As the squid moved aside, he saw a glowing wizard looking at him. Some shadow like things were revolving the wizard. The figures were not larger than half a foot and floated around him like smoke and changed their shapes like Rorschach.
“I – I came here to return this.” Roderick stretched his hand with the locket on his palm.
“You shouldn’t have stolen it in the first place.” Wizard said.
“I think you are mistaken. My friend had stolen it, not me. I made him come here and put it back.”
“Where is he?” Wizard asked.
“He’s dead.” Roderick wiped Spencer’s blood from his face.
Squid snatched the locket from its tentacle and gave it to the wizard.
The wizard wore it.
“Who are you?” Roderick asked.
“I am the Wizard of Sleep.” He said and caught a flying figure. The smoke turned into human like shape.
“You did well by doing me this favor.” Wizard came towards Roderick as he let the smoke go, “But I am not good at returning favors.”
“Please let me go. I am innocent.” He fell on his knees and wept.
The squid caught a drop of tear and tasted it. “Salty. I like it.” It said.
“Cry as much as you can. I will let you go if my friend gets satisfied with your tears.” Wizard of Sleep said.
Roderick wept and wept for hours till the point he had no tears.
“Were the tears enough for you?” Wizard asked squid.
“No.” squid said.
“Okay human, I give you a chance.” Wizard said, “You’ll leave this place alive but you’ll die if you sleep.”
Is this a chance? This feels more like a curse. He thought.
Only then he left their presence. He walked till the glow of wizard faded away in darkness.
Monsters mocked him and laughed at him while he walked in the dark cave. Those who did not make a joke out of him followed him.
“Your tears are renowned now.” Crab like creature said.
“Why are you guys following me?” Roderick asked.
“I’ll eat your corpse once you fall asleep.” A fiend replied.
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