? ? ?
The boy looked at the two in pain, with tears rolling down his cheeks. The pain in his side was unbearable, what had been done to him was something so brutal and savage he could barely remain sane. The arrows, it had been-
"Clever, clever."
The child sighed and shrugged. It seemed they didn't take the bait after all. Well, this didn't matter much, it just meant he had to do it himself. The trick had already worked once, but fool them twice? Not a fat chance it would appear. It was so sudden, so nonchalant. And just like before, the boy disappeared without a trace and the hive was as good as new, without even shards around.
Could it be that their enemy was this world itself? No. A menacing voice, far older than that of a child yet bearing a close resemblance to it sneered at them and clapped behind them, always behind them even if they turned. And yet, there was no one.
"To think someone would destroy my autonomous defense so easily. You're pretty impressive, good job. But there's one detail you have missed. That little pet project did not serve to keep you out, on the contrary. You will never leave this place alive."
Candles lit up with blue flame instantly, as if animated by a strange force. A castle of wax built upon alien geometrical architectures and insects was revealed, a horrific hive displaying dozens of bodies in each and every crevice. The one where Joshua had once resided was now empty, and while the dim candlelight revealed more than before the upper levels and the overall world was still very dark.
And suddenly, there was a rumbling, like an earthquake.
"For the sake of my freedom, please die quickly."
