The door to the corridor leading to the study closed behind me with a soft creak. I was back in the great corridor. My gaze slid over to the statues that stood unchanged on the sides of the aisle. No sign of movement, but the thought of the creatures made my blood freeze in my veins. I took a deep breath and sighed in relief. "You're not here..." I murmured, even though I knew it wouldn't stay that way for long.
I put one foot on the soft carpet, my hand disappeared under my chin, thoughts whirled around. Countless doors and corridors stretched along the corridor, but my gaze remained fixed on the large gate at the end of the corridor—the gate from which the creatures had emerged. A tremor came over me. It was scary. I lowered my eyes. But this goal would give me answers. I looked up at the ceiling, whose black stones seemed to mingle with the darkness that lurks in every corner of the castle.
"This memory...", I whispered and closed my eyes for a moment. It was the only thing I had. But was it really my memory? Or was it just a dark dream of an alien dimension? Part of me doubted that it was real. When I turned my gaze back to the gate, I asked myself, "Will I remember if I defeat more of these creatures?" But even if that were the case, how could I defeat them? They were faster than me, stronger. Yes, I had defeated a creature—in a frenzy of rage. But the memory of it was dim, as if a dark force had controlled me. No, it was my survival instinct that gave me the impulse to defeat her.
But what if I couldn't fall back on this power again? I dug my fingertips into the palm of my hand and squeezed them together so hard that it hurt.
"No," I finally muttered. "This goal is too dangerous."
I should first look for answers in the other rooms. Maybe there were hints there that helped me. With firm steps I walked across the corridor, past the statues. Another goal was in front of me. I put my hand on the cold, smooth surface and pressed against it with all my might. But it didn't move a millimeter.
"Locked?" I murmured, pulling my hand back and staring at the gate.
Then another one." I went on to the next gate, but this one was also locked. "Damn!", I cursed quietly and stormed to the next one. Again, nothing. The same result. I ran through the corridor, bumping into every gate, but they were all locked. Even the large door to the throne room could not be opened.
It was as if someone or something had cordoned them off. I hit the gate angrily, but it didn't move. Suddenly, there was a giggle, quietly but clearly.
"That's the wrong goal. Come join us. Come to us!"
The voice – the same as before. The thought of the woman behind the voice sent a shiver down my spine. Hastily I looked around, felt observed, but no one was to be seen. "Who are you?" I called into the silence.
But there was no answer. Only the faint energy of the statues that pierced me with their staring gazes. A queasy feeling crept up in me as I looked at the opposite side of the corridor. "I have a bad premonition..."
I took a hesitant step, then started moving and walked towards the large gate at the end of the corridor. The eyes of the statues seemed to follow me as if they were watching me, their staring eyes glowing in the darkness. At the end of the corridor I stopped. "It's the only door I haven't tried to open yet," I whispered, more to myself. My teeth chattered as I put my hand on the cold surface of the huge gate. "Please don't tell me that this is the only way out of here." I hesitated. Beyond that gate was the greatest danger I could imagine—the creatures that had been chasing me.
But finally I tore myself out of my rigidity and pressed against the goal with all my might. A creak, followed by a ghostly clink, broke the silence of the corridor. The gate opened as if it were delighting in my despair. It was as if the space behind the gate was forming itself out of the darkness. And when it opened completely, a room was revealed that received me with an icy coldness – as if it had been waiting for me to appear.