The Wolf's Den

Path 2: Ryland, Chapter 12

        Ryland was the only one to leave the room, shaken and wary as she took the outside handle with her, but not the inside handle, stuffing the handle with her. "Okay, Levi's in place. Red, do you remember where you have to be?"

        "The door to the outside, I'll take the outside handle with me when you and Tom go in," Red said.

        Glancing to Tom, Ryland frowned but nodded in a mute fashion, opening the door in front of Red while red stepped back. "We'll be fine, if we do this right. Our reality is crashing, but we'll be fine."

        Tom stepped in solemnly, holding the door open for Ryland, he closed it when she stepped into the room herself, giving Red a tiny smile. The door, upon being shut, Tom flicked on the light switch they'd been instructed would be there. It was just them now, the outside world from this room was cut off, and there was no way out until they'd done the right thing. However, the room was... Distorted.

        The room seemed normal, yes, but it had a few things that were off. There was a similar set-up to the room Adrieve, Ryland, and Tilli had seen first, only grander, with more interest to details. The beds were in one corner, finely detailed headboards marked by symbols of hay, wood, or bricks. There was a fine walk-in closet, huge and unexplored, open and empty. The dining table was elegant, the chairs in matching form. A hat rack, less used, less worn, stood in its glory, two cloaks on the pegs. There was a kitchen, rugs of fine silk or thread, and a bookshelf with couches. Books sat on the couches, half open. But, there was something wrong. There was no one in the room at first glance like there should have been.

        "They're here, their cloaks are here. It's best if we don't split up."

        "Yeah. Let's try the beds first. He said they might be there."

        The beds, however, held no one, just the illusion of people having been there. Ryland's own bed was unmade, and she dare not touch the beds, any of the beds. The chairs were pulled out, a meal was arranged as if four people were eating, but there was no one there. There was a trigger here, something to set the illusion off and see the real image. There was no sound outside their breathing, their footsteps, and no sound to indicate that there was anyone else there. But there was, there had to be.

        "Tom, I need your flashlight. We might want to turn the light off."

        Taking the flashlight from Tom, he squeezed Ryland's hand once before smiling warmly to her, placing a kiss to her check, watching her turn the flashlight on and aim it at the bedding area. Once the light turned off, she frowned, not finding anyone in them, once more, and when finding no one in the kitchen, either, she settled on the dining room table. There, sitting like wax dolls, sat her sisters, and a very real Mr. Wolfe staring directly at Ryland.

        "Won't you take a seat, my dear? We've just started to eat, and we were waiting for you. Your companion can join us, but unfortunately, he cannot eat with us."

        With a wink to Ryland, not kindly this time, the wax dolls came to life, both shivering in fear. Ryland, reluctant to sit, sat down shortly after Tom, She didn't speak, nether of them did, and they waited for Mr. Wolfe to speak first.

        "Now, dig in, girls. You, too, Ryland. I've made us all a wonderful meal."

        Obediently, Tilli and Adrieve ate, and once Mr. Wolfe ate, Ryland shook her head softly, looking to Tom then to Mr. Wolfe and her sisters.

        "Eat, Ryland. It won't kill you."

        Ryland reluctantly took a small bite.