Existence

Chapter 20

The tunnel had widened enough for the three of them to walk side by side, but Alex had insisted on remaining at the front with Azazel at the back. Sarah was perfectly fine with it. Seeing Azazel's disapproving face would only sour her mood further.

She'd taken her time telling Sammy to return back to Solquis, or at least to stay out of the tunnels. With Byron's theory fresh in her mind, she'd tried to glean Sammy's thoughts, asking him if he understood her in the vain hopes for a reply. She'd heard nothing.

It was rather annoying, considering she now wanted to prove Azazel wrong for dismissing her the way he had earlier. It was just great. She had just formed a truce of some kind with Byron on the Shifter thing, and now Azazel was stepping up to take his place. She doubted a civil conversation on a sleepless night would work a second time.

"I see something up ahead," Alex called over his shoulder. His long strides quickened and Sarah had to increase her pace to a slight jog to keep up with him.

Sarah went over what he'd told her by the river. Callista had been one of the first few Adventians he and Jared had met years ago. Alex had kept his eyes on the metal flasks he had been filling, but the way he spoke about her and how he reacted back in the cell... she had been sure they were a thing. An unrequited love then?

They came to a large, round room lined with torches. With the light from Alex's wristband, Sarah made out the shapes of sleeping bags scattered across the floor.

Alex took his bandana off, held the two ends in each hand, and began spinning the middle like a small jump rope. He muttered a few words under his breath and the red cloth began to glow. When it could spin no more, he quickly let go of one end as it caught fire, whipping it towards the brazier next to him. Alex lit a few more braziers, bringing the entire room out of the shadows.

"They will know we were here," Azazel said disapprovingly.

"Relax, Azazel. I've learned a new trick or two in the last month." Alex shook his bandana pointedly in the air.

Sarah counted around a dozen sleeping bags in the room. There were a few weapons, clothes and other random knickknacks surrounding each one. A doorway stood at the opposite end of the room, where the tunnel continued on.

The two boys went to work, searching the scattered belongings. Sarah was a bit more hesitant, nudging some kind of spiky ball with her foot. Azazel briefly glanced over to her with an unreadable look on his face. Sarah had the feeling that if he was the type, he would be rolling his eyes at her. She'd gotten a similar vibe from him more than once in the last few hours.

"No sign of any prisoners," Azazel reported when he finished checking the last one.

Alex frowned as he held up a piece of rope tied into a dragonfly. "Yeah, I doubt they tried to restrain anyone with this."

"Well, well," a voice rang out," what do have we here? Too cold up in at your campsite, Alex Fisher?"

A pair of glowing reptilian eyes appeared out of the gloom in the opposite doorway. Sarah stumbled back as a resounding hiss filled the room. The Shifter boy from yesterday immediately crossed her mind.

'But it's impossible.' She shook her head.

The eyes blinked and they became human amber eyes. The man who owned them slowly stepped into the room, a smirk gracing his cruel, unfamiliar face. He was definitely older than the Shifter boy. The firelight illuminated his platinum blond hair and brown leather attire. He was closely followed by four other similarly-dressed men, their boots clomping on the hard-packed dirt.

'Now they make noise,' Sarah thought pettily.

"Rythor." Azazel took a step forward, slamming the end of his spear against the ground.