Chapter 20: Big, Unknown Doors

The next tunnel feels far darker than the one we just left, stretching back into blackness with no door to pass through. The further one appears to have an archway as I lean out to check, though it's hard to see even that short distance with my human eyesight.

"One at a time." Damaris grasps Blossom by the back of her shirt and keeps her from her own curiosity. The halfling struggles faintly, little face turned toward the next tunnel as if exploring this one isn't enough for her.

"We might as well assess both," Blossom says, all innocent, twisting so fast she's out of the paladin's grasp before Damaris can nab her again. I always seem to be following the tiny thief and now is no exception as I walk in her footsteps, staying close while the others remain behind at the first entry.

Blossom beams up at me when she stops at the far door, like we're coconspirators and I'm on her side. If only she knew I'm here to make sure she doesn't get herself-or the rest of us-in trouble. The ledge goes beyond it by a few feet, but if the builders had planned to continue it all the way around to the other side and the far end of the bridge, they either lost interest or time. I can almost see from here where the bridge ends, the vague form of darkness and faint illumination a tunnel exit that the hobgoblins likely used to leave. So close and yet far enough away there's nothing to be done about it.

The halfling is already examining the giant iron door, a massive padlock hanging like a pendulum from the far right hand side. "Want me to pick it?" There's far too much eagerness in her, little fingers probing it with the length of wire that started all this before I can stop her, but I hook her around the waist and lift her into my arms to stop her from completing her work.

"Not yet," I say. She wriggles in my grasp a moment then sighs heavily and falls still, arms crossing over her chest while she dangles in my arms. "Patience for once?"

"I hate waiting." She's pouting when she turns her head enough for me to see her expression, so young in appearance while I wonder if I've been assuming as much. She's a halfling after all. They have long lifespans and are notorious for their youthful faces far into middle age. Still, there's a feeling of buoyant childishness in her that screams teenager I find hard to ignore.

"And I hate dying." I set her on her feet again, looking up at the towering single door.

It's not rusted or pitted at all, looks brand new, large rivets holding it in place, massive hinges larger than Vosh's fingers bolting it to the archway.

"You're being ridiculous and a scaredy cat." The halfling doesn't try again, though, joining me as I turn back to return to the others.

"So leaving a big, unknown door unlocked behind us as we explore the first tunnel of unknown threat is a good idea, you think?" She glances up at me and winks and I laugh because I can't help it. Her seemingly endless access to joy is infectious and welcome

despite the dire circumstances. I can use the chuckle, to be honest. "Now who's being ridiculous?"

The lightened mood she's granted me falters when we stop next to the others who stare into the black tunnel they seem reluctant to approach with growing apprehension. I can feel it from them, in the tension in the air, and I wonder if it's worth it to explore.

"We know there's no exit here," I say, keeping my voice as quiet as possible. "That the hobgoblins know of," Blossom corrects me.

"And there may be magic here we can use to escape," Graldor says. Not quite an admonishment of my hesitation, but close.

"Oh, for goodness sake." Blossom darts ahead and into the tunnel mouth, turning to glare at us with her hands on her hips. "Are we going or not?"

My stomach tightening once again, reluctance triggering my frustration, I shrug and go after her while the embed in my arm quivers.

I'm almost instantly engulfed in darkness so deep I can't make out anything. Not Blossom who I know is just a few feet ahead of me or Damaris I'm positive strides beside me or even my own hand in front of my face when I lift it to check. The embed in my arm is silent now, the glow from the letters and numbers absent and I find my feet slowing, progress falling off, hands now out in front of me as fear I'll walk into something becomes a real danger.

"Blossom." I feel my words die, swallowed by the black.

"Here, Webb." Something bumps into my legs, hands on my thighs. I can barely hear her, as if she's talking from a long distance away. "Where is everyone? Can you see?"

The fact she can't makes me even more nervous. "Fleur?" I half turn toward where I last remember seeing the elf and someone impacts my left shoulder, the barest of pressure following as I hear the ranger's voice in my ear.

"I can't see anything," she says.

"Nor I." Someone grasps my belt, a thick hand when I touch the fingers, and the voice is Graldor's, though as distant as the others.

"Any idea what this is?" Damaris's words seem to burrow into my ear and I feel the barest touch on my skin. Is she that close? It's impossible to tell.

"Whatever the cause of the darkness," Vosh's deep voice vibrates in the black, the looming feeling of him nowhere to be found, though I know he's there with us somewhere, "it apparently makes it impossible for us to go further."

"We can't just turn around without finding out what's in here?" Blossom's protest is high pitched and cuts through the shadow.

"Without the power to penetrate the darkness, there's not much we can do." Damaris sounds like she's losing hope at last and I wish there is something I can do to bring back her drive to push on. But there is no way forward here. Not when one step could lead to a plummeting fall or some other danger we can't perceive in the black.

Not to mention the fact I'm certain there's more to this darkness than just devouring silence and shadow.

"Fine then," the halfling sighs. "I guess you're right."

"Maybe we should take each other's hands as we retreat?" Vosh's big one touches my shoulder, pinching ever so lightly. "So no one is lost."

Someone's slips into my left, feels like Fleur's slim fingers. And on the right the rougher warmth of Damaris. Blossom's touch disappears and I hope she's found someone's hand to cling to.

"Everyone secured?" Vosh sounds more like a kindly teacher leading an unruly group of children than a powerful troll druid. I grin shakily into the darkness, the growing sense that something is watching us only fed by all that inky shadow. And yet, I still shudder as we turn as one, murmurs of agreement equaling the six of us, Vosh once in the rear now leading the way back toward the entrance.

I draw a breath to exhale a sigh of relief just as that air is stolen from my lips and crushing weight grasps me in an embrace that feels like death.

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