Into the nothing, the snake had said. And so it goes, at first, just a long grey hallway towards... well, nothing, from what he could see. Simon wonders if he should turn back, but then would the snake continue to follow him? Not likely, and for some reason that seems an important change of events and something upon which that he needs to follow through.

He steps slowly forward, deeper into the gloom, listening to the soft slithering sound of the snake behind him. He'd expected the corridor to be damp, but no: the air in here is light and dry, with the scent of ash, like the inside of a volcanic mountain top...

Feeling away along the rough stone walls with his fingertips, he abruptly comes across the edge of a door. Further exploration reveals it to be a giant wooden door with metal banding and a large chain hanging down the middle. He takes hold of the chain in both hands and with a grunt he pulls down, bending his knees into the effort. A slow grinding sound emerges from behind the door, and after a few seconds the door turns inwards.

After taking a moment to catch his breath, Simon slips through the opening and into a wide open space.

The first thing he notices is the spectacle of dozens of antlers lining the walls. That, and the two empty thrones that sit at the top of the stone steps before his feet.

The snake slides through the doorway and pulls up beside him.

"King Simon," says the snake, "Your Court."

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This has been the Twenty First Chapter of Act Two for my ongoing #freewrite serial story.

ACT TWO CHAPTERS

Chapter One *** Chapter Two *** Chapter Three

Chapter Four*** Chapter Five*** Chapter Six

Chapter Seven*** Chapter Eight*** Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten*** Chapter Eleven*** Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen*** Chapter Fourteen*** Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen*** Chapter Seventeen*** Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen*** Chapter Twenty

Here is Chapter Twenty Two.

And here is the ACT ONE Chapter List, with all of the links for Act One.

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Written in five minutes from the writing prompts, "Ash" as part of the #freewrite exercise. Image is by me as well. You can view the prompt here. Be sure to check out the other freewrites just smouldering away and waiting to be reignited . Thanks to @mariannewest for creating and running this challenge of Vesuvian proportions.

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Writing and images by Greg McCann, the author of this post and owner of this Steemit Channel. To view more of my work, please visit www.fireawaymarmot.com.