'Moon Shapes'

Chapter 42: The road to one of those hot places. (Dannity)

The corridors seemed to go on and on and on...until I was sure that with every bending direction and mirrored turn that we had completely gotten lost and the probabilities that we would ever meet the night mildew air was slim to zilch.

The musical number that the icicles continued to spread and ping just steps above our heads, insisted that the further down we ventured was right. As we veered a right turn, a cackling bass of a tone swept the tan and brown enclosure; a violent laughter which made my heart leap into to the top of my skull; this wasn't the sound of a lesser demon prancing about the cave, it was an immeasurable note that was hit. I stiffened; and found that I had frozen in place as Talek rammed into the back of me, flashlight first.

"Could you point that somewhere else!" I exclaimed.

My face instantly blushed by ten realizing not one of us had a 'flashlight' to begin with.

"What...It's not exactly a thing to point wherever I choose... there's like two distinct directions... up or down...err... why the hell did'ya stop so damn fast for?" he demanded.

The limping morse code of lights above phased out, one by one until we were left almost in complete darkness, except for the tiniest bit of light beckoning us to stagger towards it, and like embezzles on legs we did exactly that.

Coming around the bend, the faint pale of blue had grown and grew till the brightness matched that of a sunny day in summer. I had no idea where the light source had manifested, just that I was a tad happy to not be surrounded by the blackness of dark with what could always be having eyes on us. Though I had this familiar sensation that trusting Jensen had been a mistake; and this was a trap waiting to happen.

Just as I continued to wander harshly if we had made a mistake coming into this chamber, the reflected surface standing off to the side of me grabbed all attention; sweeping my confusion and seemingly hypnotized me all at once.

I strolled meticulously towards the full-bodied waving glass surface; it could have almost passed for a funhouse floor to ceiling glass, though this veneer rippled that of oceans waves awaiting an approaching storm. My reflection contorted as the 'waves' raced from top to bottom. My head normal then to bizarre stretched proportions, as this trend continued down my body and into the rock floor.

I swore that the guys were behind me, but as I looked around the shown surface, they were no where to be seen; was it because of their 'supernatural' abilities that they couldn't be captured by mirrors?

"Danni..." the spectacular polished image cooed as I whipped my attention from the lack of Talek and Jensen who were clearly somewhere still roaming the corridor behind me.

A handsome man, early to mid-thirties I would guess, stood; a gentle smirk cradling his lips and jaw. His dark hair familiar as the color matched my own; but it was his eyes that instilled the greatest retention, as these eyes; the burnished browns; the arch of the eyebrows; how he carried his stare were as if it were a male version of myself.

"You're not exactly as I imagined, but I know it's you..." he whimpered.

The statement through me off as I didn't comprehend who this person was or had been... ever.

"Sounds odd...I'm aware... err... especially with that resolve... though that mourning piece you wear isn't just metal on a rare gem; it houses a part of me within it... at least some of me by a few sandy bits of ash; though it is all that is needed to help me bring peace to this restless soul." His hand reaching out, coldly fondling my cheek as the chill he brought onto me swirled and spiraled down my body. The tenderness he beheld me within, was nothing that I'd witnessed in my relatively short life... though that same affection I recalled being in the hallway with Talek just a few short nights ago.

"...yes... you and Talek were meant to have found each other eventually" he proclaimed. "though I'm not quite sure how I ended up with this type of version of you as my possible savor... there are no qualities that pertain to who I expected..." he bluntly stated.

Well, that was hurtful and unjustified as a slight stranger had unruly slapped me hard in the face with a malicious tongue.

"That's no way to speak to someone who you claim to need help from..." I huffed. "Clearly, you were left in your 'condition' for a reason, if not for anything but for that nasty approach to one's potential 'savor'."

He showed his pearly whites, in their fantastic brilliance; for an apparent 'trapped' soul, he sure had unusually white canines.

"You are right... I should be more appreciative from your presence... please forgive my directness... but you see... I've been here for quite some time, and frankly I'm sick of the scenery." He complained, mocking another static gaze at the surroundings.

"I suppose, I can understand the point of your rudeness...but, I have to be direct with you..." I stammered as my throat hit a dry moment, considering how this would play out once I get the few words out.

"I've no profound idea who you... err...are." I admitted with a shrug.

The kindness suddenly drained his face; it's as if my candor had pinched off air supply as the atmosphere within the chamber had sunk, rattling of rocks could be heard all around as he glared with a death mean aimed at my forehead.

"I'm sorry... if that offends you... but...err...I just wanted you to be aware of that." I added.

His head was lowered by this point; staring blankly towards the muck of soot padded on his bare feet. "Yes..." he began to nod. "I understand..." he murmured.

The heat began to thicken even more than before; as a pool of water that gathered at the base of a cave wall, hissed and simmered; swishing left to right; low then high with the rising temperature.

"DANNI!" Talek shouted.

"IN HERE..." I retorted as I began towards threshold and Talek's booming voice.

Both appearing just before the threshold of the chamber entrance. Talek poised in confusion. "Who've you been talking to?"

I simply pointed to the waving mirror; only he hadn't been there as I turned to him to clarify his name since I'd never even asked.

I looked back to them. "I suppose the heat has gotten to me..." I snickered, then as quick as a draw of breath. I was flat on my chest in a cloud of dust, being pulled almost effortlessly towards the watery-like reflector; my hands outstretched for anything the rocky surface could offer to help defend myself, or even bring me to a stop.

Feet to hip had all gone through it, an instant fire lapping against my pant legs; it felt as if fire had a hold of me; blistering and splitting skin cells as the unseen force held on from beyond the swallowing surface as my left arm had been caught just inches before my torso could join the rest of my burning limbs.