Then We'll Burn Together

"I will go to the mine. I did some research earlier, and I know of a different entrance. That way, I can sneak Hannah and Richy out behind our perpetrator's back." wrote Jake in the group chat.

"No, Jake. This is something I have to do personally. Michael asked for ME. There has to be a reason for that."

"MC, a word in private. Now." You hated when Jake ordered you around like he was the captain and you were his lieutenant. Still, you had neither the patience nor the energy to argue with him right now. All you could think of was Richy being tied up in that mine, scared and probably injured. So you closed your eyes and tried to get that haunting picture out of your head. But, of course, it was unsuccessful. You called Jake.

"MC, I worry about you."

"Please, Jake. You know how important Richy is to me. I want to go to him. Let me go to him."

"It's dangerous."

"Sure. But what makes you think that you are the better option to go down to that mine. You are a hacker. I'm sure you are good at C++ and Java, but I can't imagine you being an Olympic runner or a trained ninja. So, we won't be better off sending you instead of me."

"No, but as I said...."

"Yes. As you said, you know different entrances. Then tell me where they are and let me save them. Please, it is high time that I do something too for a change." Your voice was pleading and impatient at the same time. You really didn't have time for this argument.

"Fine. I'll send you the directions. But please, MC, be careful."

"I always am." So you grabbed your gun and ran to your car to drive to Duskwood. The drive felt like an eternity, even though you went well over the speed limit. You just couldn't stop thinking about Richy. You were scared of what you'll find once you got there. Sure, Michael said he would let them go unharmed, but you didn't believe a word that came out of that murderer's mouth. A picture kept sneaking into your mind. That you arrived at the mine just to find Richy's corpse. "I cannot indulge in these worries." You thought and shook your head. You finally arrived. You were halfway through the mine when your phone rang. The sound echoed back from the walls of the eerily quiet mine. It sent a shiver down your spine. You looked at the caller ID. It was Alan Bloomgate.

"MC, you were right about the waterfall. But I looked around at the wrong level. It turns out there is a mine entrance next to the waterfall. That's where your friends were according to the video you sent me. I found Hannah, MC. She is alright."

"Wait, you're at the mine too?" You shook your head. You just told on yourself.

"Too? MC, tell me you're not in the mine. Please turn back. It's dangerous. I'll find Richy, don't worry." But there was no way you were gonna turn around when Richy was still down there at the mercy of a murderer. So you terminated the call without saying anything and continued on your path. You went faster and faster and then started running because, for the first time since Richy disappeared, you were hopeful that you would find him alive. You were finally at the place Jake described to you. Just then, you suddenly saw the back of a masked man. You didn't think twice. You started sprinting towards the man and tackled him to the ground from behind with your full body weight. You put your gun against his head while you were sitting on his back.

"Now, you're going to slowly get up, turn around and take your mask off so I can finally look into your eyes. If you make any sudden movements, I'm gonna blow your brains out." You said in a cold voice.

"I'm just so sick of people pointing guns at me. I mean, why the hell do you all have guns?" Groaned the man. His voice sounded very familiar, but you didn't have time to think about that.