The Sins of Liones Academy

Chapter 13

Hawk's mom hesitated outside of the entrance to the forest. "Are you sure you kids don't want me to come with you?" She asks.

"No its cool Ma just wait outside" Hawk said jumping out of the car.

"Thanks for the ride Ma'am" Elizabeth said as she followed after Hawk.

The three of them stood at the entrance of the forest for a moment before starting to walk along the path leading inside.

"Huh ya know this isn't so bad" Hawk said happily just as a thick fog rose and the path disappeared under brambles and branches "I just had to say that didn't I" he grumbled. They continued to trudge through the forest until they heard voices.

"-hail the Grandmasters, hail the Holy Knights" a chorus of voices prayed. The three approached cautiously. They found 6 or 7 men, praying on their knees in black robes. At first it looked pretty peaceful but on closer inspection, they each held a gun in their hands. The trio snuck around the group and stumbled upon a building.

"I'm not going to lie guys I'm getting a really creepy vibe from this place!" Hawk squealed. The building which appeared to have once been white was grungy and covered in brambles and vines. On the front was the symbol Meliodas had seen at Diane's house, only not so crudely cut but rather elegantly carved out of what appeared to be stone. Elizabeth glanced at Meliodas.

"Should we... go inside?" She asks in a hushed tone.

"We don't know whats in there, we need to wait and try and feel this whole place out" Meliodas whispered back pulling Elizabeth and Hawk into some near by bushes.

"Oh I really hope this isn't poison Ivy" Hawk grumbled. They stayed there for a little while just scoping the place out, there didn't appear to be any sort of guards.

"Okay, now we can go in" Meliodas whispered. The three of them creeped up to the door and opened it with a creek. The church appeared empty and smelled strongly of rotting wood.

"Why would anyone ever come here?" Hawk asked plugging his nose.

"You saw those guys outside, they had guns, whatever is here must be worth protecting" Elizabeth answers looking down slightly at Hawk.

"Or incredibly dangerous"

"Sh-shut up Meliodas don't try to scare me!" Hawk quivered glancing around worriedly. Meliodas just shrugged, they split up and walked around the church, searching for anything that could hint at what those guys in robes might be protecting. "Oh hey guys! I found a staircase!" Hawk yelled, Elizabeth and Meliodas ran over. "What- what do you guys think is down there?"

"Maybe its where they keep the ghost"

"Shut up Meliodas!"

"Regardless of whats down there we- we have to go see!" Elizabeth says as she starts walking down the stairs "if theres even a chance that this could help us find Diane and the others or my family than we have to risk it."

"She's right" Meliodas agreed walking down next to her.

"Wha? Guys... wa-wait for me!" Hawk stuttered stumbling his way down the stairs after them.

The basement was cold, and grey, no other way to really describe it. "Wow its so dark down here" Elizabeth whispers, but Meliodas is focused on something else in The room.

He approaches slowly, Elizabeth can faintly see the outline of a person chained to a wall. As her eyes adjust she sees what he sees, dingy brown hair pulled into pigtails, the shirt that was once orange, the familiar face of their missing friend.

"Diane?"