Tunnels Part I

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 Song met up with Kai at Bliss' house and together they were going to meet Free and Creed at the end of the alley near Free's house like they had agreed. Song was still thinking about what happened earlier that evening with Onyx. "At least he left on good terms. I just wish he told me what's going on because now, I really don't know what to tell the team." Song thought to herself. 

"Hey, can I tell you something?" Kai asked, interrupting her train of thought.

"Yeah, sure."

"Well, it's more like a question and a something."

"I'm all ears," Song replied.

"I hope you're more than just ears," Kai joked. They both laughed and Song elbowed him in the arm several times until he stopped laughing. "Okay, okay. First thing, do you think that Free likes me?"

Song sighed. This wasn't really her place to say, "I'm not Free, so why don't you ask her?"

"Well, I know that the two of you talk and everything, so does she ever talk about me?"

"Yes, she does. You are a topic of her conversation quite often, but if you want a complete answer you should ask her. I can't tell you what her heart feels. It's really not my place to say. Why do you ask me that?"

"Because, I was thinking that I didn't really get a chance to get to know her too well, and with everything that has been happening, I just want to make sure that she feels apart of us, the Team Liberate. Sometimes I get this feeling that she is looking at me with different eyes. It's hard to explain. It's not like I have parents or an adult mentor, other than Bliss, who is kinda unavailable at the moment. Maybe your dad will understand, but I don't wanna feel weird talking to him about stuff that I can't even put into words."

"My dad won't think it's weird. I mean, he was married and they had me, he would know something. You can talk to him, and there's always Free's grandfather, if you're looking to get close to her he is the best resource. But tell me, what are you thinking?"

"What do you mean?" Kai asked, averting his eyes away from her.

"I mean, we're getting older. I know that you don't have your parents, but our parents were getting married around our ages. It's normal if the thought of finding a soulmate and settling down with a family is on your mind."

"To be honest, the idea of marrying someone and completing myself is on my mind. But I'm ashamed to say that it might be for a cowardly reason." Kai paused, "Everyday people die, I may even outlive my parents. With all of this darkness running rampant, I ask myself, if I die, my family won't have a legacy. That's why it's been on my mind, especially since my parents died protecting me," Kai sighed.

"Nothing is wrong with that, and that is not a cowardly reason. We all have fears but overcoming fears is what makes us brave, it gives us courage. I have fears too, I'm afraid of this darkness taking the life of someone else that I love. That's why I fight so hard, for there will always be this uncertainty hanging over our heads until theses Shadows cease to exist among us."

"You're right, that's why we can't stop fighting. Shadowhunters are strong together, we're like blood brothers and sisters. When I think of it, your father is always nice to me. I should pay him a visit, it's been too long."

"He would enjoy that. So what else did you want to talk to me about?"

Kai stopped dead in his tracks and pulled her arm a little bit, "Be honest with me. What's going on with Onyx?"

Song sighed and shook her head. "I don't completely know because he won't talk to me about what is going on. But, he's not the Onyx that we thought he was, he's living a life that we didn't know about. And tonight, he told me that he could not be apart of the team anymore."

"WHAT! That's so fake! How could he do us like that?! We have been a team for a long time, years. Now, his life takes twists and turns and now we don't count," Kai was furious, "and to think, that he was my best friend, my first friend. He's like a brother to me." He paused and took a few breaths. "What now?"

"What do you mean?"

"We're leaving him here, to not draw suspicion. Can we trust him? What life is he living?" Kai asked.

"Relax, I think it's something to do with his immediate family. Personally, I still think that we can trust him. He left on good terms. Something in his voice told me that he didn't want to leave us, but destiny was calling him to a different path. I will admit, at first, I did feel hurt, but now I know that this was something that he needed to do." Song explained. "But look, this stays between us, right now our focus is learning as much as we can in the tunnels. No matter what happens, I'm still going to fight. This fight, this mission is my destiny and only death will stop me. We are still Team Liberate. I don't want everyone burdened with this revelation, keep your eyes on the prize."

"I will, and I won't say anything, but tell me why do you still trust him, yet you questioned my trust?"

"The situations were different. Onyx is bound by a destiny that his parents set for him. You were living in a house with someone who was infected. You may not have known if you were infected or not and if you were, you were bound to unintentionally betray us. Onyx isn't infected, but as far as we knew you could have been. And don't worry we will tell Free soon, I promise," Song explained as they reached the alley. Two figures stood before them.

"You all ready to go?" A tall, young man with heather eyes asked.

"Yes Creed, we're ready." Song replied.

"Okay, make sure your amulets are out of sight. It's 8:50, so we have nine minutes. Let's get a jog on." Creed directed.

It was as if the rest of the city realized the time. In an instant, the city was in panic, people were running everywhere trying to get in the refuge of their homes before the Shadows made their rounds. In the chaos, the four stayed close and jogged to the opposite side of the city. They skirted around some farmland and came to a rocky plateau. Once they jumped from the plateau, there were some caves hidden from plain view. Creed began picking up the pace from a jog to a sprint, they ended up making a dash for the caves. Once they entered the cave Creed slowed and stopped, the rest of them did the same staying behind him. The time was 8:58 and then the caves began to close.

The four were catching their breath, then Creed said, "Welcome to the tunnels." His heather eyes were beaming. His appearance was odd once observed in the light, his gray eyes being a sharp contrast to his brown skin and very dark hair.

"I didn't know that tunnels had doors." Kai observed.

"We made them a few years ago to keep the Shadows out in particularly at night." Creed replied. A woman with dark green eyes and light brown hair approached Creed. She whispered something to him. He nodded and said, "Stay right here while I check in."

Creed left for a few minutes and Free asked, "You think Onyx and 'Team Liberate' will be alright?"

"Of course, this is Onyx we're talking about and the amateurs who are filling in for us know what to do if they see Shadows." Song said.

Creed came back and said, "Okay look, only a few people know that you two are here and that includes a few top ranking hunters. So we have to keep it down, and stay discreet. Don't disturb anyone working or practicing. Free, you take Kai and give him some background. I'll take Song and see if she can analyze the information that I have. We have to get them out of here in about four hours, so about 1:00, okay?"

"Sounds good." Free said.

"Alright let's go." Creed replied and with that everyone paired up began to explore.

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