The doorknob groaned beneath his trembling hand as Ray pushed the door open. Dust motes danced in the single shaft of light filtering through a grimy window, revealing a room frozen in time. A plush armchair sat opposite a low-lying table, a half-finished chess game abandoned mid-match. A bookshelf overflowed with well-worn paperbacks, lining one wall.
Three figures sat around the table, their gazes fixed on him with an intensity that made his skin crawl. A young woman with fiery red hair and eyes like emeralds sat closest to the door, her posture regal despite the worn velvet cushion she sat upon. Beside her, a man with a long, flowing white beard and eyes that held the wisdom of a thousand lifetimes, sat hunched over the chessboard, his gaze unwavering. Opposite them, a brooding figure, his face obscured by the shadows, remained silent, his presence heavy in the room.
Ray, unsure of what to do, simply stood frozen in the doorway.
The woman with the fiery hair, her gaze unwavering, finally broke the silence. "Oh come on guys, you'll scare him before he even has a chance to know what's going on." she playfully scolded, looking at the two men with a hint of amusement.
The pressure Ray was feeling eased considerably, but he still felt a shiver crawl down his spine.
"So, you're the new one," the Redhead said, her voice a low melodic purr. "The one they sent from… wherever they send them."
Ray, his throat suddenly dry, managed a small, hesitant nod.
The white-haired man chuckled, a deep, resonant sound that echoed through the room. "Never seen one so timid before. Usually, they arrive brimming with bravado."
The shadowed figure stirred, a low growl rumbling in his chest. "Waste of time," he muttered, his voice a low growl that seemed to vibrate through the floorboards.
"Oh, hush, Kael," the Redhead chided, her voice laced with amusement. "You're scaring the boy." She turned back to Ray, her smile widening. "Don't mind him, he's always been a bit of a grump."
Ray, feeling a flicker of defiance, decided to push back. "Grump or not, that was a bit rude," he retorted, surprised by his own boldness.
The shadowed figure, Kael, finally turned his head, his eyes, when they emerged from the shadows, were a chilling shade of ice. "And you," he growled, "are a mouthy one, aren't you?"
Ray felt a jolt of fear, his defiance instantly fading. He took a step back, his eyes widening.
The Redhead, sensing the tension, intervened. "Alright, alright, no need to frighten him off on his first day." She turned to Ray, her smile returning. "Welcome," she said, her voice softening. "We are the… Guardians of this… sanctuary." She gestured around the room with a graceful sweep of her hand. "And you," she added, her gaze piercing, "are our newest… member."
Ray felt a shiver crawl down his spine. "But… I'm just… a porter," he stammered, feeling a surge of panic. "I'm not… not… awakened."
The Redhead threw her head back and laughed, a sound that was both melodious and infectious. Even Zorain, the white-haired man, chuckled, a deep rumble that shook the room.
Kael, however, remained impassive, though a hint of amusement flickered in his icy eyes.
Ray, who has now realized that he had been tricked into thinking he was entering some undercover high organization, gritted his teeth in frustration and shame.
"What's your name, boy?" Kael's voice, like a low growl, finally managed to pull the Redhead from her laughter.
"Ray."
Kael nodded, his expression unreadable.
"Alright kid, enough with the little games - He is Zorain," she said, pointing to the white-haired man, "and he is Kael," she said pointing to the shadowed figure - "and I...I am Kyra."
Kyra finished her brief introduction, her face now a mask of seriousness.
Ray reluctantly walked up to them, his footsteps heavy.
Kyra promptly grabbed Ray's arm.
"Hey!" Ray shouted, immediately trying to yank his hands back, but to his horror, he couldn't.
"Save your struggles, young one, save your energy for the initiation." Zorain stated, stroking his long beard.
"What initiation! Let me go you psychos!"
"Hoho, a feisty one, eh? Let's see if you still have your sharp tongue after I'm done with you." Kyra spoke, her emerald eyes shining.
Ray felt a jolt of fear, but also a surge of defiance. He wasn't going to let them intimidate him. "I don't know what you think you're doing," he growled back, "but I'm not playing your games."
Kyra's smile widened. "Now that's more like it," she said, her eyes twinkling with amusement.
The room was filled with a sudden burst of energy. A low hum vibrated through the floorboards, and a single candle on the table flickered and then ignited with an intense, emerald green flame. Kyra, Zorain, and Kael each placed a fingertip on the flame, their eyes closed in concentration.
Ray felt a strange pull, as if the air itself was thickening around him. Then, the room plunged into darkness. Ray gasped, his heart pounding in his chest. He reached out, his hands groping for the wall, but found nothing. He was disoriented, lost in an impenetrable darkness.
Panic clawed at him. "What… what happened?" he whispered, his voice trembling.
He heard a chuckle from the darkness. "Find your way back, Ray," the old man's voice rumbled. "Prove your resourcefulness."
"I don't have to! No! I don't want to prove anything to you! Let me go you psychos!" Ray shouted, half expecting a response, but none came.
Ray took a deep breath, his eyes straining to see in the pitch blackness. He felt a sudden rush of adrenaline, a surge of primal fear and determination. He had to get out of here. He had to prove himself.
He took a tentative step forward, his foot landing on a cold, hard surface. He reached out, his hands searching for any sign of an opening, any indication of where he might be. He bumped into furniture, his head colliding with the wall, his breath catching in his throat. He pressed on, his senses heightened, his ears straining for any sound, any clue.
The darkness seemed to press in on him, suffocating, heavy. He stumbled, his knees buckling, the fear threatening to consume him. "Help!" he cried out, his voice hoarse.
Silence.
Then, a whisper, chillingly close to his ear. "This is the test, Ray. To find your own way."
Panic surged through him again. He had to find a way out. He remembered the woman's words: "Find your way back to us." He focused all his senses, trying to detect any shift in the air pressure, any change in the temperature.
He noticed a faint, almost imperceptible draft of air, a whisper of coolness against his cheek. He followed the draft, crawling along the floor, his hands outstretched, his fingers tracing the cold, hard surface. He bumped into a piece of furniture, his hand brushing against something smooth and cold. It was a door handle.
With trembling hands, he grasped the handle and turned it slowly. The door creaked open, revealing a narrow, dimly lit hallway. He stepped through, his heart pounding, his senses on high alert.
The hallway was long and winding, the air thick with dust and the faint scent of something musty. He crept along the walls, his hands outstretched, his ears straining for any sound. He heard the distant sound of dripping water, a faint scratching sound coming from somewhere in the distance.
He continued down the hallway, his fear giving way to a strange sense of exhilaration. He was alone, lost in the darkness, but he was not afraid. He was determined. He would find his way back.
Finally, he reached a small door at the end of the hallway. He hesitated for a moment, then pushed it open.
He stepped into the room, his eyes adjusting to the sudden light. The three figures were sitting around the low table, their eyes fixed on him with an intensity that made his skin crawl. The woman with the fiery red hair smiled. "Welcome back, Ray," she said. "You have passed the test."
Ray felt a surge of relief wash over him. He had done it. He had found his way back.
Zorain nodded approvingly. "You have shown courage and determination". He said
Kael remained silent, his gaze unwavering, but a flicker of something akin to respect, perhaps even admiration, crossed his icy eyes. Ray couldn't quite decipher the emotion, but it sent a shiver down his spine.
But Ray, in a fit of rage pushed the emotions aside. His face contoured as he pointed at them-
"You fuckers! Fuck you and your stupid test! Where and how did you carry me, I need answers, now!"