Soul Eater: The Next Generation

Chapter 30

Ellie’s POV

I step off of the airplane and stretch.  The cool, moist London air is washing over me.  I have always loved London, despite its dank weather.  It seems fitting that the battle occurs here.

Behind me, my team stretches and awaits my instructions.

“We are going to head east from here.  The lair is underground, in what seems to be Central England.  Everyone will go in, but Eva and Claire (*her scythe*). You guys will wait outside, because we might need back up.”

Eva seems upset, but Claire nods.

I put my arm around Eva, and whisper into her ear, “Don’t let anyone in or out.  Your job is most important, because then they can’t call back up or escape.  Got me?”

“Ya, sure,” she says.  She still seems reluctant, but I need her outside.  Her strength is defense, so she can shield out enemies.  Underground, she would be of less use, because her attacks are generally light.

We walk down many streets turning and twisting until we get to a large city square, filled with stores and bustling people.  Three sides of the square have shops and businesses, but the fourth side is just a blank, stone wall on the side of a skyscraper.  I walk up to a large rectangular block that is colored differently then the rest of the building. I feel along the edges, and push gently on the surface. The door doesn’t budge.

“Ugh… WE DO NOT HAVE TIME FOR THIS,” Matsukaze screams, “HOLD ON I HAVE THE SOLUTION!” Suddenly there is a stick of dynamite in her hand.  How in the world she obtained this, I will never know, but she runs up, sets up the stick of dynamite right next to the building and lights it on fire.

The stick explodes, but the concrete doesn’t get so much as a mark.

“DAMMIT. FAULTY ONE… HOLD ON I THINK I HAVE ANOTHER…” She screams, reaching into her tote bag, trying to find another.

“I think we are alright without the dynamite,” Jasper quietly says.

“AND YOU HAVE ANOTHER IDEA?”
“Well, the door is opening,” he says blatantly.  I spin around and see the door open fully, leading a dark, descending staircase.

“This is it,” I whisper. Spike comes up next to me and grips my hand, transforming. I close my eyes for a second to focus.

“All right, move out, team!” I yell, bursting down the stairs.

The stairs continue on for what feels like three hours, but was probably only five minutes.  I better factor that in if we need to retreat. Dammit, don’t think like that Ellie! We won’t need to retreat! We- I- am settling this today!

At the bottom of the stairs, there is a long hallway, lit only by candles.  At the end of the hall, there is a door. We race down the hallway, prying the door open.

I walk through, into a room filled with computers and tables covered in paper. We are standing on a platform, with stairs leading down into the workroom. There must be forty computers working at the same time, their screens black and filled with binary code. The tables have maps with pins and lines.  Someone’s plotting something big here…

I hear a creaking noise, and see a mousy girl peeking out the door across the room.

“Uh-oh, the mistresses won’t be happy about this,” and she disappears.

“WE SHOULD GO AFTER HER,” Matsukaze says lunging forward.

I grab her arm, “No, don’t. It’s okay… They will come to us.” As if to answer my remark, we hear a sharp shriek and crashing.