#haunting?

The Hero of the Sky had his fist pressed against his cheek, and every few seconds or so, his head would bob. 

Up...down...

Down...up, up...

Those expressive eyes, glazed with weariness and the beginnings of crescent shadows forming underneath, fluttered. 

He was battling, and fast-failing. 

He suddenly dropped forward, eyes slipping shut when the Skyloftian’s body jolted upright. His head snapped back and cobalt blues flew open. 

Wild hid an amused smile. 

“Go back to bed, Sky.” 

Sky blinked owlishly at him, mind muddled and briefly bemused. After a moment, he’d processed Wild’s words and shook his head, tendrils of golden-brown hair disturbed by the movement. 

“I can’t,” He stifled another yawn, lashes incredibly heavy. 

Wild curiously inclined his head. 

“Why not?” 

There was no response and when Wild looked, he found Sky’s head bowed and his eyes peacefully shut once more. Wild had to admit, he was impressed. The position his fellow Hero companion was in didn’t look at all comfortable. 

His neck would be stiff and painful come morning. 

He merely shrugged and decided to let Sky doze for a bit. He still had yet to finish his soup. 

He stirred the light but wholesome meal a couple of times before lifting the spoon. He jumped slightly when Sky abruptly whipped his head to the left, staring with marginally wide eyes at the empty chair next to him. 

Wild took note of the uncertainty and disbelief distorting those normally calm and peaceful features. The drowsy half-smile Sky was infamous for was gone, replaced by a bewildered frown. 

Whatever had startled his friend? 

Setting down his bowl, Wild quietly called, “Sky?” 

Sky never looked his way. Instead, the Hero pointed hesitantly with a finger at the chair and inquired, 

“You did see that, correct? Or was it just me?” 

There was a faint plea hidden in his carefully guarded tone Wild didn’t miss. 

Wild looked to the chair under Sky’s scrutiny. 

Nothing seemed out of place to him. 

“See what?” He asked then, gaze sliding back to the now less-tense Sky. His companion relaxed and shrugged to himself, seemingly relieved. 

“Nothing...” Sky dragged a hand down his face. “I think Wind’s words from before are getting to me.” 

Wild was about to make a teasing remark when the wooden and rickety-old chair was forcefully pushed back a few inches by an invisible force. 

Sky leaped to his feet, hand immediately darting for his absent blade. The bowl Wild had picked up and cradled in his hands froze in mid-air as he stared, utterly baffled, at the chair. 

Then, rather nonchalantly, Wild pointed with his spoon and remarked, 

“Now, I did see that.” 

~~~~~~~~

It was the feeling of considerable unease, a sense of imminent wrongness, and intense foreboding that awoke Time with a start. The creeping sensation of apprehension and disquiet crawled forth from his very bones, ensnaring and alerting him to the fact that something wasn’t quite right. 

The Old Man- as the group had taken to calling him at times- immediately sat upright. He scoured the bedroom sedulously, searching every inch and space available to find what could have possibly awakened him. 

Nothing caught his eye or struck him as out of place until his gaze fell upon Twilight’s bed. 

It was empty. 

The covers had been tossed aside and his boots were gone. His pack was untouched and his sword remained leaning idly against the wall. 

Time pursed his lips and slipped from his bed, wandering over and testing the coolness of the blankets of Twilight’s own. 

Cold. 

Freezing even. 

Time’s brow creased. When had Twilight left and how hadn’t he heard him? While Time wasn’t exactly a light sleeper, he was attuned to living in the wilderness. He would wake at the slightest of sounds and instinctively know something was amiss even when asleep. 

He was a Hero. A warrior. These habits and hypersensitive awareness had saved his life more times than he could count. 

Twilight had been gone for a handful of hours now...and for him not to have returned told Time something was severely wrong. 

Time didn’t have to wonder where Twilight could have possibly gone. He already knew. The Ordonian had most likely left to check on Wind. The Sailor had shown great reluctance in coming here, and although Time had given him no choice but to go to the inn, he hadn’t dismissed Wind’s absolute refusal to stay. There was more to it. Wind had his reasons and Time could tell something was grating on the Sailor, making him uneasy and anxious. 

He might be young, carefree, and open, but he was one of them. Experienced, knowledgeable, and a Hero. He’d seen, done, and experienced things no child ever should. All because he wanted to save his little sister. Wind was willing to take on the world, to adventure where few had ever gone, and face the King of Evil if it meant rescuing his little sister. 

Wind must not know how incredible and amazing he truly was. He took upon himself the title Hero and accepted everything that came with it. He shouldered the responsibility and bore it with a strength and courage that was to be admired. 

He wasn’t untainted and unaffected by his adventure- Time knew he’d changed, grown, and matured because he’d had to- but for Wind to remain bright, cheerful, and pure was unbelievable. His ready smiles, merry laughs, and sparkling eyes never failed to lift the spirits of his companions. 

Some of the other Heroes were envious of it, but for the most part, relieved. Wind was a breath of fresh air. A light and treasure the Links sought to protect and cherish. 

For him to suffer as they had… 

Time felt his bitterness towards their dreadful fate grow, but he quashed it and left the room. He strode across to 33, bare feet softly thumping against the cool, wooden, floor. He extended his hand and made to turn the knob when a faint, distorted and barely there sound caressed his ears. 

Time turned his head sharply, hand hovering in the air. His eye narrowed, carefully searching the whole expanse of the dark and dreary corridor he was in. 

It was vacant, with Time as the sole occupant. He wasn’t about to shrug it off, however. He knew better than to doubt himself.  

“...Time...” 

The familiar, warped, voice came again, more distinct and noticeable. The Old Man started and spun on his heel when he heard a creak not too far from him. 

There was nothing there. 

Just a blank space. 

Humming skeptically to himself, Time went to open the door once more when a golden flash in the corner of his eye caught his attention.

Looking quickly, Time’s gaze latched onto the familiar form of Warrior. Dressed only in his beige under tunic and breeches, the Link was cautiously making his way towards a room nearest his and Sky’s. There was a perplexed look on his face mingled with canniness that told Time the Hero was attempting to check something out. 

But the caution in which he moved, the purposeful, light steps he took towards room 35 made Time frown deeply. 

Momentarily distracted from his previous objective, Time twisted round and made his way towards the creeping Warrior just as the Knight reached the door and pressed his ear against it. 

A look of deep concentration entered the Knight’s eyes as he listened intently for something Time couldn’t hear but had undoubtedly captured his attention. He slowed to a stop only inches behind Warrior then waited for the Captain to acknowledge his presence. 

Warrior listened for a few, long, moments before releasing a deep exhale and shrugging to himself. He straightened and took a step back, only to stiffen when he collided into something solid. 

“Warrior,” Time coolly murmured before the Knight’s soldier instincts could kick in. A deep breath of relief escaped Warrior as he spun round to shoot a mild glare up at the older Link. 

“Time!” 

The unspoken you-scared-the-life-out-of-me went unsaid but not unheard between the two. 

Time raised an eyebrow in return. 

“And what, might I ask, were you doing?” 

Warrior scratched at his neck, averting his gaze to the door they still stood before. 

“I woke up to a strange noise.” He explained briefly. “Music of some kind. I was going to ask Sky if he heard it, but Sky’s gone.” 

Time narrowed his attention on the Knight. 

“Gone?” 

Twilight first. And now Sky? 

Sky, known for his incredible ability to sleep anywhere at anytime, gone? 

Time found himself growing more troubled. So many questions, so few answers. 

Warrior made to reply when the door to room 35 opened a crack, drawing both their immediate attention. 

Where Warrior took a step back, Time took a step forward, purposefully placing himself in front of the Knight should the door fling open and something come flying out. 

He was prepared. Years of experience had honed his reflexes and quickened his reaction times. 

Warrior slyly quirked an eyebrow at him, a teasing grin curving his lips. His sharp eyes and cunning mind had correctly interpreted Time’s motives. 

“Settle down, Papa Bear,” 

Time rolled his eye good-naturedly, grasping Warrior’s shoulder and guiding him forward til he stood in front of him. 

“Perhaps I should let you go in first.” Just in case something is there. 

Warrior didn’t resist him, allowing himself to be moved. 

“I see how it is, Old Man,” Warrior grumbled without any ire. Time smirked. 

“Go along now,” He prodded the younger towards the door. Warrior needed no further prompting. He gently pushed against the aged wood. Both Heroes suppressed the urge to cringe when it creaked. The eerie sound echoed throughout the corridor, loud in comparison to the still silence that had settled over the slumbering inn. 

Warrior brushed it aside and swiftly entered the room as soon as the door was halfway open. Time followed without hesitation. 

They paused once they were inside, raking their gazes across the expanse of the modest chamber. 

Vaguely unimpressed, Time stated the obvious, “Empty.” 

It was only a bed with dirtied white blankets and turned up sheets, raggedy curtains pulled away from the balcony doors, an old desk, and a night-table. 

Warrior moved away from him, heading towards the frail desk still miraculously standing directly across from the bed. Time idly wandered towards the balcony doors, peering through the glass to estimate the hour. 

An hour or two before dawn, it would appear. 

“What is this..?” Time heard Warrior wondering to himself. Then he was cranking something. 

Time curiously glanced his way. He found Warrior’s fascination was in a small, white cube with a crank sticking out of the side that was lonesomely decorating the table. The paint on it was faded, with some red and hints of blue and yellow here and there. There was a lid at the top but it wouldn’t budge. Warrior had tried. 

“A children’s toy?” Time suggested, for it certainly looked like one. Neither he nor Warrior had ever seen one like it, however, so how were they to know? 

Warrior tapped it then rotated the handle in a full circle. What appeared to be music, distorted and choppy, was projected from the box. 

It was rewinding, the two realized. Warrior continued turning the crank. The short, snippets, of the shrill and jerky tune continued until the handle jerked to a stop. Warrior tried turning it again, but it wouldn’t move. 

“I think it’s finished rewinding, War,” Time said. 

Warrior released the crank and the lever began moving on its own. An eerie tune, high-pitched and sharp, filled the room. Warrior tilted his head, peering closer at the object of his interest. 

The longer the music played, the more tension began to build within both Heroes. As if they were waiting for something to happen. 

The apprehension grew and grew. The tune was both suspenseful and haunting, telling of something to come. It made Warrior uncomfortable and uneasy to listen to. His stomach churned, his heartbeat picking up pace as the melody became more intense. 

When the music began to die down, Warrior leaned forward to stop the handle from rotating when the lid suddenly burst open and a terrifying, devilish, face painted on a sphere shot up from within the confines of the box at him.

Warrior reacted almost violently. His hands and arms flailed, his feet scrambling away and tripping over one another, and body careening back as if performing a wild dance. With a startled yelp, Warrior frantically scrabbled with the box and lid, trying vainly to shut it, but was unable to. His movements were too jerky and too quick. 

The sudden and most unexpected surprise took its toll on him. 

He was sent crashing onto the floor, the white cubical box toppling over and falling alongside him. Warrior instinctively kicked it away. The object skidded towards Time, who sent it coasting in a different direction. 

He hadn’t appreciated the unpleasant surprise awaiting them when the music came to an end. 

With a dark scowl, Time shot the offending toy a glare that more-often-than-not served to shut Legend up before he focused his attention on Warrior. His entire demeanor softened when he saw Warrior in a heap on the ground, staring wide-eyed at the item. The Old Man could tell his heart was thumping frantically in his chest. 

“That thing is a toy for kids?!” Warrior breathlessly exclaimed. 

But...replaying the unfettered spectacle from before...Time couldn’t help it. 

The look on Warrior’s face when the thing shot out at him...

Priceless!

The split second it took for Warrior to realize something was springing up at him...

The widening of his eyes, the shriek, the flailing of limbs...

He began to laugh. 

It started as a deep chuckle, rumbling through his chest, and increasing in volume until the room was enveloped by his mirth. 

Warrior took a few seconds to calm himself down, his breathing returning back to normal. He glowered up at Time as the elder Hero curled an arm around his aching stomach. 

Although he knew he’d never forget this wondrous moment, Time wished he’d had Wild’s Sheikah Slate to preserve this most amusing memory... Ah well...it certainly did make for an entertaining story to share around the campfire. 

“Yeah, yeah,” Warrior grumbled, sorely embarrassed and irritated. He huffed, crossing his arms like a petulant child although the twitching of his lips belied his true feelings, “Laugh it up, Old Man...Laugh it up.” 

And Time did. 

~~~~~~~~

Four crept along the faded wall stretching the entire length of the corridor. He moved carefully, with the precaution of a hunter knowing he might have possibly become the hunted. 

Earlier that night, Four had awoken to find Wind absent from their room. When he’d glanced over to Hyrule’s bed, he found the humble traveler had also vanished. After consulting with Red, Blue, and Vio, it was decided Four would go in search of them. 

And so, here he was, scouring the depths of the inn in the hopes of finding the missing Links. 

The soft, barely perceptible, footfalls following behind him with just as much caution alerted him to the fact that Legend accompanied him still. 

The two had run into one another a little into Four’s search and both elected to stick together. 

Neither of them voiced of their growing discomfort in staying in the inn, but Wind’s voice, Wind’s words, and his refusal to remain rang clearly in their minds. 

‘It’s dead silent,’

Four had to keep from startling violently upon hearing Blue’s voice murmuring in his mind. 

‘Did you have to say dead?’ Vio griped ungratefully. 

‘Oh, Vio,’ Red tremulously whispered, ‘Don’t tell me you’re afraid!’ 

If they were physically there along with him, Four knew Red would have been clutching onto Vio. 

‘Not at all,’ Vio was quick to say, soothing Red’s rising fear and nervousness. 

‘Sure you’re not,’ Blue smirked, poking some fun at an unappreciative Vio. 

‘Blue, so help me I will-’ 

‘Not. Now.’ Four cut off the threat before Vio could finish. His steps faltered when the warm glow from Legend’s lantern began to dim. At first, Four thought it was his imagination until he found himself struggling to see a few feet in front of him. 

The lantern’s light flickered, threatening to go out. It tried its hardest to combat the darkness, but its weakened beams could no longer pierce its thick hide. 

Four heard Legend muttering behind him. Disgruntled and more-or-less annoyed, Legend tinkered with the lantern. 

Four listened and watched the heavenly glow flicker on then off...on...and off. 

He did not particularly like it. 

He jumped when a weight settled on his shoulder and snapped his head back to see Legend’s form, barely distinguishable in the low-light. 

Legend’s lantern had completely snuffed out. It was only the pearl rays of the moon seeping through the windows that now lit the dreary and grey corridors. 

“Relax,” Came Legend’s irked voice, no louder than a mutter, “It’s just me.” 

‘Or is it?’ 

‘BLUE!’ 

Four flinched at Vio’s thunderous bellow and Red’s wail. 

“Yeah, I know.” Four tersely replied aloud, rubbing at his throbbing temples. Legend’s grip tightened. 

“You doing alright?” The concern was carefully hidden, but it was there. 

Four managed a tight-lipped smile although Legend couldn’t see it. 

“Headache.” He offered by way of explanation. 

The curt responses about as short as Four was tall made Legend frown. He knew better than to press, and so, let it slide. Gesturing with his head, the snarky Hero directed Four’s attention to a partially opened door, 

“There’s a room there,” Not to mention it was lit, “Maybe Hyrule and Wind are inside.” 

Well, it was worth a shot. Who knew where Wind and Hyrule’s midnight wanderings might have taken them? Four believed Wind was unable to get a wink of sleep and had gotten up to leave, possibly rousing Hyrule in the process. Knowing Hyrule’s gentle heart, the humble traveler most likely accompanied the Sailor out and to wherever they’d disappeared off to. 

Who knew how long ago that had been? 

Together, Four and Legend made their way towards the room. There was a sliver of bluish-white light streaking across the wooden floor, emanating from the crack in the doorway and Four felt uneasiness churning in the pit of his stomach. 

He stubbornly quashed it down. 

‘That’s no ordinary lamplight,’ 

‘Blue, you’re commentary is unneeded,’ 

‘I don’t like it.’ Red declared with a finality, ‘Green, don’t go anywhere near it!’ 

Four could’ve sweat-dropped. 

‘He’s going for it,’ 

‘Yes, Blue,’ Vio drawled wearily, ‘Why don’t you narrate Green’s tale for us as it plays out before our very own eyes,’ 

Four felt the snideful remark coming as Blue bristled, but he was never given the chance to fire it when Legend reached in front of Four and pushed the door open with hardly any qualm. The red-clad Hero then stalked inside without a care, leaving Four to stride in after him. 

“It’s polite to knock first, enter second, Legend,” Four deadpanned. 

Legend waved a hand dismissively in the air, “The door was open. That’s enough of an invitation for me.” 

Four could have face-palmed. 

‘He does have a point,’ 

‘Really, Vio?’ 

Blue snickered. 

None of them could argue against Legend’s logic. 

Four shivered, goosebumps crawling over his skin as an unearthly chill encompassed his form. He loosely hugged himself, rubbing his hands up and down his arms. The temperature difference between the hall and this bedroom was considerable and incredibly notable. 

“Whew,” Legend exhaled, his breath fogging up the air, “Did someone leave a window open?” 

“It’s not that cold outside, Legend,” Four could see his own breath also. The small, puffs of a wispy cloud appeared before his face before fading into nothingness. 

Both shuddered as chills raced down their spines but the Heroes chalked it up to the wintry breeze gusting about the small chamber. It nipped at them unforgivingly as they studied the small space. 

An old, metallic bed, balcony doors with moth-eaten curtains, a vanity with a clouded mirror, and walls with peeling paint. The sight was rather unnerving. The atmosphere of the room itself was ominous and eldritch. It made them uncomfortable. Creaks and groans were muffled by the howling wind outside. 

“Spooky much?” Legend huffed out a short laugh, furiously dragging his hands along the length of his folded arms. Four didn’t feel particularly inclined to comment. He didn’t like this room. 

“This room gives me the creeps,” Four found himself admitting aloud. His cobalt gaze swept here and there, searching. For what, he wasn’t sure, “Wait a moment…” His brows drew together and he flashed Legend a confused look, “Where’s the light coming from?” 

The room was dark and grey, with no hint of the bluish-white light they’d previously seen anywhere to be found. 

Legend’s back was turned towards him, but when Four voiced the question, he paused and glanced back at the shorter Hero. 

He pursed his lips together, scanning the interior and searching for any lights. There was an old, broken, lamp decorating one of the night stands beside the bed. The only plausible object that could have made the glow.

But it wasn’t lit. 

“That...I don’t know.” He shrugged, clearly unfazed. Four wondered exactly how experienced a Hero Legend was if he was this calm about matters. His been-there-done-that attitude towards everything was quite well-known among the Links and spoke a great deal on Legend’s behalf. 

Not of his adventures, but of his experience. He was a veteran. A Hero well-rehearsed in travel, battle, and adventuring. 

Four’s attention was then drawn to the second night table barely peeking from behind the bed. He was about to look away when his mind processed exactly what he’d seen. 

Four did a double-take. 

‘I’m not the only one who sees that, right?’ He asked the others just to ensure he wasn’t going crazy. 

‘Nope.’ Blue replied first, popping the ‘p.’ 

‘Not at all.’ Vio casually answered second. 

‘I was hoping you guys would say it was our imagination.’ Red sighed forlornly. 

Four released a breath, “This place must be haunted.” 

Legend scoffed, “Please. I was messing with the lantern to freak you out.” 

Four gives him a cool look and pointed, “Then how do you explain that?” 

Legend followed the direction his finger pointed and saw a book hovering in thin air, as if something were holding it there. 

He blinked. 

It was still floating. 

He blinked again. 

Still there. 

Legend nodded slowly, surmising, “This place must be haunted.” 

Without warning, the book slammed against the mattress and the cover flew open. Some unseen force began to rifle through the pages, skimming through them at record speed. The wispy sounds resembling hisses filled the room as the pages fluttered wildly. 

“Nope,” Four and Legend chimed as one. They spun on their heels to exit the room, but the balcony doors suddenly burst apart and the bedroom door slammed shut. 

The lock turned on its own, barricading them inside. 

Four and Legend shared a look. An unearthly, bluish-white light began to encompass the bedroom, the brightness gradually intensifying. 

“We’re not alone.” 

“Poe?” Legend suggested, unwilling to believe otherwise. Four inclined his head, 

“Makes sense.” 

They’d had experience with those, and they were tricksters. 

“Alright then.That makes things simple.” Legend started digging through his pack, searching for a weapon of some kind to combat the mischievous creature belonging to another, lesser-known, world. He grasped his bow and a handful of arrows, tugging them out. He saw Four readying his sword and turned with an arrow already nocked and ready to fly. 

Determination flared in his eyes but what Legend saw made him pause and his face to fall slightly. The ghastly sight, the inhuman entity his eyes fell upon, the decrepit and decayed form...

“Um, Four…” 

“Hm?” The shorter of the two turned round, sword ready and looked up in time to catch what Legend was staring at. He took a step back in mingled alarm and surprise, “That is not a poe..!” 

If Legend had been listening closely, he would have caught the multiple intonations and slight distortion of Four’s voice. As if three other voices had combined with his own and become one. 

But he hadn’t. 

“You don’t say,” Legend sarcastically groused, readying his bow once more. 

A haunting, coarse and hair-rising cackle pierced the stillness of the night, closely followed by a wolf’s resonating howl. 

~~~~~~~~

Deep in the winding and labyrinthine halls of the inn, a humble traveler clad in brown and green was struggling to find his way back to his room after having wandered a bit too far from it. He’d passed the lobby twice, the stairway once, and somehow ended up outside of Road’s End in a foggy cemetery. 

Tombstones of varying shapes and sizes littered the earth. Some weathered, others worn down by age, and few crumbling apart. Words once inscribed into the stone were hardly legible. Symbols and letters joined together, making it near impossible to understand what was engraved on them. 

The traveler was not at all bothered by the sight. Moreso, he was grieved. He could tell the town had suffered hardships and the inhabitants most likely struggled to make a living. He wouldn’t be surprised if this place had once been a bright and merry destination for weary travelers to spend the night and rejuvenate their strength. 

He turned round and made his way back into the inn, searching for any kind of map he could find. Surely, this inn had one. The lobby was empty, with no sign of a clerk at the desk or the woman from before. Hyrule thought they might have retired for the night. 

He ascended the stairs, unable to recall whether or not they were the same he’d taken with the other Heroes. That was when he passed the spot where Legend had broken a part of the wall. 

Well...At least he knew he was going in the right direction. 

Hyrule idly drifted down the corridor. Surely, his room was somewhere around here. Earlier, Hyrule had woken to find Wind absent from the room. He’d felt strongly impressed to go in search of the Sailor, and so, Hyrule slipped from the comfort of his bed and made sure not to wake the mumbling Four as he left. 

Of course, as he was prone to, Hyrule took many wrong turns. Although...was it possible for him to take wrong turns if he wasn’t sure where Wind might be? Not to mention this place was certainly creepy. More-often-than-not, Hyrule felt as though there were invisible eyes watching him. The portraits hanging on the walls almost seemed to follow his every movement. 

Hyrule ignored the sensations. He figured if Wind wasn’t in the room, he’d wake Time and the others. He wasn’t comfortable with the thought of Wind wandering the dreary Inn alone and in the middle of the night. 

He wasn’t sure what it was, but there was a feeling of foreboding that told him something was amiss. 

He jumped when a drawer from a nearby dresser flew open. His body tensed, his head snapping round to stare at the dresser in something akin to shock. Before his very eyes, the drawer slammed back shut. The sound was almost deafening. 

Hyrule blinked rapidly. 

“What..?” 

Had he...

Had that...

What..?

Hyrule shook his head, his unruly hair becoming even more disarrayed. 

“Ghosts..?” He murmured to himself, rubbing the back of his neck. A nervous tick that seemed to be inherent to the Links. An uncertain smile grew on his lips as he tried to brush it off. 

He didn’t feel particularly scared. No. He’d spent the majority of his time as a Hero running away from mobs of monsters that flooded his Hyrule. What was a ghost compared to them? 

That was when a chill raced down his spine and the hair on the back of his neck rose. His heart began to thunder and Hyrule had the uncomfortable feeling that there was something coming up behind him. 

He squeezed his eyes shut. 

Don’t look, don’t look, don’t look- 

He chanted in his mind. 

But curiosity tinged with fear won him over. The urge to peek grew overwhelming and before he knew it, Hyrule was slowly turning his head to glimpse past his shoulder in the length of the corridor behind him. 

What he saw made his eyes widen and his jaw to drop. Never in his short life had he ever witnessed such a strange and terrifying sight. 

There was a pulsing cloud of darkness racing towards him. It sped up the stairs he’d climbed seconds before and came diving towards him. 

RUN!

Hyrule jolted violently and before he knew it, his body was moving. His feet barely grazed the ground as he fled from whatever pursued him with such vigor. The all-encompassing voice that seemed to come from all around and within him echoed in his ears, urging Hyrule to quicken his pace in order not to be overcome by the dense mass of impenetrable darkness. 

Hyrule took back his words from before.

This was worse than being chased by hordes of monsters! 

Somewhere in the distance, Hyrule heard a wolf’s sonorous howl. 

Wolfie!

Hyrule would recognize the wolf anywhere! Immense relief flooded over him as Hyrule took a sharp turn around a corner and raced in the direction the howl had come from. 

Don’t look back. Don’t look back. Whatever you do, do NOT look back. 

Hyrule knew. It was drilled into his mind. Looking back only slowed one down. But it took a lot of strength and steely determination not to give into the temptation to see how close the darkness was in swallowing him up. 

His booted feet thumped against the floor at the same pace as his heart was beating. He swerved around another corner, cobalt orbs catching sight of the darkness coming up behind him. 

He faced forward when-

CRASH! 

Hyrule flailed as he was flung back from the force of the collision. Agonizing pain exploded in his nose, spreading through his face and causing Hyrule to instinctively throw up a hand to hide the bloodied mess from view. His eyes watered as the smarting bone intensified. 

He couldn’t allow the pain to distract him however, and although his vision was now horribly blurred by tears, Hyrule knew he needed to move. 

He scrambled to his feet, tugging his hand away to find there was a good deal of blood on it. 

Definitely a broken nose. 

“Hyrule!” A familiar voice cried in surprise and alarm. Hyrule whipped his head in the direction it had come from in time to see a blue and blonde blur racing his way with a dark brown blur beside it. “Run, Hyrule!” 

Wind! 

And Wolfie!

Before Hyrule could say anything or react, the wide-eyed Sailor caught hold of Hyrule’s left hand and jerked him along. He started running and it was then Hyrule noted the sheer terror etched into the younger boy’s face. 

“Wind?” He breathlessly managed to say. 

“Just keep running, Hyrule!” Was all Wind said, gasping sharply as his ribs protested against the continuous running. His lungs were struggling to take in whatever air they could. 

Ignoring the pain bursting in his nose, Hyrule asked, 

“What are we running from?” 

If Wolfie was running...Then whatever it was couldn’t be good. 

“Does it matter?” Wind very nearly squeaked. “Right now, I’m too occupied in staying alive to care!” 

That...made Hyrule incredibly uneasy. 

“Oh, look!” Wind cried in relief, pointing with his free hand. They dashed down the corridor at a remarkable speed, “A room!” 

Wolfie barked sharply and Wind nodded in agreement. 

“We can make it!” 

And with that encouragement, the three flew into the room and Wind flung the heavy door shut and immediately locked it. 

Something heavy slammed against it, causing Hyrule to jump back. Wind backed away, nervous and antsy. 

Wolfie crouched low and growled fiercely. 

“Wolfie...” Wind’s shuddering voice tore at Hyrule to hear and made him all the more terrified. The great beast straightened then trotted to Wind’s side, nudging the Sailor reassuringly. 

“What...” Hyrule swallowed thickly, “What’s out there?” 

Wind could only shake his head, eyeing the door warily. 

“We don’t know.” The youngest Hero turned around to see if there was an escape from the room only to freeze in place when his eyes fell on something. An object that caused all color to drain from his face and horror to steal over his featured. A haunted look entered his eyes. 

“Wind?” Hyrule stepped up beside him, worriedly gripping his shoulder. Wolfie whined softly, nosing at Wind’s arm. Both beast and Hylian followed Wind’s line of sight to find a single table positioned before a great, wide, window. The full moon peered inside from the top frame, its luminescent rays filtering into the room. 

Atop the round table, positioned in the exact center, was...

“An Hourglass...” Wind breathed in disbelief, voice catching. Hyrule didn’t like the tone he’d used. Wolfie didn’t like the tone he’d used. Both moved closer to the Sailor in concern. 

Why did a simple hourglass earn such a powerful reaction from Wind? 

“No...” Wind shook his head, pained and pierced Hyrule with a pleading look. “I’m imagining it, right?” 

Hyrule found he wished he could tell him so. He wished he could assure the Sailor that the Hourglass wasn’t there. 

But then...that would be a lie. 

His silence was all Wind needed. His face crumpled in dismay and his shoulders slumped. 

“The Phantom Hourglass...” He whispered, wanting with every fiber of his being to curl up and disappear. 

But he couldn’t. 

~~~~~~~~

Somewhere within the deepest and darkest entrenches of the inn...