Legend | Celeste Academy Series BK #2

Chapter 22 ♕ Skeleton Zombie Tunnel (pt. 1)

The train of coaches came to a stop altogether in the middle of a heavy blizzard they entered just a few minutes before. The horses were restless and kept on neighing. Their refusal to go farther caused the journey to be halted, thereby signaling the fact that they had to go on alone from then on if they still wanted to push through the mission. It seemed that the barrier of storm surrounding the entrance towards the city prevented any form of transportation from passing through. The snow was too deep within those parts. The howling winds, as well, were relentless and the coldness they brought was enough to freeze anyone in place. Although the horses selected for the journey were adapted to cold temperatures, even they wouldn't last long under such a very intense storm.

Charles disembarked from the vehicle, bravely confronting the violent weather with ease. He did not put much effort into opening the door since the winds themselves carried it with force and banged it against the coach. As he took a step out, his feet sank into deep snow. He cursed. He did not know they would confront a perilous weather on their way to the city.

"How long until we arrive?!" He yelled over the strong winds.

"It's not that far!" Replied the driver with an equally loud voice. "After you go around that rock, it'll lead you to a tunnel on the base of a mountain. Go through it and you'll see it there!"

The man pointed to a tall, protruding rock a few meters away from them. The sight of it was blurred by the flurry of snow, but he was able to make it out from where he stood. Sure enough, it wasn't that far.

"I'm sorry! We can't go any farther!" The driver told him. "We hope you the best!"

"Thank you!" He answered. "I only have one last question. How long has this storm been going?"

The driver of their coach looked as though he was about to freeze in his seat. "I'm sorry. I don't know. It wasn't here at first."

Charles paused for a moment, but nodded. "Thank you." He pulled his scarf closer around his neck as he walked back towards the entrance of the carriage. Placing his hand around the frame of the door, he brought down the fabric that covered his mouth and started to speak. "We have to walk from here. The snow has gotten too deep for the coaches to make it far." He told the others.

"What should we do?" Asked Elfre. "Should we carry the packs?"

"Get the others to come and gather in one place. Carry what you can." He told them before turning away and making his way towards the other coaches. He still had to lift the 'spell' off of Tamara.

While Rowe, Aneeka, and Elfre got off to obey Charles's orders, the fourth-ranker wondered which one of the coaches she was taken into. He remembered leaving the woman by Keelan's and Aneeka's, so she should be in the same vehicle as one of them.

He last saw Keelan by the second-to-the-last coach, so he turned himself towards the direction of the said vehicle and stopped before the door. It took him quite a while to get where he was now, seeing as the wind was so strong that it was pushing him back.

Banging his fists against the door, he called out, "It's time!"

There was no answer. Not even the slightest whisper.

Curious, he turned the curved knob and pulled the door open. There was just no way something bad would've happened to his comrades in the middle of their journey.

His eyes went wide.

Charles had to rapidly clean his glasses to make sure he was seeing right. When he put them back on, he couldn't resist but heave a sigh. Despite his initial disbelief of finding the two in a very unusual position, there was no time to stand around feeling shocked.