("Dyad In The Force"?)

Korri POV

My mind spins, spins, spins.

Blood's rushing to my head, and I feel nauseous.

Korri? You look like you're about to throw up.

I glare at him. I- I have an idea. If we use our dyad-in-the-force ability, at the same time, we might be able to collapse the ceiling on them."

Uh, okay, I see where you're going with this. Mars frowns. But, one, how do you know there are MULTIPLE people in the room? Two, what in the bloody hell is a "dyad in the force"?

I shake my head, which I hope means, not now.

Well, when do we do the duo telepathy thing, now, or when?

Count of three, I guess.

One

Two

Three!!!

We shout.

I don't know whether we are so loud in our mental realm that it somehow accessed audible sound in the physical world, or whether it was just so loud that it confuses me, but it crumbles the ceiling.

"NO!" the corpse of Claire Sage wails.

"WHAT IN THE HELL ARE YOU?"

"I'M A VAMPIRE, MORON! AND YOU WILL DIE!!!" But she never gets the chance; the Fates decided that the moment the cavern ceiling melted on top of her.

"Whoa," Mars breathes. "That was... unexpected."

I nod. "Agreed. But we need  to get outta here."

I hear the snapping of rope. I suddenly see Mars's face in front of me.

He got down.

He starts to cut the rope binding me. "Yeah. And quick."

I get free, and we look around the room.

"Well," I say. "I see five different rooms, and... eighteen different passage ways."

"Wait," Mars frowns. "I can't see anything. How d'you know that's there?"

"I... I can just feel them there."

A"They're there." Mars looks skeptical. "Hm, which path do we take?"

I wanna pace.

If we could hear a certain, varied, intonation of pitch from a certain tunnel then maybe...

You realize I can hear you.

Oh yeah.

I didn't know you were ridiculously smart. He smirks, but he still looks slightly dizzy. But I think your idea could work.

I must be making a face because he adds, I'm dead serious. I'm no Apollo, but it could work. But we'd need something to transmit the sound or frequency.

We could, I muse, we could just use our telepathy-

NO! I refuse to blow anything else up!

I wasn't planning to. I was thinking if we transmit a single or "frequency" as you said, through each tunnel, and uh, go through the one with the most variety? To go through.

That sounds better than the blowing up or singing ideas.

I bet you could go high enough.

His cheeks go red. Oh shut up.

I snicker. 'Kay, but then HOW are we gonna transmit the single?

I didn't say I was against the telepathy idea. Just... not as strong?

Okay, I agree, even though it was MY idea not his. But how are we gonna do it this time?

No clue.

We gotta try something.
I KNOW. He groans. Ugh, maybe we try the third door first.

And he completely ignored my idea.

Ugh.

'Kay. I say. But why-

Doesn't matter.

I follow him.

Mars, I whisper. I wanted to ask if I can call you Ares, I mean, now that's just what pops in my head-

He frowns. Uh sure?

Thanks? I stop. Did you hear that?

I thought I was imagining it.

"Heh heh heh...." a soft airy, giggly voice rasps from above us.

I turn around. RUN!

A long dark shadow flies across the tunnel walls, following us deeper into the labyrinth.

"Okay, WHAT IS THIS THING?!" I pant, my legs hurting, and my cut burning.

"Uh," Ares frowns. "I- I think it's a- a dryad."

"Wait," I say. "Aren't dryads, uh, a little more peaceful?"

"Normally, yeah." Ares grimaces. "But these seem, um, slightly aggravated."

"Wait, these? There's two?! SERIOUSLY?!"

"Seems that way, could be more."

"And slightly? Are you kidding me?"

Ares's frown deepens. "Okay, their pist. And yes, I meant 'these' as in plural. I-"

"SCREE!!!!" shriek the dryad-creatures.

Korri. Mars whispers. I need you to think the most sorrowful thoughts you can.

WHAT?!

Just try.

And I try.

I think of when Lola nearly died.

When I saw her hospital room empty.

I think of that little boy with his sister about to die.

The two screaming humanoid corpses topple to the ground.

I gasp. "What happened to them?"

Ares's hair glints blood red in the candle light.

The same thing that's going on with you. He whispers.

Then I see it.

The blood purple veins scattered all over their bodies.