NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 7: Chapter-7
The words form on my lips, barely a whisper against the metallic tang of the air: "Show me the way." The statement hangs in the air, a challenge, a command. The ground beneath my feet vibrates more intensely, the hum rising to a low growl. For a moment, nothing happens. Then, a section of the gnarled, twisted trees before me shimmers, the air around it distorting like heat rising from asphalt. The shimmering intensifies, the colours swirling into a vortex of bruised purple and sickly green. From within this swirling mass, a voice, thin and reedy like the rasping of dry leaves, speaks. It's not the ancient guardian's voice; this is something… different. Something smaller, more insidious.
"Seek what you will, traveler," the voice hisses, "but know this: the Clockwork Labyrinth guards its secrets jealously. Many have sought its entrance, but few have returned. And those who did… were never quite the same."
The vortex continues to swirl, the colours shifting and pulsating. Within the chaotic dance of colours, I see fleeting glimpses – cogs whirring, gears grinding, tiny clockwork figures scurrying, their movements jerky and unnatural. It's a glimpse into the heart of the Labyrinth, a terrifying preview of what awaits.
"And what price must I pay?" I ask, my voice calm, even though the images within the vortex are unsettling. I need to know the rules of this game before I play. My eyes are trained on the swirling chaos, my senses keenly alert, while my mind is calculating the risks. I sense no immediate danger, but that doesn't mean there aren't hidden dangers lurking, waiting for the right moment to strike. This new voice, the potential dangers inside the Labyrinth, and the power of the amulet are all factors I consider. The amulet itself feels warmer, the pulse stronger now. Is this a reaction to the Labyrinth?