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Title: Of Cats and Magic

Chapter: 16

Author: Riko Gonzalez

The walls pulsed. After having walked through a lengthy passage, the trio found

themselves in an expansive chamber, a plethora of passages connecting to it.

Underfoot, the ground continued to pulse with the rest of the bizarre structure.

Overhead, glowing white arteries --- one stretching out from each passage ---

converged into a large, pulsating, brilliantly white growth in the domed

ceiling. The white growth gave off much more light than the arteries. This

resulted in this chamber being brightly lit.

"Someone's there," Ruko commented to the group as she extended her finger

forward. Sure enough, the figure of a man could be found at roughly the center

of the room. This didn't appear to be some sort of guardian awaiting them.

Instead, the man lay collapsed.

Riko ran up to the unknown figure, quickly looking him over. Whoever it was, she

could tell that he was breathing. However, he did not appear to be what she

would call concious. Gently, the cyan-haired catgirl prodded the figure with her

foot in an attempt to get a response.

Slowly, the collapsed man began to stir. With a start, he staggered back before

looking up at the catgirl with groggy yet terrified eyes. Instantly, his body

relaxed as he let out a sigh of relief. Shakily, he climbed to his feet.

"For a second, I thought you were lady Julia," he said. "Anyway, I'm Ben Stone."

"I'm Riko Ibara. My friends over there are Ruko Kisara and Timothy. Timothy is

the winged cat. What are you doing here?"

"Well... I came to check on lady Julia, but... She tried to kill me when I found

her. She used to be so nice, but she's different now. Something's not right

about her. I'm not even sure how I wound up in this nightmarish place."

"If you are looking for the way out, try that passage."

After glancing in the direction Riko was motioning, Ben thanked her for the help

before running off.

"Looks like we need to find this Julia," Timothy spoke as he approached Riko

with Ruko at his side. Ruko nodded in agreement.

"Any idea which path we should take?" Riko posed the question.

A silent moment --- silent other than the rhythmic beat of the pulsating

environment --- passed between the three of them.

"I probably should have asked Ben," Riko finally commented, facepalming.

"Don't worry about it too much," Timothy responded. "I get the impression that

Ben may not have been in the best condition for giving directions anyway."

***

The trio's soft footfalls blended into the omnipresent beating of the place.

They had found their way into what could best be described as a long, wide hall.

In fact, this hall was wide enough for ten adults to walk side by side down it.

For now, Timothy was flanked by the two catgirls, Riko walking at his left, Ruko

at his right. As for the hall's length, it was so immense that not a one of them

could make out the hall's end. Needless to say, this grand hall was composed of

pulsating, light gray flesh. Overhead, a lone, glowing artery dimly lit the way.

"Wonder how long this passage is?"

Riko folded her arms behind her head as she spoke with a hint of boredom. Truth

be told, she had expected something to happen by now. It had been quite a while

since they had wondered into this overly long passage. In fact, neither entrance

nor exit was in eyesight. It wasn't like they had seen any turns down this hall

either.

Timothy sighed in response. Riko getting bored did worry him a bit. While this

place currently seemed safe enough, something about it was incredibly

off-putting to him. It could be the ever-present pulsing of the place. Could

this entire structure actually be alive?

As Timothy pondered the nature of the place, Ruko came to a sudden stop. A

moment later, Riko and Timothy stopped as well, both looking back at the blond

catgirl.

"Something's here..."

The instant after the words came out of Ruko's mouth, the light went out.

***

"This is a fine mess."

Timothy stood in the grand hall alone, a sweatdrop on his temple. Glancing

about, he quickly double checked his surroundings. There was no trace of his two

companions. Apparently, the two catgirls had vanished while the light was out

for that split second. What could have happened during that split second?

"What the heck am I supposed to do?"

Timothy took a seat and stared down the hall. He could still see no end to it.

"Should I continue, or should I wait?"

He had already travelled well over a mile down this hall. There was no guarantee

that he would find the end anytime soon if he continued. Plus, there was the

issue of the two missing catgirls. Perhaps he should wait a bit to see if the

two return from wherever they had disappeared to. Yes, that seems like the best

plan of action for now. Shouldn't hurt to wait a bit.

***

"Where the heck did everyone go?"

Riko was perched atop what appeared to be a light gray rock as she surveyed her

surroundings. Well, it wasn't actually a rock. It was clearly too soft to be a

rock. Also, rocks didn't pulse. This thing pulsed just like the floor did. As

for Ruko and Timothy, they were nowhere to be seen.

The lighting in this chamber --- or at least what Riko assumed to be a chamber

--- held a bluish tint. Overhead, creatures resembling manta rays gave off a

soft blue glow as they slowly floated about. A light gray ceiling composed of

the same pulsing substance as the floor and rocks shown above them. The rock

Riko was perched upon was not the only rock in this chamber. In fact, the

chamber was riddled with them, each being comparable in size to the one beneath

the catgirl. The scope of the chamber was such that not a wall could be seen

from Riko's vantage point. As for the floor, it was obscured by a low hanging

mist. The rocks jutted out from this mist.

Leaping down from the rock, Riko's feet plunged into the mist, touching down

upon the strange floor. Instantly, a shiver ran up the catgirl's spine.

Something was here. She could sense it. Turning to her left, she locked her pink

eyes upon something as it slowly rose up from the mist. Whatever the thing was,

she could feel the hostility radiating from it.