The escape

-Kris POV-

Redgrave and I have been driving for five days only stopping to refuel or stretch our legs but now we're crouching on top of a hill looking down, through binoculars, at an old medieval building. The place is a fortress with watchtowers scattered around the perimeter, all with mounted searchlights. Guards patrolling the outside and on the walls. The only thing I recognize is the metal vans parked in a line. The gate looked to be solid steel and there are more the 30 men outside. There's no telling how many are inside. Red and I were staring down at this fortress on a snow-covered hill. I questioned Red, "Great, how the hell am I supposed to get in?"

Red thought for a bit, then said, "You could..."

He paused for a bit which made me wonder how he didn't know it was a rhetorical question. "Sorry but that was a rhetorical question."

He replied, "I'm just saying that that place is famous in the history of our town."

I look at Redgrave completely confused as to where this is going, "And?"

Red went on to explain, "When the first settlers built that place they stumble upon a vast cave system stretching for 10 miles in all directions. In fact, it was how the prisoners escape and brought an army that led to the settler's downfall." He said all this while looking at the place like he was recalling a history lesson he got back at school. I just stared at him more until he looked at me with confusion written on his face. "What?"

"Do you know where a cave entrance is?"

"No. I only know that there are caves."

I sighed, "let's just see if we can't get better... SHIT!"

I was walking back to the car hoping to drive around the fort but I fell through the snow into a cave, landing hard on the rocky floor. Red scream. "Jesus! Are you alright?!"

"I'm fine. Looks like I've found the caves you talk about."

"Do you want me to climb down or get you out?"

I paused for a moment thinking of the best possible plan for the moment. Redgrave is currently my only getaway driver and he said the caves run to the fort. I look up to see his concerned face and said, "Wait there. If I'm not back by tomorrow morning, leave."

Red nodded to show he understands what the plan is and now on a deadline, I make my way through the caves. At first, I could not see anything in the pitch black but with every minute that passes by my eyes adjusted to the dark. Soon I can see everything as clear as day. I started running in the caves, jumping on rocks, and climbing small ledges all while trying to keep track of where I'm going so I know where the exit is. Like all cave systems, I came across a fork. This was not what I need right now so I tried everything I could think of that could at least let me know which way to take. After about ten minutes of thinking I started hearing the rhythmic beating of my heart. Is it really that quiet down here. Are there really no other forms of life or movement. Then I heard another rhythmic beating but it was much weaker, so much so that I could barely hear it. It is coming from the right of the fork. After following the passage for some unknown time the other rhythmic beating started getting louder and before I knew it I can see a stone wall where the beating is coming from. I step closer to the wall and knock on it waiting for a response. After hearing nothing I knock again but this time the response is a very muffled voice. "Whose there?"

"Ahri, it's me, Kris! Stay away from the wall!"

Not waiting for anything else I start banging at the wall using nearby stones to try and knock it down. It didn't take long to knock it down. I can see the tears in Ahri's eyes as she couldn't believe what she was seeing. She walked up to me putting her hands on my cheeks. Most likely checking if I'm real. After a bit tears started running down as she buried her face in my chest wrapping her arms around my waist. She sobbed as she hugged me, "I-I d-d-don't u-understand. Y-you..."

I cut her off by lifting her head and looked into her eyes. "It takes more than one stab in the gut to kill me." Ahri just looked at me with relief but her ears shot up and she looked behind me. I did the same and saw the roof of the cave starting to crack and small bits of it falling before the whole thing fell blocking my only plan of escape. I looked at Ahri whose ears are now facing the other way. "What is it now?"

I said in a tired tone.

"It sounds like someone is coming."

I looked around frantically trying to find a good spot to hide. The wall I broke through still had its sides standing and enough of them to hide behind. I waited for the sound of footsteps getting louder and louder. Readying my bow I heard two guards approach the cell. "What the fuck do you think you're doing."

The cell door opened and I heard Ahri being tackled to the ground. The other guard stepped in examining the huge hole in the wall. I thought, "Please don't find me, please don't find me."

The other guard screamed, "WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT!!"

They found me! The only thing I can do is attack. I jump out into the open but I'm confused. Everyone's not looking at me, theirs no reaction from the guards from my jump. They're just standing there looking at... something. I myself am just standing there trying to figure out what they're looking at until I feel something press up against my back and two void black arms wrap around me. A seductive feminine voice whispers in my ear making me finally understand what's going on. "So you are the one Lykos told me to find."

I feel what I believe to be The Dark gently bite on my ear. I turn my head to try and get a view of what is holding me. "Listen I think I have an idea of what you are but right now I'm currently busy trying to save my friends."

The Dark simply says, "All taken care of."

"What?!" I looked back only to see the two guards dead on the floor with dark essence rising. Ahri is horrified and confused as she is looking at us and the bodies repeatedly. I stared at Ahri looking in my direction but not at me. "They're not truly looking at us, there's something between us and them... right?"

"You are a smart one, aren't you. I put up a Dark wall so no one can see or hear us." She giggled.

She said the last bit as if trying to tell me I can do whatever I want to her. Looking at The Dark silhouette with a serious expression I ask, "Can you get us out of here? Like moving the rocks or kill all my enemies?"

She let go of me sighing with disappointment. Now that I can look at her properly all I can see is the outline of a face. It kinda looks similar to Lykos. She spoke with a bland tone. "Well seeing how you don't want to have fun there's no reason for me to be here and for the future, you can just call me Tenebris."

Not even giving me time to speak she disappeared dropping the Dark wall. I stood there like a lost boy confused but eventually figuring out what really happened. I said, "Fucking dickhead."

Ahri kept staring at me as she said, "Kris... what the hell was that cause I've never seen any magic like that in my life!"

"That's a bit of a long story. Right now we have to get out of here before they start wondering where their guys are."

Without wasting any more time I help Ahri up and take the keys out of the cell door. "Where's Hati?"

Ahri pointed to the wall, "She should be in the cell next to mine."

Looking through the small opening I see Hati sitting in the middle of the cell patiently waiting. "It's about time you showed up."

I replied in a joking tone, "Sorry I was busy trying not to die before I got here."

I open the door and see what looks to be a smile coming from Hati as she slowly walks up to me. She is still weak and with every step, her whole body shakes. I hugged her to give her some support. "What did they do to you?"

"Put me on some powerful diet that's what."

Ahri stepped forward and asked, "So Kris...What's the plan?"

I hadn't thought about that. There isn't much we can do except for one thing. I turned to them and said. "We're going to use the front door."