The Infinite

Chapter Two

Ashton watched with wide eyes as apprentices began to head for the open walls. They were trying to escape, Ashton realized. But in an instant Master Cheng and a few of the other masters were in front of them. Rask eyed Ashton. Don't even dare, his eyes read. Ashton shrugged.

A few of the girls were watching from their balcony on the other side of the Chamber. They were murmuring something in each other's ears, and Ashton eyed the pretty brunette. Her hair was down, but the sound of footsteps snapped him out of his daydreaming. He turned to see Wesley running down the corridors.

"What's going on?" he asked.

"The walls have opened," Ashton explained nodding to the humongous gap between the walls. The opening was dark, and it let in cool air. There was nothing to see but darkness. They really were underground.

"Let us go! The walls are open, we're leaving!" yelled a teenage boy, about four or five years older than Ashton.

"We don't know why the walls have opened, Dan," murmured Master Cheng. "But none of you are going anywhere-" cries of protest interrupted his words, and Master Cheng shook his head. "If I let you leave, you will die!" he orated to the hundreds of apprentices.

"It's gotta be better than this. Training every single day until we die? That's no life!" said another apprentice.

"Well..." Master Cheng silenced the boys. "...then go." He looked at the boys in the front.

"He isn't serious, is he?" Wes asked, pushing his glasses up to his forehead, but Ashton didn't reply.

Dan and a few of the others glanced over at each other. He nodded, and they raced out into the dark tunnel that lay ahead. Everything was silent for a moment, but then a blood-chilling scream came from the tunnel, and one of the boys came. He was gasping for breath.

"Where are the rest of them?" Wes asked, his eyes filled with horror.

"Th-They have set traps for us. There's no way we can escape," he gasped, his words came out in shuddering gasps, as he tried to catch his breath. "They captured them. All of them. They even killed Dan..."

Master Cheng silenced him. "This is why," he paused, "no one can leave. As long as we stay here we will be safe"

No one protested or complained. There was nothing to protest. They were safe in their small haven. "Wait!" Ashton yelled. Heads turned, and he felt the disapproving gaze of Rask. "How are we safe? The walls are open. We could be attacked at anytime."

The apprentices nodded.

"Nonsense," replied Cheng, shaking his head. Rask turned to him, bewildered.

"Master Cheng, he has a good point. We could at least barricade the wall."

"With what, Rask? What exactly do you and your apprentice have in mind to keep my Chamber safe from harm? Huh?" Master Cheng asked. Rask sighed, and then turned to the apprentices.

"You are all dismissed," he said. "Mentors, give them the day off." He looked up to the other side, and spotted the girls who had been watching them. "You too," he said.

"I'll see you later," muttered Wes.

Ashton could only nod.

"Rask?" Ashton croaked.

His mentor turned. He walked forward, and nodded. "Yes, Ashton?"

"What's going to happen to us?" Ashton's question came out in only a whisper.

"I don't know, Ash. I just don't," Rask replied. Ashton's eyes fluttered to the ground. "Look at me Ashton." He looked into his mentor's sympathetic gray eyes. "You cannot give up hope just yet. I have a plan, but you have to trust me okay?"