The world snapped into focus and a shudder ran down Joden's spine. The eerie echo of a voice whispered in his ear. He spun around to face it and met empty space.
"Who are you." His firm voice rang loud in the silence he found he stood in.
The space around him shuddered, and the color of reality blurred and drained away. A grey husk left to surround him. He glanced behind and found Jacer's frozen gaze of horror looking back. Still in time. Reaching forward. All the color gone, a mock of life.
"The silly slave plays with us and doesn't know our name? Did you hear that brother?"
It's two toned echo spoke into his ear and caused his hair to stand on end.
"Well what is your name? And where is this?" Joden searched the area before him, keeping his voice calm. His hands burned and his head ached. A throbbing surged through him and he blinked in the ashlike lighting.
A screeching tore through his head rippling the world around and distorting the floor and Jacer's frame. The scream cracked as it rose and dropped in pitch, before settling into a whining moan.
"He says he doesn't know! Brother he claims he doesn't know, yet he's here?"
Joden's hand tightened around something firm and he glanced down to see the jewel nestled inside. Slowly he uncurled his fist to see the clear white stone pulsing with color. Like a black hole it swirled and disappeared from sight. It pierced into his eyes with its voidlike rays that bounced around the room. The eerie lighting catching on the husk of the room and filling it with its empty hues. Joden gazed at it in horror.
"You're a clever one, little slave. It will be fun to eat you."
"You can't eat me if you're not even here." Joden closed his fist and peered into the haze, searching for the voice.
"What a silly little thing." It crooned and its voice fell into harmony with itself. A hummed tune bouncing in the empty space between Joden's ears.
"How ever did you find yourself here? Hmm, how lost you must be."
The voice faded into a whisper as the tones dissolved into a minor echo once more. Joden turned in circles until he faced the cheetah queen. Her chin straight and body poised to pounce.
"Don't worry; I've come to find you."
All sound froze. Like a vacuum it rushed together to meet and swirl in chaos. Smoke shredded off the cheetah queen and her husk rippled into a lanky dark figure. Only it's mouth visible behind its curtain of hair.
"I've waited a long time for this." Its voice rattled into focus. "Hello, Joden."
