The Fallen Throne

Chapter 14.3 ✦ Starting Line

In a split second of panic, flames burst out from his arms and hands, burning through his gloves and lighting up the tunnel. He doesn't even realise he is able to do that until the emotions are felt in that exact moment. But the flames only stay for as long as he feels panicked; in a short amount of time where the flames had lit up the tunnel, he finds himself sliding steadily down the tunnel instead of falling into nothingness.

Yet that doesn't help at all, because he still doesn't know what is down there -- or how far below does the tunnel stretch, for that matter.

Kai uses his arms to shield himself, but from what, he doesn't know. Behind his arms, he closes his eyes and turns his head to the side, bracing himself as he slides down with maximum velocity.

Suddenly, he slips as he is flung out of the tunnel, falling with a splash. He lands on shallow water; half of his body is above the water level even when he sits. It's quite dark, but he spots a dim light hanging on the wall in a narrow passageway ahead. Steps before him leads to the platform above, and behind him the tunnel that led him here.

Standing up, he pulls out his tattered gloves and throws them aside. Kai thinks of doing the natural thing everyone in his position would do: to shout that it's safe for the others to jump, but he has something better in mind.

Picturing the look on Alaina the last he remembers however vaguely, a similar sly smirk stretches across his face in the darkness. With all his energy, he thrusts his arms and shoots a strong, heavy wave of flames up the tunnel as a signal.

Since he doesn't know how far and long the tunnel really goes, he can only hope the full force of flames are successfully sent upwards. The flames travel fast back up the tunnel without burning the rusty metal sides, but increase the temperature inside drastically.

Flames burst out from the tunnel opening suddenly, startling the other four still above. Alaina stumbles backwards at the sudden dangerous wave of heat, the flames nearly missing her hair.

When the flames dissipate, she angrily shouts back at the tunnel, "watch where you shoot those!" Then, turning on her heels to face the others, she says, "I guess that means it's safe to go."

When Lancaster and Rose move forward without a hint of doubt or hesitation, Lloyd is rather dumbfounded. "Wait -- you're not seriously going down there, right?" he asks nervously.

"No, of course not," Rose replies, turning to face him. "We are."

"Exactly. And since you ask so nicely, you may go first," Lancaster adds, gesturing to the tunnel.

Taking a small step back, Lloyd says, "I'm good, you can go ahead --"

But Lancaster doesn't listen any further. He reaches for Lloyd's bag, snatches it away from him and threatens to throw it down the tunnel. When Lloyd frantically hurries after his bag, Lancaster takes the opportunity to shove him down the tunnel forcefully, throwing the bag after him.

Finally able to force the most reluctant person among them down the tunnel, Alaina, Lancaster and Rose follow after him.

Similarly, they find themselves drenched in the dark underground after landing. Alaina picks herself up, drying her hair and clothes, but water splashes on her from the side. Due to this, she doesn't get any dryer but wetter instead, and she falls as a result of the distraction.

Sitting miserably in the water where she started, annoyance and frustration takes over her and she feels the need to scream at someone. Her head snaps to the source, only to find Kai laughing.

"That's payback."

She flushes angrily, ready to yell at him. But his following unpredictable actions makes her shut her mouth and swallow whatever insults she's about to throw at him, because when Kai stops laughing, he walks over to her and offer her his hand.

Yet immediately as he does so, he retreats his hand after realising he has no gloves on. His smile fades and he turns away darkly; Alaina notices his sadness.

There is hesitation. She wants to reach out for his hand, to grab it and comfort him. But at the same time, she is afraid.

And she doesn't do anything. That moment of decision that might, even a little, change something is gone forever.

Lancaster calls out to them as he ascends the steps leading to the dark passageway, and Kai leaves without another word. Left slightly stunned, Alaina is conflicted and doesn't even understand her own regrets.

Shaking it off and pushing the thoughts and emotions for later, she focuses on the things on hand. She follows them up the steps and into the dark passageway lit solely by the dying candlelight hung on the bracket against the wall.

They turn a corner, and are surprised to find an old wooden door. But when Lancaster tries to open it, it is locked. The sliding panel on the centre of the door is also out of their reach, since it can only be opened from the inside.

To Lloyd's horror, Lancaster is about to try and break it down with his sword. He looks ready to kill, like the door is an obstacle threatening his life that should not be there to begin with. But Lloyd feels worse when he realises the others are not seeing this as a problem -- in fact, Alaina looks like she has been expecting this and is in full support of his actions while Kai and Rose are ready to knock down the door anytime.

"Want me to burn it down?" Kai offers.

"I can do it too," Rose says eagerly.

Alaina stops them, "Lancaster can do it without causing too much... havoc."

Before Lancaster's sword hit any part of the door, the panel slides open suddenly. A pair of tired eyes meet theirs.

"Password?"

"Password?" Lloyd repeats.

This seems to piss Kai off, because he crosses his arms and says impatiently, "die?"

"No one enters without the password," the person behind the door states simply.

"What is this, some sort of game?" Kai raises his voice, stepping close to the door to threaten the person, but Alaina holds him back.

"Iros?" Lloyd suggests. In fact, he is rather confident, since it is the church itself that led them here.

But to his dismay, the person doesn't open the door for them. Instead, he says, "last chance."

They exchange clueless glances. Rose is just about to blame Kai for simply wasting their attempts just because he grew impatient, but stops as she notices the confident look on Lancaster. The others notice it, too, and they wait patiently for him to say something.

Finally, after a moment of thinking, Lancaster says, "an uncaged bird is one that flies the highest, towards the sky and beyond."

And the door opens.