Page 32 of Into the Abyss
“What magic lamp?” I asked.
“In some legends of the jinn, they’re stuckin magic lamps, and when someone rubs the lamp, a jinni emerges.The jinni then has to grant whoever set them free three wishes,”Erin said.
“Well, that’s just… ridiculous,” I replied.“And untrue. Why would someone make that up?”
Erin laughed as she ran a hand through herhair. “For fun, I guess.”
“It must have been someone with a bigimagination,” Magnus said. “It’s time for us to get back to theAbyss.”
I focused on Corson again. “We’ll try tofind Wren.”
“I’ll come with you,” Corson said. “Ifseeing Magnus helped to jar Erin out of the Abyss, then seeing mewill help Wren.”
CHAPTER 14
Magnus
“No. You have to stay and continue to make sureeveryone is guarded,” I said. “I’ll weave an illusion over theentrance of the cave to make it appear as if it’s solid rock, buteveryone here is too vulnerable to take away any of theirprotection. When we find Wren, if it’s necessary, wewillcome back for you.”
I didn’t dare risk taking Corson into theAbyss; he was too unstable. He’d take off in search of Wren, andthough it was important we find her, there were others in there whoalso needed help. We couldn’t risk losing Corson in there becauseof his focus on Wren.
Corson opened his mouth to protest when ahuman lying against the back wall sat up like a ventriloquist dummywhose strings had been pulled. Caim squawked and danced away fromthe man so fast black feathers broke free from his wings andfloated lazily in the air.
When the man’s head turned stiffly towardus, I recognized him as Chet, before he rose in a fluid motion thatshould have been impossible for a human. He walked woodenly acrossthe cave and toward the entrance.
“What is going on?” Corson murmured. He tooka step after Chet before edging back toward Wren. His talons slidfree.
“I’ll be back,” I said and raced after Chetwhen he walked toward the front of the cave. Everything about him,from his unbending legs to his unblinking gaze, reminded me of apuppet.But who is pulling his strings?
Amalia’s soft step alerted me that she wasfollowing us as we approached the entrance. Caim strolled behindher with his hands clasped behind his back, and Raphael remainedstone-faced while he walked behind him.
When Chet went to step outside the cave, Islipped past to block him. I was curious to see where he intendedto go, but we couldn’t risk something seeing him leaving here. Chetcontinued his wooden walking, but it got him nowhere as hecontinuously bumped into me.
“What is he doing?” Amalia murmured, hervoice laced with horror.
I clasped Chet’s shoulder and held him alittle to the side of me to avoid his ceaseless legs. A Wilder,Chet was one of Wren’s followers and often dispersed the meals tothe humans. He’d always been friendly enough, and we’d spoken a fewtimes, but there was no spark of recognition in his glazed-overeyes.
“Chet,” I said.
He didn’t blink, but his legs continued torise and fall. When I eased my grip on his shoulder, he startedwalking in a circle beneath my hand. In the cramped space, hismovements were awkward, and his feet continuously connected withthe rock walls, but he didn’t stop.
When he was done turning, he started towardthe front of the cave again, but I blocked him once more. Placingmyself firmly in front of him, I gripped his shoulders.
“Chet!” I gave him a rough shake that didnothing to make him respond.Blink!“Chet!”
Nothing.
Chet’s head swiveled toward me; his gazeremained deadened and his eyes unblinking while his legs continuedto rise and fall.
It repulsed me to continue holding him, butI couldn’t let him leave here.
“Do you think you could wake him?” I askedRaphael.
“No.”
“Maybe if we let him go, he’ll wake up,”Amalia suggested.
“And if there’s something out there huntingfor us?” I asked.
