The ringing in my head cleared as quickly as it had begun. The traffic lights I'd hit were nowhere to be seen, though my car still looked like it had been borrowed from a scrapyard. When I glanced out the front, I was dismayed at the lack of spectators, and I couldn't help but notice that the finish line was gone too, along with the rest of the race track.
It felt as though I was back in the Kingdom of Mirrors; the sphere was remarkably similar. However, there were no curious reflections of any kind, nor was there any sign of Gil.
'I suppose congratulations are in order.'
'Butland?' It was his voice, though I couldn't see him anywhere, and with the Wood Faerie's warning in mind, I didn't even want to risk stepping outside the car.
The man's laughter began to echo all around me, though there wasn't any malice behind it from what I could tell. Then he appeared. 'Come on out, Jake. I assure you, it's safe.'
