The abandoned gem : When it all begin.

CHAPTER 4

As they flipped through the dusty albums, James gasped and pointed at a door on a room plan that he had been looking at. "According to this plan, there should be a door behind these clothes." They pushed aside the old wardrobe and found the door with a faded exit sign above it. 

"Maybe this will lead us out of this nightmare," Sarah whispered, clutching James' hand. "I can't stand this place any longer!"

They opened the door cautiously and peered outside. A sprawling town lay before them, silent and deserted. They grabbed some knives and other weapons from the nearby shelves and stepped into the unknown. Tim and his friend wondered what horrors awaited them in the ghost town.

They crept along the deserted street, their eyes scanning for any signs of life. Where had everyone gone? Suddenly, a faint voice reached their ears, like someone muttering under their breath. They spun around and caught a glimpse of a figure darting behind a wall. "Guys, did you just see that?" Tim gasped. "Yeah! Someone just ran there." Sarah confirmed. They approached the wall cautiously and found a small cabin tucked in a corner. Inside, a group of terrified people cowered against the wall. "We come in peace," James assured them. 

With cautious steps, they approached the ragged figures and sat down beside them. One of the men cleared his throat and spoke. "Who are you and what brings you to this forsaken town?". Tim and his friends exchanged nervous glances and then told him their names. They then asked him in return, "What happened here and why is this town deserted?". The man sighed and said, "This was once the most prosperous and joyful town on the whole planet of Rixion until the day the arena unleashed its horrors. The Rixars, savage beasts that were bred for entertainment, broke free from their cages and rampaged through the town, destroying everything in their path. Since then, we have lived in constant fear and misery.". He handed them a crumpled newspaper that had the headline "Riot in Garlon: Arena Disaster Claims Thousands of Lives". Tim scanned the article and felt a chill run down his spine. He noticed how the newspaper was torn and some part of it was removed. He asked one more question, "What happened to the gladiators in the arena?". The man shook his head and said, "The gladiators and other brave souls were evacuated to another city where they were safe from the Rixars. The town was sealed off to prevent the beasts from escaping. But those of us who were trapped inside had no choice but to stay. We still receive some food supplies from a nearby town, but opening the main gate is too risky for anyone else. The only way to end this nightmare is to slay those monsters. But none of us have the strength or the courage to do it.".

The trio exchanged a glance and then darted out of the cabin. They slipped into another house nearby and locked the door behind them. They had to figure out a way to deal with the situation. They were trapped in a strange world and they had no idea how to get back home.