Knocking at your door [BL]

Lennox spun around abruptly, his heart pounding in his chest.

Two creatures emerged from the mist, then halted, standing perfectly still. Their noses twitched, sniffing out even the faintest scent that might lead them to prey.

Unfortunately for Lennox, he was the prey.

His hands began to tremble, beads of sweat ran down his face, he was terrified, on the verge of panic.

He was back on that cursed boat, but this time, there was no one else with him.

The wooden deck creaked ominously beneath his feet, while the creatures' dark scales reflected an unnatural light. With every movement, they dripped a viscous slime, thick, black, sticky liquid that spread like a living shadow. Their pace quickened.

The blindness in their eyes didn't stop them from moving with unnatural agility.

"I have to get out of here!" Lennox thought, trying to run, but his feet felt rooted to the boat's deck.

The creatures advanced with heavy steps, the wet slap of their webbed claws echoing through the air like a war drum.

There was no escape.

Lennox leaned over the edge of the boat, but the water below was a bottomless void, black and endless, a place he had nearly died in, and where he had no intention of returning.

A chill ran down his spine as he saw the tail of the first creature rise, an elongated mass of razor-sharp blades, like a cluster of knives ready to tear through anything in their path.

Lennox screamed, but no sound came out.

The silence of the fog was becoming unbearable.

The first creature was just a step away. Lennox turned and, finally able to move, bolted toward the cabin, praying for shelter, any place to hide.

His trembling hands grabbed the slick handle. The door was locked, but Lennox shoved with all his strength, feeling the creatures' foul breath growing nearer, the stench burning in his nose.

Suddenly, a heavy thud behind him shook the air.

He spun around to see the second creature, gleaming black scales like oil, its jaws wide open, fangs gleaming, ready to shred their next meal.

There was no time.

Lennox hurled himself into the cabin, slammed the door shut, and tried to barricade it as best he could. Then he backed away, heart racing, praying the thin walls would be enough to keep the nightmare out.

Outside, the two monstrous creatures were still there, hungry, waiting, eager to finally feast.

Lennox knew he couldn't stay hidden for long.

He needed a way out.

He had to escape.

But then, the silence became even more suffocating, and the boat began to sway, as if swallowed by an invisible sea, dragging him toward a dark, inescapable fate.

And then, everything vanished.

Lennox jolted awake in his bed, sweat glistening on his forehead. His heart pounded like a war drum, his wide eyes still filled with lingering fear and panic.

He took a few deep breaths to calm himself, but the trembling of his hands betrayed the weight of the nightmare.

"Calm down, Lennox," he told himself. "Everyone has nightmares. What matters is that you're alive and well."

He breathed deeply a few more times, then glanced at the room's clock. It was just past 4 a.m.

Unwilling, or perhaps unable, to fall back asleep, Lennox opted for a cold shower to wash off the film of sweat that clung to his body.

Without realizing it, after getting himself together, he saw it was nearly five. So he decided to explore the books left in his room.

Most were written in languages he didn't recognize, except two.

One was about magical plants, their habitats and properties. The other told the legend of the creation of magic. The second one looked more like a children's book than something meant for adults: full-page black-and-white illustrations and a tone simple enough for a child to follow.

The story described how a benevolent deity had created the world in perfect balance. But a second god, envious of the first's wisdom and kindness, released monsters into that small paradise. In response, the first deity gave humans a special power to defend themselves. That gift, refined over time, became the magic people now used in everyday life.

After that brief read, Lennox turned his attention to the other book and began studying the magical plants.

"Daxiana. A highly poisonous plant. Can damage magical circuits, causing a slow and painful death. Interesting… but sounds like something a psychopath would enjoy.

Let's see the next one.

Narta. Induces illusions that mask sensory perception. Effects last only a few minutes and cause no permanent damage.

This one could come in handy if needed.

Ruli…"

Time passed quickly as Lennox became absorbed in the text, unaware of the hours slipping by, until someone knocked on his door.

A second knock on the door echoed, louder and more decisive than the first. Lennox rose from the chair, leaving the book on magical plants open on the table, and cautiously approached the door.

When he opened it, he found a guard in uniform standing before him, with a composed, unreadable expression, calm, but not unfriendly. Behind the guard, Jason greeted him with a nod, looking noticeably more rested and alert than Lennox.

"Lennox, right?" the guard asked in a firm but polite tone. "I'm Ravel. I've been assigned to give you both an orientation tour of the Tower. David felt it was important for you to start familiarizing yourselves with the environment."

Lennox nodded in acknowledgment. Since he had already been fully dressed for several hours, he simply stepped out and closed the door behind him. Jason immediately joined him.

"Did you sleep?" he whispered.

Lennox gave a tired half-smile. "Let's just say I went on a trip through the darkest corners of my subconscious."

"Welcome to the club."

Ravel led them through the bright, silent corridors of the Tower. As they moved forward, Lennox became increasingly aware of how vast the structure truly was.

Maybe it had something to do with the magical energy that seemed to hum through the walls?

"The Tower is divided into several sectors," Ravel explained as they walked. "There are the dormitories, the cafeteria, training centers, laboratories, administrative offices, and restricted areas, accessible only to authorized personnel. Your current clearance allows you access to the cafeteria, the library, and a few shared spaces. The rest, for now, only under supervision."

After a few minutes, they reached a large hall with transparent walls that offered a view of the outside, where the sky was gradually turning a soft golden hue.

The cafeteria was already populated with agents in uniform, researchers, and even two or three humanoid creatures with strange appearances. They sat in small groups, speaking in hushed tones.

"This is the cafeteria. Meals are served at specific times: breakfast from 6 to 9, lunch from 11 to 14, and dinner from 18 to 23. You're free to choose when to eat within those time slots. Each meal is prepared individually, which means it will be tailored to your preferences and dietary needs."

Ravel handed them each a white wristwatch-like bracelet and gestured for them to put them on.

"These are essential. They'll allow you to receive your meals, access certain areas, and serve as your personal ID. As you can see, everyone here wears one. When it comes to meals, you'll be asked to enter your dietary preferences and any allergies. Just approach the terminal over there and complete the intake form."

After giving a few more brief instructions, Ravel finally led them into the cafeteria.

The two young men approached the service counter, scanned their bracelets, filled out the digital forms, and within moments, two trays materialized in front of them. Eggs, exotic fruit Lennox had never seen before, a type of warm bread, and steaming drinks that looked like coffee but had a sweeter, more aromatic scent.

They sat down at a table near the large glass window, where they could take in the stunning view below. For a few minutes, they ate in silence, savoring the meal and watching the alien-like landscape beyond the glass.

"You know," Jason said between bites, "this all feels surreal. And yet... it kind of makes sense. Like we've ended up exactly where we're supposed to be."

Lennox nodded quietly, not needing to say anything.

They finished their breakfast at a relaxed pace, then stood up. Together, they returned their trays to the counter, where they vanished just as suddenly as they had appeared.

Ravel led them down several more corridors before asking, "Is there anywhere in particular you'd like to go next?"

"I'd be interested in seeing the library. What do you think, Jason?"

"Works for me."

"Excellent. Next stop: the library."

After a few more minutes of walking, they found themselves in front of a beautifully ornate door, the gateway to a reader's paradise.

Inside, the space was vast, by far the largest room (or set of rooms) they had seen in the Tower so far. Countless books overflowed from every shelf, stretching up to ceilings so high they disappeared into a soft, magical glow. And most astonishing of all, some of the books were actually flying.

Lennox, awestruck by the magnificence around him, couldn't help but ask, "Can we borrow books from here?"