3. Chapter 3
During her tenure at Chthonic Power Solutions, Zoe had endured an onslaught of health and safety courses that made watching paint dry seem like a thrilling pastime. Wheelie chair races in the office were a strict no-no, and creating a makeshift zipline using Ethernet cables was frowned upon. Photocopying body parts at the Christmas party? Also, a definite negative.
Yet, in the labyrinth of rules that comprised the company handbook, not a single paragraph touched on the protocol for encountering a man made of shadow. A man who was headed straight for her.
“You made a mistake coming here, mortal.”
Mortal? If Zoe was a mere mortal, she shuddered at the thought of what this man could be. She glanced fearfully at his body, a being made of living shadow, and staggered backwards in fright.
“I think there’s been some kind of mistake…”
“You can say that again.” The man stepped closer, his dark eyes studying Zoe like a predator to its prey. “This is my kingdom. And we don’t welcome intruders.”
Zoe drew a startled breath as the darkness gathered behind the man. As he took another step closer, a stab of fear spread along her spine. But despite her hammering heart, she forced herself to stand her ground. This was nothing more than lack of sleep and an overactive imagination. She needed to get to Spring Valley, and this man, or more specifically, his phone line, were her only hope of doing so.
“Trust me, I don’t intend on staying in your kingdom any longer than necessary.” Zoe fixed the stranger with a formidable glare of her own. “And it will take more than some cheap magic tricks to scare me away.”
“Oh, I won’t scare you away.” A devilish smile flickered across the man’s lips as laughter reverberated through the gloom. “But they will.”
“They?”
Zoe gasped as four brightly colored clouds burst from the darkness. Within each one, a figure emerged, dressed in the traditional clothing of a mariachi musician. With a cry of excitement, they plucked the strewn instruments from the ground and flew through the air. Zoe pinched herself, convinced she must be dreaming as the quartet of sombrero-wearing men hovered before her. But no matter what she did, they remained before her, their translucent bodies made of nothing more than smoke.
“It can’t be.” Zoe shook her head in bewilderment at the strange and magical sight. “You’re… ghosts!”
With a hearty cheer, the quartet launched into an impromptu performance. Zoe shrieked as the quartet of ghosts flew towards her in a medley of merry music-making. With a scream of terror, she turned on her heels and fled from the chamber, the clacking of castanets nipping at her heels.
Zoe raced through the gloom of the motel, her heart pounding in her chest as the mariachi band pursued her. She burst through a pair of saloon doors and stumbled into a dust-covered diner, before she drew a startled breath once more. A burst of green smoke exploded from behind the counter, until the ghost of a woman emerged.
“Evening, sugar!” Zoe yelped as the ghost fixed her with a warm smile. “My, oh my, you look deathly pale. I’ll whip you up something in no time!”
With a flick of her hands, the air filled with saucepans, bowls and kitchen utensils. Zoe ducked to avoid being struck by a stray whisk, while the ghost hummed to herself contentedly as she plucked floating ingredients from the air, like a conductor to an orchestra. As the ovens roared to life with gusto, Zoe backed away to the closest doors, before she made her escape once more.
“This must be a dream. Or a nightmare.” Zoe spluttered as she ran into a maze of cobwebs, and searched frantically for the exit. “I need to get out of here!”
“Going so soon? But I’ve had no body to play with in years.” Zoe yelped as a cloud of turquoise smoke emerged, revealing the ghost of a jester. “And I mean that literally!”
Zoe screamed in horror, and raced down a corridor as the troupe of instruments pursued her. She burst through a door, before she heaved a nearby dresser against it, barring it closed. She held her breath as the sound of her pursuers grew more distant, and the clacking of the castanets quietened.
“Did I lose them?”
“No. You most certainly didn’t.”
She yelped as a gravelly voice reverberated through the darkness, until the shadows parted. The dark-eyed man stepped from the swirling mists, before his eyes narrowed into a cold glare.
“Did you really think a door would stop me? What part of walking through walls don’t you understand?” The man drifted closer, his feet hovering above the ground. “Now, why have you come here?”
“Stay back, I’m warning you!” Zoe searched frantically in her satchel for a weapon, only to retrieve a half-eaten falafel wrap she’d grabbed on her journey. “Don’t come any closer! There’s enough garlic mayo in this to send you back to whatever hell you’re from.”
“You’re thinking of vampires. And I am no vampire.” A cruel smile flickered across the man’s lips. “I warned you to leave, mortal. And now you’ll discover what happens when you don’t heed my warnings. Come, Cerberus!”
“Cerberus?”
Dark and swirling shadows gathered beside the stranger, twisting and churning until a silhouette began to form. A deep growl reverberated through the darkness, like peals of thunder shaking the foundations of the earth. Zoe staggered backwards as a vast dog prowled from the shadows, with three snarling heads that held her in their gaze.
“This is my kingdom. And this is no place for the likes of you.” The stranger smiled coldly as the dog’s growls deepened. “Now, Cerberus, show our guest the way out.”
Fear coursed through Zoe’s veins as the beast vaulted towards her in a blur of shadow. She waited for it to strike. For its vast jaws to tear into her flesh, and turn her into a human chew toy. But there was no blow. No snapping of jaws, nor crunching of bones. Instead, she was greeted by something quite different.
“Hey, cut that out!” Zoe couldn’t help but laugh in surprise as the giant dog fussed over her like an over-excited puppy, its tail wagging merrily through the air in delight. “You’re going to lick me to death!”
“Cerberus! What part of being a guardian of the Underworld don’t you understand?” The stranger pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration as the giant dog rolled on its back and wiggled its legs in the air. “You’re supposed to scare away intruders, not pester them for belly rubs!”
“Master!” Zoe yelped as the blue jester burst through the wall, the bells on his hat jingling in a frenzy. “There’s a mortal in the kingdom! A real-life walking-talking fleshie…”
“I know, Spooks.” The man’s voice deepened with his growing displeasure. “She’s standing right in front of you!”
Zoe watched in bewilderment as the poltergeist floated towards her. As he began poking and prodding her with interest, she fixed him with a stern glare.
“Hey, cut that out, would you?”
Spooks shrieked in surprise, before he ducked behind a chair.
“The fleshie can see me?” The mischievous prankster peered out from the furniture, his bells trembling in fear. “How is this possible?”
The dark-haired stranger’s jaw clenched in frustration. “Put it out of your mind, Spooks…”
“But no mortal has seen us in years! This is incredible! This is huge! This calls for a special announcement!”
“Spooks, no, I…”
With a grin, the jester cupped his hands around his mouth, before he let loose a trumpeting toot.
“Gather round everyone! The fleshie can see us!” Spooks spun through the air, cackling with glee as he summoned the other spirits. “Misty, fire up the ovens! Miguel, light the candles! José, bring us the finest bottles from the cellar! This will be a night to remember!”
Zoe watched in bewilderment as ghosts flew through the room in a trail of smoke. The members of the mariachi band tooted their instruments in greeting, while the green-hued specter of the woman dusted her hands on her apron and waved in greeting.
“I knew this place was a ghost town. I just hadn’t expected it to be so literal.” Zoe looked at the strange sights before her, and shook her head in wonder. “But where am I exactly?”
“Isn’t it obvious?” Spooks cackled with delight before he addressed the mariachi band. “Open the shutters, boys!”
As the pale light of the moon seeped into the chamber, Zoe gazed at the view beyond in wonder. The stars shone brightly, while in the distance, a moonlit hilltop curled into the sky, like the crooked point of a witch’s hat. But her gaze lingered on the motel sign, until realization dawned on her.
The shadows stirred beside Zoe, until the stranger approached once more. He followed her gaze to the pulsing lights of the sign, and spoke in nothing but a whisper.
“Welcome to the Underworld, mortal.”
The stranger’s words sent a shiver down Zoe’s spine. The earth swayed beneath her feet as she looked at the strange and bizarre sights, until her legs gave way and she fell deep into the shadows. A pair of arms broke her fall, carefully lowering her to the ground, until all faded to darkness.