Revival Of Stars

19 | Ashes, Ashes

CHAPTER 19
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They didn't know where they were heading. Layla, one of the members in the RRR, flew forward, weaving between different alleyways as she led the three across the town.

After a few long minutes of relentless running and scrambling, they finally made it to the edge of The Inner. They stood face to face with the brown cave wall.

Layla didn't waste any time to place her hand over the wall; she closed her eyes; a yellow glow formulated from under her palm; something shifted; a section of the cave wall slid to the side, revealing a long tunnel on the other side. She quickly entered the opening, and Oran followed closely behind, along with Lance, then Etta.

As they ran through the tunnel, the wall closed in on them, causing them to bend and bow their heads uncomfortably. Fortunately, though, at the end of the tunnel was a ledge. Layla hopped down, and a splash could be heard.

"We're in the main sewage system now," she explained fervently, her voice echoing in the sewer. "Just go straight forward. It'll lead you to a sewer opening in Main Wispern."

Oran only nodded his head before running forward, his heart beating heavily, almost burning his entire body. Following closely behind was Lance; he felt excruciatingly numb. He didn't feel anything except the fear that seized him.

Before Etta could run with them, she turned towards the woman. "Won't you come, too?"

Layla shook her head. "I'm a witch. It's better if I stay in The Inner." It was obvious, with the reluctance in her eyes, that she was uncomfortable stepping foot outside.

Understanding, Etta nodded and quickly ran after the two boys who barely cast a glance behind them.

From there on, all of them rushed through the sewer, their feet drenched with soiled and murky water. The darkness blinded them, but the adrenaline and panic in their system forced them to run faster. Legs burning, skin sweating, heart pulsing, they surged straight through the tunnel. And all of them thought of the same thing.

Pleasant Valley.

George's breathy voice in the RRR room. The panic in his eyes. There was an accident. What accident?

Please, let them be okay. Please. Please. Don't do this to me again. Lance gasped and gasped, his legs burning as they sprinted over the water.

It couldn't be. Right? There was an accident. Only an accident. It could've been anyone. Think rationally. Rationally. Oran tried to think of multiple alternatives. He didn't want to believe. Not until he saw it with his own eyes.

Although Etta didn't know of Navine and Dray, she still feared for the two boys. As she stared at their backs moving up and down as they sprinted with all their might, she feared for them. The pain of losing one's parents or seeing them hurt—Etta knew too much of what that was like.

After what felt like an eternity, they made it to the end. Yellow light streamed down from the outside, revealing a metal ladder on the wall under it.

"We're here," Oran breathlessly said before motioning for the two to climb first.

The two climbed wordlessly up the ladder before Oran followed suit. One by one, they all crawled out from an opening in the street. Darkness now cloaked the entirety of Main Wispern, with only the street lamps providing light. There were barely any people in the streets—only customers who lingered in stores. No one even casted a glance towards the three as they ran down the pavement, their shirt sticking onto their clammy skin along with the sewage odor that radiated off of them.