A Hero in the Dark: 2nd Edition

Chapter 25: Escape from a Madman

I stop to rest at a crossroads, my breathing short and hasty, lost on which way to go. Right looks less dull, and I wonder if it's because there's sunlight that way but left could also be the right way. For all I know, either could lead me to him, but one could take me through a maze. I'll be evading Mogs for hours. I don't have hours. I'm frantic, hurt... scared...

"Over there!" I dart left. More cells. More doors. More armouries. I pass an opening to a vast space full of fifty-something Mogs; I skirt past them as fast as I can.

Per each second that goes by, I fear I won't make it. I worry they'll catch me. My heart breaks at the thought and tears begin to build No, don't cry. Focus! Keep running! Go!

It's only when another soldier marches towards me that my panic spikes. "Shit." I dash through a steel-plated door, shut it behind me, and wait, refusing to move.

After a full minute of silence, nobody comes through.

It's dark—almost pitch. It doesn't seem all that large, but it feels drafty; there's an eeriness to the air. Maybe there's another exit in here, a different way to go? There's an empty space on the wall beneath a pair of cuffs and a stain of red on the ground. It's wet. My breath hitches in my throat and altogether, reality slaps me in the face. "Henri," I croak. God no... "Where are you?"

This is a waste of time. I'll never find him. He's probably dead... just like Setrákus said. I expended so much energy for no reason; I don't even know if I have enough to get out of here...

"Emily?" he says then. "Is that you?" I'm going crazy. Desperation's getting a hold of me. You want to see him that bad, Emily. The room's empty. "How are you here? I thought—" He coughs and takes a breath. "—thought I'd never see you again."

Henri. He looks the same as I last saw him, hanging by his wrists. It doesn't look like they did anything more to him. Relief hits me as fast as a speeding train. I run to him.

"Well done. You made it," he says. I stop dead in my tracks. "I'm impressed." There, by the door to the room that I didn't even hear open, he is, stripped of the lab coat he was last wearing. "You could've run out of this cave, but you decided to come back here."

I stare at him, radiating hatred. "You lied to me! He's not dead! I said I'd protect him!"

"Do what you wish, but you should know; the two of you aren't getting out of here alive."

"Maybe, but as long as Henri gets out, that's all that matters."

Setrákus smiles at that. "You're persistent; I'll give you that, but I won't let either of you escape."

I stomp in upset, then run at him like an elephant on a rampage, and a wave of blue erupts into my sight; I'm not completely oblivious to it this time. I rush at him at hyper speed, which must be around 60 km/h, and knock him to the wall. I pin him with my arm jammed into his throat and for the first time ever, I see him struggle. If only I had a knife or something; I could decapitate him right here. It could all be over. What am I supposed to do instead?

He smiles as I attempt to throttle him without losing my grip, and I spot the glistening silver blade a second too late before it's in my side. I cry out at the piercing pain penetrating my ribs. Blue fades. Henri yells my name, but he's on the other side of the cave. I'm on... on my own.

Setrákus Ra holds it, rather than yanking it out or through, and I'm forced to stare straight into his eyes as he delivers a stern twist. I feel the blade churn my insides. I try not to scream but am unable to keep blood from rising into my throat.

There're two of him, like... some kind of... clone?

Then three.

Suddenly, I'm on my knees, clutching my side. I bite my lip 'till I taste blood, smell it, feel it... It's everywhere. He grabs my shirt and pins me 'gainst the wall. I can't touch the floor. His arm wedges into my throat; it hurts to breathe. Blood slips out through my teeth, and... behind him... I see Henri. "Emily, don't give in..."

I'm trying not to; he has no idea! Setrákus laughs. "It doesn't matter what you decide! Keep fighting me, see what happens! It won't change anything. You'll pass out and I'll be forced to revive you, then my work will continue."

I shut my eyes. Henri's right: I can't give in. If I do, we're as good as dead, and I'll fail. I'll fail... I don't know if I can. It's awfully hot. Setrákus Ra is multiplying, and it doesn't help.

But right when I think I've lost, Blue Boy sounds in my head, this time mixed in with the voice of a thousand: Let me in. Let me guide you.

Somehow, it's able to bring me to zero again. I open my eyes, and it's all cobalt. No more of the dark, dark grey. Bubbly blue emanates at Henri's core like a light. Setrákus too, but his is surrounded by black. A glimmer sparkles across my sight and I feel him hesitate, but he doesn't pull away. He holds me, and presses me into the stone, but with an expression of early rage, I spit in his face, "I. Won't. Let. You. Win."

Eyes glued to me, I look deep into his. He doesn't look away. In fact, he seems almost amazed until two thin beams eject out of my eyes right to his own. He backpedals, dropping me.

As soon as my knees hit the ground, he's knocked back further and he growls. Somehow, I manage to stand and start towards him. It's like the hole in my side isn't even there!

A Mogadorian bursts in, points a cannon at me; the barrel of it glows jade. I freeze and raise my arms to shield my face, but the threat still hits. I fall to my butt, and everything floods back—the dull, the burn, the warmth, blood, so much blood... getting worse. Am I dying?

Amidst my pain and efforts to resort my breathing back to normal, I stare at the Mogadorian wondering what he'll do: save his leader or capture me.

I'm stunned to see him move to the dictator, reaching for his collar, but Setrákus slaps his hand away. "No!" he barks. "I need her! Do not let her get away!"

I cough blood out of my mouth. "Beloved Leader. My sincerest apologies for defying orders, but you're hurt. Let me help you."

By the time I look up again, they're gone, and I turn over onto my side, coughing, my hands smeared in blood. The knife that Setrákus left behind rests a few feet away; I reach for it and crawl my way up to my feet.

I drag myself over to Henri, using the wall to aid me the whole way. I think he's in awe, somehow, for some reason—I don't care. I just want to get out of here. I stretch to slice through his bonds until he falls and instantly, he's hugging me. "Emily," he says, quietly. "Thank Lore you're ok. How'd you do that? It was unbelievable."

"I don't know. I was just scared."

"Thank you. Thanks for coming back for me."

I nod. "I promised myself I'd protect you. I wasn't going to let him kill you."

He smiles. "We should get out of here. Can you walk?"

It doesn't sound like a question. I know it shouldn't be. I need to walk, or else we'll never see daylight again. "I'll try."