A Crumbling Society

Part 2-30

Hunting closely while rounding the corner, I walked a few feet down the aisle turning a little to find the strongest point. Using my hand like a metal detector the signal was growing stronger. My hand searched near the ground, and I could feel the magic pulsating, getting to my knees the building shook around me, it was time to hurry. A panel stood out now that I was close, but only by the slightest discoloration from the rest of the floor. No indicators showed how to access the compartment before me, tapping it didn't do anything either. Taking my fist and banging on it was a second option that failed as well. Doing a puzzle in the middle of a takeover isn't what I wanted to do, I almost lost it but told myself it wouldn't do anything. If I can sense something is here in this spot, then there should be a way to open it close by. Digging back through the row and all the things I had already overturned I found one object untouched. It sat there looking back at me and the thought I had was how easy this was, too easy. Turning my head to see if there was a catch but it wasn't there, returning to the object I picked up a long wooden case beside me. Making sure something or someone didn't pop out at me gave me ease. I poked the item waiting for something to happen but there was no reaction. Waiting a second more, nothing still happened so I opened it and a button sat inside. Latching the trigger downward caused it to sink in, and a click told me the panel on the floor had opened. As I turned, the whole building shook, the metal above creaked as it bent. Howling outside this time as mages hollered orders and creatures roared back. Things banging into the walls and the sound of spells broke through the intake area. I had taken four steps when the shelving units started falling, I tumbled to the ground. Crouched in a squat I moved warily as I didn't want to be noticed and more shelves had found themselves on the floor. Only a couple steps away and I was forced into a crawl when a spell merged the aisle I was on. This time some crates and boxes toppled over landing on me before the frames followed suit. My leg was pinned under a stack of crates, some of the broken shelf part was pinning me down. The weight bore into my back and left shoulder blade, I couldn't really move except for my right hand. Untouched by the debris my hand can move freely but can't do much. Fighting was now loud and going on in front of me, looking passed the rubble there were lights flashing. Growling was going on too from the Muts, a ghoul was nearby slashing a mage to pieces. It went to attack the next but caught scent of something. Looking really hard its eyes made one glare in my direction and I was now what it wanted. I couldn't cast anything from the Diamond being nearby, it didn't work like that, I had to touch it.

The glow was still here, I just think it's hidden from everyone fighting. A good bit of the broken shelves and crates covered the light from the opposing side I was on. I took a chance to reach for it, but my arm couldn't stretch that far. It was right there too, like reaching for something in the backseat of your car or behind the couch. Closer now, the ghoul ripped two mages off itself before continuing its fixation towards me. Attempting again only to feel the pain of my arm reaching its limit I still couldn't get to it. The ghoul was now throwing pieces out of its way striding over. A sense of fear and panic took over, hot flashes came over me because I didn't know what to do. There was only a few feet away between me and the monster that was going to kill me. Reluctantly a few mages unknowingly guarded my path and stopped it, casting a lot of magic to get it to back up a little. They put in a good fight, one of them manipulated the material around the ghoul to latch onto its ankles and pulled it. The others threw attacks that cut and packed quite the punches. Continuing for a few minutes gave me some time to try getting loose again. Moving my open leg to prop my foot under the crates pinning me down I lifted against them. Pain cut into me because the edge of the crate dug itself into my ankle. I couldn't let it phase me; I tried harder this time feeling blood coming from the skin I was tearing. My arm pushing its limits from my joints, I was only a hair away. Pressing my hand against the ground near my waist I pushed, my middle finger inching closer. One of the mages got thrown in my direction and he landed just before the row would have started. He had to absorb the force of his landing but started shaking it off when looking right at me. A double take and a smug laugh came out the man's mouth, rolling my eyes was the best counter. "Of course, a low-life scum piece of shit like you is hiding out in a place like this", he berated. Still ignoring him I changed my hand movements so he wouldn't pick up on what I was truly here for. Acting like I just wanted to get free I struggled trying to pull my body forward, looking anywhere but where the diamond was. Laughing at me, "you can die and rot in hell", he said as he picked himself up off the ground. "Murderer" fell out of his mouth just before he was forced to turn around. Roars indicated the creature had gotten to me, reaching a hand up it slashed the guy in half without a second to cast. Sweat ran down my forehead from pushing my limits and tolerances, my finger just barely tapped the Imprigno Diamond.