>>5312197“So,” Art mutters as Lil’ Stanley scratches idly at the foot of the exit door, “Any clue on how to open it?”
You respond with a shrug–you could always blow it up, right?
“What about da’ <span class="mu-r">DEMONS?</span>” Ly asks, earning one of your patented eyerolls in response! You dunno, you snarl, you didn’t really think that far ahead, okay!? Giving the door a solid kick, you manage to hurt your toe <span class="mu-i">and</span> startle Lil’ Stanley in one move! Scampering up your leg and into your pocket with a menacing hiss, the raccoon watches with bristled hair and wide-eyed interest as you and the others contemplate the current puzzle.
“Jeez, these dumbasses couldn’t even put a <span class="mu-i">button</span> on here or something?” Talbot growls as he stoops down to look at the empty receptacle for a <span class="mu-b">MAGIC ORB</span> next to the door. “Stupid <span class="mu-i">magic</span>. Stupid <span class="mu-i">Atlantis…</span>” Turning to face Ernesto, the tracksuited-terror stares at the golem with irritation in his eyes. “And you guys! What, they didn’t program you to open doors or something?”
As if waiting for the magic word, Ernesto dutifully stomps forwards before jamming his hand into the receptacle next to the door. With a faint fizzle of energy, the golem’s eye flickers a bit as a small sphere is born from his outstretched hand! Watching in awe, you and the others are taken aback as a series of lights trail over the door before it opens with a low, drawn-out metallic groan!
“Alright,” Talbot quietly remarks as you try to get a glimpse of what’s on the other side, “Not bad, man.”
Still operating the door, Ernesto stares at your fellow janitor in what you can only imagine is a ‘<span class="mu-i">Told-Ya-So</span>’ kind of way. Before you can relay the meaning to Talbot, however, you find out what lies beyond the door… and why it was closed in the first place!
“Flesh…” Art hisses as thin strands of mottled, diseased meat rip apart with the door like pieces of rotten bubblegum, “l-lots…”
Lots is right. The tunnel beyond the door is <span class="mu-i">caked</span> with it–hairs, eyes, writhing appendages. Judging by what <span class="mu-i">isn’t</span> covered, you wager this was some kind of rapid-transit tunnel, albeit with footpaths to the left and right. Speaking of feet, you’re just about to venture outside when you hear a couple trundling just outside in a drunken, arrhythmic gait!
“<span class="mu-s">SEcreEETS SEeeCrREETS AAAaAaRrrRE NO FUUUUuUnN…</span>” Sings a trio of slurring voices similar to those ‘<span class="mu-i">talking dog</span>’ videos you used to watch on <span class="mu-b">MeTube,</span> “<span class="mu-s">SEeegrRETS ARRE FerREVEROOONE!</span>”
Maintaining the magical orb, Ernesto looks at you just as you hear a shrill scream ring out from where you left Syb!
“STAN!” Art hisses through his mask, “That sounded like Sybil!”
With no time to waste, you opt to…
>AMBUSH THE APPROACHING DEMON(S?)!>HIGH-TAIL IT BACK TO SYBIL! NO TIME TO WASTE!>MAKE SURE ERNESTO CLOSES THE DOOR FIRST, THEN HEAD BACK!>WRITE-IN! 