Help from the OtherSide

27. Shirt and Weapons

Loud creaking sounds like that of a rusted gear reverberated along the stony walls of the temple. We quickly assembled in the center with our backs pressed against each other. The previously battered ceiling in certain parts rumbled and brought down debris of dust with them.

"What did you do idiot ?"Hex's voice echoed; especially the last word making it funny. I couldn't possibly be smiling at this right now, after I triggered the button of doom on the rest of us. Darting my eyes around the room I saw something protrude from the walls on my right.

"Watch out!" I yelled and pushed the people who were in it's range. Yumiko and Grant went sprawling on the floor. 

-zip-

Four slender arrows sliced through the air and embedded themselves on the floor near my feet. I dodged in response and that wrecked havoc. Some of the phony floor tiles compressed under my feet and unleased another set of darts from the ceiling. Everyone scampered around for shelter from the darts, but it didn't stop at that. Corroded conical metal spikes emerged from the walls behind me, piercing anything that dared to stand near it. I wasn't fast enough to notice it coming from behind me as I was already preoccupied seeing Team run amuck. The spikes grazed through the cut on my back causing me to hiss in pain. 

The agony was unbearable, on an already fresh wound another one pierced, making my eyes water. Grant yelled my name but before I could call back, one of the stone columns came crashing down with a deafening boom. A huge chunk of stone rolled down systematically on the ground, triggering more traps in it's wake.

I rushed under an already toppled column which balanced on another making a small cave. Hex and Dora dodged couple of arrows on their side, Grant hugged Yumiko as they both crouched in the corner, Amelia and Liam were nowhere in sight. A few more seconds passed with the traps releasing their ammunitions.

 Once it was silent, I cautiously ducked out of my temporary shelter making sure not to set off the Doomsday Clock. Clouds of dust remained stagnant in the air from the recent  activities. Previously glorified structures now lay in rumbles making it harder to walk without getting something in your shoes.

"Everyone come out." I declared and patiently waited. Dora emerged out first, with Hex cowering behind her. The minute he saw me, he puffed his chest out and stood in front of Dora, as if to show he's been doing all the protecting so far.
Yumiko and Grant came following them, still side hugging each other.

I don't know why, but I did not like seeing them so close to each other.

We gathered in the center of the temple where we had previously; before my elbow thought of doing something freaky. The walls were now exposed of all it's traps. The arrow hold empty and opened, darts sticking out of the toppled column, spiky thing that almost impaled my back had it's tips decorated with red liquid. My red liquid.

Everything destroyed except the statue, which stood as tall and proud as ever.

"Where's Amelia?" Grant frantically scanned the place.
"And Liam." Yumiko gave him a look.
"Yeah obviously." 

"Probably dead under those rocks." Hex drawled, not worried even a bit.
"Permission to hit him?" Grant asked Dora and she nodded.

-THWACK-

I would have loved to join him, but searing pain ran through me.
I gritted my teeth and held it in. I can't draw the attention to myself when we have potential missing persons.

"Hello? Guys check this out!" Liam's voice reverberated through the ruins. We nod to each other, relived that they're safe and jog towards the voice. I make sure to go in last, so that I could avoid showing my naked, bloody back for as long as possible.