The Rains of Sichuan {Choose Your Own Adventure} // Wattys 2019

Chapter Fifty-One

You stand in front of the door, take a deep breath, and knock. Once, twice, three times.

Inside, the voices you could hear have stopped. After a few seconds, you hear shuffling. Steps getting closer.

"Hello?"

The voice is muffled by the door, but it is a voice, and it is female. Carefully, you lean your head against the wood and speak.

"Hello? Who is this?"

"Are you a guard?" the voice asks. Someone else is shuffling inside.

"Who are you?" you repeat. You're not about to tell just anyone that you're not a guard.

"We're prisoners here," the voice answers, determined. "Have you come to feed us then?"

You stop. Prisoners? Female prisoners?

"I'm not a guard," you say quietly, hoping against hope that you're not completely blowing your cover. "Who are you?"

There is silence behind the door, then quick talking between the two people. You can't make out what they're saying. At last, the voice comes back.

"You need to let us out," it says. "Do you have a guard insignia?"

"I'm not doing anything until I know who this is!" you say, louder this time. There is shuffling again, and another voice talks to you.

"I am Kuan Yin, a monk. And the lady with me is Mei Mei, of Hangzhou."

Your eyes widen and your jaw drops. Quickly, you retreat from the door, your hands scabbling.

If you took armor from the Armory, keep reading. Otherwise, go to Chapter Fifty-Three.

Your searching hands come up with a round metallic pin on the front of your armor. You hold it up, then press against the door once more.

"What do I do with the guard insignia?"

"Present it against the lock. This door is charmed, it will open by itself."

Dutifully, you press the insignia against the iron lock. It shimmers for a second, then clicks and the door opens, revealing a bedroom with two small beds and a desk, and the two women.

Kuan Yin, on the left, is old - she must be nearing eighty. To the right, Mei Mei stands, about forty years old. They are both dressed in simple blouses that must have been provided for them by the staff of the palace.

"What are you doing here?" you ask, bewildered.

"Sun Wukong has made us prisoners," Kuan Yin explains. "Me for creating the only artefact that could possibly control him - and Mei Mei for being the only one who could link him to the theft of the Sichuan dragon's pearl."

If you already have the crown, keep reading. Otherwise, go to Chapter Fifty-Four.

"The artefact - you made it?" you ask.

"Yes," she answers. "The only way to control Sun Wukong."

"I have it," you say. "I plan to use it."

"All you have to do," she explains slowly, "is place it onto his head. Only do this, and the rest will follow."

"Will you come with me?"

They both shake their heads.

"We must retrieve our belongings, regain our strength. If we can, we will meet you. Otherwise, we will see each other back in the material world."

With that, they nod their heads at you and sidle past you into the corridor.

You are now alone. To keep following the corridor to the tiny room, go to Chapter Fifty.