The Fire Inside

21. Reunion in the Worst Way

Jimin and the others entered a somewhat cramped passageway. She couldn't remember when the pathway had narrowed, but it had them walking single file—with no room to turn back. Even if Jimin had summoned a flame to light the way, it would've been useless as she was towards the back of the line. She couldn't turn around and she couldn't see over Maria's tall figure. As they were walking, Jimin started hearing voices. It was murky and distorted, but after a long painful wait, it cleared into a single voice.

"Oh my god! Please tell me you can hear me!"

"Isadora?" Jimin thought.

"Yeah! You can hear me? Thank god!"

"But how?"

"I was transformed into a dog just as the passageway stopped shrinking. I think I'm stuck."

"Where is Isadora?" Jimin whisper-yelled to the front.

"She's in front of me," Julien hollered back.

Jimin stared into Maria's back in awe, once again surprised with how the group had, ever so slightly, moved into their current formation. When they had still been spread out, Jimin, Julien, and Isadora were in front of Varun, Maria, and Emmalynn. Now, by the look of it, She was at the rear, behind Maria, Julien all the way in front of them with Izzy, and Emmalynn and Varun somewhere in between. Before her transformation, Izzy had sensed the ominous atmosphere and told everyone to keep it down. There wasn't too much conversing after that. Jimin felt a sudden blow of air against her nape. Her hands immediately gripped onto Maria's shirt.

"You ok?" She whispered.

Jimin didn't say anything. She was too frightened to. Maria, sensing her state of mind, whispered something to the one in front of her. Jimin could heat whispers fading as the message was being sent down the line.

Maria turned her head slightly towards Jimin, "Julien sees something up front. I think we've almost hit a clearing."

Jimin nodded, although Maria couldn't have seen it, and unclenched her hands. As she walked, Jimin noticed how her surroundings began to shift and change color. One moment a electric yellow flew through the walls and the next a blood red. There was a steady hum of energy coursing through the walls as a murderous red light shone in front of them. The group finally cleared out into the open space, allowing them a few seconds of breathing time.

"Finally!" Varun stretched.

Maria laughed and punched his shoulder, "Wimp..."

"What! I'm just glad that I can move freely now!"

"Yeah, yeah. I'm sure we all are," Maria rolled her eyes.

Varun crosses his arms and frowned deep, "You, my friend, are a pain in the ass."

"Can you guys cut it out?" Julien pleaded, "We don't even know what we're supposed to do or where were supposed to go!"

The group had emptied into a small chamber. It was a circular shape and dipped down to reach the door they had exited. The floor slanted up slightly before leveling out and reaching the other ends of the walls. The surrounding architecture was made of rock and black metal rods. There were doors lining the outer ends of the wall, opposite of them. They looked around mesmerized but nervous of the unknown.

They heard a small bark from the ground which brought them back to their senses. Isadora was standing with a paw raised towards an entrance. It was the one right across front them.

"Should we go through that one?" Jimin asked slowly.

Isadora looked at the door, looked back at Jimin, and nodded slightly. She seemed hesitant, but at that point, any kind of indication of where to go was helpful.