The Sixth Gate by K.T. Munson

Author:K.T. Munson [Munson, K.T.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-07-06T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter 35: Netherworld

Nanette tossed and turned in her sleep as she listened to the scratching. The spider creature was trying to get at her, and it wouldn’t stop. The darkness of that night—an unrelenting pitch black—had spread around her, but the sound had been there, a scraping noise. Were it not for her complete exhaustion, she imagined sleep would never have come. The grating sound continued, and she wanted to scream.

She could smell its strange metallic blood and saw the gouges in the stone. She heard it clicking, listened to its call for food, hunger seemingly overcoming any pain of its crumpled hind legs. The noises made her feel half insane. It was there now, trying to get at her in the darkness. She tried not to move or breathe, but it was coming.

Nanette awoke in complete darkness. Fear gripped her as she immediately tried to push herself out of bed. She screamed on instinct, her eyes seeking out any light they could. Her skin broke out in a cold sweat as she listened for the clicking, but she couldn’t hear it. Her breathing was hard and sharp as a light glared to life. She immediately shielded her eyes as her savior came close. She reached out for him instinctively, her fear of the dark making her sob uncontrollably.

He set the light down and pressed down on her arms. At first she was so frantic to take hold of him that she fought his grip on her. After a moment, she realized he was trying to calm her down. She felt her breathing start to slow as his face came into focus. His hands were still on her arms, so she locked her hands onto his elbows. She inhaled and exhaled in a measured way, trying to reign in her wild heart.

“I’m sorry,” she said, glancing around as she tried to see further into the darkness and failed. “I don’t like the dark.”

She couldn’t keep herself from shaking as she slowly let her arms fall. He released her shoulders as she pulled her legs up against her body. It was difficult not to act like a child when she was so afraid. She wrapped her arms around her legs and brought them to her chest. Putting her head on her knees, she squeezed her eyes shut and let the tears fall against the blanket.

After a moment, she opened her eyes and glanced up. Her savior was holding fire next to a small cylinder. She watched as the fire came to life and specks of light fell across the bed and walls. He pushed it and it started to spin, and she realized they were horses running across the wall. She pushed the sheet flat so she could watch it run.

“Thank you,” she said, looking up again, but discovered he was gone.

Rising, Nanette went to the edge of the room and peered down the hall. She stood, pensive, as she tried to decide what to do. Glancing back at the dancing horses, she put an arm out into the darkness.

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