The Arcobaleno

Chapter 22 - Beginnings of a New War

A man huffed, running through the cobbled streets as though he was being hunted down. He skidded to a halt once he spotted a nearby intersection.

'I am so dead.' He thought, internally beating himself up as he ran. 'The deadline for the capture is in an hour and I'm not even in the Vales yet.'

Turning around the next corner, his panicked thoughts were halted by the crowd gathered in front of a mostly inconspicuous brick wall. What most are unaware of is that, this particular section of the alley had been a small opening to the ShadowVales. It was left opened several years back, and since then those who knew of it had been using it to illegally enter the Vales.

"Hey! Move out of the way!" He shouted, pushing his way through the throng of people.

"Get in line man! We're all trying to get in!"

The man tapped his foot impatiently. "What's the hold up? It's just getting in."

A woman to his left shot him a quick glance, before she turned her head forwards once more. "Haven't you heard? The gates are somehow closing one by one."

"What?! All of them?" The man questioned, equal parts baffled and shocked.

"Yeah." A voice echoed back in respond from the edges of the crowd. "It's been happening worldwide. All the small entrances are closing up, even the more remote ones."

The statement caused murmurs to erupt amongst the gathered. These small—technically illegal— opening to the Vales had been an opportunity for the more shadier individuals to make a living. Mostly it had been used to smuggle out materials and even the occasion Miods. It had been an easy way for most of the underworld to make quick cash, especially since these accidental openings were usually very small in size. Disallowing any much stronger Miods to chase after them beyond the small gap in between the worlds.

The man curses under his breath. "Has anyone tried to pry it open again? It's probably still there."

"I wouldn't try to if I were you." A voice called out from where another man had been moving backwards through the crowd, likely to make it out of the crowd. "The first few who tried are still laying in front of the wall. Unconscious, possibly dead."

The words were said in such a calm way, that most of the crowd hurriedly placed distance between them and the speaker. The man simply nodded in parting before he left the alleyway in a sedate pace. The group of mismatch individuals kept their gazes on the departing man until his footsteps no longer echoed on the cobble tiles.

Once he was sure the man had been a distance away, he elbowed his way towards the front and sure enough just like the man had said, there were several bodies laying in front of the brick wall. They laid motionless and he really didn't want to have to check for a pulse to determine whether or not they were really dead. 

"Fuck." 

Hurriedly, he pulled out his phone, hitting the speed dial button. There was a moment as the call connected before the soft 'click' of the recipient answering was heard.

"It's me. We've got a problem." 

-------------------------------

"That's another report that a small gate have been found closed." 

A military-dressed man intoned, slamming the phone in frustration. The surrounding people around the table flinched at the action but their expressions portrayed their concerns regarding the matter.

"That's the fifth report we've received today." Another murmured down the large table. "This is occurring globally, who is capable of this?"