To The Last (Book 7 of the "K-pop Chronicles")

Fortress (Ben's POV)

I can't explain why I ran off like I did. All I know is that I am getting a really bad feeling, and it's coming through the trees from the direction I ran to. I hear Kelleena calling me, but I don't stop. Instead, I follow the feeling I'm getting until I break through at the top of Point Dume. Pausing for a second, I gather my courage to jump. Just as I'm about to, though, I get tackled from the side. As I get back up, I see Jennie standing there in front of me.

Me: What the hell, Jennie?!

Jennie: You could've died!

Me: He's down there!
Jennie: Ben, look...
Me: No! Don't you dare try to talk me out of it! Don't you dare try to tell me that I'm just stricken by grief from my brother being missing, or whatever like that!
Jennie: How do you know?
Me: I can't explain it. But one thing I do know is that he's my brother, and I won't stop till I find him! So get out of my way!

Jennie: Even if he is down there, do you think they aren't prepared to attack you if you jump?
Me: So be it. I have to get to him!
Jennie: Ben, think about it logically for a moment! I know you wanna find him. So do I. However, we have to be smart with how we go about it! We can't let emotions cloud our judgement!

Me: So what do you suggest?

"We need to tread lightly, not recklessly."

I look over to see Dami, Siyeon, and Kelleena coming over to us, walking with purpose. I look at all of them in exasperation.

Me: So how do we get to him?!

Dami: Well, down there is Pirate Cove. We should climb down the hill or float down slowly.
Me: Well, if jumping down isn't a good idea, how would climbing down be any better?
Dami: It could be more stealthy.
Me: It would also make us more vulnerable, Dami. We wouldn't be able to defend ourselves effectively, if at all.

Dami: Floating down slowly it is then.

There's a sudden ruffling in the trees near us, and we all go on guard and take cover. As we watch the rustling continue, a lone woman walks out of the trees. I motion for our party to stay where we are and watch what happens. As we're observing, the woman looks around the ground near her then bends down. Stretching out her hand, she pauses for a second, and I could swear I see a slight smile grace her lips. Then she presses her hand against something on the ground there. An air bubble suddenly appears around her, and stairs silently appear in front of her. I look at the ladies with me and see my shock mirrored on their faces. We look back at the woman just in time to see her float down the stairs in her air bubble. Seconds later, the cliff was back to its initial state.

Siyeon: What the heck just happened?!

Me: A path forward has just appeared.
Dami: All the times I've been here, and I've never seen that before!!
Me: I think we should follow.
Dami: Agreed. Let's go.

Dami leads the way over to the spot the woman pressed her hand against. Hidden beneath a layer of fake grass that looks so real is a button.

Dami: Wow, this is crazy! Ready?

We all nod, she presses the button, and air bubbles appear around all five of us. As the stairs appear, the air bubbles around us propel us down them. Halfway down the stairs, the bubbles float to the ground and pop, leaving us standing on our feet once again. Continuing down the staircase, all we hear in the darkness is our own breathing. Light suddenly flares, temporarily blinding us. When our eyes can finally see again, we all gasp. In front of us is nothing like the dark stairs we were just on.

Me: What?

It's like a mini fortress in front of us. There are people milling about without a care in the world. Suddenly, the woman we followed in here appears in front of us.

Woman: Welcome, everyone. We're glad you're here.

Me: Where is here? And who are you?
Woman: I am BoA, but I cannot tell you the name of our city. Yet.
Dami: We were trying to get to Pirate's Cove. We're looking for someone.
BoA: Well, we will get into that, but first, we need to test all of you.
Jennie: Test us?

BoA: Yes. We need to make sure you're a threat.
Me: We are a threat, but only to our enemies.
BoA: We shall see about that. Follow me.
Me: And if we refuse?
BoA: I wouldn't suggest it. You know what would happen, Ben.

My jaw drops.

Me: How-?
BoA: All will be explained in due time. Follow me.

Realizing we have no alternative, we follow BoA into the main gates.

And we all gasp again.