Chapter Three

The big monster had brought new monsters to the prison. I watched the new ones carefully. I had to know if the cub had told the big monster about me. Maybe they had called the new ones to find me.

There were three of them. An old one that was skinny as that snake I had found in the locked rooms downstairs. He had long white hair on his face and wore a blue pointed cap. I have a vague memory of seeing someone like that in a picture in the Ogre’s quarters.

The second was a female monster. Her brown and grey hair reminded me of the fur on the creatures that shared the walls with me. I think I heard a monster call them “mice” before. Of course, they are my only friends. It seemed the monsters were scared of the little things.

The female monster also had brown eyes. Her skin was like an old wall, full of cracks and wrinkles. When they were alone, she seemed to be the leader. But in front of other people, she let the first monster speak as if the leader.

The third member of the monster team was only a little older than the cub that he had been watching all week.

“Watch them carefully. They will get you.” The voice inside my mind had warned in it’s deep gravelly voice. I asked it if it knew what was going on. But there was no reply.

So I was watching them. It was not the simplest decision whether to stay with the female and young one or to follow the male stranger and the big monster. 

But that deep scratchy voice inside told me, “we need to see what the big monster is doing.” So I listened and saw them go down into the basement. The passage through the walls does not follow directly next to the stairs, so I could not follow as close as I liked. 

But they were not accustomed to the dark down there. I caught up in no time. They were engrossed in conversation when I did. “You sure this is THE ONE?” The stranger monster asked.

“It will definitely give us that advantage in the upcoming war.” The big monster said in a voice that gave me chills. What is a war? I wondered.

I had to slow down so that I didn’t get too far ahead of them. “I look forward to having you counted as a friend.” The stranger monster told him, submissively. But then finished in a teasing voice,  “and my son is looking forward to bringing your daughter home.”

The female cub? She was leaving? She couldn’t leave him! He let out a low wail that reverberated off the walls in the basement. 

“What was that?” The stranger monster asked, looking spooked. It is funny how a little thing like me can scare a monster like that.

“Yeah, you don’t want to come down here by yourself.” The big monster said with a self satisfied smile. There was a twinkle in his eye that showed me I had become sad at the perfect time for him. Did he enjoy my sadness?

When the big monster began walking again, his movements weren’t as smooth and his stance was defensive. Had I managed to scare him as well? I shook my head and remained still until after they had passed me.

As I watched them, I wondered why they were walking in that direction. There was nothing but wall back there. “The door…” the voice in my head groaned warily.

He was right. The door that is not to be opened was in that direction. I had never seen the horror behind that door. But I was aware of it. Stories gathered in my mind from a time before I could remember. 

The big monster had not gone in there for years. Why would he go in there now? “He must not open it.” The voice sounded in my head, horrible and loud. I grabbed my ears although I knew it would not help. 

For the first time in years, I felt the emotions of that voice. It was overwhelmingly terrified and sad at the time. I let out another low wail, releasing the energy built up within me.

“Stop them!” The voice had never demanded anything of me before. It was my only friend. It kept me safe! If I didn’t stop them, I could lose the voice forever!!

I ran through the passages of the walls, hurtling myself over any obstacles. I had to get there now! They could not be allowed to open that door. 

I could hear my heart banging against the wall. What were the monsters going to do in that awful room? Why would they take the voice from me? I have nothing else!

They were at the door but it wasn’t open yet. I could stop them. I tackled the last bit of fallen stone and reached for the stones that would let me out of the wall right here. But as I reached for it, the door swung open.

My breath caught in my throat and tears built up in my eyes. Are you there? Are you there? I asked it in my mind. No one answered. I cried low and long. “Quit your sobbing. They hear you.” The voice said gruffly.

I thought you were gone! I exclaimed grateful to have him back. “No, the door opening only awakened my body. We lost connection for a moment.”

I climbed to where I could see through the wall into the room. It was even darker in there. I peered into that darkness, trying to see the horrors that lived behind that door. 

What did the voice mean about his body? Maybe it was in there too. I never thought the voice could be more than just a voice. The idea was confusing and kinda hurt my head to think about.

Suddenly a bright light appeared in the room beyond that door. I’m blind! I started to panic when the voice shouted, “calm down and try again.”

I slowly opened my eyes. I breathed a sigh of relief as I looked into the room. The light was soft and flickered like fire. I could not see what was making it. 

I could see edges of cages, some stacked on each other. But there couldn’t be anything in the cages. At least nothing alive. This door had been closed for years. If there had been anything living in there, it would have died from lack of food and water. Right?

“The enchantment has kept them asleep all this time?” The stranger monster’s awed voice travelled through the halls to me. Magic? Did it really exist? Well, if monsters did, then why not magic?

“We are all awake. They broke the enchantment when they opened the door! Idiots don’t realize it.” The voice in my head sounded angry. “I’m so hungry. If they would just get a little closer...”

The stranger monster screamed. “That thing just tried to bite me!” 

The voice in my head was now amused, “the naga almost had him!” My eyes wide, all I could do was stare at the open door. But the monsters quickly left the room. The big monster had his hand on the stranger monster’s elbow. They looked a bit pale.

The door was closed and locked. “I can hear the key but it does not return the enchantment. Fools!”

I had followed them slowly to the stairs. There sure had been alot that I learned today. As the monsters climbed the stairs, i sat on the ground mulling over everything. I was lost in my thoughts, as they stepped out of my sight.

Normally, I would continue following them, I preferred to know what the monsters were doing at all times, especially the big one. Although since I had met her, her presence seemed to call to me. Such a beautiful cub with a pretty smile.

I leaned against the wall and sighed. She made me feel so many different emotions. I love watching her dance. She produced a beautiful flurry of color and cloth. She would giggle as she danced. It was such a light and cheerful sound. 

I was so lucky to have found her to produce color in my day. I could not lose her to some stranger monster. But what could I do? 

“Let me out.” The voice growled. “I will ensure you stay together.”