Off With His Head

06. Ignore him, I generally do

The interior of the house is very much like the outside, derelict and neglected.

We enter a long hallway, with doors that open up to rooms on either side. Everything is coated in a layer of dust and the paint is chipping off the walls, which are barren of any personal touches. Scuff marks cover the wooden floors; leading up to a threadbare green carpet that looks like it's the only thing that's been moved in the last ten years.

Zach is crouched on the ground when we arrive, pushing aside the carpet to reveal a trap door hidden underneath it. He yanks hard on the brass handle, opening it, before he lowers himself down into the hole in the floor. I almost want to roll my eyes at the cloak and dagger of it all.

Caleb gestures for me to go before him. I get down on the ground, sliding on the dusty floor until my legs dangle over the edge. I lower myself in as well, finding a steel ladder. Grasping onto the cold rungs with my sweaty hands, I make my way down, careful not to fall.

My feet hit the floor and I find myself in a long stone corridor. Hallways branch out on all sides and small lights hang in alternate places, illuminating the concrete walls.

The thud of feet sounds from next to me and I turn to see Caleb has made his way down. "I know it doesn't look like much, but just wait," he tells me.

He's wrong though, it looks like a labyrinth. I can't believe that all of this is hiding underneath an unassuming abandoned farmhouse. If they hadn't brought me here, I would never have known of its existence. Which, I guess is kind of the point.

Zach leads us, turning into a passageway on the right, then one on the left, then straight for a while and another right. I'm already feeling lost, I'm not sure if I would be able to make it back to the ladder on my own.

How big is this place? It's like a maze down here.

Finally, we come to a set of heavy metal doors with large handles. Zach pushes them gently and they open, swinging inwards. They reveal a large room, with a massive dining table placed in the centre of it and chairs placed on either side. Its polished wood gleams under the bright light that shines overhead, and at the end of it, seated at the head, is a man.

He pushes his chair back, the legs scraping along the cement floor and stands up, slowly walking towards us. His steps are calm and measured, and it's impossible not to notice the slight limp. I can't help a small gasp that escapes my lips and Caleb nudges me in warning.

The man is wearing a black t-shirt, revealing arms that run tight with muscles but are covered in scars, so many that it's hard to see where they end and begin. The right side of his face appears pulled down, giving his mouth a lopsided effect. Silver scars cover that half too, almost looking like scratch marks on his ebony skin. The eye on that side of his face is missing, as if yanked out by someone, or something, leaving behind a small sunken hole and  twisted scar tissue.

"What is this?" his voice is deep, gravelly and filled with authority. I almost feel as though I should bow.

"Lideri, this is Peyton Jennings. The girl I told you about." Zach's voice has gone down an octave, as though he is scared of the man in front of him. I don't blame him.

"Why did you bring her here, Zacharias?" Lideri asks, refusing to look my way and staring at Zach with one beady eye.

Zacharias?

"Perhaps it would be better if you spoke to Peyton herself?" Zach answers, and I fight the urge to protest. "What she says may be of interest to you."

"With all due respect to Miss Jennings, I would rather discuss this with you, Zacharias." Lideri finally turns in my direction, addressing me for the first time. "Could you please give us a moment in private?"