Telluric

Chapter XXVII: The Labyrinth

XXVII

The fall felt like days, and the light from Clary's hand didn't offer much other than a direction to be led, though that was a bit superfluous. Diego and Noah didn't break their hand-holding for a moment while they fell; Clary never wavered in her ability to produce light; Mayla closed her eyes only to blink.

The darkness flowed like a wind tunnel, to the point where Clary wasn't even sure that they were falling anywhere at one point. The flames in her palm trickled with life while they fell, offering somewhat of a solace in the darkness and despair-ridden area they fell in; as if a beacon of hope that the end would come and light would once again reside in the eyes of those who fell.

Clary definitely felt like Alice now, about to face the Queen of Hearts.

Suddenly, a tiny speck of light seemed to appear at what seemed to be the bottom. It was approaching fast, but it didn't quite look like a hole... it looked more like a window. Suddenly it whizzed by, and then the entire tunnel was illuminated once they passed it. Dousing her flame, Clary spun around the tunnel and watched the white walls flow upward. There were more columns in here, which were impossibly long. On platforms hung from the wall, marble statues of gods and goddesses looked upon the group gracefully. They were in all manner of poses, whether it be graceful dances, articulate sports, or brave warrior stances. Clary felt both envious and sympathy for them, though she couldn't quite place why. In any case, they seemed so life-like... suddenly the Greek myth of Medusa passed through her mind.

She can't be real! Clary thought confidently.

The statues passed in a blur as they descended, until finally they could see the bottom; a black and white checkerboard pattern coming up on the horizon. But something seemed off about it, as if it were cut off at the edges... and then Clary realized why; they were falling out of a chute and into a field of checkerboards. Suddenly, to prove her point, the columns, statues, and walls ended, and they floated gracefully into the sky above a field of checkerboards.

The sky felt thick, like water, as if it suddenly became denser as they fell through the ozone of this weird illusion. Looking up, Clary saw Noah, Diego, and Mayla all gasp in curiosity of the surreal landscape. The waving and flowing grass of the field seemed to be too tranquil to be dangerous, but Clary knew not to judge things by their appearance, for it could destroy you.

When they landed, it wasn't much faster than dripping through molasses; the air seemed to such the momentum out of them as well as their energy. Once they landed they felt drowsy and sluggish, and the sickly sweet air didn't help. They collapsed instantly, feeling too drowsy to even stand, and their eyes began to shut... just a little rest couldn't hurt, right?

When Clary closed her eyes, she instantly regretted it. The darkness seemed to consume her once more, as if she were falling endlessly in the tunnel of the clock tower once again. The darkness consumed her like a snake consumes her prey.

Sleep, little witch; sleep and don't wake up. A serpentine voice whispered in the darkness. Clary could instantly tell it was the next witch, some sort of Medusa rip-off. Yes I am a Gray Lady, the slithering voice began. But I am not the mythical Medusa; I am Ruby Thompson, your great-great-grandmother.

Clary tensed. She didn't know much of her family since her mother disappeared years ago, leaving her in charge of Toil and Trouble. The thought of her family sickened her for some reason, so she didn't like to think about it much. She tried lighting her hands in the pit of darkness, but nothing happened.

Ahaha, ma chérie you have noticed that your powers are worthless in this nightmare. Don't worry, I'll make this quick; you won't even feel a thing; it'll be like a dream. And just when the voice seemed to thicken with power, Clary awoke to the sound of footsteps.