I suck in a breath as my vision rights itself, my skin prickling in awareness. My gaze widens as my brain desperately tries to make sense of what I’m seeing.
This can’t be real.
Sea mist hits my face as I try to take in the menacing scenery around me.
I slowly lower to my knees, scared my legs might give out. I barely restrain my scream as I cover my mouth to ensure I do not do anything stupid.
My heart beats against my chest so hard it hurts as my eyes frantically take in this new world.
This is real.
I’m on the edge of a landing that looks out over a black sea. The sky is angry and flickers with flashing lights. I’m on a jagged black mountain about two hundred feet into the twisting sky.
And an entire dark city is embedded in this spiky landmass.
I look behind me, seeing glowing orange lights illuminating the perimeter with distant people walking on faraway ledges.
The mountain looks like a crystal shard that has been broken and is now puncturing the angry night sky.
I look to my left and see metal doors leading inside the menacing rock. It looks like a gateway to Hell.
I am not going in there.
“Duuuuude,” I hear Steve say beside me, where he’s covered in a brown cloak. I feel like we are Frodo and Sam here about to toss the ring into the fire. “Get down! You see that Orc up there?!”
“Steve,” I breathe, and run over to the rock wall, flattening myself against it. “What the hell are we doing here?!”
“It’s Steven. And I already told you,” he whispers. “You will be hanging out with your man until help arrives.
“Here, put this on and act like an Orc. Walk with a limp and be hunched over. Just keep your head down.”
We put mesh face covers on, only our eyes showing.
“I need to smoke,” I hear Steve say.
“Me too,” I agree, feeling the biting cold of the wind.
A lot.
We both stand in silence, listening to the thunder crash. “We need to make it to the lower level where the prisoners are held,” he says finally.
“How are we going to stay here for a week?!”
“Pierce has a room for us in the Orc city,” Steve says.
“Are you serious? We have to go inside this hell hole?” How generous of FGI to get us a room.
He laughs like a stoner.
I curse.
The things I do for wealth.
“Let’s go,” he says, and starts moving his hand like he is typing on an invisible computer.
“What . . . are you doing?” I ask, then flinch as another lightning bolt hits this nightmare of a mountain. I flatten myself against the jagged wall even further.
“This place is terrifying. I wonder if the other girls are relaxing in luxury, seeing the wondrous sights that this world has to offer,” I hiss. I feel like a cat with her ears back who has just been dunked in freezing water.
“Can’t I just meet Brayja back at the Gaya Empire? Is this necessary? I’m starting to think it’s not. Why did we have to spawn here?!”
“I’m getting directions.”
“Are you listening to me?!”
“Trying not to.”
I expel a breath, and Steve does his dumb laugh.
He looks ridiculous.
This Brayja guy better pick me after this, or I might slip him some poison. Make him die a slow and painful death, after threatening him until he puts me in his will.
We hide behind this and that, dodging this ugly Orc and that one. My heart is pounding as we wait for the guards to move to their next post.
They are terrifying creatures, reptilian-like with long sharp teeth and slimy skin with gills on the sides of their faces. My gag reflex is kicking in.
I can’t imagine spending a week here in the dungeon.
A nightmare.
I feel for Brayja and I haven’t even met him. I am also very curious to find out what this man looks like. Is he handsome? Not that it matters, but it would be a plus.
We finally make it to the dungeon entrance and we sit against the rock wall, out of breath. “When are the guards back?”
Steve is lighting a joint. “Ten minutes.”
“Shit,” I breathe.
“You need to go in with this universal FGI jail pick. Do you know how to pick a lock? Pierce thought you knew very well. The locks here are pretty basic. It only works on the doors,” Steve says and blows out smoke, eyes squinty.
This is the first time I actually look at Steve in the face without his mesh on. He just looks like a human version of his natural self. So, in other words, he looks more like Seth Rogan but with long dreadlock hair in a pony.
Not a great look.
“Sooooo you need to hide out in Eluno’s jail cell, which is the first metal door you will see. I will let you know when it is clear, and you can make your way to your future lover’s cell.
“You will only get fifteen minutes with Brayjo before the guards return. It’s not long, but better than nothing.” He takes another hit and hands it to me.
I stare at it. “It’s Brayja, not Brayjo. And an hour with the braindead guy?” I moan in misery, not really seeing a point to all of this.
“That’s why I’m giving you a hit. Pierce is not fond of agents smoking, but it will wear off by the time you leave.” He pauses with his hand up.
“Eluno is super mean and dangerous. I need to tell you this before I get too high and forget. Already killed a couple of female Orc slaves, Pierce said.”
“Perfect,” I mutter, and take the hit. I immediately start coughing, eyes watering. “Steven, this is strong!” I cough more into my hand and feel fire in my lungs.
“Don’t cough too much.” He is laughing, eyes almost shut. “You’ll be flying too high.”
I curse and laugh too. “Can’t believe I’m getting high on Orc mountain, in a different parallel world. I can cross that off my bucket list.” I pause in thought.
“Can you get me a music player and headphones? Please? An hour in a jail cell is brutal with nothing to do.”
He is looking at me like he is a drug lord—must be in his mystic mode now. “I’ll talk to some people and get back to you. I have a few favors owed to me.”
I laugh, feeling a little spacy. Hopefully I don’t fall off the side of the cliff to my death. “You can do that?”
I was only half kidding.
“We are not supposed to, but I can just say I got too high and forgot. Steven’s got you,” he says, and shrugs. “Go now, and don’t get caught.” He waves his hand like he is a king.
A heavy-lidded, high-as-F, king.
I take a deep breath. “Great. Thanks, Steven.”
My eyes quickly adjust to the darkness and I slow my breathing. It’s dark and scary, fire torches lighting up the caves. If an Orc pops out, I’m going to piss myself.
I swallow and find the jail cell that faces the crashing waves with jagged rocks below.
This has to be it.
I take another breath and quickly work the lock, sticking the FGI pick into the rusted hole.
“You just talked in my head!” I yell, and curse, lowering my voice. “Shit.”
I drop the pick and say a stream of swear words. The pot is making my fingers clumsy. I feel sweat dot my forehead as I try again and finally hear the gears shift and open.
I hear the ugly sounds of the Orcs right as I open the heavy metal door and slip inside, locking it back up, hoping they did not just hear that.
Note to self: Don’t get high and try to pick locks again. I’m breathing hard as I wait by the door, praying they do not come in here.
I place my ear on the cold metal to listen, hearing their heavy footfalls walk by the door.
I exhale in relief.
