The Relic Experience [Book 2]

Chapter 2-"Level 0, Charlie"

I walk further away from Relic. I think to myself how stupid Relic sounds, he can't stop me from finding Ava no matter what. I keep walking and think how easy this is now since I've been here before... I could probably face more now. Relic is just someone that tries to ruin happiness, he's not actually helpful... he just wants Ava to die, which is not cool of him. I bump into something and it's a wall with three slides on it, blue, green, and yellow... 'fuck I've been here before..' I take a step back and look at the slides. I step up to the yellow one and put my hands on the top, I step inside and sit down and push myself down the dark tunnel. I slide into pitch darkness for a while and come out of the other side but in the same level. I sigh annoyed as hell and start walking around, 'it's even darker down here' I thought and this is still the lobby.

I walk around the corner of a wall and hear the carpet making noise as I walk. I hate that noise and I don't miss it at all, but I want Ava back. I know she's alive, my brain is telling me that she's dead. But she can't be, that's not possible- she's alive, I can feel it. I walk around some more before leaning on a wall and taking a rest, I hate walking in this place. I know I can't find Ava here though, I have to keep going if I want her back. I hear a static noise behind me, I gulp and turn around and see a wire like figure running towards me. My eyes widen and I start sprinting as fast as my legs could carry me down the corridor, I ran so fast my legs started to burn. I kept running and started losing my breath, I kept running until I felt like I couldn't anymore. I stumbled and feel to the ground hitting my head on the ground after I fell, knocking me cold.

I wake up 15 minutes later or at least it felt that long and I was in another area... tied to a chair, the room wasn't small but wasn't big, it had a white door and the chair was against the back wall facing the door. The ropes around me weren't tight, but tight and strong enough to keep me against the wooden chair.

"HELLO?!" I shouted panic shaking my words.

Relic, and Aelius come through the door, looking not so happy.

"Ah it's you guys... why the hell am I here!? You know I'm on a mission, and putting me here is not gonna stop me."

"We know that... maybe we can convince you with words or perhaps something...?"

"NO, NO, NO! You don't understand, I'm not listening to anyone! I want Ava and you both already know that!" He snaps.

"Look. We get it but if we show you this, you will change your mind."

"I'm not going to."

Relic leaves the room and comes back in with Ava, her red hair slicked into a ponytail with the same black hoodie as before. The only thing that's different is that she has angel wings on her back, just like Aelius and Relic. Charlie's eyes widen in surprise seeing the wings.

"Ava!? You're... dead...? You're..." Charlie pauses and looks down about to cry as she walks over to him.

She grabs his chin and forces him to look at her. "Yes... I'm dead, they tried to tell you this already. I don't know why you were stubborn Charlie..."

He keeps his gaze on her in silence. Ava lets go of his chin and unties him, then steps a bit back. Charlie stands up and brushes his clothes off and looks between the three angels.

"Well then... you're dead... I can't believe this."

"I know it's hard to believe... but I have wings now, I'm gone."

He puts his hands against his head and sits in the chair that he was tied in.

"Now what do I do...? I have no goal. Wait.. I have an idea!"

Ava tilts her head in confusion and looks back at Relic and Aelius, they look just as confused as her. She turns her head back to Charlie before speaking.

"What do you mean you have an idea? You're not going back in there are you...?"

"Yes, I am!! I want to find a way to die like you did or maybe just a way to die in general. What if I find a way to die and bring you back!?!"

Ava's mouth drops as fast as a water droplet could hit the ground. "Are you joking...?"

"Why would I be joking!?" He stands up off the chair and starts pacing a bit. "This could save you, I don't care that much about myself so why not save you!?" He stops in front of the chair and looks at Ava as he smiles slightly.

"No, no! You're not doing that." She crosses her arms and shakes her head, her eyes filled with worry.

Relic steps forward. "Not to interrupt, but it doesn't work like that... only I'm allowed to let her go out of the world. I take sacrifices too, but I hate doing that."

Charlie sighs. "Can I sacrifice then? I want Ava to not be here anymore, even if it means I'm stuck here!"

"Are you sure?? What about Ross...?" He shifts his weight slightly looking at Charlie.

"Oh fuck... I don't know what I'm going to do..."

Relic looks at his bracelet and sees a glow as Charlie is staring at the ground thinking, Ava looking at him. 'That means someone new just fell into the backrooms... oh no who is it' he thought.

"I'll be right back guys, Charlie decide what you're going to do please..."  Charlie nods.

Relic walks out of the white door, Aelius closes it. They both walk down a corridor towards the glass window that looks into the entrance. Aelius follows behind and looks out too, it's Ross. Relic clenched his fist and looks at Aelius and he looks back.

"You have got to be kidding... he's back too...!?"