Hall of Infinite Doors
"OWWWWWWWWWWWWW!" the bug howls as it shoots off into the darkness.
"Hey!" you exclaim, "Whoops!" You run over to where you flicked the bug. It is lying on its back, with its legs writhering furiously in the air.
"You jerk!" the bug's voice somehow consists of the clicks and clacks of its mandibles.
"I'm terribly sorry," you says as you flip the insect back on to its legs. "I didn't know you could talk."
"And is that a good reason for slapping me onto the ground?" the large black beetle clacks.
"No, I suppose not." you say, "You startled me, that's all."
"Well, I suppose you don't blame you," the insect clicks, "I am, after all, the most poisonous animal in the world."
You go pale, "Oh. Sorry again by the way. I'm very deeply sorry."
"No need to grovel like that." the bug clicks AND clacks.
"Do all of your... um, 'type', speak?" you ask.
"No, no. Just me. Just now. I'm not sure why, but we have no time to find out." a worried look crosses the beetle's face (you're not sure how you noticed that, but it did), "You've got to run, you've got to hide. You're surrounded by Vrylokas."
"What's that?" you ask curiously.
"Shape-shifters. Flesh-eaters. Blood-suckers." the bug clacks casually.
"Oh... oh damn." you feel as if your heart is ripping free from your chest.
"Just to warn you," the beetle turns around, spreads its wings, and begins to fly away.
"Wait!" you whisper loudly, but the bug has disappeared.
You look around, but see nothing.
"Hey!" you exclaim, "Whoops!" You run over to where you flicked the bug. It is lying on its back, with its legs writhering furiously in the air.
"You jerk!" the bug's voice somehow consists of the clicks and clacks of its mandibles.
"I'm terribly sorry," you says as you flip the insect back on to its legs. "I didn't know you could talk."
"And is that a good reason for slapping me onto the ground?" the large black beetle clacks.
"No, I suppose not." you say, "You startled me, that's all."
"Well, I suppose you don't blame you," the insect clicks, "I am, after all, the most poisonous animal in the world."
You go pale, "Oh. Sorry again by the way. I'm very deeply sorry."
"No need to grovel like that." the bug clicks AND clacks.
"Do all of your... um, 'type', speak?" you ask.
"No, no. Just me. Just now. I'm not sure why, but we have no time to find out." a worried look crosses the beetle's face (you're not sure how you noticed that, but it did), "You've got to run, you've got to hide. You're surrounded by Vrylokas."
"What's that?" you ask curiously.
"Shape-shifters. Flesh-eaters. Blood-suckers." the bug clacks casually.
"Oh... oh damn." you feel as if your heart is ripping free from your chest.
"Just to warn you," the beetle turns around, spreads its wings, and begins to fly away.
"Wait!" you whisper loudly, but the bug has disappeared.
You look around, but see nothing.