Skara Braens

Part 15

Part 14 Vote Tally

Option A: 1
Option B: 2
Option C: 0

*Snickers* ONWARD!

"I don't think that's a good idea," you tell Drest.  After all, it is likely that the commander is dead, him having not moved at all since your arrival, when he should be out and about trying to get a solution to the current power outage at the compound.  The dead, you remember, have a tendency to rise.

Drest moves towards the door of the building regardless, either having not heard your protest or deciding to ignore it.  Hissing in irritation, you follow him, noting that the coughing from the prison is now too close to do anything else.

Testing the door, the psionic finds it open and he creeps inside, you close behind.  The last one through, you turned and gently shut the door.  Whoever was coughing and mumbling made it out into the compound.  You freeze, terror stiffening your limbs, though you know that the person following you cannot see you now.

Forcing yourself to calm, you turn...

To find the commander on his feet, his large hands wrapped around Drest's neck.  The commander's skin is grey and lifeless, mimicking his empty eyes.  Your mouth opens in surprise and, no sooner did you register the scene before you, the commander neatly snaps Drest's neck.  The psionic's struggles cease immediately.  You watch in horror as his body slumps to the ground.

The commander stands, not quite facing you, now still as a stone.  You slowly reach up and grasp the door handle.  The commander does not so much as twitch.

Drest, however, does.  The formerly dead psionic rises slowly to his feet, his face ashen and eyes blank.  Panic overtakes you and you yank the door open.

You never put a single toe beyond the entrance and two pairs of hands grab you, pulling you back into the room.  You scream at the sudden, searing pain in your throat.  The screams die to a gurgle, and the last thing you see is Drest's face, a bloody piece of your flesh between his teeth.

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You died.

I mean, really!

Below is pasted last week's section along with the two remaining options.  If you want the story to continue, vote for one of the two options, and I write from there, pretending that the above never happened.

Deal?

Good luck, Adventurers!

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"Are you mad?" you hiss at Drest. "There is no way I am being left in this place! I'm coming with you."

Drest hesitates for only a moment before nodding. In silence he turns and leads the way out of the prison. There is no need to swipe his card to get through. The doors, with some manual labour, open easily. As the last set of doors open with a grinding squeak, you hear noises from behind you. You grab Drest's sleeve and pull slightly. He turns to you with a frown, and you press a finger against your lips.

Understanding immediately, Drest falls silent.

A hacking cough echoes up from the bottom floor of the prison.

"Master said." The voice is weak and thin, but unmistakable. "Master said it would be here. But Master has been wrong before, hasn't he? No! No! Master is never wrong. Sometimes mistaken, but never wrong. No. Not Master. Not him. Not kind, gentle Master. But then, where is it? Hm? Where is it?"