Chapter 63 - The split

Chapter 63

"Kaysi!?" Cailian called out again, his voice sharp with tension. "Is your team ready to split?"

We had to rescue the people — but we weren't out of the woods yet. One wrong step could cost all of us everything, including the people we are trying to save. I don't think our group can afford another setback. 

"We don't have much of a choice, do we?" Kaysi's voice crackled. "The quicker we get out of here, the better condition we all will be."

Please don't hesitate to call us if you happen to encounter any further trouble that you can't handle. Or if you need assistance once locating the people. 

The teams had been carefully divided up into two efficient groups that the Chiefs believed could serve a purpose in this mission. Team One — the rescue team — was tasked with finding the enslaved people and getting them out. Team Two — the strike team — would locate and seal the portal. This way, we can get the people back home as quickly as possible while also eliminating any danger that might come our way and threaten the safety of both the people and ourselves. 

I swallowed a hard lump was in my throat, skinny the dark tunnel head. The air was thick with malice. Where we stood, there was no guarantee of what was to come. 

Matilda sensed my hesitation and grabbed my hand. "Be careful," she said, her eyes dark with worry. "Keep on your guard — and we'll see you on the other side."

"You too," I said, releasing her hand. Then we split, disappearing down separate tunnels.

TEAM 1 - Rescue 

Cailian led the group through the dark tunnel, the air growing colder with each step. Moisture dripped from the stone walls, and the oppressive weight of malice pressed down on them.

When they arrived at their destination on the map, the sound of muffled voices grew stronger and louder. The people could hear the echoes of our footsteps as we approached. 

We're coming; we're almost there! Matilda shouted up ahead and attempted to reassure the people. 

James pressed his hand against the wall of the tunnel. "Do you hear that?" 

"The people?" Matilda asked in a smart-aleck tone, as if it wasn't obvious, but by now, everyone could hear their loud screams. 

Matilda's head tilted, looking in the opposite direction. "It's them." 

Baby's eyes narrowed. " It's a trap!" 

Micah flicked open her Tessen war fan and swept it through the air, testing the malice in the atmosphere. "We won't know until we get closer."

"Hold steady," Cailian murmured, eyes narrowing, looking onward as the tunnel unnaturally twisted ahead.

Suddenly, the walls around them seem to bend. The stones in the walls shimmered, the air rippling unnaturally as though he was distorting it like a mirage. 

"Did you see that?" James whispered. 

A low vibration rippled through the ground beneath their feet. Muffled voices echoed down the passage. Suddenly — the walls warped. The stones shimmered and twisted.

"Did you see that?" James whispered.

A low hum pulsed through the tunnel — and then—

They were somewhere else.

Cailian stumbled, blinking as the rough Stone of the tunnel melted into a sunlit meadow. The sky was pale, an unnatural shade of green.

Floating on the breeze of the Treetops was the sound of children's laughter. 

Cailian turned — and saw Matilda standing nearby, wearing a light blue dress. She looked much younger our age, her face unmarked by the stress of the mission.

Cailian, stunned with a lack of voice, whispered. "What the hell?" 

Matilda blinked at him, confused. "Cailian?" She asked in a questionable tone as her gaze swept over him. "What's going on? You… you look older." She stuttered in disbelief.

Matilda could barely recognize Cailian from the present. Her mind and body seem to defy the ravages of age. 

The ground beneath them quaked. Opening thin fractures that split through the meadow, spilling eerie blue-green light piercing through the trembling air. The meadow warped, flickering like a dying reel. 

Cailian lunged forward, grabbing Matilda's arm just as the meadow shattered and dissolved. The tunnel's dark stone returned in the blink of an eye, leaving them both gasping. 

They were back in the tunnel, gasping for breath. Matilda staggered, clutching her head. Matilda was restored to the present time. 

"What the hell is that." Micah shrieked, her face pale!

Baby Gritted through her teeth and hissed. "Time disturbance! It is waves from the portal that must be affecting reality." She said. 

"We need to move now!" Cailian ordered. Additionally, we need to contact the others as soon as possible and issue a warning. Suppose it's not too late. I think we may be the ones by the portal." 

As Team One continued to run further down the hall, cries grew louder. "We are getting closer now," I said. 

Kaysi, is there a portal for the people? Micah questioned. 

They all halted to stop. They now stood in a vast chamber. Metal cages lined the walls—figures huddled inside — wrists bound by chains. Men and women — some barely in their twenties, others much older — lifted their heads at the sound of footsteps. Calloused hands. Bruised faces. Haunted eyes.

"They're alive," Breath caught. Matilda whispered, her teary eyes finally glistening with a spark of hope and happiness. 

James knelt by one of the cages, testing the lock. "These are reinforced," he muttered.

"We don't have enough time to pick them all and get everyone out of here safely," Baby said. 

Micah stepped forward. " I got this!" She knelt, unfolding her fan. A thin wire extended from the base of the handle. She slipped it into the lock with a couple of movements — twist, flick —

Click. 

The lock snapped open, dropping to the ground. 

James's eyes widened. " Where did you learn that from? 

Micah smiled faintly and shrugged her shoulders. " Hey, a girl has her secrets." 

The enslaved people stumbled out of the cages, hesitant and afraid.

Matilda and Cailian helped the older ones to their feet and out of the cage. "It's okay," Matilda reassured them. "Don't worry, you're safe now. We are here to rescue you and take you back home." 

One of the grizzled men narrowed his eyes. He recognized Matilda. "I don't know if we should trust you. It was your father that set us up on this mission. That got us here in the first place. How do we know this isn't another trap?" He asked when he saw Matilda.

Matilda's jaw tightened. I understand your worry. "My father is dead. Columbus killed him when he tried to protect you." Her hand trembled around her chakram. "I'm here to make things right to make up for his wrongdoings."

The man hesitated — then nodded slowly.

Scrape.

Matilda turned her head and put up her weapon. Her skin crawled as goosebumps lifted down her arm. The sound of scraping stones sent a chill down her spine. 

"They're coming; get prepared to protect the people." Baby growled. 

"A girdling growl arose from the far side of the tunnel's chamber. A new set of red eyes flickered in the dark. 

"It's time to go get the people out!" Cailian shouted and waved his hand. "Follow the tunnel back to the exit we came from; I will try to hold them off." 

"We understand that we will get in touch with the other group so they can back us up," Baby said as she dialed on the Sourusense. 

The phone rang, the line clicked — static — then Becky's voice crackled through.

"Hello? Becky?"

"We found them," Baby said quickly. "But we're under attack. We need backup."

"Also, you have to watch out for time distortions and arrive here as quickly as possible. We finally found the enslaved people, but we are under attack. Cailian, stay behind to buy us some time, but we need your help." 

"Got it. We're on our way—"

Boom...

"Yeah, that's fine; we're on our way back. WATCH OUT!" 

A crash, followed by the sound of rumbling stone. Becky's scream cut through the line — and then it went dead.

"Hello...Hello? Baby shouted. "Becky!" someone called. "Are you there?" "No," I was on the other line, and the call had dropped. She tried to call back, but it went straight to voicemail. 

No response.

"Baby...?" Micah asked. "Is everything okay?" 

"NO, we're all in trouble," Baby said grimly. She tightened her grip. "We need to get these people out — fast."

MIcah's unfurled her fan, eyes narrowing as the red eyes in the dark multiplied. Clawed feet scraped closer.

"They're coming," Matilda whispered.

Cailian smiled darkly. "Good. Let them."

The first demon lunged.