Celestial Guardians: Uniting Dimensions (Celestial Guardians Series, #1)

Chapter 39

Chapter 39

Jamaica's POV

As I flew back toward the school later that night, I felt the weight of what I'd seen. My wings cut silently through the air, their faint glow blending into the moonlit sky. Below, the school looked peaceful, the windows dark, and the grounds empty. But I knew better. Beneath the facade of normalcy lay a secret that could destroy everything.

I landed softly on the rooftop, folding my wings close to my back. The night was eerily quiet, save for the faint hum of distant streetlights. I crouched low, scanning the area, and there it was—a faint light emanating from the far corner of the campus. The same light I'd seen before.

Quiet as a shadow, I descended to the ground, my celestial senses heightened. As I approached the glowing spot, I saw it again—a faint shimmer in the grass, like an invisible door rippling in the air. This was it, the entrance to the underground facility.

I pressed my hand against the shimmer, and it gave way, pulling me into a dimly lit corridor. The air was damp and carried an unsettling chill. My heart pounded in my chest as I crept forward, the walls narrowing.

The sound of faint voices reached my ears, and I pressed myself against the cold stone, peering around the corner. Two guards stood by a steel door, their faces hidden behind masks. They were talking in low voices, but I caught a few words—"artifact," "experiment," and "the master."

I clenched my fists, anger boiling beneath my skin. These weren't just random thugs. They were working directly for the Destroyer.

Moving carefully, I slipped past them, using the shadows to my advantage. I didn't know how long I had before they noticed me, but I couldn't afford to waste time.

The corridor opened into a vast underground chamber, and what I saw made my stomach churn. Rows upon rows of cages lined the walls, each filled with students. Their faces were pale, their eyes hollow. Some sat quietly, their hands clasped as if in prayer, while others paced their small confines like caged animals.

And then there were the ones who had been changed. They were kept separate, their cages reinforced with glowing runes. A boy sat in one corner, his legs twitching so fast they were a blur. A girl raised her hand in another cage, and a skeletal hand appeared before her, writhing like a trapped serpent.

I fought back the urge to cry out, to smash the cages and free them all. But I couldn't—not yet.

"Don't make a sound," a voice hissed behind me.

I spun around, my hand flying to the blade at my side. It was Nel, his eyes narrowed as he stepped out of the shadows.

"You followed me?" I whispered, equal parts relieved and annoyed.

"You didn't think we'd let you come here alone, did you?" Nel said, his expression softening. "Kevin's outside, keeping watch."

I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. "We need to get them out of here. All of them."

"We will," Nel said, his voice firm. "But first, we must find out who's running this operation. If we don't cut off the head of the snake, it'll just grow back."

He was right, as much as I hated to admit it. Freeing the students would be meaningless if the Destroyer and his men could take more.

"Come on," Nel said, motioning for me to follow. "There's a room at the end of the hall. I saw one of the guards drop a key earlier."

We moved quickly but carefully, our steps silent on the cold stone floor. As we approached the room, the air grew colder, and an ominous energy seemed to pulse from behind the door.