The Gizmo- The Heroes Quest

Chapter 23- The underground! and Betrayal?

An idea strikes my mind. Do we have anyone in our team who can do that?

"Zack, is it possible for you to swipe away the smoke that's surrounding you?" I ask.

"Well, I can, But not the whole area!" I hear Zach shout back.

"Good! Alex, can you locate the staircase using your spirits?" I ask again.

"Yup! Here I go" he says as I see the glowy spirits suddenly appear in the smoke, and start encircling around a shadow. And then, they disperse all over the lobby. Slowly, all the spirit collect at a corner towards my right, as I run towards it.

And beyond the spirits, there was a narrow stairway going downward. The others join me as well. Zack, now faces towards the lobby as a dark aura starts to erupt from his sword. He then slashes the smoke sending waves of it away from us. Anderson throws a fireball at the lobby. As expected, the whole floor blasts as we immediately climb down the stairs.

"Wow! Now that was insane." Shu comments.

"Yup, the fireball ignited the whole field. Ashlee, that was an amazing idea!" Anderson remarks.

But, the happiness soon ends, as we reach the lower ground floor. The impact from the above, started to shake the whole roof. If reckless, we might get buried in it as well! There was a path following the staircase with its top crumbling to pieces.

"Hurry!" I hear someone shout, as we sprint forward. With the whole place going down, that was the only way to run through.

After few metres, the path in front of us divided into three. Which one must we choose? And I cannot use my powers in such limited time we have!

Of course, there's only one option left. "Split in two!" Now's my chance. All I have to do is grab my other self and drag him along with me. I grab Nuke's jacket and drag him into one of the lanes. But as soon as my fingers get in contact with his jacket, I feel an electric bolt striking through me, as I get sucked up in the same darkness that had brought me into this body. I feel a thrust, as I get smashed into something. I try opening my eyes. But to my surprise, I was back in my own body! Could it be because of the touch?

I feel something warm holding my hand, as I get pulled into one of the routes. And behind me, I could hear the wall collapse.

We stop, as Ashlee leaves my hand, while taking a deep breath. Black silky hair with greyish pupils, and a body so cute that could exite any man alive, is what I could see as I gaze at her. For a moment, I couldn't believe myself that I, was in that body!

She notices me staring at her, as she takes many steps back. 'Shy?' I think as I realize that my cheeks and ears have gone red.

Just when I started to get lost in my own little world, I could feel a hand grab my shoulder. The jumpscare, forces me to turn back. Then, I realize it was Shu! But shouldn't he be with another partner right now?

"Why are you here?" I ask, stunned.

"Shouldn't I be asking you the same? And why's your face so red?" Shu glares. I shake my head, trying to cover it up.

"Wait.. does that mean someone's left alone?!" Ashlee interrupts, with a worried look on her face.

Shu kicks the pile of concrete behind us as he shouts "Oh great! And I thought I was running in the right direction. How could I ever make such a mistake?"

I pat Shu, trying to calm him down, "Well this isn't the time to regret what you have done. Whoever's left alone, they are in danger. We have to catch up to them as soon as possible." And with that, we kick off searching for an alternative path to reunite with the others.