I must've dozed, but not for long. It was still dark outside. I shot a glance at the digital clock on my nightstand; a double twelve stared back at me.

A thousand thoughts bounced around in my head. Meeting Layla was big enough on its own, but Cleo, the Darkness, these tunnels?

It was all too much.

I sat up and swung my legs over the side of the bed. I tried to think of anything else that would clear my mind.

An orange, flashing star in the corner of my vision caught my attention. With a bit of will, I selected it.

A screen popped up:

[NEW OBJECTIVE:] Find the Entrance to The Darkness.

The Midnight Hunt is waiting for you. Find Cleopatra and the Darkness to continue your mission.

Yeah, how do I do that?

On a whim, I pulled up the screen for my [Crafting] skill. To my surprise, I saw options for several things I could now make. Included amongst those: a compass. I selected it to obtain more information.

[Basic Compass]

This simple item will navigate you toward your active mission(s).

[Materials:] 1 1/2" nail, chewing tobacco tin, insulated wire, magnet.

[Difficulty:] Easy

Enchantable (Spellcrafting required)

I didn't think the materials list made sense, but I figured our landlord would have everything I needed. The basement wasn't exactly for tenants, but Mr. Haskell wasn't typically around and had a hoarder-level amount of junk. Excited, I made my way downstairs.

The television was on in the living room—a commercial for Girls Gone Wild—and Eric was passed out on the couch, a new girl clinging to him. I paid them no heed and headed out back. Although it was barely midnight, I felt something like sunlight on my skin. I peered up at the waning moon, and that warmth filled me inside.

Normally, I'd feel unease being outside alone in the middle of the night, but now, it was invigorating.

I descended the three steps to a concrete deck and swung around to the double doors leading into the storm cellar. They opened with a strained groan, making me fear I'd wake up the whole block. When no one stirred, I opened them the rest of the way and stepped inside.

Musty air swirled around. Dust billowed, little motes floating in the beam of moonlight illuminating my path downward. I took the steps carefully, unsure if they'd hold my weight. Who knew when the last time someone went down here was?

Once inside, I found a string hanging and gave it a yank. Amber, flickering light bathed the expanse beneath our building. I stepped in deeper and heard a skitter and a crash. I leaped back and something flashed in the corner of my vision.

POTENTIAL DANGER. ENTER [WOLF] FORM?

That was interesting. I waited a few seconds before deciding it was nothing more than a frightened rodent and dismissed the warning.

With all the piles of garbage, I started fearing these simple materials would be more difficult to find than I had previously imagined.

However, I felt an unnatural pull, like someone had attached a string to my chest. I followed its urging until I found a box of wire. Next, the draw led me to a nail, an empty tin of Copenhagen, and a round, heavy magnet whose use I couldn't guess.

Having found all I needed, I closed up the cellar and returned inside. Eric was still conked out with tonight's girlfriend. I risked waking them by shutting off the TV, then headed upstairs.

When I reached my room, I shut the door and arrayed all the supplies out on my desk. I'd never so much as made a potato lightbulb before. To my natural eye, this looked challenging. It seemed, though, that whatever having chosen the [Crafting] skill did for me, it gave me an intuitive understanding of how to make the thing. It still took a couple of tries, but I followed my HUD's instructions until I saw the nail flitter to the side—what I had to assume was the direction I'd need to go.

This is nuts.

I stood, holding the compass ahead of me. I turned. The nail stayed pointing in the same direction. I had class in the morning, and I knew it was a bad idea, but I grabbed my coat, backpack, and flashlight from my nightstand and headed back downstairs past Eric and Rando and out front. Once outside, the compass was still leading me. As I walked, my breath visible in the cool air, the nail started to twitch. When I reached the crosswalk at the intersection of Vanderhoof and Northside Drive, the compass told me to turn. I'd already trusted it this far. Why not?

The streets were empty but for a few students staggering home from parties. I gave one couple a nod as I passed, then continued my hurried pace.

Finally, the compass needle began spinning wildly. I stopped in front of the campus bookstore. My heart slammed around in my chest. I could feel my pulse in my neck, my fingers, my throat. When I breathed, it came out in white puffs. My hands were freezing, and the metallic container felt warm to the touch.

A sign on the bookstore window read, Closed.

If the needle stopped here, however, I had to believe I'd found what I was looking for.

The bookstore's entrance was a small alcove with walls on each side. I stepped inside and peered through the glass. It was too dark for me to see anything. I tried the door. Locked.

Dammit.

Back pressed to the brick wall, I let it guide me to the ground. Then, a blurred figure zipped past me. It wasn't moving unnaturally fast, but he was in a hurry. I couldn't imagine he spotted me, but I also couldn't be sure. After waiting a few seconds, I crawled over and peeked around the corner just in time to watch him turn down the alley beside the bookstore.

Don't do it, Jude. Don't follow a stranger down a dark alley in the middle of the night.

I ignored my more sensible side and did just that. The needle rocked back and forth as I rose and followed. The alley emptied into a grassy courtyard behind the Earth Sciences Building. The man stopped at it's rear entrance—just a nondescript green door. He turned, peering over one shoulder as if concerned someone was following him. I jumped into shadow just in time to stay unnoticed.

The door swung open, and the man entered, vanishing from sight.

I cautiously approached the door. As soon as my hand touched the handle, a message appeared in my vision.

[OBJECTIVE COMPLETED:] Find the Entrance to the Darkness

You have found the [Entrance to the Darkness]

You have received a [New Objective]

[NEW OBJECTIVE:] Enter the Darkness