Call of Pandemonium (Open Novella Contest)

First Gate

"So, you want to visit the second level?" A calm, soothing voice said from above. I almost melted at the sound of it. It was so disarming. 

June and I looked around desperately, trying to find the source of the voice. Neither of us could see anybody until we finally turned our heads up. 

A girl with long white hair and a pair of gorgeous white wings was sitting at the top of the massive gate. She jumped off, landing perfectly on her feet without opening her wings once. 

Now that she was up close, I got a much better view of the girl. Her long white hair covered her eyes, making it impossible to read her expression. The way she held herself was oddly calm as if nothing could ever phase her. Even at the end of the world, she would have that same tranquil aura around her.  

I couldn't help feeling more relaxed in her presence but that was coupled with a rising sense of dread bubbling beneath my veins. I knew this girl. She had given me a battle I would never forget. 

"Hi, my name's June and this is Ray," June said, introducing both of us when I refused to talk.

The white-haired girl tilted her head up, smiling a little. "Nice to meet you," she said. "My name is Lyla. I'm the angel of bliss."

She turned to me and I nervously put a hand behind my neck, trying not to make eye contact. "You probably don't remember me," I muttered under my breath.

Lyla stared in my direction. "How could I forget? It was a match for the ages," she said. Despite myself, I started blushing. 

"When was this?" June asked both of us. I refused to say anything. 

Lyla put a finger to her chin. "It was about fifty years ago," she replied. "You were quite different back then."

Yeah, I could imagine. Back then I was actually fighting for something. 

June stared from me to Lyla, realizing she was locked outside of this conversation. 

"So, do you have the game set up?" I asked Lyla, staring at her with the hint of a smirk crossing my face.

All at once, the doors of the gargantuan gate swung open for us. Lyla turned around, taking a few steps towards the vast darkness within. Her beautiful white hair swayed behind her with every move she made. 

"Mind explaining to me what's happening?" June whispered in my ear. 

"Just relax, all you have to do from here on out is follow my lead," I reassured her. 

Countless bright lights appeared all around us as if the sun had been restarted. The architecture was reminiscent of different ancient cultures that had vanished beneath the sands of time. The floor was laid out in a vast grid, lines crisscrossing over the room to create perfect squares. Between those squares, there were large symbols painted with every color imaginable. 

Large statues in the shape of different animals and silent warriors stood at the ready on the grid. 

"It's called Sekmet," I explained to June, walking onto an empty tile. "It's an ancient game that predates humanity. The predecessor to all modern board games."

"If you want to visit the next level," Lyla started to say happily, "You'll have to beat me in a round of this game. I promise I won't go too hard on you."

June looked around, the first time I had ever seen her truly nervous. She was lost in this vast place. She found a blank tile close enough to me and stood by it. That was smart. She figured out that was the starting place. After she saw me go there.