Oriayen’s body explodes in a wave of pink light that washes over me and, for a moment, breaks the hold that Nyarlathotep has over me. He speeds up his pace, and my legs are forced to trail after him even faster. I feel my lower body push forward as it struggles to keep up with Oriayen, and the two of us race toward the exit. Oriayen stops before the blue-specked panel, touches a button on the screen that triggers the gate mechanism to open, and both stone doors screech as the stranger in all black continues following us from below.
Oriayen stops to wait, and, as he does, I look back to see that the Second Prophet’s halted his pursuit. He stares back at us; this time, without a smile. Instead, he looks at us in wonder as the doors swing open to reveal the bright lights outside along with t
