Darkness...

You may not have known where you were, but there was one sure thing: the darkness was stifling. Somehow managing to lift yourself to your feet, you blink forcefully a few times, trying to discern your location. You reach out to see if you can touch anything when-

."Ouch!".

You quickly withdraw your hand, inspecting your throbbing fingers to no avail. Apparently, the proximity of the walls surrounding you is very small; your fingers had crumpled right into one. More cautious this time, palms flat, you once again grope through the darkness to discover close walls to your left and right, but empty space behind and in front of you. I must be in a hallway or something...

You keep still for a bit, wondering whether to move forward or just stay put, when the echoing sound of distant footsteps reaches you. Still unable to see anything, you figure you'll have to make your decision a lot quicker than expected, for there is definitely something coming closer.

It must have heard me yell, you despair. Making the final decision to take off in the opposite direction, you prepare your legs to run when a voice speaks.

."Now now, calm down. It's alright.".

Something inside you tells you to ignore the voice and run... but for whatever reason, your feet stay planted, eyes squinting as a small way off into the distance, a faint bouncing sphere of light approaches.

You continue to watch it dance closer, until your eyes adjust enough to see a silhouetted figure carrying a long staff, a glowing lantern hanging from the top of it. There is a strange aura about him... not literally, but you can feel it. Something is different about this creature.

Finally nearing enough for you to see him clearly (or rather, as clear as you can in the small amount of light), you realize that he is a Lupe, tall in stature and wrapped in a flowing cape. He has glowing amber eyes... but they are more welcoming than frightful. In fact, his whole presence is semi-calming to you, for reasons you can't quite comprehend. All you can do is blink at him and wait for him to speak.

And speak he does. "Ah, quite a young one today. How sad." He moves the lantern a bit closer to you in order to get a better look, its light flickering as it swings on the staff. "How did it happen? Actually, don't tell me - I don't like to know."

What in the world is he talking about? you wonder. This sure was a peculiar Lupe...

."Well, come on, then! I won't hurt you - I can't really, can I?" he chuckles, turning and beginning to walk forward. You pause to consider your options. Staying here won't do you any good, you decide, and he does seem to know where he's going... plus he has the only source of light.

...No choice. I have to follow him.

Silence...

It is eerily quiet as you continue down the hallway, following closely behind the stranger leading the way. Who knows what his intentions could be? He doesn't seem dangerous... or like he wants to hurt you. Besides, he already said he wouldn't. Or couldn't, you recall with curiosity. Summoning your courage, you finally open your mouth to speak when-

."So, who are you, anyway?" the Lupe asks without looking back.

You blink in surprise; you were the one supposed to be asking the questions! But he does seem genuine about it, and you remember that it's only polite to introduce yourself before asking someone else's name, so you reply.

."guest," you say after a moment of hesitation. "And you are...?"

."Nice to meet me? Don't hear that one often," he muses, taking his shining eyes off of you to watch the lantern swish back and forth for a moment. "You're awfully friendly for someone who has recently passed on - not hostile at all, or even scared sounding." Twirling back around, he continues on into the darkness, beckoning you to follow.

You pause in surprise at his words, but quickly snap out of it as you realize your light source is rapidly escaping. "Now hold on, here!" you state loudly, finding your voice. He continues on without looking back, but a twitch of his ear signals that he is listening. "Did you say 'passed on'?" you ask in shock. "As in dead? I'm not dead!".

At this remark, he does stop, and carefully shifts around once more to face you. He has a look of pure surprise on his face. "Not dead? Oh my... then how in the world did you get here?"

You don't know the answer, or even where 'here' is. The only thing you can ask is "who are you, really?"

By now, you don't really know what to think; it's all a little overwhelming. Using the wall as a stabilizer, you lower yourself to a sitting position on the ground. Tantek watches, then does the same. Apparently he doesn't mind taking a bit of a break.

."Okay, so let me get this straight," you begin, sorting out the information he just told you. "You're a guide to... dead people?" You cringe.

He nods. "Yes. But it's not like they're zombies or anything gross," he grins, noting your discomfort. "Usually they look and act the exact same as they did in life - if not a bit flustered. I didn't know that you were still alive, remember?"

I guess that's true. ."So I'm not supposed to be here," you conclude, the realization finally dawning on you.

Tantek smiles a little goofily. "Well, I should say not. I'm still confused on how you got here in the first place, actually," he comments, seeming all too casual about this kind of situation. "But don't worry - I don't think you'll have to go through any trials, being that you're still alive."

You breathe a sigh of relief, the initial panic beginning to subside. "That's good... but how will I return? I don't want to be here forever!"

."Don't worry. The answer to that is simple: I'll just guide you out like I'd regularly do. You'll be fine!" he grins. ."Well, hopefully...".

."What was that last bit?" you ask, but Tantek simply waves a paw and rises to his feet, ushering for you to do the same.

He begins down the dark hallway again, bobbing lantern beckoning you to follow. "Come on, we'd better get going. Why don't you tell me about your life in the realm of the living?" he suggests, perhaps as a way to get your mind off of the situation. "What kind of things are there to do?"

Tantek makes a pensive 'hmm' noise, taking in all that you've said. "Sounds fun," he finally decides with a smile (or at least, you can only assume - he is still facing ahead, trudging forward). "More fun than the activities I get to do here, that is."

You raise an eyebrow. "And what might those be?" you ask slightly hesitantly, wondering what in the world the Lupe might do for fun down in this place.

."Oh, you know," he begins casually, raising a paw to add accompanying gestures to his speech. "Fighting off swarms of bugs, wading through fire, running from monsters... the usual." You pale slightly, not only at his list, but also at the light-hearted way he'd mentioned them. Tantek sighs. "I'm only kidding, of course. Lighten up!"

Indignantly, you open your mouth to reply (perhaps with something along the lines of like I believed you in the first place!) when Tantek suddenly stops. The lantern makes a creaking noise as it swings from the abrupt halt, sending shadows dancing back and forth. You blink. "What's going on?"

."Shh! Did you hear that?" Narrowing his eyes to a squint, you watch as Tantek peers forward into the darkness. "There's definitely something up ahead. Stay close behind me, and you'll be fine..." he instructs. ."Well, hopefully...".

."You best be kidding again!" you warn in a harsh whisper, but you do as he says, crouching a little behind his tall figure. After a moment of silence, you realize that he's right; a faint scratching sound can be heard up ahead, tap tap tap-ing closer.

Twitching a listening ear, Tantek speaks softly. "Remember the whole 'running from monsters' bit? Well, maybe that wasn't as much of a joke as I'd previously let on." Your eyes widen. "In fact," he continues, "I wasn't joking at all. Monsters are everywhere down here. In fact in fact, there's one coming right now. Just so you know."

Your heartbeat quickens as you grab hold of his flowing cape, your nerves causing you to forget to be angry at his casual tone. "What do we do?" you ask hurriedly.

Tantek doesn't answer. Instead, he lets the previous silence become filled with the echoing scratches as the source of the noise draws nearer. You become slightly more fearful - I'm still alive, remember?! - when the sounds' increase in volume announces that the creature is very near. You finally shout, "Tantek, do something!"

But when the Lupe speaks, he doesn't sound concerned at all. In fact, his voice is rather... welcoming? "Hey, there you are! You rascal - scarin' people this way and that. Don't worry, guest, it's just-"

You laugh as the surprise wears off and is replaced by a happy feeling, the little black Bearog proceeding to give your face a triple-speed bath after leaping into your arms. "She's... friendly," you state between licks, gently pushing the furry mass away and into Tantek's arms.

The Lupe grins. "You bet she is. She's my best friend." He holds the petpet in his arms, stroking each head in turn. "Kind of my only friend, really," he adds a little dishearteningly, smile fading briefly. "But alas, thus is the life of a spirit guide." At that, he leans down to place Cerby on the ground, where she enthusiastically turns in little circles at your feet. "Shall we continue?" he asks, voice more cheerful as he turns to lead the way once more.

You walk along after him, wary of the prancing Bearog at your heels so as not to step on her. "How much longer?" you question after a moment. It seemed as if you'd been in the dark hallway for an awfully long time... and not that Tantek wasn't nice company or anything (you were actually starting to feel lucky about meeting him), but going home would be nice.

."We've still got a bit of a ways to go," Tantek announces, quickening his pace. "But not to worry! We'll be there in no time." Swishing his tail back and forth, he seems to be thinking. "I know - you've met my friend. Why don't you tell me about some of your friends in the realm of the living?"

Grateful to get your mind off of the long, dark journey, your face takes on a thoughtful look.My friends, huh?" you repeat, wondering who to tell him about. "Well, I do know this one girl. Her name is-"

Tantek chuckles as he walks on. "That's no problem. It just shows how passionate you are about all those things, right?" You nod, realizing that he's right. You're starting to feel much more comfortable around this strange guide. Almost like he's becoming a friend himself.

You hesitate a moment, and then find your voice. "Tantek?"

He stops, turning to face you; his lit-up face is friendly. "Let me guess: 'are we almost there?' You just can't wait to get rid of me, can you?" he grins.

You quickly shake your head. Though you are relieved that your dark journey is almost over, what you had been planning to say was actually quite the opposite of Tantek's prediction. "Actually," you begin, "I was just going to thank you for helping me through this. And that also... I might even miss you. You know?" You pause. "Well, maybe..."

Tantek grins. "You know, guest, you're alright." Seeming to wordlessly echo her owner's thoughts, Cerby dances at your feet with glee. "You know," Tantek continues after a thoughtful moment, "even though we'll be parting ways soon, you can still see me any time you want."

."What?" you ask in surprise. "How?" Don't tell me there's some crazy way to return me here whenever I please, or something!

But the answer is much simpler. "Just close your eyes." He does so to demonstrate, then opens them again. "Close your eyes and remember my face. Then you can see me whenever you want to."

You smile warmly. As cheesy as that sounds... it makes you feel good. So you close your eyes for a test run, summoning all of the pictures of Tantek into your mind's eye.

Memorize his face, you tell yourself. That way, I can see him whenever I want.

Satisfied, you open your eyes to see a content-looking Tantek. "Ready?" he asks, ushering ahead of him. You nod, prepared to follow once more. "Just a bit further."

A pleasant quiet prevails over the darkness, broken only by your echoing footsteps and the tapping of Cerby's claws on the stone ground. Somehow, you can sense that you're close to the end... even though you still can't see anything beyond the lantern's light. After a few more minutes, Tantek stops and shifts around.

."Well, we're here," he announces, a little sadly. It seems he'd grown fond of you, as well. "You can return to the realm of the living, now." Stretching the staff of the lantern a few feet in front of him, the glowing lamp illuminates a large wooden door ahead - presumably the way out.

You step closer to Tantek and smile at him as you glance at the door. This is it, you tell yourself. I'm almost home. Taking a deep breath, you decide to speak. "I still don't know how I got here," you begin, and Tantek smiles sheepishly. "...But I'm glad you were here to help me through. Thanks again."

The Lupe's smile widens into a grin, and he shakes his head. "Of course. It's my job, after all!" He raises a paw to pat you on the shoulder. "And don't worry... we'll see each other again, someday."

."All we have to do is close our eyes." Kneeling down to stroke each of Cerby's heads (and quickly getting a hand bath in the process), you then straighten up and step towards the door. "Goodbye, Tantek."

And with one twist of the door's silver knob, a bright light fills the hallway, and you step through the frame, readily facing whatever is there to greet you on the other side.