The Ancient Guardians

The Ancient Guardians (Chapter 12)

THE ANCIENT GUARDIANS

Chapter 12

I fell for a good three seconds, but I didn't hit the ground suddenly. Somehow my fall slowed down a bit before the end and I didn't even feel a shock upon landing. Clint landed heavily right after me with a great crushing sound. I couldn't see anything since it was pitch black. I heard William's voice saying: "Looks like my updraft wasn't enough." So that's what slowed me down. "Not for Clint, anyway." I said.

                "You're here too?" Will replied. "I didn't even hear you land."

                "Enough talk." That was Clint's heavy voice. "We need to move quickly, hurry! Alex, give us some light."

                I barely needed to think of fire this time and it burst as hard as yesterday. Marla stared at it with a stunned look. I forgot she still didn't know anything of what was going on. The flame didn't help that much with the darkness.

                "Well don't just keep it in your hand." Clint said. "Make it float."

                I didn't know I could make the fire float. I didn't know how either. I thought hard on what I wanted the flame to do, just like putting it out. The flame turned into a flaming ball and slowly rose up. The firelight spread with the height and I could see much better. Clint was behind me and Marla and Will were in front. We were in a small tunnel, a bit like the cave with the crystals. Marla was still speechless.

                "Well, go on, Alex. Out in front. Lead the way." Clint continued while shoving me forward.

                "Alright, alright." I pushed past Marla and William and started walking like a torch-bearer. The flame followed my hand in the air as if tied to it. The others followed me silently, except for a steady rumbling behind us. "What's that sound?" I asked.

                "I told you; I'm sealing the tunnel as we go." Clint answered.

                I turned my head to look and saw the rocks and dirt coming together behind Clint, blocking the way back.

                "Watch out." Clint told me, pointing in front.

                I turned my head in front and bumped into the wall. The tunnel turned to the left. I heard Marla laugh a little. "Couldn't you make the tunnel straight, Clint?" I said.

                "Sorry, I had to make it go around the lake." he answered.

                William joined in. "When did you make this anyway?"

                "This morning, actually." Clint continued. "I was just finishing when I felt the army coming."

                Then came Marla's turn. "What WERE those creatures?" she asked.

                I was the one who answered. "Oh, you know, typical undead, nothing special."

                "Like in Left 4 Dead then?" She said.

                "No, they're not contagious." I continued. "Wait, what?"

                Will displayed his ignorance. "What's Left 4 Dead?"

                "It's a video game." I told him. What was surprising was that Marla had mentioned it. "You play Left 4 Dead, Marla?"

                "Sure, I play lots of games. I've been hooked on Brutal Legend lately."

                "Damnit!" Even a girl had played it!