Unity

Chapter 9 - The Door

Degrante's POV

This was the entrance to the vault? It looked a little... Ornate for something that's meant to hold valuables. With carvings depicting a fierce battle with what looked to be the... Wait... No. The vaults depiction was in fact what those who know of the old times call, 'The Cataclysm'.

Once upon a time our land had great cities that scraped the skies, beasts of metal that carried people across the land, and even metal birds that would carry hundreds of people to other domains.

But then the land fell into turmoil, man against man, father against son, until there was nothing left but a few people who managed to survive the bombs. A desolate landscape greeted them.

Those who chose to live above the ground founded Suvajden, named after their leader, and eventually forgot the old technology. Those underground didn't live as long, but they made plenty of traps to protect their homes. These vaults were their homes. And we needed to break in.

By now April was already examining the door, an audible click could be heard as she accidentally activated a hidden pressure plate.

"April! Get back!" I yelled, running forth with lightning speed and pulling her back just in time before the hidden spears got her. My momentum nearly carried me into them myself.

"You okay?" I asked, turning to the young woman. She looked absolutely stunned, like she'd just seen a ghost. Well she had just nearly died... But... Well... Shut up Degranté.

"I-I'm fine," she stammered, shrugging my hand off "But how do we open the door?"

"We should probably not do what you just did again. You know, just to be safe," Darkblood remarked.

"Not helping," Trist glowered from the back of the group, "Unless you care to try?"

"C'mon guys, let's not argue, we can do that later. We need to get this door open. Any ideas?" I enquired, looking back to everyone.

Gods they didn't look good.

Darkblood looked like he just got run over by a charging rhino.

April, well... Yeah...

And Trist looked pale, well, more pale than usual. I was curious about this man. He was shifting constantly, and his earlier escapade, although ultimately saving our lives, put a considerable amount of mistrust towards him. What was he thinking? And how did he know what to do? For now I just had to trust him.

As I was looking towards him I noticed something, the ring on his necklace was shining with a malevolent glow. What in the name of the divines is that thing? Or more possibly, who?

Before I could so much as blink, Trist muttered something, it took me a second but I heard what he had said, "Try the key perhaps?"

"Pardon?" Said a confused April.

"What key? Where? I don't see a lock on the door," said an enthusiastic Darkblood, obviously wanting to get out of this hellhole.

"How the hell do you know about my key?" I almost yell, suspicious as to how he knew about my mother's heirloom.

The rest of the group looks to him with raised eyebrows. Before any more could be said, a thick green gas started spraying from the ceiling, the result of me stepping back onto another hidden pressure plate. One whiff and both Trist and I knew instantly. Fear gas. This is turning into one hell of a day.

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A/N:

Degrantéthe105th: yay cliffhangers! Love em'!

What will happen next? Will Trist tell them of Gale? And what is Degranté's key? (Oh and will they survive)

Stay tuned for the next chapter of Unity to find out!