Daybreak

Beginning Of The End

Ysa
We are already in the forest waiting for Nigel and Tim. “Where are they?” Shelly asked looking at the outskirt of the town. “There they are!” Ej announced. I look at the two running towards us only to see that they are being chased by a lot of guards. “Daeng it!” Vincent said in frustration and get his rifle then he started to shoot the guards one by one. Wow, he’s good at it.

“Run!” The two shouted that we followed immediately. We just run and run in the huge forest without looking back. We have wounds and cuts all over our body. After sometime of running, Vincent stopped and catches his breath. We all stopped and the others sat on the ground also catching their breath. “I…I think…w-we lost…th-them” Aubrey said in between of her breaths. I look back and see no guards. “Now what?” We looked at Aubrey, we know what she meant and she’s right. Now what?

“Aaaaahhhh!” We immediately look at the direction of scream. “Ryu!” We shouted and run towards the cliff. “Ryu!” Ej shouted and run down fast where Ryu fell. It is a cliff but not that high. We also run down and checked on her. “Are you okay?” “Of course not! Argh!” She yelled in pain while holding her back. “You have wounds.” Aubrey pointed. “We all have wounds” She said sarcastically. “House.” I said as I see a small cabin house just meters away from us. “A house? At the middle of forest?” “That’s creepy” Tim and Shelly uttered. Nigel walked towards the house and we follow.

It looks like no one was here for a long time because of the mess outside. A charcoal that is obviously burned for a long time, the table outside with bolo and other things on it, and dried meats outside hanged and not really very appealing to see. We look at the window but we can’t see anything but thick dust. “Looks like someone left home for a long time.” Tim said “One way to make sure.” Vincent responded and knocked on the door. He knocked several times but no answer. “Move” Aubrey pushed him slightly and opened the door casually. “Hey, Aubrey. What are you doing?” Ej asked but she already move inside. “Obviously, no one’s here. So what’s the purpose of knoc--- Aaaaahhhhh!” “Aubrey!”

“Aubrey!?”
“Hey!”
“You still alive?” We shouted continuously after she fell from the floor. “Daeng it!” We sighed hearing her voice. “Hang on! I’ll get you!” Vincent get the rope hanged outside and tied it around him. Ej get the other end of the rope and tied it tightly in the post of the house. “I’ll hold it to have more support.” He said and holds the rope. Vincent nodded and started to move down slowly. “Be careful” I reminded as he goes down.

“Aubrey, I’m coming!”
“Just come faster, you have to see this!”
“What is it?” Shelly asked
“I-I have no idea either. It looks like a lair or something.”
“A lair!? In the underground?”
“Just don’t touch anything!” Ej shouted.

“Hey, look.” I looked back and saw Nigel staring at the wall. “What is it?” I asked. “Memos, Announcement papers, old letters, and look, this is the same as what Chief RJ had.” He said pointing at a sketch of the royal family. “Nigel” We look at Tim beside us touching an old book. “Oh please. Not a cursed book again.” Shelly said behind us. “Daybreak” I read the title in the first page as I open it. “Ysa, don’t read it please.” Ryu said also from behind. Ej, Shelly, and Ryu are looking at the hole where Aubrey fell. “She’s right. The last time you read a book, you made a really big mess.” Ej said sarcastically. I just giggled and nodded. “You’re right.” I was about to close the book but I noticed something. “No wait. Look, it’s just the same.” I turned to other pages and it is really the same. “What? Are you sure?” Tim asked and I nodded. “Yes. It’s the same book. From the cover, title, writing, everything.” We all look at each other with confusion.

Vincent
“Hey, you good?” I asked her the moment I landed. “Yeah.” She responded. “What is this place?” I asked and look around. It’s really a lair. There are unlighted candles everywhere, old papers and books, and inks. “Vincent” I closed the book I’m holding and approached her. “It’s a passage.” She said and walked in. “Aubrey, stop.” She kept on walking until she disappeared in the dark so I have no choice but to follow her. I picked a candle and lighted it using the match I saw beside it. I just noticed something…aish! Never mind.

“Vincent?” I heard Ej from above. “Hey! We saw a passage in here, we’ll check it and be back very quickly!” I shouted back before following Aubrey.

“Aubrey!” I just continue on walking but I can’t see her. This looks like a one-way passage so she couldn’t go anywhere. I just go left, right and straight. “Hey, Vincent. What took you so long?” She said. I think she went back to get me. “What took you so fast?” I asked her back sarcastically. “Whatever. Come, look at this.” She grabbed me and dragged me. I see a light at the end of the passage. “What is…it? The town?” “Yes! This passage is a shortcut from the deep forest to the town!” She explained. That makes sense. “Not only that. She pointed the round big rock that looks like something served as the door of the passage. Wait, she didn’t move it alone, didn’t she? “You didn’t—” “Silly, of course I didn’t! That just means that there is someone living the cabin.” Now that she mentioned it I remembered something. “We have to get them.” I immediately run back in the passage. “Hey, what’s going on?” She asked as she follows me. “The candles, they are freshly lighted.” “What?” “The melted wax of the candles is still liquid. That means, the person that lives in the cabin didn’t leave it for a long time. And with the lair, I don’t think we have to trust whoever that person is.” I explained. “So we have to get them”

Ej
“Where are they?” Shelly asked beside me. I shrugged and was about to go down when we heard something. “What is that?” Ryu asked. Tim looked outside through the window. “Uhm guys… I think we should go?” He looked back at us “the guards are here and they’re carrying lots of guns.” I cursed and immediately grabbed the girls. I tied the rope on their waists and put them down carefully but fast. “Hey, wait. Look.” Nigel and I looked at Tim. “Tim, we have to go.” He ignored me and paved some papers and other things in the table. “What is it?” I asked. “Looks familiar.” He answered. It is an un opened letter with a wax seal of some sort of flower. “Fire!” We heard a shout from the guards followed by an explosion at the side of the house. “Let’s go!” We didn’t tie our waists anymore but just jumped in the hole. The girls also started running. “Where does this lead?” Nigel asked. “I don’t know. Just keep running.” I answered. “What if it is a dead end?” “Just pray that it isn’t.” Tim responded to Shelly and held her hand.

“Ouch!” Ryu grunted as she bumped into something…or someone. “Guys!” Aubrey shouted. “What’s with the rush? And what is that explosion we just heard?” She added. “The guards, now run!” Nigel commanded and another explosion was heard. “Come, this passage leads to the outskirts of the town.” Vincent said and leads the way. I look at Aubrey and she nodded.

After some time, we can see the light at the end of the passage. “This way!” A shout from our back was heard. “They’re coming.” Said Ryu. We reached the exit but the guards are also near already. “Help me.” We helped Vincent push the big circle stone to block the exit. “It’s heavy” I uttered while pushing. The girls also helped us. “Ysa?” She stood at the center of the exit and pulled out Vincent’s rifle. She shot for I think five times and as she shot we heard grunts inside the passage. I peeked and saw some guards on their feet and others are trying hard to walk. They are half way the passage when we closed it. Now, all of us are catching our breath. “Ysa… Th-that’s ni-nice.” Aubrey praised her and they high-fived.

“Let’s go.” Said Nigel and walked towards the town. “It’s time to finish all of this.” Vincent added and followed him before us.