween every single day.

"Arion!" yelled a voice.

A creepy lizard-faced man stepped forward from the depths of the shop.

"Pindar," said Arion.

"You still go by that name—I take it?" scoffed Pindar, gazing in my direction, "MMmmmm—A snack." His lizard tongue slivered in the air. "I'll pay $100 Luciferians for it."