Chapter 5: Adopt a Demon

I wake up in the pitch black. My head hurts as I feel cold stone under my hands. I rise up from the ground, not really understanding where I am or what is going on. The past day felt like some kind of dream or nightmare—I was half expecting to wake up in my bed. The reality, however, is not so kind. Finn betrayed us, but to my surprise, we aren't dead—at least not yet.

My hand reaches out and feels something fleshy near me. I remember Rin was with me; this must be her hand or leg. I pull my phone out of my jeans, and the light glows onto the walls and door.

I shine it toward the hand and see Rin passed out on her stomach. Her hair is a mess, she isn't moving, and her body looks pale. I panic a little and put my hand on her pulse point. She still has a pulse. I feel relief. I might not get along with her, but at one time we were very close.

I flip her onto her back and put her head on my lap. I begin shaking her a bit. "Rin. Rin!"

No response. I check her head for a concussion, but thankfully I find nothing of note on the back of her head. I grab some water from my satchel and drop cold water on her eyes. Her eyelids twitch a bit, and I call her name again. Finally, her eyes flutter open. She looks at my face and blinks a few times. Rin looks confused for a moment, then she seems to realize the situation she's in and jolts up.

Rin looks around like a madwoman. "What—where? What is going on?"

Rin squeezes her temple and curses a few times at Finn. "Can't believe that shithead betrayed us all for some fantasy bullshit."

I sigh, the same disappointment in my tone. "I should've talked to him more about it. I just... knew it was a sore spot. I never thought..."

Rin points out, "Never thought what? That he'd ditch us like yesterday's trash? Yeah, well, you always were naive, Jack. Now look at where that has us. Lost in some ruins under a desert and left to die. Just fucking great."

I snort. "Yeah, thanks for the confidence-boosting speech. Look, put off the fighting for now. That weird computer said that we were sacrifices. Well, why aren't we dead then?"

Rin laughs, like it's the most obvious thing in the world. "Clearly, it's easier to just lock us in here. I mean, we can't exactly walk through walls, in case you haven't noticed."

I ignore her and walk toward the door. Rin is right—the steel-reinforced door is as impenetrable from this side as it is from the other side. I knock a few times, but it's pointless. Even if Finn was on the other side, there's no way he knows we are still back here. I can imagine, judging by that intense light, he thinks we are already dead. The door shutting and him not seeing any corpses wouldn't make him think we survived to him it would look like we got vaporized. 

Our next course of action is to go forward. The room isn't just walls on all sides—it appears to be a corridor. I walk away from the wall. "Well, you can stay here and waste your energy yelling until you succumb to death, but I think I would like to check out my surroundings."

Rin glares at me, her crimson eyes narrowing into slits. "Oh, sure. Let's just stroll deeper into the death maze like it's a walk in the park. Brilliant idea, Captain Jack."

Finn used that name as a joke, but when she calls me "Captain," it stings more. The mockery in her voice, tinged with something almost hurtful, cuts deeper than I expect.

I shrug playing it off, I am already shining my phone's flashlight down the corridor. "Better than waiting for starvation or dehydration to take us. You coming or not?"

She mutters something under her breath, but I hear her footsteps behind me.

The corridor is narrow, the walls slick with condensation and covered in more of those glowing blue lines. They hum faintly, pulsing like a heartbeat, guiding our way forward. The air feels damp, cooler than I'd expect this far under a desert. Every sound echoes—our steps, our breathing, the occasional drip of water from somewhere unseen.

"Do you even have a plan, or are you just winging it as usual?" Rin asks, her voice cutting through the oppressive silence.

I smile back at her. "Winging it."

Rin sighs. "Typical."

The corridor opens up into a larger chamber, and my breath catches. The room is massive, the ceiling arching high above us, disappearing into darkness. Pillars line the space, each one etched with the same angular symbols from the door and console earlier. In the center of the room is a pedestal, glowing faintly, with something resting on top.

The tablet hums louder as I step closer, and the synthetic voice echoes through the chamber again, calm but devoid of emotion:

"Welcome, sacrifices. You have been chosen to participate in the Last Valley Corporation's Contingency Protocol. Survival is not guaranteed, but for those who prove themselves, the potential for salvation exists."

"Chosen?" Rin spits the word like poison. "More like dumped here to die."

The voice ignores her, continuing its pre-programmed spiel. "This part of the facility was designed to process failure. Those deemed sacrifices in the previous trial are provided a final opportunity: forge a pact, or perish."

"Pact?" I ask, feeling a knot form in my stomach.

The holographic map above the tablet flickers, and new symbols appear—glowing sigils I don't recognize. Each one pulses faintly, like they're alive.

"The forces that exist within this labyrinth extend beyond your comprehension. Ancient entities, bound by their own laws, reside here. These entities—referred to as 'demons' in human mythology—have agreed to our terms. They may grant you power, should you prove worthy. In exchange, you will offer them something of value."

"Demons?" Rin's voice is thick with skepticism. "This is insane. Sacrifices, demons, pacts? What kind of corporate dystopia is this?"

The AI responds coldly, as if sensing her disbelief. "Your survival hinges on their acceptance. Not all will form a contract. They are selective and require a sufficient offering. Without their aid, your fate is sealed."

I glance at Rin, who looks as pale as I feel. "So, what? We're supposed to beg some supernatural creature for help and hope it doesn't eat us alive?"

"Terms vary," the voice replies, almost mockingly. "But know this: these entities do not act out of benevolence. They seek something from you—your will, your memories, your freedom. Consider your choices carefully."

The map shifts again, zooming in to highlight a glowing path leading to another chamber.

"Follow the designated route. The first step is introduction. You will decide on what demon to pursue. Keep in mind, you will be given only one single choice, so pick the demon you think you will be able to control. I would recommend you hurry the demons await."

A soft click echoes through the room as part of the wall slides open, revealing another corridor. The glowing blue lines turn to red lines and similarly pulse rhythmically, guiding the way forward.

Rin crosses her arms, glaring at the opening. "And if we just stay here? Wait it out?"

The AI answers without hesitation. "The chamber will seal in sixty minutes. Atmospheric conditions will deteriorate. Failure to proceed will result in termination."

"Figures," I mutter, my hand running through my hair.

Rin slams a fist into one of the nearby pillars, frustration etched across her face. "This is bullshit! We're just pawns in some sick experiment for monsters and corporate freaks!"

I take a deep breath, trying to steady myself. "Look, Rin, I don't like this either, but we don't have a choice. We either move forward and try to survive, or we die here. And I'm not giving up without a fight."

She hesitates, her jaw clenched, before finally nodding. "Fine. But if one of those things tries to make me sell my soul or whatever, I'm punching it in the face."

Despite everything, I almost laugh. "I don't think they negotiate like that."

We step into the corridor, the red light guiding our way only to cut off past the previous rooms walls. The oppressive silence makes my skin crawl, broken only by the sound of our footsteps. The air feels heavier here, charged with an energy I can't explain.

As we walk, the AI speaks again from somewhere unseen, its tone colder now.

"Remember: failure to form a pact will result in your death. Demons do not bargain lightly. They are picky on who they choose as hosts. Choose wisely, sacrifices."

The words linger in the air, a chilling reminder of what's waiting for us ahead.

As we walk deeper into the corridor, the air grows heavier, and the silence wraps around us like a suffocating blanket. The a rhythmic hum on the walls seem to quicken their pulse, as if they're alive, watching us. The floor beneath my feet is cold and uneven, the stone cracked and jagged in places. It almost feels like the walls are closing in with every step we take.

We reach the end of the hall, and I can't help but shiver. The temperature has dropped noticeably, a chill settling in my bones. Rin mutters something under her breath, but I can barely hear her over the thumping of my own heart. Something about this place feels wrong. We step into the next room, and I stop dead in my tracks.

It's massive, stretching far beyond what I can see. The stone floor is littered with debris, aged and cracked with time. The walls are jagged and uneven, and the space feels ancient, like it hasn't been touched by human hands in centuries. High pillars line the edges of the room, each one covered in strange symbols—ones that match the ones from the door and the console earlier. My phone flashlight catches on them, casting long shadows across the chamber.

In the center of the room, there's a pedestal, glowing faintly. Atop it sits an object—a book, bound in dark leather, its cover adorned with more of those strange, angular markings. As I move closer, I feel a pulse of energy, as if the room itself is adapting to us, reacting to my presence.

Before I can even touch it, a voice echoes through the room, the same cold, emotionless tone as before. "Welcome, sacrifices. You are one step closer to your fate."

I grit my teeth. "Yeah, yeah, we've heard this already."

The AI continues, unbothered. "This room contains the record of demons. Here, you will find the descriptions of entities that may offer you power. Once you have selected a demon, press their symbol with your thumb in blood, and the path you desire will open. You must both take a path, and must travel that path alone. Should you travel the same path, this will engage automatic termination. Good luck, lost lambs."

I feel like the AI is mocking us. I mean not a shred of humanity just oh pick your demon and try not to die. I step up to the book. Its old pages look worn and dusty. The title of the book is The 48 Bound Ones. The book seems to hold exactly 48 pages, and each of the pages contains one demon. I take a deep breath, the weight of the decision pressing down on me. I glance at Rin, and for a moment, we just stare at each other—no words needed. This was it. The path we'd chosen might be the last one we ever walked.

With a steady hand, I turn the first page, ready to face whatever hell lies ahead.