3. This Might Sting a Little
The first door broke as
Isla applied pressure to it, the wood cracking around the handle and crumbling inwards. Some planking still remained attached to the hinges, but they were rusted solid and no longer turned. Inside the room she would see cobwebs and debris from what had once been wooden shelves and a table with a chair, now little more than piles of splintered wood and mildew. Mice squeaked in panic and scurried for cover as the dim light filtered in from the main hall. Panes of thick glass high up on the wall might have once let light in, but were now covered by dirt and snow.
The second door opened with only a little effort, revealing a similar scene to the first room – collapsed shelving, wooden furnishings reduced to kindling – but one of the upper windows was broken, dirt having trickled inside before the window well had filled up and packed closed. To the right of
Samuel was an odd lump, nearly as tall as he was and tucked into the corner away from the dirt and water damage of the far wall. Closer inspection would reveal what, at first, would appear to be a massive pile of books, their covers spread and haphazardly stuck together in a giant misshapen ball. Except there were no pages left, and as light and air circulated into the room, a faint buzzing began to sound from within…
The third door opened with a tortured shriek of metal, the hinges crackling as they turned for the first time in years.
Amalia ’s shoulder would have a bruise in a few hours, but the sight that greeted her was a mirror of the room across the hall, without the rampant rot. Wooden shelves were still intact, and the table and chair were still quite sturdy. There was less dust in here, though the cobwebs lacked residents and there were no signs of mice.
Jigano went to the last one, of course. When he put his hand to the knob and his shoulder to the metal, the fourth door – didn’t move. It was locked solid and no amount of pressure would budge it while the lock was turned.
Everyone would have a minute to look in their rooms before the buzzing from the second room grow noticeably louder.
Samuel would see movement rustling within the pile of damaged, stuck-together books before a creature crawled out from the top of the hive, ancient papery wings buzzing fitfully. The size of a clenched fist, it resembled a giant wasp in form, though its exoskeleton looked to be made of thick paper rather than chitin. Black, multifaceted eyes caught the light and reflected it back a flickering orange as it rose into the air, a little wobbly but growing steadier by the second as the breeze from the open door upstairs brought the scent of fresh books wafting deliciously down. A second wasp was already emerging as the first began to fly towards Samuel. The second moved faster, and was soon joined by a third. The fourth and much larger wasp to emerge did so with great difficulty, tearing its way out of the top of the nest with a dry, rattling chitter. The size of a man’s head, the queen was a rainbow of faded colors, like a living illuminated manuscript. She was beautiful and angry, and though she flew slower than her children, her stinger was much larger.
The room filled with the sound of buzzing, echoing in the subterranean silence. One of the first wasps headed for Samuel while the rest flew towards the door, their large size slowing their flight, but their stingers glistening with black venom.
Samuel is in trouble! Quick, to the rescue!
Posting Order:
1. Samuel
2. Isla
3. Amalia
