Chapter 55 - Operation (2)

This news, as chilling as it is improbable, leaves me speechless. The mummy, a true blood-stained enigma, the very monster that took our leader's life was a prototype born from their community.

_ Blaike: " If the opportunity arises, I will personally eliminate that serial killer. "

_ Ayden: " No need... He is already dead. "

Pupils rush towards me in haste.

_ Blaike: " Huh? How can you be so sure? "

_ Ayden: " Because he and our chief killed each other. "

_ Blaike: " Your leader? "

_ Ayden: " I come from the South Zone. You must have noticed, but my armband is brown. "

A few seconds elapse without a single word being spoken.

_ Blaike: " I see. I don't know the reasons, but her action crosses a huge threat off the list. She has my gratitude. "

Speechless at his sentence, I recalled the past events as well as the revelations brought forth by the Recluse. Thus, disgust overcame me.

_ Ayden: “ Chief Moana should never have died! “

Furthermore, in another alleyway not far from our position, I notice a nasty smell, like the stench of something rotten. Upon arriving at the destination, the other individual, Blaike's colleague, is standing in front of the door of a building.

_ Blaike: " Did you get the set of keys, Rider? "

_ Rider: " Yes, Boss. "

_ Blaike: " Good job. Now open the door, but hurry, we mustn't attract attention. "

Each key, in its turn, attempts to unlock the secret of the lock, until the true one reveals its inner workings. Once the door is passed, a tiny corridor opens up to us. Only a few steps away, a second door stands before us.

With little hope, a hand gesture is made, attempting to open the door handle. To our astonishment, the door is not locked. This time, a long circular staircase, accompanied by a rocky wall, appears before our eyes.

_ Blaike: “ As we go down, we will reach the cellar. “

Curious to discover the truth, I held my breath before moving forward. After a long walk with the only light coming from torches fixed to the wall, we finally reached the cellar, which looked more like a clandestine laboratory.

The cold, damp stone walls of the cellar stretch out as far as the eye can see, forming a dark and winding labyrinth. A pungent smell of stale air and disinfectant permeates the air, mixed with a faint scent of rusty metal. Dancing shadows flicker on the vaulted ceiling, while the silence is broken by the incessant dripping of water seeping through the cracks. The dim light of a few shaky torches only accentuates the oppressive and gloomy atmosphere of the place.

_ Ayden: " I never would have thought a place could be so enormous… "

_ Blaike: " Their experiment reduced to nothing, the Emperor intends to try again. This time, I fully intend to arrive in time and extract my team. "

A sharp click echoes in the silence. The upstairs door by which we arrived startles us.

_ Rider: “ That's impossible. I locked the door, I know I did! “ he whispers.

With a slow, controlled movement, Blaike relaxes his limb, also inviting him to absolute silence.

_ Blaike: " Be ready to eliminate any suspicious individual. "

The footsteps intensify.

_ Blaike: " By the sound of the footsteps, there are two of them; it's manageable. "

In the end, a voice feeds in before the appearance of its silhouette.

_ ???: “ Chief? It’s me, are you there? ”

_ Blaike: “ Oh, it’s you, Radja. ”

Facing me, a third adult of the same age range as their boss appeared.

_ Rider: " You show up now? Don't scare us like that again. "

_ Radja: " Instead of complaining, you should look at what I've brought you back. "

A second silhouette, blurry at first, gradually materializes before my eyes. To my great surprise, Kaya enters the scene, her hands handcuffed by vines.

_ Ayden: " Kaya?? But what the… "

Impassively, their leader looks at his subordinate.

_ Blaike : " Who is she? "

_ Radja : " That pest has been secretly following us since the beginning. I took care of her case, without drawing attention, of course. "

The leader approaches Kaya, bending his legs to be at her height.

_ Blaike: " So it was your presence I felt before we slipped away. "

_ Kaya: " … "

_ Ayden: " Don't hurt her! She has nothing to do with this! "

Then straightens up.

_ Blaike: “ Radja, release her. We have a mission to carry out. ”

Taken aback by his docility, my eyes opened to an unexpected reality.

_ Ayden: " Why? "

_ Blaike: " I couldn't care less about you, kid. I just had to make sure you wouldn't snitch. "

He dashes forward, his gaze serious and fixed on his goal, without paying me the slightest attention.

_ Blaike: “ And from the little I’ve observed, I know you'll stay put. ”

Initially a prisoner, I am now free, just like Kaya. Their group is leaving us behind, leaving me isolated with her.

_ Ayden: " How did you end up getting involved in this whole thing? "

_ Kaya: " When I woke up, I went outside to get some air. A little later, I saw you accompanied by an adult wearing a hood. That caught my attention. "

_ Ayden: " It could have just been a peasant. "

_Kaya: " The moment you walked through that door, it couldn't just be a simple peasant anymore. There is no reason to follow a stranger for so long. "

_Ayden: " She's insightful. Looking back, I would have had the same thought. "

The path is always identical for the Reclus, I connect my pupils with theirs.

_ Ayden: " I wasn't vigilant; it's my fault you're in this mess. "

_ Kaya: " Spare me your compassion. I got caught, I lost, that's all there is to it. "

A discreet smile played on my face. Then, the discussion ended, and an idea formed.

_ Blaike: " This is my team. Hold tight, I'll get you out of this! "

An enormous cage, about 2 meters in diameter, holds all the prisoners. Beside it, a massive rudder also stands. Finally, for most of them, their clothes and their skin are stained with blood, the experiment apparently well underway.

_ Blaike : “ So? Is it opening or not?? “

_ Rider : “ I'm trying every key on the keyring, but nothing's working, boss, the door won't open. “

_ Radja : “ How is that possible!? “

_ Rider : “ The holder of this key doesn't have a spare. We've been had... damn it! “

However, one prisoner, in poor condition, makes a sound.

_ Prisoner 1: " No, Boss... to unlock the cell, you must... push the rudder. "

_ Prisoner 2: " The turned rudder... it activates a mechanism that unlocks the door. "

_ Radja: " That's all? Pff, the incompetents. "

The rudder won't budge an inch despite all the pressure put on it.

_ Radja: “ What is that?? It's not moving an inch! “

_ Blaike: “ Because of the low light, it's hard to see, but if you look closely, clay is stuck to the floor. “

_ Ayden: “ Given the amount and the solidity of the clay, it can only come from one Source. “

_ Blaike: " Everything is calculated so that no one, other than the holder, can free the prisoners."

_ Rider: " In that case, let's take a torch and burn the clay. "

_ Prisoner: " No! Please don't… "

Everyone turns their gaze toward the person concerned.

_ Blaike: " Explain yourself. "

_ Prisoner: " Our tormentor feels some kind of sensation when his clay is touched... regardless of its location. "

Eyebrows are raised.

_ Blaike : " I see. At the slightest flame, he will immediately know. "

_ Ayden : " That's clever. By the time the clay burns, it leaves time for the guards to arrive. "

_ Blaike : " No choice. We are going to force the rudder with our bare hands. "

_ Rider : " But in that case, we are going to… "

_ Blaike : " Warn the enemy. But I don't intend to repeat the same mistake twice. "

The entire team is pushing with all their might. But the massive clay, as sturdy as a wall, remains very solid. After this failed attempt, I take a step forward, but very quickly, this movement is noticed.

_ Kaya : “ What're you planning on doing? ”

_ Ayden : “ Give them a hand. ”

_ Kaya : “ I remind you it’s not our problem. ”

I continue my advance while turning my head in her direction.

_ Ayden: " We agree. But we have nothing else to do, am I wrong? "

Arms crossed and face set, Kaya watches me continue on my way, my steps distancing me from her position.

_ Kaya: " Don't count on me. "

When I got there, I also helped the entire team push.

_ Blaike: " Why are you helping us, kid? You risk being targeted yourself when the guards arrive. "

_ Ayden: I'm well aware, that's why, once the prisoners are free, get us out of here as well. “

_ Blaike: " Hmm, you've got guts, kid, and I like that. "

I activate my Source, manifesting granite near my supporting foot and on my hands, in order to gain extra traction. But it's no use; the rudder remains motionless. However, a glimmer of hope appears when a cracking sound is heard coming from a section of the clay.

Our collective relentless effort finally paid off. The clay gave way and the rudder turned, which unlocked their cell. With a firm motion, Blake pushed aside the heavy door, freeing his companions from their prison. A sigh of relief escaped their lips, sweeping away the darkness.

_ Prisoner 1: " Thank you very much, chief! "

_ Prisoner 2: " I knew you would never abandon us! "

_ Blaike: " Of course. Alright, now let's get out of here quickly. "

_ ??? : " You're not going anywhere, Mister Blaike."