After so discussion, Finn discovered sothing wild: Queen Lysithea could control sli. Who would’ve guessed? Not just the nearby sli either—she could reach across distances. That explained how the first Horny Sli had tracked Finn in the cave when he first arrived with Majestria.
But the bigger question lingered: how did she even know about him? He never got a straight answer.
On top of that, there was talk of the Forgotten one or simply that sli cocoon they saw awakening soon. Soone—who, Finn had no clue—was apparently feeding the creature all sorts of disgusting things: trash, moisture, bacteria. Whatever it was doing, it had changed the sli’s growth process in ways Finn couldn’t fully wrap his head around, especially given Lysithea’s... unique way of explaining things.
From what he could gather, the sli monsters he and Seraphina had fought weren’t the sa as the other slis around them. The ones like Horny Slis had a living force within them; the other creatures weren’t even alive. Given that answer from his trip powers. Which made him wonder: was the sli in the caves—everywhere they’d seen it—connected to Lysithea sohow? Or was it not.
For now, that question had to wait. Lysithea led Finn and Seraphina deeper into the cavern. Finn didn’t question it—he was fully trusting her, praying she’d get them out alive.
Eventually, they stopped in front of a sli wall far thicker and more alive-looking than any they’d passed.
"Why’d you stop...?" Finn asked.
Seraphina, wary, added, "Yeah... you’ve been leading us deeper. Are you trying to take Finn for yourself... to eat him?"
"Yess~~~~" Lysithea said, making Seraphina tense. Then, almost imdiately, she added, "I bring you deeper furrthere, away from ittt~~~ it is safffer heree~~~~"
Seraphina gradually relaxed and glanced at Finn, who shrugged casually, keeping a calm expression.
"I willl part the sliii seaa~~~ then we cann pass~~~~"
"The what?" Finn blinked, unsure he heard right.
And then Lysithea literally did it. She made a strange gesture, and the sli wall began to part like a living curtain, forming a tunnel straight through—like a certain famous sea parting.
Finn and Seraphina gawked. Lysithea lived up to her title: Queen of the Sli. She was glorious. Unhinged and deranged, yes—but glorious.
Finn felt his brain short-circuit. ’I... need that... wait no focus!’ He smacked his head, trying to rember the mission.
Ahead of them stretched the newly-ford tunnel.
Seraphina shot Finn an uneasy look. "Are you sure—"
But Finn was already stepping forward with Lysithea. Shocked, Seraphina scrambled to catch up.
And behind them, sowhere deep in the cavern, they were being watched...
***
They walked forward into the tunnel. It was dark and narrow, though wide enough for the three of them to spread out.
The floor was slick and gooey, clinging to their shoes with every step, sotis sloshing off. Walls dripped, and so did the ceiling, hitting Finn and Seraphina on the shoulders. The sensation made both of them grimace in disgust. Finn shivered at the thought: if the tunnel collapsed, they’d be completely subrged in sli—like being underwater, but barely able to move or see. The re idea made his stomach twist.
’Would be nice to have a lantern... would make this so much easier and funner,’ he thought, trying to steady himself.
Ti dragged as they pressed forward. The tunnel felt endless, the monotony and exhaustion weighing on them. Finn glanced back: the path behind them remained open. Ahead, Lysithea moved slightly in front, still leading the way.
"Wee are almost theree~~~ and we will be close too the surrface from thereee~~~~"
Hearing that gave them both a small boost of courage. Seraphina noticed Finn sneaking glances at Lysithea’s form, and she rolled her eyes quietly—part irritation, part worry.
The tunnel was eerily silent except for the squelching of their steps and the occasional drip of sli. Then, gradually, they noticed sothing else: footsteps. More than three.
At first subtle, then unmistakable, the sounds grew closer with each passing second. Finn stopped abruptly, unease crawling up his spine.
Seraphina noticed imdiately. "What’s wrong, Finn?" she asked, worry knitting her brow.
"Sothing feels... off. We’re not alone," he murmured, his voice tight. Full of dread. The feeling you’d get going back to school after sumr break.
Lysithea paused as well, looking down at them. "Yesss... we are being followedd~~~ no gooddd. Let takke you Fiiinn~~~~"
The tunnel fell silent save for the footsteps, growing louder, approaching with a slippery, sloshing rhythm that echoed through the narrow passage.
"Now’s not the ti..." Finn muttered, a lump forming in his throat. He glanced back again, heart pounding. "Let’s hurry."
They pressed on, climbing upward with that unnerving sothing still following.
Their pace quickened, feet squelching faster against the goo. Finn was sweating buckets—half from the heat, half from pure, uncut anxiety. He clutched Seraphina’s arm to make sure she didn’t fall behind, while his other hand pressed against Lysithea’s back, urging her forward.
Lysithea, to his mounting horror, seed to enjoy the contact. She leaned into his touch with a pleased hum, but thankfully sped up as he wanted.
The footsteps behind them grew louder—closer—accompanied by a strange, faint click. The sound made Finn’s spine lock up, and for a split second, he was convinced he’d just soiled himself.
Panic spiked. He pulled Seraphina in tight, clinging to Lysithea with his other arm like a terrified child grabbing both parents in a thunderstorm.
"Go, go, go...!" he hissed under his breath, voice trembling. His teeth chattered like a snake’s rattle.
Then, out of the darkness, a warped, unnatural sound echoed:
"Tekila... tekila..."
It was like a broken voice box trying to mimic a bird call, except it sounded wrong. Very wrong.
Finn’s eyes widened. "Go!!" he yelped, shoving at both won to move faster.
The sound ca again—closer, sharper.
"Tekila..."
And then Finn saw it.
Just for a heartbeat, in the shifting sli-lit dark, his eyes locked on sothing that didn’t belong in this world. His breath caught. His legs froze.
Seraphina’s voice was distant, muffled, calling his na. But Finn didn’t hear her.
He couldn’t.
Not after that.
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