Room19b
Jora reaches for the black mirror and the reflective surface races over them. When the transition ends they stand upon the narrow ledge within the room. The door through which they entered is now sealed.
“Are we actually going to trust the wizard?”
The words are barely out of Lamia’s mouth when a rumble shakes the room. The ledge encircling the room crumbles on every side leaving only the narrow portion upon which the group stands and an equal-sized one in front of the opposite door.
“I don’t think we have a choice now,” Safir says.
Conrad kneels and waves his hand in the air below the ledge.
“There’s nothing there. If we step out there, we’re going to fall.”
Jora huffs an exasperated sigh. “Look, we have to trust that the mirror didn’t lie. What other choice do we have now? We can’t just stand here forever.”
Safir moves next to Jora and offers her arm.
“You’re right. We have to try it.”
After a moment of waffling, the remaining pair link arms with their friends.
“We can just close our eyes and step forward,” Jora says. “It will help with being afraid.”
The others nod and then one by one they close their eyes.
“On my command, everyone step forward with your right foot. We’ll just take it one step at a time.”
Jora closes his eyes and swallows convulsively. “Step.”
The group takes one synchronized step forward past the edge of the ledge. Their feet descend to the height of the ledge and then continue onward. Eyes closed, the group topples forward and tumbles into the darkness, screaming as they fall.