The well’s walls were unusual too! At about ten meters depth, the stones changed — more ancient, covered with the same mysterious symbols he saw above! But here the symbols were sharper, deeper, as if carved with special force! And they glowed! Barely noticeably, with a dim greenish light, but definitely glowed!!!
Robert stopped to examine one symbol closer! In the lantern light, it looked like a spiral surrounded by strange signs resembling runes! When he touched the symbol, the stone was warm, and a barely noticeable vibration ran along the wall! «Where are you???» he shouted down!
«Very close! I see your light! It’s so bright! I haven’t seen light for so long!!!» The voice became clearer, but new tones appeared in it! Now it sounded not only desperate but somehow… hungry! As if this voice craved not just help, but something more!!!
Robert continued the descent and soon found that the well widened at this depth! The walls diverged, forming something like a cave! The air here was even denser, almost material, and breathing became harder! And then his foot touched something solid — the bottom!
But it was an unusual well bottom! Underfoot squelched not water, but something viscous, warm! Robert directed the lantern down and saw he was ankle-deep in some dark liquid! It was almost black, but with iridescent streaks on the surface, and from it came that same sweetish smell!
He looked around! The cave was larger than he expected! The walls receded into darkness beyond the lantern’s light, and the ceiling was lost somewhere above! And everywhere were those glowing symbols, forming complex patterns on the walls’ surface! But the most striking was in the far corner of the cave!
There, in a semicircular niche, sat a girl! At first glance, she looked completely ordinary — young, about 20, in a simple white dress! Long blonde hair, pale but beautiful face! She sat hugging her knees and looked at him with such gratitude that his heart ached with pity!!!
But as Robert approached, he noticed details that made him wary! The girl’s dress was not just dirty; it was wet, as if she had just come out of water, but no drops fell from it! Her skin was not just pale; it was almost transparent, with bluish veins visible underneath! And the eyes! The eyes were too large, too bright, and had no pupils!!!
«You came!!!» she whispered, and her voice echoed through the cave! «I’ve waited so long! Called so long!!!»
Robert approached closer, holding the lantern in front! The light fell on the girl, and he saw more oddities! Her shadow on the wall was wrong and too large, with something animal in it! And when she turned her head, her movements were too smooth, as if she moved underwater!
«What’s your name? What happened???» he asked, trying to speak calmly, though every instinct screamed to run! «Charlotte!» she answered, and for the first time, the voice sounded completely normal! «My name is Charlotte Bennett! I… I fell here! Fell a long time ago, and can’t get out! The walls are too slippery, and I… I’m so weak!!!»
She tried to stand, and Robert saw her feet didn’t touch the ground! She literally floated in the air a few centimeters high! The girl apparently noticed his gaze and quickly lowered, touching the surface! «Sorry,» she said embarrassedly! «Here… Here everything is not like above! Sometimes I forget how to stand!»
«Don’t worry! We’ll get out now,» Robert said, trying not to show his fear! «I have a rope!» Charlotte smiled, and that smile made him step back!
There were too many teeth in her smile, and the teeth were too sharp!!! But in a moment, everything became normal — an ordinary girl with an ordinary grateful smile! «You’re so kind,» she said! «Not many would dare descend here! Most just listen from above and then leave! But you came!!!»
«Of course I came! Can’t leave a person in trouble!» «A person…» she repeated thoughtfully! «Yes! I was a person! Once!!!»
These words sounded so ominous that Robert felt his hair stand on end! But he forced himself to stay calm! Perhaps the girl had just been here alone too long and gone a bit mad! «How long have you been here???» he asked, starting to untangle the rope!
«Time… Time goes differently here,» Charlotte answered, watching his movements with unhealthy interest! «Sometimes it seems eternity has passed, and sometimes like I just fell! But by feel… Very long! Very, very long!!! And how did you survive? Without food, without water???»
Charlotte laughed… And her laughter echoed off the walls in a hundred voices: «survived!» «Oh, I didn’t survive! I died here! Long ago!!! But death… Death in this place works differently than elsewhere! Here it’s not release! Here it’s… Continuation!!!»
Robert froze, holding the rope! Every word from the girl confirmed his worst fears! But now he had gone too far to just turn and leave! «Don’t worry,» Charlotte said, noticing his state! «I won’t harm you! I just want to get out of here! Want to see the sun again, feel the wind! And also… Also, I want not to be alone! So tired of loneliness!!!»
In her voice was such longing that Robert felt pity for her, despite the horror of the situation! Whatever happened to this girl, she was definitely suffering!!! «Okay,» he said, tying the rope around her waist! «Just hold on tight!» Charlotte nodded and gripped the rope with her hands!