The Lost Tale

Tower of Glass

The wings are still now- the furled walls usher us through the door; it opens onto a dazzling stone floor. Light filters in from the walls making the room bright as my eyes search for anyone around. I don't see a soul. The room we stand in is large- the ceiling extends several feet above our heads followed by two staircases climbing upward.

"Hello" I call into the room- my voice bounces wildly from the walls and I can feel a chill run down my skin. "It's so empty in here." My eyes glance upwards following the stairs ahead, a shadow flitting just out of sight as my gaze lands on the top railings against the smooth steps. I take my chance and my feet meet the stairs readily, the silhouette above the last of them childlike in form; darts down the hallway just before I reach him.

Ove and Eluf are behind me but I don't wait- this person could help us... but why are they running? Clacking of boots against the floor as our movements reflect against its surface- taking turn after turn as the guys call for me to stop. I round one more corner before my legs slow, my lungs now expanding desperately as my heart slows.

The hallway ends here- doors that dot the walls all look alike, and I huff to myself in frustration. In each hallway- in fact within the building itself; there had only been that one child here. I dig my hand into my pocket, deciding that we'd just find the pendant on our own. The chain circles the air loosely, falling from my fingertips in indecision. Finally it settles in a direction off to the right and upwards; we search the halls for more stairways. As I walk my glance falls to the floor- each of us has our own shattered looking reflection that glides down the corridors alongside.

"It's too damned quiet in here- I don't like it." Eluf curses to no one in particular; I have to agree- there is an unnerving air about this place as we make our way up several levels, the charm still ushering us to meet the sky. The walls allow us to see outside of the building; clouds form around the outside of the level we are at now. Below them we can no longer see the gleaming city we'd seen before, the thick white fog blinding us to the outside world. The chain shifts as we reach this floor, the metal leveling out and pointing down a narrow hallway. Three doors are spread along the hallway- one to each side; one on the end. As we reach the center of them the chain falls, at this moment we hear the voice that earlier beckoned us into the doorway.

"Each of you has to choose a room. Surely then I'll meet you soon- prove your worth and golden heart..." with a slight pause and a slight huff of breath echoing, "Oh that's right! Or otherwise be torn apart." The child-like voice lets out an oddly light hearted chuckle before falling silent again.

The three of us stand in silence for a few moments, eyeing each other- and the doors surrounding us curiously. Eluf stands by the door to the left; "I hope to fucking hell we get out of here. No idea what kind of game we are playing right now."

I nod in agreement, and head towards the center door myself. We all stand in front of our doors- I take a deep breath as my heart pounds loud against my chest. I look over my shoulder to both of my friends; "I wish you both luck. See you on the other side- whatever it may be."

I don't know if they even stepped through their doors; I'm already gone. The cold handle turns in my hand with ease and the door closes behind me just as quick. A large room opens up around me, still figures are scattered along the floor- people I recognize and some I've never seen are frozen in time as I urge my feet to carry me farther in. I notice that everyone here- human or otherwise is female; and I wonder what the child means to solve.

I glance over the faces as I walk, though the room stretches out so far it will take me a while to actually see them all. Moving from row to row, a character comes into sight- the child I'd been chasing earlier. Calming my pace, I walk towards him; the small child has pointed ears, with sunken dark green eyes; he looks much older because of it.