《The Facility》


 Chapter One

    It only took her a moment to figure out that this wasn¡¯t where she wanted to be. The paint chipped and wallpaper peeled down as if bowing its head in resignation to the dilapidated state of the facility. She walked gingerly up the hall, dodging the debris that lay scattered across the yellowed laminate floor. An old, rusted wheelchair sat propped against a side door that led to nothing but darkness, as far as she could tell as she passed it. A pair of crutches leaned against the jamb of another door to her right, this one wide open to a room much more visible in the diminishing daylight. She made her way cautiously toward that door, nearly tripping over a loose section of flooring. When she got to the doorway, she peered in and felt her stomach churn with revulsion.


    There was a solitary window letting in the sickly, pale yellow sunlight through its dusty pane. The shadows from a tree outside played across the dirty floor and broke up the lazy dance of dust motes in the stale air of the room. Along the far wall was a single, iron bed frame. Long ago, it had been painted a clean, clinical, crisp white; now the bars rusted and chipped, the white long since turned to dusty gray covering the dingy metal. The mattress sitting on it was sagging in the middle, striped and so dirty she couldn¡¯t tell what colors it was originally intended to be. There were rumpled sheets that clearly never fit the thing at all, with a blanket and pillow tossed into the corner of the bed. Under it was the barest shadow of an old suitcase, its leather straps long ago sacrificed to the rot of this humid climate and the neglect of years passed.


    In front of the bed, on the floor, was a pair of dusty shoes from a bygone era. They sat cockeyed, as if just slipped off by a young girl or boy whose feet turned inward from some shyness or infirmity. The toes of the shoes nearly touched and the dust made the old leather look soft, between the cracks. She had the impression that if she were to walk over and touch the shoes, they would crumble before her eyes. They certainly added to the smell in the air, of dust and old. She found herself wondering for the first time about the most recent inhabitants of this facility, the rats and spiders and other such creatures. Were they still here? Would they come out to meet her when the light dimmed enough for them to feel safe? She shuddered at the thought.


    As if bidden by her thoughts, an emaciated rat scurried across the floor in the room. Where it had come from, she couldn¡¯t say, but it seemed quite familiar with the surroundings as it dodged trash and equipment around the room to reach its destination¡ª a small hole in the corner of the wall nearest her, next to the open closet. She willed herself to not scream, or jump, and watched the rat¡¯s experienced maneuverings with a strange, morbid curiosity. When it dove into its hole, she found herself perversely drawn to crawl over to it and peer in, perhaps to see a family of rats sitting down to supper. She fancied the rat she saw was just going home after a long day at the mill (wherever that equivalent was in this place), and would soon put its feet up on a bit of fluff it had taken months back, ready to relax for the evening.


    It was at this point that she realized her mind was going to places she would rather it didn¡¯t, needing to keep her wits about her in this place. They had warned her that it would play tricks on her, that her mind would try to trap her here somehow. She silently cursed her imagination and went back to searching the room with her eyes. She refused to enter that space unless absolutely necessary, and unless what she sought was in the room, she wouldn¡¯t enter it at all. She craned her neck around to see into the dark closet, where the door to the little cubbyhole was blocking the sunlight and turning it into a gaping maw of darkness.


    ¡°Damn.¡± She whispered when she realized she wasn¡¯t going to get a good view unless she entered the room. Keeping her eyes down and watching the floor for debris, she picked her way across this floor the same way she had in the hall.


    Something caught her eye for an instant and her toe tapped the corner of a tin can, sending it rattling a few feet away. She held her breath, hoping the noise wasn¡¯t enough to elicit a response from the facility, and waited. 10¡­20¡­30. When there was no reaction, she let out her breath and turned her full attention back to the floor between her and the open closet door. She took a step closer, and felt the floor rumble slightly. Her heart fell as she realized the sound had indeed woken it up, deep in the bowels of the building, and it was coming.


    The sound was faint at first, like rolling thunder. Except instead of coming from outside the dingy window, it was coming from further inside the building. As it drew near, the sound grew and changed. It sounded like rusty pipes breaking, or children screaming. Then it sounded like the whole place was groaning, straining to contain the thing. She leapt to the other side of the room, far away from the door, and reached inside her coat for something. She wasn¡¯t worried about making noise anymore; it already knew where she was. She cursed aloud as she fumbled with a trinket that caught the sunlight and gleamed softly for just an instant. She could hear it coming up the hall now, bashing carelessly against the walls as it filled the space. It reached the doorway to the room she was in and hesitated for only a moment, the last fading sunlight repelling it. As the sun sank, her heart sank with it, knowing her best defense was gone. It turned then, facing her fully, and she almost shrieked in mind-numbing terror.


    It was surrounded by a black miasma, like smoke. Its head was impossibly high, easily 8-10 feet, and there was too little of it for what should have been this thing¡¯s head. That¡¯s when it hit her; the face was that of a child. That¡¯s why the head was too small, it was that of a small child atop this monstrosity! There were arms in the miasma that reached out for her, each of them capped by a hand with a face, a face that screamed in horror and pain. The top head leered at her and the whole thing lunged through the door.


    In the last possible instant, her hand went up instinctively to ward it off, to protect her face, she had no idea. It just went up, still with the trinket clutched in it. But though the sun had left, the trinket still gleamed and glowed! The creature shrieked and hissed, backing away but filling too much of the door, it was stuck. It crawled backward, up the wall and away from her. She looked in her hand at the trinket, saw the glow, and thrust it out at the creature. It hissed and spat, its venomous saliva bubbling on the floor before the door. Slowly, it managed to back away out the door, with the paladin following, still holding out the amulet of Amon-Ra to push it back. At the doorway, she stepped in the bubbling venom without a notice, her entire focus on the creature and pushing it back out of the room. The bubbling venom fizzled and was still, crystal clear as water on the floor.


    The creature pulled farther back down the hall, through another doorway, and then disappeared. She could hear it moving, feel the floor still shaking with its many handed steps. Eventually they faded to nothing and she breathed a sigh of relief, replacing the amulet in her interior pocket. She had hoped to not have to show her hand so soon, but if that was the guardian here, things might be worse than they had thought at the priory. She would need to consult with the priest before venturing any further in, much as she detested the delay.


    She made her way back up the hall to the front doors, pulling the pitted and rusty handle gently to open the large portal. As she gained the dusk outside, she heard a whimpering whine from deep in the facility, and knew that for the moment, the creature would hide and lick its wounds, rather than chase.

 Chapter Two

    She climbed the steps to the doors of the monastery, breathing in deeply. The smell of fresh flowers reached her nose and made her head spin. Ah yes, it was spring here after all. She smiled slightly as she pounded on the door and waited for the small porthole to open.


    When it did, a small face peered out at her first in scrutiny, then recognition and relief. The old man exclaimed in joy and his head disappeared. The porthole closed and a moment later the large locks on the wooden door itself unlatched loudly and the door creaked open. She entered quietly and stood reverently as the elderly monk closed and relocked the door.


    He came around to face her and grinned. Some of his teeth were lost to age and others had yellowed, but his grin was so sincere and so sweet that he looked glorious. His leather-wrinkled face lit up with that same joy and he embraced the paladin, who could do little more than grunt at the strength of his embrace as the air was knocked out of her momentarily.


    After a short time, he released her and patted her arm, drawing her into the courtyard. She looked around and marveled at how he still managed to keep his gardens so lovely. The grass was green, smelled of fresh cutting, and looked like soft velvet. Her eyes drank in the color of the flowers lining the walkways, their bright hues softened by the grass and few trees along the path. The gravel path, neatly raked, crunched under their feet.


    When they reached the courtyard proper, he dropped her hand and sat, gesturing to a spot on the bench beside himself. As she sat, the paladin felt the serenity and peace of this place wrap around her in a familiar way. The monk looked at her with benign expectancy, waiting for her to begin her tale.


    "Maester, I come to you with a troubled mind." She started, then paused. She wasn''t entirely sure how to proceed.


    The monk nodded sagely and patted her hand encouragingly. "Go on, my child. I could tell that much by your face when you appeared at our gates. Would I be amiss in assuming that you have not the artifact?"


    She shook her head in sadness. "I do not, Maester. I went to the location we discussed and entered the facility just before sundown. I kept the sun in my view, as you advised. I had just begun searching when the creature appeared."


    She fell silent here, recalling the horror that had attacked. It was unlike anything she had ever encountered, and she confessed her fear to the monk with shame in her voice. The old man''s responding laugh mocked her at first, until her head shot up and she looked at the mirth in his eyes.


    "My dear girl," the monk said. "You have encountered precious little in our walls, I dare say. You were told that this task would present you with fears you had not yet known. This is no surprise to us. Did you think to simply walk in and take the artifact with no opposition?"


    "No, but the protection of the gods, Maester..." her voice trailed off as the monk chuckled again.


    "The gods protect and the gods ignore. Their whims are unknown to us mortals, and we must operate under our own set of laws and ethics. It would appear that they saw fit to protect you this time, however." He looked at her shrewdly and she wondered what he sought.


    "The amulet you provided. When the sun struck it, it glowed. Then it repelled the creature." She stated, once again in a tone of making a simple report.


    The monk exclaimed excitedly, clapping his hands together. "We knew it! We knew it would not desert you in your time of need!" At her questioning look, he turned to face her fully, taking her hands in his and looking up at her as if he was still the tall master she had known for many years in her youth. His voice took on a tone of indulgent instruction. "Aelira, your very name was given by the gods. Knight of the Dusk. You are a holy warrior for the gods, and the highest of them has protected you in your moment of need. This is a sign, my child. You are the one we have waited for, truly. The one who is destined to be the hand of Heaven, the warrior and protector of those the gods choose."


    "What are you saying, Maester Lun?" Aelira''s voice was a whisper.


    "That you must go back and face that thing in the depths. It has festered for far too long in that place, and wrought its horrors on mankind. Now its time is done, and you will be the lance that will pierce through it. You are beloved of the gods, my girl. It is your destiny to defeat this darkness."


    Aelira sat in stunned silence for a long moment, looking out across the courtyard at nothing in particular. How was she supposed to be the chosen holy warrior of the gods? Why her? It made no sense.


    "Let me see your amulet, Aelira." Maester Lun said, his voice both commanding and gentle. He held out his hand. Aelira reached into her coat and produced the small ankh. She drew in breath sharply as she saw it still held a slight glow, even days later. Impossible, she thought. As she handed it to the Maester, the last glow faded and it sat, golden and inert, in his hand.


    "You saw it, did you not? When you relinquished the amulet, the power drained from it. I do not possess what is needed to energize it, even with my training. You are the one for whom it is meant, Aelira. You and no other."


    He handed it back gently and it seemed to faintly glimmer in her hand. She quickly pushed it back into her hidden pockets and gulped, loudly.


    "Be not afraid, my girl. Your fear is what the creature desires most-- to make you so afraid that you will falter in your task. You must not. You must retrieve the artifact and destroy the creature that lurks in that hospital. Keep that amulet with you always, it will protect you in more ways than one."


    "Can you offer no other advice, Maester?" Aelira asked, her voice shaking slightly.


    "Only this: your fear will be your demise, but hubris will be your undoing. You must find the balance of accepting your fear without giving in to it. Only then can your task be fulfilled."


    Aelira nodded, clasping the monk''s hands in her own. She stood, bowed to him, and made her way back up the gravel path toward the gates. She had to figure out how to get the best of her fear before it defeated her, and she only had a short time to do it.

 Chapter Three

    Aelira made her way down the mountain path from the monastery, her head spinning on what Maester Lun had said. He was old, so old that Aelira had lost track of his counted years and imagined he had stopped counting several decades ago himself, but his words felt true. Taking a turn in the path, she shook her head and chuckled derisively. There was no sense in letting herself get carried away by fantasies that she was somehow chosen by the gods. The amulet was one she had picked up at random before leaving the monastery, it had no special significance. Did it?


    She crossed a short bridge that covered a small creek and led into the woods. It was growing dark, but she knew she needed to get to the Facility before dawn, to give her the maximum daylight possible for navigating the maze of halls and rooms. She brought out her torch and clicked it on, bathing the trees in front of her in a pallid light.


    Picking her way gingerly through the pathless trees, she noticed how quiet it had become. Usually at dusk, there were animals rooting around in the underbrush. They foraged and fought, sometimes loudly. There wasn''t a single sound of movement except her own.


    Coming to a small clearing, she stopped and looked up. Out of the thick of the woods, she could see the stars beginning to appear in the darkening sky. One shot across her view, and she said a silent prayer, wishing for guidance and help. Almost before she had finished, she felt the amulet in her pocket become heavy like a stone. She pulled it out and saw that it glowed--brightly! This was no vague shimmer, it was truly shining in her hand. She tossed it in front of her, but it did not land in the grass. Instead it hovered a few feet above the ground, and started to slowly turn.


    Aelira watched in wonder as the amulet began to pulse with light. She dared not move from her place, lest it break whatever spell was being cast. The amulet spun faster until it was like an eye, a solid ball of light staring at her and pulsating in a strange pattern. In the blink of an eye, it stopped. It stared at her, glowing without pulsing again, and then shot straight up into the sky. It was like a miniature sun; the whole clearing was bathed in its soft glowing light.


    A shadow appeared within the light in the sky, the form of a man. It seemed to be walking on the beams of light, down toward her. Aelira drew the sword strapped to her back, ready to defend herself. As the figure drew near, she saw it was not the form of a man but of a god! She knelt in reverence, burying the blade of her sword into the soft dirt at her feet and holding the hilt to her forehead as she bowed it.


    The god descended the rest of the way and stepped onto the grass. Flowers sprung up around his steps, spreading throughout the clearing. Aelira didn''t dare raise her head. Her heart pounded in fear and exultation. She could barely believe what was happening, a god himself had come down to answer her prayer. A sudden shiver of fear struck her cold. What if he isn''t here to respond to my prayer, she thought. What if I am to be punished for something? The shiver of fear turned to panic as she realized that no god had ever responded to her prayers.


    The god was dressed resplendently. His robes were of whiter than white silk, with gold piping along the hem. On his head rested the most amazingly large crown. It looked like two golden pillars, stretching back to heaven. He carried in his hand the ankh amulet she had thrown, and his other arm held a staff. This was truly Amon-Ra. Aelira whimpered silently, positive that her end had come. She waited for the burst of light that would obliterate her from existence, but it never came. Slowly she raised her head to gaze upon the god of gods, and was shocked to see a smile upon his face.


    "Why do you cower, child?" he asked, his voice a booming whisper. She felt instantly calmed by his tones.


    "I feared for your retribution, my lord. I have never seen a god before, and have only heard tales of them appearing to exact justice on those unworthy of the gift of life."


    Amon-Ra laughed softly and the forest sang with the same sounds. He reached out and touched her cheek. It burned with an icy fire that made her draw in a sharp breath. "Child, there is so much you do not yet know. The gods do not punish, we teach. There will come a day when your toil here on this earth will be finished, but today is definitely not that day. We have work to do."


    "...We, my lord?" she asked, unsure of his meaning.


    "We." Was the response. One word, but spoken with such finality and authority, she didn''t dare argue or question.


    Against her better judgment, she heard herself saying, "I''m not sure I understand. I know what I was tasked with, but surely it is beneath the notice of the gods."


    Again, the laugh. This time it was heartier, and Amon-Ra threw back his head in mirth. When he looked back at her, his eyes danced with merriment and amusement. "You do not pursue this creature alone. You have seen one aspect of it, it is written in your eyes and on your soul. You have been struck by its horror and that has changed you. But you are not prepared for the battle ahead. We will help you, protect you, fight alongside you. It is our right, is it not?"


    "Of course, my lord! I do not presume to know the rights of the gods, or that you will help me in this." Aelira''s eyes widened in shock and a momentary frisson of fear.


    Amon-Ra placed his hand on her shoulder comfortingly. "Aelira. We named you such for your quest. You have always been destined to defeat this crawling horror, just as we have been destined to help you. It is in the stars, my child." He indicated the sky, now fully dark and dotted with the sparkling diamonds that were stars. "We shall always be with you on this quest. You only need call on us, and we shall assist you in any way we can." His face darkened as he went on. "However, when the time comes to face the beast, you must be prepared. There are places even the gods may not tread."


    "I understand, my lord. I shall do as you command." Aelira''s head bowed again as she made her vow. When she looked up again, the god was gone and she was once again alone in the clearing.


    The sounds of the forest began--crickets and creatures alike. The clearing was covered in wildflowers, and firebugs lazily darted around just above the grass. Aelira stood, sheathed her sword, and touched her cheek where it had been caressed. It still burned slightly and she could tell there was a mark there. Reaching into a pocket, she pulled out a mirror and her torch. Facing the torch toward her cheek, she held up the mirror to look at it in the small light. The symbol of Amon-Ra, the right eye of Horus, was burned onto her face. She touched it and found that the burning had stopped finally. "Marked by the gods," she mused quietly as she stood and continued on her way. She still had to reach the Facility by dawn.