Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 77485 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77485 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
More masked figures awaited me.
They stood on either side of the long road in cloaks of black, all wearing some type of mask. A few held iron torches that flickered in the dark.
“What the hell is this?” I murmured to myself. My gaze shifted from the windows and landed on a box-like structure that resembled a carriage without wheels. “And what is that?”
It was covered in intricate carvings, sitting in the middle of the road. I couldn't quite grasp its purpose or the meaning of what was happening. No one was speaking. The silence was broken only by my questions and our breathing.
“What’s going on?”
Esther reached over and placed a hand on my shoulder.
“The palanquin will take you the rest of the way. We’ll be right behind you.”
A sense of panic rose up as I realized I would be getting inside the box.
“Remember what I told you,” Nicolette said so quietly it was barely a whisper.
I looked at her—really looked at her—and saw that there was more to this sense of understanding that she was trying to convey. There was something else there too—sadness. Had this happened to her as well? I wasn’t sure if that made me feel better or worse. It was a relief to know she’d survived whatever came next and appeared healthy, in the physical sense. It was also terrifying, because that meant she’d never escaped.
I couldn’t have that same fate. Still, her words helped calm me just enough that when it came time to exit the SUV, I went willingly. I couldn’t see the faces of the people watching me, but I could feel their watchful gazes. I placed one foot in front of the other and kept my sights trained on the box.
It was larger up close, with a domed roof supported by dark gilded wood and obsidian glass that made seeing inside of it impossible. Esther pulled open the door and together with Nicolette, they helped me get in. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but it wasn’t an intimate cocoon fit for royalty.
Intricate carvings continued on all of the walls but two. The two panels of glass in front of me were like a one-way mirror and free of any markings. I sat on a seat made of rich, dark velvet and looked up. The domed ceiling was lined with tiny lights, so at least I wouldn’t be shut in total darkness.
“Keep calm,” Esther whispered as she closed the door.
Her words inspired the opposite effect. I didn’t get the chance to dwell on them too long. There was noticeable shift in the air, and then the silence was shattered by a symphony of whispers.
Masked figures surrounded the box and lifted it with such care I didn’t have to steady myself. They began to carry me forward, the rhythmic motion only serving to magnify my apprehension. The trees that lined the path added to the obscurity. It felt like I’d been transported to another realm.
The low whispers never ceased. They kept repeating the same thing over and over again. I couldn’t understand what was being said. The language was as mysterious to me as their ominous words. My mind raced with thoughts of what could be about to happen.
As we emerged from the woods, the building that loomed into view seized my breath and heightened my fear. Positioned at a vantage point, I took in the massive structure. The essence of darkness seemed to be etched into every detail in different hues of black, creating a malign aura that sent a chill down my spine.
Half of the building resembled a church, its spires piercing the starless sky. At the center of the walkway stood a fountain adorned with a gargoyle spewing water. Its presence added to the eerie ambiance. To the left of the church, seamlessly extending its form into a contemporary design was a long building. Its windows were shrouded, mirroring the church’s aesthetic.
I was transported through one pair of arched doors, and then another, going right into the heart of the church. They closed with a muffled thud, and the whispering ceased, enveloping the space in a dense silence. As my eyes adjusted to the dimness I was gripped by a distressing sense of awe.
My eyes swept across a barrage of splendor and dread. Dark marble flooring stretched before me like a cold, endless sea. In its center was a pentagram with the letter 'A' etched into its center, some sort of emblem.
Above me, from what I could see, towering ceilings formed a void that seemed to swallow the light while stained glass on the bottom halves of the windows depicted some type of ritual. Rows of blackened pews were filled with a congregation of masked figures, their hidden faces adding to the bizarre scene. I was grateful now that this box couldn’t be viewed from the outside. I felt like enough of a freak show as it was, and their masked gazes weren’t helping.