Page 52 of The First Trial
Finally, the expansion slowed until the only movement came from the still-crumbling perimeter. I tentatively scooted forward to peer over the edge, and my heart was happy not to have an attack when nothing lunged out at me from inside.
Enid joined me, staring wide-eyed into the dark abyss that had almost gobbled us up like Pac-Man. ‘What do you think is down there?’ she whispered, trying not to draw any unwanted attention to us in case there was, in fact, something lurking within its black depths.
‘I don’t know, and I’m not too eager to find out…’ I admitted, a shiver shuddering through me at the thought of going inside to check it out.
There was one odd thing about it that didn’t escape my notice. On the distant side of the hole seemed to be some sort of ramp, like the earth had opened up at the end of a tunnel to spit out any travellers at our feet.
‘We should go,’ I said, rising to stand and nervously swiping at the dirt on my clothes. I’d lost some of the snacks in my pocket and had squashed the remainder of the fruits and berries. My hand came away sticky, but there wasn’t anything to be done for it. With the trees gone, so was the water and any means I had to wash myself clean.
We had only taken a single step when a sound echoed out from the hole, freezing us in our tracks. I held my breath, surely imagining it but straining my ears just to be sure.
‘Was that…?’
And there it was again. It was faint, but I was sure of it now. A yell, distinctly male and very much real. It was succeeded by a faint rattling sound that was very distinctlynota person. In fact, it reminded me of the rumbling noises the T. rex made inJurassic Park…
‘Oh, hell no. There’d better not be a fucking dinosaur down there,’ I said, my feet already moving me away from the opening.
‘What? What are you talking about? What dinosaur?’ Enid asked, her breaths coming in short and fast pants as her panic took over once again.
‘I don’t know what it was, but I didn’t like the sound of it. We need to go. Now.’
But then I heard the one thing that could have possibly made me stay rather than run. My best friend screaming,‘Run!’
I didn’t think, I just acted, my feet leading me down that steep ramp and into the darkness, following the echoes of Oz in trouble.
Chapter 20
Oswald
My mind was spinning with the new information Junie had provided as I sifted through all the implications. I had my suspicions that our curse had something to do with these trials, and that clue cemented it, but there was still so much we didn’t know.
There was only one way I could test her theory, though.
I’d been keeping my distance from everyone since Junie and her new…frienddisappeared (I wasnotgoing to think about what she had accidentally told me, becausegross),and they had been keeping their distance too. Likely because my scowl promised pain and suffering for anyone who got too close. The only one who had dared come anywhere near me was Tinky-Winky’s friend. I figured they were related since they looked so much alike. A few other Daemons tried to get close, particularly a scarlet-skinned temptress with come-fuck-me-eyes and legs for days, but my new brooding buddy scared them all away even more than I did, so let him stick around. He was making himself useful.
A few of the Humans tried pulling me away from the wall and into their little circle as both groups had taken up clear territory within the rocky chamber. I just hid behind a stalagmite and tried not to let my fear consume me.
I was significantly more relaxed after Junie had contacted me, though, and Barney had definitely noticed. I decided to test out Junie’s theory on him.
‘Hi. I’m Oz,’ I told him, extending my hand for him to shake. He eyed me like I was insane, then my hand like it was about to bite him. Eventually, he copied my motion and slid his hand against mine.
‘Abaddon,’ he replied, giving me his name. It didn’t immediately let me know if he understood my words so much as my actions, however, so I tried again.
‘That other guy, what’s his name?’ I asked, and he jolted back as if I’d tried to slap him in the face.
‘You know the language of the Legion?’ he asked, shock colouring his tone.
‘Nope,’ I said, a grin slowly stretching my cheeks wider. It had worked. ‘But it’s nice to be able to communicate with you. To me, you’re speaking English.’
He gaped at me. ‘How is this possible?’
‘The magic of the Trials, I supposed. It’s in the name, right? The Unity Trials. I guess once we start acting united, then little, insignificant things like a language barrier don’t mean much.’
‘Insignificant… We’re not even from the same realm,’ he pointed out, and I chuckled at his astonishment. It was slightly hysterical, but at the same time, it felt good, like a release of the tension.
‘You didn’t answer my question,’ I prompted.
‘What? Oh. Phenex. He’s my little brother.’
