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Chapter 24 – Whisper me neat nothings

Wil

Rock. Rock everywhere, it's all I see. It's all even, slightly porous and totally boring rocks all around me.

It makes sense, I'm standing in a tunnel system that cuts through the mountain range, after all. The part that doesn't make sense is how clinical these tunnels feel. Strange angles and triangular slopes to the walls and corners makes me think it's some sort of puzzle. All the walls are a dull gray rock that has been perfectly flattened by some mysterious means. There are splits and turns that take sharp corners at differing angles. Some tunnels even lead upwards branching off the ceiling and some have faint slopes leading down. If not for gravity, it would seem like all paths are equally viable.

The other expedition members are freaked out by the construction of this place. Architecture in Gol-ta is limited to using blocks of stone to construct buildings larger than a few stories. Meanwhile I'm feeling nostalgic. The precision of it all reminds me of the past, but of course I'm not sure how. 

I don't really need to worry about it though. All I have to do is run.

Running is what I can do, so I'm doing it.

Run here. Run there.

It's a simple job, albeit dubious. But I don't mind. I'm having fun.

Owen told me to take it easy this first lap. I have to take this tracing powder and only look forward as I search around for the exit. Once I've found the exit I'm supposed to follow the powder back to see if I've crossed my own path. 

I didn't quite believe him at first, but he kept assuring me that as long as I don't turn around, and move forwards on the level path, instead of taking a sloped one, I'll reach the exit. It feels like a maze, but I can clearly see the tracing powder as I spread it on the ground. I'm careful not to turn around to look, because of the various warnings Owen gave me on how easily I would get lost if I did. 

Wow, this tracing powder is strange. It's light and fluffy and rainbow colored.

The colorful tracing powder is quite fascinating. It is only visible if you are moving in the same direction it was laid, but if it's crossed with powder from the same bag and left to sit, the intersections of the trails will appear. I didn't really understand the point, but is normally meant for expedition members to follow each other on multiple-day expeditions, without leaving a trail for bandits to easily stumble across.

I've been so excited about spreading this strange powder that I might have gotten a little out of control.

Before I realized it, I've already reached the exit. I can see light from outside filtering down from a craggy path leading upwards. Owen mentioned that the exit would look nothing like the rest of the tunnels, so this must be it.

I'm not sure what happened, but I don't think it took more than twenty minutes. That is definitely a record. I made sure to ask Owen how fast the records were for the Trailblazers coming through and the fastest had managed to make it end to end in thirty. I asked because I don't want to see a resurgence of the Trailblazer position. If the expedition position made a comeback, the leader of that position would undoubtedly be me. I can see people scrambling to find out how I'm so fast, and thinking about it gives me the shivers.

When it comes to my current time... I feel sorry for that poor Trailblazer. I broke the record without even trying. Haha.

Now that I've laid all the powder I think I'll head back along this path.

Wow this powder is sparkly!

---

The laps are getting shorter now that the rest of the expedition has begun crossing the sections. It wasn't until I made it back to the entrance that they could start. What was it that Owen said again? Ah, that's right. They need to wait to make sure I've cleared the length of the tunnels before they can begin crossing. 

They're about a third of the way through now. That means I only have to run two thirds the distance to meet up with them. We don't care if the sections behind us reset, as long as we make it through. In the end, I think the entire trip only takes as long as the slowest person in the back. 

We certainly have some stragglers. I haven't seen Owen either. Where did he get off to?

There's that scratching sound behind me again. It's empty and faint, but I can feel it reverberate in my chest. It's so tempting to turn around and look, but Owen said that's the last thing I should do.

I wonder why Owen told me to not look behind me?

I think I'll listen to him, wherever he is. It seems to be going fine so far. The sound just makes me curious. I've tried my best with the common sense of the people of this world, but the common sense of monsters and magic is beyond me. When someone like our scout tells me to walk forward without looking behind me, there is probably a good reason. One which wouldn't help me to know, if he didn't explain it.

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…

There it is again, still faint. It's a slight screeching sound this time. Almost like the whine of a fan belt in an old car Car? Why haven't I thought about cars since I've got here?

…

Would you shut up back there? I'm not even finished this last and that talkative fellow behind me just keeps whispering away. I'll tear his lips off if he doesn't stop.

…

Maybe … just a peek? No...

As long as I keep running the distance between the exit and the section that the expedition members are currently in, we won't get all turned around in time. 

The twins had mentioned they had heard of these tunnels as well, and they seem to have heard the same things as Owen. I meet with one of the Nems every lap. They give me a quick update, I take a quick rest for appearances sake, then I start running again. It's strange that I have only seen the one Nem though. Owen is missing too.

…

There's it is yet again. It's almost a whisper. It reminds me of the old record players I used to listen to. Scratching out my fa-

…

What was that?

…

That was an actual sound. It sounded like a footstep.

Is there actually a human back there?

I'm a few minutes from the group and the exit right now, maybe I'll wait until I get closer until I look?

…

Whisper whisper whisper. Stop it! Who are you?

…

…

I wonder who is talking behind my back, hahahaha.

I'll punch them if they don't stop.

---

I'm on edge.

I realize I'm losing it. I don't know when it started this time. We've been in here for a few hours already, but it feels like it's been days to me. The rest of the expedition isn't handling it well either. People are getting disoriented by the strange design of all these paths and once or twice someone has tried to go down the wrong one.

I want this to be over with. 

I think I might have Teleported again, a short distance, I can't be sure. I'm getting kind of hazy on the details. I could have had a mental lapse instead. So much for excitement.

The whispers weren't so bad the first few laps but I have to drown out the whispers with my own voice.

Essentially... I'm talking to myself. Except it's out loud for once.

“Wooooooooo!” 

It feels appropriate.

I think the whispers and the scratching are in fact happening along my brain stem. It's like something is trying to crawl into my head. 

I really want to punch something to burn off this adrenaline, but punching these perfect and angular walls feels dangerous, somehow.

…

Maybe a little punch?

…

“Wil!?”

With my fist raised, I turn around to look directly at the source.

Whoops. It's really dark behind me. Was it always that dark? The tunnels aren't even lit in the first place...

Who's th-

Oh it's Nem.

“Hi Nem.”

“Wil... are you okay?” Nem says as he steps closer, out of the shadows.

Is it safe? Is that a real person?

Should I punch it?

Hmm. Nem has a backup, right? It'd be fine to kill one for safety.

“Wil, it's been half an hour and we haven't seen you. What have you been doing here? You're not running?” Nem asks. He has real concern on his normally impassive face.

Not running though. Have I not been running? It feels like this lap has taken me a while.

When did I stop to try to punch the wall?

Nem reaches out with his hand, reaching for me.

His fingers are hooking. Like claws.

Attack?

Attack?

…

No. I've dealt with this before.

I won't let this damn piece of clothing control me.

Nem's hand is coming slow enough that it couldn't possibly be an attack. My rational mind is telling me this.

What is he doing then? I think it's because I haven't been responding.

He gives my shoulder a good shake.

“Hello? Wake up? Wil?”

“Y-yeah. I guess I was just tired.” I can overcome my fears. I won't let my fears overcome me. Nem is here to help, there is no reason to hit him.

Nem gives me another small smile.

“Coming through the ruins might have been a bad idea after all, for a Mage.”

Ruins? 

I take it back.

I'm going to drive my fist right through his skull.

Both of them.

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