Chapter 13:

7.2

The Gate


That was surprisingly easy.Ben followed Amare up the hall. He hadn't expected to actually convince her, but now that he had, he was glad. His freedom was close. After he had persuaded her, Amare disappeared briefly and returned with two gray coats. Now she led Ben down the hall. The light told him that currently it was night. Finally Amare stopped in front of a door. It was an unassuming door that Ben had walked past many times, nothing indicatet that it was heavily used. Amare opened the door with a jerk and invited Ben out.Cold night air welcomed him. It surrounded him like a protective cloak during the light breezes. He felt more alive than he had in a long time. The light breeze on his cheek had a relieving effect on his senses. The chirping of the animals soothed his senses. They roamed the empty streets together. Here and there Ben heard the voices of people who led their trivial lives just as trivial. Ben reached for Amare's hand. He realized too late what he was doing and was about to apologize when he noticed that she didn't let go. No amount of cold would have managed to dispel the warmth that spread through Ben's stomach in response.When the first bright streak on the horizon appeared, she finally let go of him and turned away. "W-Well, you can go now."But Ben didn't even think about it. He didn't want to go alone. Before he could put the thought into words, however, a scream tore the idyll apart."How dare you! Are you out of your mind?"Ron came rushing toward them. He was too early. How had he found them so quickly? He looked angry. Very angry. His flushed face finally stopped about three feet from them."Do you actually know what you just did? You crossed a line you shouldn't have touched! Claudia was right, you two should have been separated from the start! Why are you standing there like that? Explain yourself!"But Amare remained silent. She was trembling, probably from fear. That's wrong. I was the one who had persuaded her, Ben thought in shock. He opened his mouth, but was immediately interrupted by Ron."Shut up from you I don't want to hear." He turned back to Amare. "Explain yourself!" He repeated, this time louder. Around them, individual lights came on behind the windows.But Amare remained silent, keeping her head lowered. Ron stepped closer to her and raised her face to his. There was an expression of cold hatred in her eyes. Challengingly, she looked at Ron and whispered something, too softly for Ben to understand. Ron's face grew even darker. He lashed out and slapped her face with the flat of his hand.Something inside Ben shattered. Hatred, that he had not felt in such a way for a long time, prepared itself in him. He said a word. He no longer knew which one. The eyes of his skull began to glow.Ron let go of Amare and his face lost all color. Around him, countless black holes opened in the ground, gates to darkness. Ron tried to escape but both he and Ben knew it was too late. the lanterns flickered briefly, the moon hid behind a dark cloud of foreboding.And the skull grinned.