A Hero in the Dark: 2nd Edition

Chapter 9: Wise Old Cêpan

"Thank Lore you're alright," says the man, hugging John tight with the shotgun loose over the boy's shoulders. "I was so worried."

There's another boy behind him. He's tall, nearly six feet, with brown hair that—by the looks of it—used to be styled back with gel and is now messed. He's dressed in filthy jeans and a football jersey, and his body looks buffed. His torso's a little bigger than John's, but it's hard to tell; they look evenly matched. Is that Mark James? Quarterback of the football team? The 'James' that threw the house party?

He holds a Chest of sorts under his arm. It looks like it's made of metal; it's silver under the light. It's as big as a convention oven with a weird symbol over its surface.

"I shouldn't have run off like that. I should've listened," John mutters. "I'm sorry."

"Don't worry about it. I'm just glad you're alive. I've tried calling, but they've screwed with the satellite reception somehow. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," the alien boy assures. "We're all fine." They pull apart and the older man looks at Sarah and smiles at her like he's glad she's not hurt. Then he turns to me and Six. He recognizes the tall raven girl, says he remembers her, even asks where Katarina is. Six's expression diverts.

"Kat—she didn't make it..."

"Oh. I'm so sorry."

Number Six nods a small nod and only then does the man turn to me. He asks who I am, and I tell him. He holds out his hand, and I shake it. "We don't have much time," Six says then. "We need to get inside the gym. She said there was a hatch that'll lead us out, most likely unguarded."

"Alright. Let's go then," Henri says. This gym is way smaller than the one in my school, but it's hard to tell in the darkness. "Do you know where it is?"

Sarah points to the middle. "Over there. Under the mat."

Sarah, Mark, and I climb down the ladder first, followed by John, Six, Henri, and BK.

It's a long tunnel, skinny, and barely six feet tall; I'm sure Mark has to hunker low to keep from hitting his head.

Even though we're underground and, I think, unlikely to be heard by anyone, any sound we make is echoed. Somewhere, there's water dripping, but for all I know, that too could be a stretch away.

"Where exactly does this lead?" Six asks, her voice travelling like a bat in a cave.

"Behind the school," Sarah replies. "Near the staff parking lot."

Sure enough, eventually we come to it: a set of stairs with a closed gate waits at the top. It's almost like a cellar. John edges towards the first step, but Henri stops him. "Wait. Let Six check it out first. If she can go invisible, let her make sure they aren't waiting for us up there."

"Good idea." At the top, she renders herself invisible and the gate creaks open on its own. It's like we're with a ghost, and by that thought, a surprising, unfamiliar fear tickles my spine. "It's empty," she says. "There are woods straight ahead. We should make a run for it as soon as we're out."

"Right," Henri agrees. "Let's do it."

But that's when it occurs to me. "Wait," I croak, and everyone freezes to turn to me. "What if—what if it's a trap?"

I don't think any of them even considered that. "We'll just have to risk it," Henri says, shrugging and adjusting his grip on the shotgun. "We'll have to run like heck. Whatever happens, just make it to the woods and get as far away as possible."

Six opens the gate, enough that it slams against the ground, and yells, "Run!"

I do as I'm told. It's dark, darker than moonlight even, as if the moon disappeared. I look up to try to find the giant guardian of light, and I don't notice how quiet it is until a Mogadorian stares at me at the treeline, cannon at the ready.

"Look out!" John shouts, pulling me down, and a beam shoots over our heads. John's up to his feet in seconds and offers me a hand. "You alright?"

I take his hand and pull myself up, a little dazed. The alien's gone; nothing but a pile of ash blowing away in a soft breeze. I look back and nod my relief but can't help but be confused about what happened to the scout or why he helped me. But before I can ask, a bark emits and the beagle sprints back to us, leaping up on John, tail wagging wildly.

"Good boy, Bernie! Good boy!"

"Are you two coming or not?!" Six yells. "C'mon, we don't have all night!"