The First Book of Ore: The Foundry's Edge (38 page)

“Are you,” Phoebe said, reaching for the face, “Makina?”

“No, but She. Has called you. To me.”

The liquid swirled faster, as if disturbed by a sudden breeze.

“I am. The Ona.”

The wall lit up like the sun, and they shielded their eyes, feeling the heat on their faces. It wasn't harsh or painful. It was like the comfort of a fireplace on a frostbitten winter day, an inviting, loving thaw. Veils in the wavering image fluttered, fins opened to reveal an ancient face. It smiled down on them.

“Little embers. I need you. Will you. Blaze the Way?”

 

  am in hell.

I am trapped in dark.

It crushes. Smothers me.

I claw through the black. Need air.

My skin is on fire. Every touch makes it scream.

Every shifting rock, every moving grain. Every bubble that pops is a mortar. Mortals above me. Demons beneath. I hear it all.

I climb.

Taste the path like blood in my mouth.

It takes minutes. It takes years. I live. I will find them. My fingers will sink in. Pull them apart. I will eat their screams. This skin of pain, a splinter in every nerve, is nothing to what I will do to them. Nothing.

The ground bleeds, soft as rotten meat.

I breathe smoke. It sears inside.

Pull myself from rubble. Break through. Free.

The sun hates me. Fears me. Burns me more.

The Citadel in ruins. A tower sags and falls. Why? Is this some torment? Have the demons followed me up? Am I still in hell?

I walk. My feet sink in metal mud. My bones bend with every step.

What is wrong with me? I am stripped down. Raw. Opened.

Men approach. I feel them minutes before they appear. Shouting.

I cover my ears. It doesn't help. They are too close. Footsteps like bombs. They wear paper suits, masks. It makes no sense.

helloisanyonethere?

heyyouareyouokay?

I hide. I try to answer. Find Plumm. Find the others.

They do not understand me. My words don't work.

They fall back and cry. Screams like a chisel in my skull.

OHMYGOD?

WHATISTHATTHING?

I reach to them, to seize, break them for their disrespect. How dare they not know me? Everyone must pay tribute. I am the Dyad.

But these…are not hands. These are not my hands.

The men have fled. Far away, yet I can easily hear their words.

whathappenedtohim?

thecharhasdonesomething.

At my feet, a shiny piece of glass. I see my face. I understand.

The demons have not followed me.

I have not escaped hell.

I

am

hell.

 

CAM BAITY & BENNY ZELKOWICZ
are writers, animators, and filmmakers who
began collaborating after meeting at California Institute of the Arts. A Texas native,
Cam has made several short films, and his work has been screened at numerous
festivals around the globe, including the BBC British Short Film Festival. In addition,
he worked on the motion picture
Team America: World Police
as well as the award-winning
television series
SpongeBob SquarePants
. Canadian-born Benny studied
science before turning his attention to animation, and his celebrated short
The ErlKing
was an official selection at both Sundance and the New York Film Festival.
He has directed the BBC/CBC animated series
Lunar Jim
, and in the U.S. his work has
been seen on television in
The Simpsons
. Both have contributed to Adult Swim's
Robot Chicken
and
Moral Orel
and reside in Los Angeles. Learn more about them at
camandbenny.com.