Lair of Dreams

Heart hammering, Ling took another step backward, and another. Behind her, the dark sighed, like a long gust of wind through dry leaves, and it took all of Ling’s will not to run back toward the light.

Wai-Mae hesitated for another moment, and then, carefully, she stepped into the darkness, glancing around fearfully at the earthen tomb. Nothing happened, and Ling wondered if perhaps she’d gotten it wrong after all.

“Sister? Where are you?”

“I’m here,” Ling said, her voice hoarse. “Come to me.”

As Wai-Mae moved through the dark, light crackled along the walls, making her jump.

“Please. Let’s go back, Ling.”

“Just a little closer,” Ling said.

The bricks sputtered to life, glowing with so many dreams. Like a curious child, Wai-Mae drew closer to the wall. She put her hand to first one, then another, then another, staring at the image of the veiled woman as she ran toward Devlin’s.

Wai-Mae sang, soft as a lullaby. “La-la-la-la-la… wake unto me. Starlight… sweet dreams…” Her song became a whisper. “Are waiting. Waiting for… for… me .”

A phosphorescent aura softened the outline of Wai-Mae, like something raised from the deep, and then she fell into the dirt, her face in her hands. The howl torn from her nearly broke Ling’s heart.

“Why?” Wai-Mae sobbed.

“I’m sorry,” Ling said, fighting tears. “So sorry.”

“How could you do this to me?” Wai-Mae said, shaking.

“Let me help you, Wai-Mae.”

Wai-Mae’s eyes flashed. Her teeth lengthened, sharpening to points. “You are dishonorable! Like the man who tricked me here.”

Behind Ling, the dark felt alive. Nails clicked on stone. Scratching. And Ling didn’t know what was more terrifying—the thought of what might lie in the vast dark behind her or the creature transforming before her. Wai-Mae rose from the dirt, walking slowly toward Ling. As she did, her modest tunic shifted into the long white dress. Bloodstains seeped through and stretched across the fabric in flowering wounds. The headpiece dissolved, and Wai-Mae’s neatly coiled dark hair came undone. It fell loose across her shoulders, snarled and broken. Her sharp teeth gleamed. Purple pockmarks painted themselves upon the pale ribbon of Wai-Mae’s throat. Her waspish voice stung the air: “I will show you the terror of your desires. I will show you the folly of dreams. I will show you how the world tears you apart. Here is your dream turned to dust.”

The veil descended. In her hand was the dagger. Wai-Mae lunged, grabbing the back of Ling’s neck. “Dream with me, sister,” she growled, plunging the dagger in. She parted her lips and pressed her dream into Ling’s mouth.

Ling fought back until she no longer could. Her arms hung at her sides, loose and long, as if she’d put down a heavy burden at last.

And then she was tumbling down.





Mabel shut off the alarm, but Henry and Ling slept on.

Jericho’s face was grave. “I can’t wake her.”

Theta shook Henry. “Wake up! Come on, Hen! Please.”

In the eerie silence that followed, Theta stood and faced everyone. “Well, I’m not sitting here while that witch kills my best friend. I say we go into the tunnels and find that train station and whatever is so damned important down there. I say we burn it if we gotta. Whaddaya got around this Creepy Crawly to help us out?”

Mabel rifled through drawers, pulling out all manner of things—ceremonial knives, protective charms, a wooden stake, stones, and a wooden box.

“Any of these things work?” Theta asked, examining a woven wheel with feathers attached.

“Possibly,” Jericho said. “The trouble is, we don’t know how they work. And Will has always said that each culture has its specific beliefs about ghosts. You can’t guarantee that a gris gris bag will keep you safe from a Chinese ghost, for instance. You’d need to know more about what you’re up against.”

“How can we find that out?” Theta asked. “The two people who know the most about our ghost are out cold.”

“Maybe if we had somebody who could get a read on the situation once we’re down there?” Sam said and looked over at Evie, slumped in her chair.

“I don’t think Evil could read the directions on a can of beans right now,” Theta said.

“I am perfectly capable, I can assure you,” Evie sniffed.

“Swell. Somebody get the Great Blotto some coffee.” Sam opened the weapons cabinet. “And a few of these knives couldn’t hurt.”

“Agreed. These flashlights will also come in handy,” Memphis said, testing the batteries in each one.

“Jericho, you and Mabel stay here and keep trying to wake them up,” Sam said as he grabbed for his jacket.

“I should come with you,” Jericho protested. “I’m bigger.”

“Yeah, I know. I got eyes,” Sam sniped. “But if something goes really south with Ling and Henry, we need somebody who could drag them off to the showers. Or fight whatever comes in here.”

“I don’t like it,” Jericho said.