Title: Truth Training
Source: #MenageMonday! Challenge Week 2×20
Word count: 250 words

source: Dreamstime

Torianna peered into the old loading shed, let her eyes adjust to the darker space and searched for the target. A soft breeze ruffled the littered platform and drew the soothing sounds of the forest inside the enclosure. Dappled shadows played on the walls. Torianna was alone.

In the far corner, was her target, a rusted box. Ever watchful, she stepped onto the platform, made her way to the box and knelt before it. It was a simple box, no adornments, no lock. It opened easily. Inside rested a single folded parchment.

Anger rose in her chest. She had risked her life for this? For this, she had battled and killed?

She stood as she unfolded the parchment and read.

“Congratulations. You have advanced to the second part of your journey.”

“Second part?” Torianna screeched, her voice echoing in the enclosure. Her foot slammed the metal box, sending it hurtling onto the track where it clattered and banged, before falling through a hole in the floor.

source: Dreamstime

“Damn you, Aalim. This is another of your teaching moments, isn’t it?”

Silence answered her.

“Talk Aalim,” she said and stomped her foot.

The breeze tugged the parchment she held in her hand. Torianna sighed and read the rest of the message.

“Great, Aalim. More doors to unlock, more puzzles for me to solve. Why can’t you answer a simple question?”

She lowered her head in resignation.  Etched in the floor where the box had rested was her answer.

“Truth comes in three stages.”

__________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer