Earthly Desires

Monica Hasst part 1

"I’m too old for this," Monica Hasst thought, stumbling down the trash-strewn alley. Her heart sank as she realized she was being led to a side entrance of the Temple of Emerald Joh Jonson. The urge to fight flared briefly—but she knew resistance would only earn her a swift death.

Half-dragged, half-led, she was pushed through endless hallways until they stopped at a plain wooden door. At some imperceptible cue, it swung open silently. Her captors shoved her inside and vanished before she could even turn to see them.

Monica blinked, adjusting to the dim, claustrophobic space. The room was long and narrow, lined on one side with two cots. The light was muted and diffuse, yet no source was visible. At the far end, a small, frail figure stood before a desk. The clutter of papers, ink bottles, and scattered trinkets was jarring against the room’s otherwise austere neatness.

A chill ran down Monica’s spine as she stepped further inside. The silence was thick, almost oppressive, and every instinct screamed at her to run—even though there was nowhere to go.