The words of the god seemed hollow now, ringing in the depths of the crypt. Light crept in from gaps in the masonry and refracted, as it were, off the crystal studded walls that entombed the living soul there, providing them with only vague outlines to go by. A mummified body lay stately on a slab, mouldering.
Marlan felt cold, freezing, as the surrounding stone sucked the
heat from the air, filling their bones with ice. They could not remember much,
just the god-things words, the tomb’s sparkling walls, and the nightland. It had
been too long. Whenever the light faded and left Marlan in darkness it was as
if they left the crypt as well, travelling on the god’s words beyond it to a
nightland hidden by the faint rays. But as soon as the light returned Marlan
did, to squat here alone, but for the corpse.
Sometimes they felt the urge to move, to find out what else
might be found between the crypt’s walls. They never did. Instead, Marlan stayed
still, waiting for the darkness to come over them again and send them away to
their nightland.
That time was coming now, and Marlan made the only movement
they ever did. The last of the light bounced off their pure white teeth; the
smile was a shark’s nightmare.