Coil by Ren Warom

Author:Ren Warom [Warom, Ren]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi

Chapter 26

Shades of light drift across the surface of a tawny iris. Flutter the pupil wide. Shrink it to a pinpoint. A full stop. The end. The eye jumps, showing a sliver of white as Burneo watches himself. Serene. Detached. Aware. He stands waist-deep, hands splayed flat on the surface. Head lowered, his features reflect in the yellowish mirror between thumbs. He pays no mind to the rats gathered on the rim of the outlet pool. They are mute witnesses. Nothing more.

Echoing from in the distance, amplified by the throats of the tunnels, comes the sound of footfalls in his playground, just as he knew there would be. In precisely the place he expected. This is what he’s been waiting for. Ripples undulate the surface, agitating mirror smoothness to liquid coils as his great bulk wades through and rises up onto the edge, scattering the rats. Bare legs lurch along in that half graceful, half awkward glide as he follows the sounds.

Closer now, Burneo perceives the distant flicker of lights and picks up the tatters of conversation, broken and faint, fluttering under the splashing of boots in water. But that’s not all there is. He stills for a moment, scenting the air. They have followed the path he scattered for them just as he willed it. But there is danger awaiting them, danger he has led here. And they have brought with them the one to whom he gave his gift, the Bone-Man. Foolishness. That one has danger all around him.

Burneo shadows them, huge and silent as the lightless void. Watches them from the recesses, from behind the curving edge of outlets, observing the rise and fall of beams as they progress towards the entrance to his cavern. The small one at the back falters and stops. She, too, senses danger. Her head swings to and fro, constantly scanning. His nostrils flare. She’s afraid, he can smell the tang on her breath, but she does not falter. Strong, then. This is good. Better her than the Bone-Man. There are sights left to share that the Bone-Man needs to see. He will fetch her and they will lead him together.

He stands and waits as she retraces her steps, her image growing ever larger in the shrunken black lens of his eye.

A full stop.

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