Shadows Rising

Shadows with Red Eyes

{Author's POV}- 

     The Legion reached the F.E.A.R prison in seconds after Jinxx decided it was easier to summon a portal. They had repaired the door after the Shadow War ended. As they approached the door, they noticed writing carved into the stone it was built with, but four of the five couldn't understand it, as it clearly wasn't in English. "Jinxx, can you read this?" Andy asked, gesturing to the door. 

     The Mystic's eyes scanned over the words as he read them aloud. "Cave etiam fusca ostendere: illi serve quia in tenebris regina." He turned to the others. "Beware the Shadows, for they serve the queen of darkness," He said, his skin growing pale at the sound of the words. 

     They all looked confused. "The queen of darkness?! Who could that be?!" CC asked. 

     "What I want to know is why would they write a warning in Latin. The only one around here who can read Latin is Jinxx. Nobody else would be able to read it," Andy said. 

     "I don't know, I don't like the feeling this is giving me. Let's go inside, check things out in there," Jinxx suggested as he pushed open the door and led the way into the prison. The others followed, all keeping an extra careful watch out for any of the aforementioned shadows. The hallway was dark, so Jinxx held out his hand and summoned a ball of light. Once they could see, the five looked around, searching for any signs of life. 

     "Well, there's no one on this floor. We should move upstairs," Jake suggested after they had walked around the entire first floor. 

     "Alright. Let's go upstairs then," Andy agreed. 

     Jinxx found a flight of stairs and led the others up, Andy and Ash in the middle, and Jake and CC taking up the rear. The five reached the top of the stairs and exited into a hallway. They continued peering into each of the cells, but could not find a single person. Finally, after finishing up the second floor, the moved up to the third. Andy snuck a glance over at Ashley, who was looking around, seemingly in a daze. "Ash, you okay?" He asked. 

     The group stopped and turned to the Deviant. He shrugged uncomfortably, then sighed. "You guys don't recognize this place, do you?" He asked. The boys looked around, but couldn't place a finger on what he meant. 

     "Wait..." Andy said, his eyebrows curling in concentration as he remembered, "Oh, God, Ash..."

     "What?" Jinxx wondered. 

     "This is where Control kept Ashley," He reminded them. 

     They all gave Ash sympathetic looks. Jinxx put a hand on his shoulder. "If you want to stay down here, you can. One of us can stay with you," He offered. 

     Ash took a deep breath, then shook his head. "No. No, I'll be fine. I just...déjà vu. I just needed a minute, let's go," He said. Jinxx nodded, giving him a small smile before continuing on. 

     As they came closer and closer to the room, they continued their search for survivors. Suddenly, Andy stopped. "Do you guys hear that?" He asked. 

     The others stopped walking and fell silent, as in the silence, distant sobs could be heard. "I think it's coming from the room Ash was in," Jinxx said awkwardly, before turning and rushing up the stairs, the others behind him. He threw open the door and found a girl, wearing a black t-shirt and skinny jeans, sitting on the floor, her hands in chains. She was beaten badly, her body covered in a mix of blood and the oil that the Wild Ones wore, and only barely conscious. She also looked like she hadn't had anything to eat or drink, or seen any sunlight in weeks. 

     Jinxx rushed over and began healing her, calling for CC to break the chains on her wrists. Jake knelt beside her, trying to get her to wake up. Ash wanted to go help, but he couldn't seem to move, his eyes frozen on the spot the girl sat on-the same spot he'd sat in. Andy rubbed his back comfortingly, not saying anything when he turned and rushed out of the room.