I carefully packed my luggage, making sure to only bring the essentials. I knew that I would be traveling to a place unlike any I had ever known, and I didn’t want to be weighed down by unnecessary items. I packed a small backpack with only the basic necessities: a few changes of clothes, my toiletries, and any documents I might need.

I knew that my baggage could become a liability if I wasn’t careful, so I made sure to pack lightly and only bring items that I knew I would need and use. I couldn’t help but feel a mix of excitement and nerves. I had no idea what was in store for me, but I was ready to face whatever came my way.

In an effort to calm my nerves and gather my thoughts, I decided to pay a visit to my grandpa’s grave. I hadn’t been there in a while, and I wanted to pay my respects and say a final goodbye before I left.

As I stood in front of the grave, I felt a sense of peace wash over me. I knew that my grandpa would always be with me, no matter where my journey took me. With a heavy heart but a sense of determination, I turned to leave and head back home.

As I approached the exit of the graveyard, I noticed a figure standing there, looking in my direction. As I got closer, I was able to make out their features. It was a girl who appeared to be around my age and a bit shorter than me. She had fair skin and striking aqua-blue hair styled in bangs, as well as piercing turquoise-blue eyes.

I couldn’t help but stare, taken aback by her unique appearance. I wondered who she was and what she was doing here. As I grew closer, she gave me a warm smile, and I couldn’t help but feel a sense of calm wash over me.

"When I was a child, I only had a few brief encounters with him, but he was always extremely generous and kind. Mr. Dexter deserved a longer life." Her voice had a familiar quality to it when she talked. After a few seconds, I recognised that she was the same female I had previously spoken to on the phone yesterday before speaking with the old man.

"How did you find me here, exactly?" I inquired while having some trepidation.

"We have our own methods. Wallace, nice to meet you. Cheryl Hall is here." She answered casually, She gestured for me to enter the vehicle, which was close by and readily apparent from where we were standing.

We didn’t talk much until we got into the car. I was surprised to see that my luggage, which I had left at home, was already in the backseat. A few minutes afterward, she initiated a conversation.

"You seem a bit disappointed. Did you expect men in black suits and glasses to come and pick you up in a limousine?" She giggled and shook her head. "I’m sorry to disappoint you, but I was asked to come and fetch you myself. I hope that’s okay."

I couldn’t help but feel a bit embarrassed as I realised that I had been expecting something more extravagant. "No, no, it’s fine. I’m sorry; I didn’t mean to sound ungrateful. I’m just a bit overwhelmed, I guess."

"It’s okay," she reassured me with a smile. "I understand. This is a big moment for you. But don’t worry, everything is going to be fine." After about two hours of driving, we finally arrived at our destination. As I stepped out of the car, I could see a mansion made of white brick, surrounded by immaculately manicured gardens.

It was a ten-minute walk from the gate to the mansion. I could see her walk behind me, holding an open umbrella. Out of curiosity, I asked, "Why are you holding that when it isn’t going to rain today, at least till we reach the entrance?"

"It is going to rain in about 8 seconds," she replied. I looked at her with a sense of bewilderment, not quite understanding how she could know that. But sure enough, a few seconds later, a downpour began. I was amazed by her accuracy and couldn’t help but wonder how she knew. She took out another umbrella from her backpack and gave it to me.

The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

I was instructed to wait in the reception area after we arrived at the mansion. The old man who had spoken to me on the phone showed up a little while later. His short moustache and muscular frame gave him a frightening presence as he stood tall. As I stared up at him, I couldn’t help but feel a little intimidated. He appeared to be a straightforward individual, so I wasn’t sure what to anticipate.

He took the seat across from me and immediately began speaking.

"So, lad, we finally meet. Cheryl is my niece, and my name is Gary Hall. You undoubtedly have many questions, and all of them will be addressed in due course. But for now, I advise you to take it easy and sleep; we will depart tomorrow morning."

Gary concluded his remarks and walked out of the room. A maid then led me to my overnight accommodation. The room was roomy, tastefully furnished, and had a plush bed that appeared to be calling my name. I hurriedly showered and changed into pyjamas in order to quickly get comfortable on the plush mattress and get some sleep.

***

The next morning, I got up at four in the morning, dressed, and prepared to leave. At five in the morning, Gary was waiting for me on the couch in the reception area. Cheryl wasn’t in the room. He motioned for me to follow him as he stood up. We left the home and made our way to the area behind it, where a private plane was parked and getting ready to take off. I felt shocked and perplexed to the point of being overwhelmed.

I was immediately struck by the opulent, lounge-like interior of the aircraft. I was instructed to wait there for a short while, and a couple of minutes later, the sound of the engine starting could be heard. Before I knew it, we were flying through the sky on our way to where I needed to be. Soon after, Gary came over and sat down next to me.

"Where are we going?" I inquired out of interest. "Patience" was his response.

There was utter silence for a few hours, but as we were about to reach our destination, Gary started speaking.

"What I am about to tell you is confidential information that only a select few are allowed to know. You must understand that this information must be kept strictly between us. If you return from that place and try to leak any of this information, you will be monitored constantly by us, and in the event that you do try to reveal it to anyone, you will be eliminated. Do you understand the gravity of this situation?"

I couldn’t help but feel a sense of fear and responsibility wash over me as I listened to Gary speak. This was a huge burden to bear, and I knew that I had to be very careful with the information I was given. "I understand," I replied, trying to steady my voice.

Gary continued.

"On Earth, humanity has made a fascinating discovery: there are unique places where the laws of nature appear to break down. In the middle of the Sahara desert, the first one was found in the year 1345. These places were designated compounds to maintain their secrecy, although the term "Limbo" is frequently used as slang. These are worlds that are bigger and much beyond our comprehension than we could have ever dreamed."

"The governments of numerous nations banded together to construct the Hidden Agency for Dangerous Exploration and Surveillance, or H.A.D.E.S., in order to keep their existence a secret. I am Gary Hall, the organisation’s director. " I had a lot of questions because what I was hearing astonished me, but Gary did not finish.

"It’s challenging to describe these areas in detail. The phrase "otherworldly labyrinths" comes closest. Think of a huge spiral staircase that descends, with each step being a different colour from the others. The steps are referred to as "realms," and a staircase is a form of limbo. Like stages in a video game, each realm differs from the one before it, and moving to the following realm requires descending the stairs."

"All of these realms defy the laws of nature as we know them on Earth. You will see and experience things that you can’t even dream of here. It’s truly a unique and incredible experience, one that you will never forget. Well, if you stay alive, that is."

As I listened to Gary talk, my mind was spinning with all the potential outcomes. The window coverings suddenly opened as a result of Gary pressing a button on the remote control he was holding. When I turned to look, I noticed endless woodlands and a running river. As the river came to an end, we started to slowly descend. I saw a huge lake whose surface was blazing violet, like a light that was on and off. Behind me, I could hear Gary talking.

"The lake you see is the entrance to Compound 009, the last of its kind. We are in the heart of the Amazon rainforest. The people who travel there are referred to as "Venturers."

"The faint of heart should avoid doing this journey. It will be risky and difficult, and there is no assurance that you will return safely. But if you have the courage and the fortitude to face whatever comes your way, I think you possess the qualities necessary to be a venturer. Are you willing to accept the challenge?"

I answered with a smile on my face, "I can’t wait."

"Only a very tiny proportion of these Venturers reach the bottom of the spiral staircase. Your grandpa was one of them, and I was. He was known as a Paladin." Gary finished speaking.