Garinor opted to take the path on the left. He stepped toward the exit, passed through the darkness, and prepared to meet the new scene that popped into view to greet him. Even expecting the unexpected, Garinor was not prepared for what appeared around him.
Fires raged in every direction, bursting from the ground and falling from the sky. Everything was lit with a gold and crimson glow and it was hard to see where he was headed. He stepped forward and tried to find his way, seeking the one who would give to him his next clue. The balls of fire dashed around, and he ducked beneath some and jumped over others. There were so many of them to watch, he didn’t think he could do this for long.
He rolled along the ground and then sprinted ahead, determined to find the end of this horrible room. A hill crested not far off in the distance and he pushed all his might into reaching that pinnacle. The ground moaned, and he dodged aside before a column of flame burst into the air. A distinct whistling echoed overhead, and he bent down to avoid another burning projectile. In this way, he worked around and made his way to the hilltop.
Finally, all the fires went quiet. He stood, looking around as all the red and gold faded to darkness, but the one who would share a clue with Garinor was not to be seen. He scanned the horizon, wondering where he should turn, but he saw no signs of life.
Garinor decided to continue in the same general direction he had been heading, as that seemed the most logical path for him to follow. But when he took his first step forward, the sky and the earth both lit red once again. Every jet of flame sprouted at once and converged on the hilltop, drowning Garinor in a horrid flood of fiery pain. He crumpled to the ground and realized he had been led astray.
If only he had chosen the other pathway, he might still be alive. Writhing in pain, Garinor felt his consciousness leave him and he was wrapped in darkness.