The younger Grimborn (sequel)

Chapter 16: Triple cross

This chapter is very long, but I wanted to have all the details and I didn't want to shorten it. I felt like this chapter really deserved my attention because... well, it's a big moment in the story.

So, enjoy... (sort of... I'm sorry 🥲)

I lean against the wall of the cave, torch in my hand. The hunters around me are throwing everything upside down in hopes of finding the last lens.

'Keep searching!' Viggo orders. 'I know it's down here, it must be.'

I slowly trace scratch marks on the wall. Monstrous Nightmare.

Scorch marks also decorate the ceiling and the walls, despite the human stuff, it's obvious that this cave system is inhabited by dragons. I walk to my brother, who seems to get more frustrated with every passing second that we find nothing.

'Viggo, I don't think we'll find anything here.'

'I suspected such thing already, Johann is probably trying to make us fail so he has reason to dump us.'

'So he sent us on a mission that we can't complete... There's nothing here Viggo, except for a Monstrous Nightmare and some crates. We should just go already and if he says he's done with us, we'll leave. Go somewhere else.'

Viggo smirks. 'I don't suppose Johann will give me payment for this job then.' Suddenly he frowns. 'Johann might like being sneaky, but if he wanted to fire us, he would just do so, he wouldn't create a fake reason unless-'

'-Johann is trying to get rid of us!'

As if on cue, the cave starts to rumble and rocks start to fall. I quickly look at Viggo, who grunts and looks at the entrance of the cave. Then I grab his arm and start running.

Viggo holds his arm over my head to shield me from the falling rocks, not that I need it, but it's still nice of him. We continue running, as fast as we can. Then the sky and outside world get into view.

I notice Midnight outside the cave, looking worriedly. I whistle and she quickly comes rushing towards us.

I hear more rocks fall, and Viggo suddenly runs faster.

'Wha-'

'Dragon.'

Midnight's pupils narrow and she jumps up, shooting over our heads at the dragon behind us, probably a Monstrous Nightmare, based on the marks I found earlier.

We're so close to the exit. Fifteen feet

Ten feet

Five feet-

Then it feels like time slows down. Krogan lands, his dragon prepares to fire, and the cave entrance collapses in a hue of yellow light. Viggo quickly yanks me away and turns me around, shielding me with his own body. Midnight moves her wing over us both, trying to keep us safe from the falling rocks.

When things quiet down, I look up again from my hunched position. Vigo slowly pushes me behind him and Midnight growls. I don't see much, but that's because of the dust. You would expect it to be darker in a cave...

I gulp and look up. Two yellow eyes stare down at me, and the Nightmare, suddenly covered in flames, snarls aggressively.

Midnight growls lowly, threating the other dragon to stay right there. Viggo looks at Midnight, then at the sword in his hands. And then he does the most unexpected thing ever.

He drops the sword.

He looks over his shoulder at me, then back at the Monstrous Nightmare, who is still on fire but not growling anymore.