Henrietta The Half-dead

"Could you explain what is in the tunnel?" the prisoner asked.

"It's an enormous machine that fills it from the entrance to the door," I explained. "But I'm afraid I can't tell you how it works or anything useful."

"Clever girl. You knew my next question. My name is Sen. The knights that imprisoned me here called me a 'puppeteer.' Which I assume is derived from my work in balancing the world above."

"My name is Henrietta," I said. "I am a half-dead. Or did you know that already?"

"No, no," Sen said. "I am not an all-knowing creature. I merely work in the shadows, searching the world for imbalances of good and evil. I manipulate the fates and whims of people, making sure that the world does not fall into ruin."

"That doesn't sound very fair to the people," I said. "You're not letting free will and nature take its course."

Sen only stared at me silently for a moment. I wished I could see an expression instead of a vacant hood.

"Does that mean you won't help me escape?" Sen asked.

"Would you be able to remove paper seals?" I replied. "Seals that hold back a monstrous wolf king?"

Sen again only stared at me. Was she pondering my question? Was she confused? Her cloaked face was maddening.

"You wish to free the old wolf king?" Sen questioned. "Do you really believe that monster will cooperate and help you get to the surface?"

"I don't have any other options," I said. "I'm feeble. Muscle is not something my people are known for and my rot is plentiful."

"I see," Sen said. "Then I suppose it can't be helped. Unless there are others we can ask."

"I'm not interested in wasting time. I want to get out of this place."

Silence again. But I think I had already gotten used to it.

"Can you or can't you?" I persisted.

"Yes, I could," Sen answered. "If you can get me out of this cell I will help you free the wolf king. The long machine must be made at least partly of kirisenum, a metal that is very harmful to me. In large quantities it can force me away with just its presence."

"But why did they build a machine?" I asked. "Wouldn't just placing a large amount of the metal in front of the door keep you in place?"

"Definitely, but a machine made of kirisenum can kill me," Sen explained. "When someone scratches glass or chalkboard it can be incredibly irritating or even sickening. The sound of kirisenum bumping, grinding, scratching, and dragging can destroy my mind. The machine must be a way to kill me, should I ever get passed the door."

"Pardon me if I don't exactly follow how that is supposed to happen," I said.

"Is there a paper charm on the wall or on this door?" Sen asked.

I looked over the door and then the walls of the tunnel. Covered in dust, I failed to notice several paper charms much smaller than those found near the wolf. Many were affixed to the walls, facing each other and covering several different measures of height.

"There are many paper charms," I said.

"Those will surely activate the machine if they notice my presence outside of the cell," Sen said. "Killing me with the echoed carnage of metal I can't even see."