Chapter 101

Those eyes were like a divine judge's cold, unfeeling gaze, surveying the world beneath. … Elara watched as the people around her vanished, leaving her alone in the steakhouse. From the cracks in the walls, corners, tables, and chairs, bubbling foam oozed forth like molten asphalt, thick and viscous. With soft, unsettling snaps, grotesque strips of flesh emerged from beneath the frothy substance. She sat still, numb. The alcohol dulled her reactions, making her appear eerily calm. Strangely, she still had cell phone reception. Time blurred in the darkness until the sudden vibration of her phone broke the silence. Ashley's voice came through, urgent. "Where are you?" Elara pinched her arm hard. The pain felt sharp and real; she wasn't in a dream. She glanced at her phone screen, confirming the signal bars. Casually, she muttered, "I have reception, and we're talking. That means we're still in the same space." Ashley exhaled in relief. "Good. I'm in the corridor. Come m