As night fell, the companions huddled together in a corner on what was left of the upper level of the temple that hadn’t collapsed. It was a lofty position that could give a sentry a wide gaze over the land. A meager supper of remaining rations and some mushroom provided by Morell was enough to sate the stomachs of those on hand. The faun offered to take the first watch as usual but the others hadn’t been asleep very long when she noticed that Morell had roused from his blanket and stepped gingerly around the bodies of the others to keep from waking them.

  “What are you doing awake?” she asked in a whisper.

  “I have to pee.” He said. “I couldn’t hold it any longer.”

  “Go ahead, then.” She replied. “Be sure to use the tree line over this side of the temple so you’re not far out of my sight.”

  “Alright.” He nodded before heading down to the first level and out across the grass. Outside of the ruins, a cool wind blew across the night to chill Morell. His foot was feeling better but still couldn’t find it easy to put all his weight upon it. Onward he hobbled into the undergrowth to find a place to relieve himself. When he’d finished, he pulled his pants up and buttoned them before starting back. He wasn’t two steps inside the temple before a whisper caught his ear.

  “Morell!” the tiny feminine voice echoed in the shadows.

  “Hello?” he asked. “Who’s there?”

  “Morell, it’s Siouxsie.” It replied. “Keep your voice down.”

  “Siouxsie?” he asked a little softer now. “What are you doing awake? Where are you? It’s dark and I can’t see you.”

  “Keep walking forward.” She said. “I’m just ahead.”

  “I can barely see a foot in front of my face.

  “Come closer, I have something for you. A special gift.”

  “A gift? What do you have?”

  “A kiss, Morell. A warm kiss just for you if you want it.”

  “R-really?”

  “Yes of course. How could I not want to give a kiss to such a brave boy?” All reason left Morell’s mind and he walked faster to get closer to the dark silhouette with the pointed hat. It was so dark with the clouds in front of the moon that he could barely keep from tripping over his own feet to follow her.

  “Where are you leading me, Siouxsie?” he asked. “I thought you said you have a kiss for me.”

  “It’s not much further.” She said. “I know the perfect place to steal a kiss without the others watchful eyes upon us. Come, come.”

  “This is very strange, even for you.” He said hesitantly but didn’t stop walking. She led him a little further around a corner and into the corridor that had been somewhat familiar. It was the same hallway where she’d used her bat to find the secret passage before. As they turned the corner, the clouds parted a little and Morell could see a little better. Siouxsie stopped next to the place where he’d fallen into the lower levels before but this time the block that had been moved before was missing altogether.

  “Siouxsie, where are we going?” he finally said as his feet came to a stop.

  “It’s just right here.” She said. “No need to go any further. Close your eyes.”

  “Close my eyes? It’s black as pitch, I can hardly see anything at all.”

  “No matter, that’s close enough.”

  High above on the second floor of the temple, as Hoxley stood her post in the southwestern corner, more movement could be heard. She took her eyes off the moonlit field to turn and see Siouxsie gingerly climbing out of her cocoon of straps and leather as not to wake her twin.

  “What are you doing awake?” she asked.

  “When mother nature calls, she usually yells.” She joked.

  “Yes, I suppose that’s true. Use the tree line beyond this corner of the temple so I can keep an eye upon the area around you.”

  “I’ll do it.” Siouxsie agreed. The small witch walked out into the night air, crossed into the underbrush, did her business and came walking back. She cared not who might be watching as she spun a few twirls to dance in the moonlight. Inside, she was walking past the tepid fountain when something strange caught her ear; it was the voice of Morell in the depths. Curious, she scaled the wall of the fountain to peer down into the ink blackness of the gaping hole in the center.

  “Morell?” she called down the hole.

  “Siouxsie!” the frightened boy called back. “What kind of game is this?!”

  “Game?” she asked with some confusion. “I’m not playing games! What are you doing down in the darkness? Come out of there at once before you hurt yourself!”

  “You’re the one who shoved me down here!”

  If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  “Me?! Morell, have you got bats between the ears? I just woke from my slumber to pee and now you’re playing hide and seek in a well with a room full of bones. I don’t understand this at all.” Just as she was talking, Hoxley approached from behind.

  “What nonsense is this?” she asked. “Siouxsie, you and Morell should be asleep to recuperate your strength not playing with a decrepit fountain.”

  “I’m not playing any games.” She said. “It’s Morell. He’s gone down to the lower level and can’t find his way out.”

  “How did you get out before?”

  “We followed a bit of sunlight to the far corner and climbed the stairs.”

  “It’s the dead of night, Siouxsie. There’s not enough light for him to find his way back.” Hoxley sighed. “This is highly inconvenient. I should be standing guard watching over the field not flapping my lips with you two. If he’s lost and can’t find his way out, then we need to get some light down there. Get your brother, I’ll stay here so he doesn’t get frightened.”

  “Alright.” She said. A few moments later Siouxsie retuned with Robert, still rubbing his eyes to get the sleep out of them.

  “Why am I awake in the middle of the night?” he asked. “Why is Morell in the bottom of the fountain?”

  “That’s what we’re trying to discover.” Said Hoxley as she reached into her saddlebags and pulled out her gel. “Would you be so kind as to put a fireball into this gel?” she asked. The boy replied by raising his arms in a “V” before a ball of scorching white fire puffed life in his palm. Once it started to burn he took her gel and placed the gel over it where it enveloped it and began to radiate more light through its translucent body like a lantern. Satisfied, he casually tossed it back to the faun. Hoxley then walked over to the edge of the hole. “Morell?! Morell, can you hear me?”

  “Yes! Yes, I can hear you!” he called back.

  “We’re sending you some light to help find your way out.” She said, dropping the gel down the dark shaft. Each of them watched the glowing orb go down, down down into the blackness before striking the bottom with a faint “piff”.

  “I see it! I see it!” yelled the boy. “Within the frame of what the others could see, Morell came into view and held the glowing gel high. “I have it! I’ll try to find the stairs again!”

  Ignatius emerged from the shadows to join Hoxley and the twins.

  “What’s happening here?” he asked “Whats all this commotion in the middle of the night? You two should be sleeping.” He said to the twins.

  “Morell is in the basement again.” Said Robert.

  “Why? There’s nothing down there but bones and mold and rot.”

  “That’s what we’re trying to figure out.” Added Hoxley “We’ve tossed him a gel with a fireball in it so he can see.”

  “This is too much.” Said Ignatius, sounding a but irritated. “Siouxsie, take my broom, go down there and walk him out so he doesn’t hurt himself.”

  “I’ll do it!” she said, snatching the broom and jumping down the hole to vanish in the blackness. One “whoosh” and cautious landing later, Siouxsie arrived to stand in the lower level.

  “Morell?” she asked.

  “Siouxsie!” The boy exclaimed as he came rushing over to her. “Why did you lead me down here and then leave me?”

  “Lead you down here?” she asked with a bit of confusion “Did you hit your head? You were already down here before I climbed out of my hammock.”

  *PIP* said Pumpkin beneath her pointed hat. *PIP*PIP*

  “Be quiet, Pumpkin.” She told it.

  “Pumpkoo.” It said quietly.

  “Don’t lie to me!” he shouted angrily. “I was coming back from the tree line, and you whispered, called me over to give me something and then you shoved me down that slippery hole!”

  “Give you something?” she asked. “What was it I was supposed to give you?”

  “I-I don’t know.” He lied “You said you had something for me, and I followed you and now I’m down here. Why would you do that? It’s wet and cold and dreadful

  “Morell, I believe your dreams have played tricks on you. I’ve not summoned you.”

  “No, dear girl.” Said an ominous deep voice from the shadows. “It was I that summoned him through deception.” The voice echoed through the stone walls and stale air to leave Morell and Siouxsie feeling a deep chill that had nothing to do with the temperature. The voice had no single point of projection but seemed to be intertwined with every shadow the light coming from the gel could not cover. It was in the walls, the ceiling the floor, the air, the water, the mold and it all spoke in the same low resonance that seemed timeless and sour in every word.