The ladder descent wasn’t as far as the shadows made it appear. Perhaps twenty or thirty feet below the surface. Alex dropped from the ladder and tried to examine their surroundings. His eyes adjusted, making it possible for Alex to figure the cavernous walls that surrounded them. He squinted to see any tunnels, but it was too dark.
Hanna lit a lamp that Alex hadn’t noticed she had on her. It illuminated the secret room revealing it was nothing more than a hole in the earth.
“Now what?” he asked her.
Without responding, Hanna looked down at the rocky floor of the cave and then ran over to a large rock.
“Do you need help with that?” Alex asked her again, because he didn’t think Hanna had any chance of lifting it. But to his dismay and embarrassment, she hefted up the rock and laid it down. In place of where the rock was against the wall, there was now a hole big enough for a person to crawl through. It would be a tight crawl, but it was possible.
Hanna went through taking the lamp with her, leaving Alex in the hole alone in the dark. She banged against something metal down there, and then a second time. With a muttered curse, Alex heard as Hanna banged on it constantly until it flew off. She reappeared moments later beckoning Alex to follow.
He crawled through the small tunnel, which was clearly much easier for Hanna. The tunnel opened up to a bright room. The room had strong use of beige wood and there was a reflecting pool in a rectangular shape. Four small beige bridges lead to the center, of which there was a great white and winding tree. Alex could only marvel at the beauty of it.
Alex looked around at those who were in the room. The girl who hurt his arm earlier sat underneath the tree, along with a red haired boy, not much older than Alex. They both looked at the hole relieved. On the other side of the room was mat and weapon rack. Two people were holding blunt swords and wore helmets, one was rushing towards them.
“Hanna! How many times have we told you!? That entry is to remain shut. The stairs are suitable enough!” He screamed, removing his helmet and letting his white and brown hair to fall out. Drakion.
“And every time I told you I like to go that way.” Hanna replied calmly, Drake just staring at her in disbelief. After a moment of silence, Alex thought he was about to start screaming at her, but Drake began to laugh instead. This brought out a laugh from Hanna as well.
“But Hanna, you have to stop going that way. It is a danger. And it is longer.”
“Fine. I will take your fancy stairs. Drake, you have met Alex.”
Drake hadn’t seemed to notice Alex until just then. He brought Hanna close to whisper, but Alex could still hear what he was saying. “Why did you bring him down here? You know it is too early to tell.”
Hanna pulled away and spoke loudly. “He has been confirmed, alright?”
“Nathan didn’t say anything to me about it, and I will be the only one to give you permission to take down anyone!”
The girl under the tree, Maria, spoke up. “I…I think it is my fault, Drake. I told Hanna I have never incapacitated a demon before. I didn’t think she would bring Alex down here.”
“See. He is Confirmed, so it is okay.” Hanna said fiercely.
“What?! That is not sufficient evidence to Confirm him. He has been here four days, for God’s sake!”
“If I may,” Alex said over their voices, “I am not a demon, or whatever.”
“I believe him, Drake.” Maria spoke up.
The auburn haired one moved closer and put his arm around Drake’s shoulder. Alex didn’t notice before, but the older boy had a scar over his eye. “The guy seems nice enough. And, tell you what, he makes a move I will slit his throat for you.” He smiled stupidly and then looked over Alex. “He doesn’t even appear to be a demon. I mean, he doesn’t act very self righteous or is he strong enough. Just look at those noodle arms!”
Alex had to fight the urge to hit him just then. “Do what you want then.” Drake said before walking off. “I will be in my office!”
Hanna chuckled, while the other boy laughed wildly. “So what is your name, Newcomer? Alex was it?” He asked.
Alex nodded. “Alex Norc-“
“Don’t use your last name.” Hanna interrupted, which seemed to be her thing. “You sound like you are trying to be something other than you really are.”
“Nice to meet you, Alex Norc. I am Adrian. Yeah, I got a pretty big reputation as the deadliest man alive.”
Alex would never believe this person could ever be deadly. “Come on. Let’s leave this idiot to himself.” Hanna said.
Adrian held his side, as if he were shot. “Ooo, Hanna. Why you gotta hurt me so bad?”
She rolled her eyes and lead Alex to Maria. “You met Maria.”
Maria put her hand out to shake Alex’s hand. “Nice to meet you for real, Alex. I hope I didn’t hurt you.”
“Just a little sore.” He replied.
“Let me see if I can fix that.” Maria stood up and turned Alex around. She began rubbing along his should and back. She hit something sending a flurry of pain in Alex’s back. He cried out and she jumped back. “I am so sorry! I am still kind of learning!”
“It is, uh, nothing. It is fine. I will be okay.” He winced as Hanna pulled Alex away, leaving Maria feeling bad.
“She is nice, but don’t let her touch you. And don’t tell Drake she makes mistakes, else you are going to be out like that. The only reason you are here is the idea she never messes up.”
“Okay….”
“Now, one last person for you to meet. Leal!”
The other one who was training took to a wooden dummy. “Is this the new guy?”
“This is Alex. The Newcomer.”
Leal removed his helmet, and he was a handsome kid, probably 20 or 21. “You know Nathan is going to want him out of here.” Leal grinned.
“Oh, what is he going to do? He is freaking 11!” Hanna laughed.
“So Alex, do you have a story to tell? Who were you before Laten?”
Alex pondered the question. He was a nobody, a loser. A criminal, a thief, a troublemaker. “I was lost.” He answered. “And you?”
“Nuh-uh.” Leal responded. “I am a mystery.”
Hanna smiled again. “He was the boy I would take home to let my parents know I was independent.”
Alex registered this and was bewildered. Hanna didn’t seem the dating type. “Relax, mate. We weren’t together, just told her ol’ man we were. Hanna is still free for you.” Leal raised his eyebrows, to which Hanna punched his shoulder.
“….that is great. So, what is the Fallen Blade?”
“It is what they were before.” A familiar voice spoke up. Alex turned to see Nathan standing there, Alex didn’t notice he even came in. “What is he doing here?” Nathan asked Hanna.
“I Confirmed him myself. You saw me take him.”
“I thought you were going to kill him?”
“And I will if I am wrong. He already knows about this place, so there is nothing else left to do. You want him dead, try to do it yourself.”
Nathan glared at Alex. “Fine…” he said quietly and defeated.
“Good. Now just answer the new guy’s questions.”
“At the beginning of Creation, along with man were the Children. They formed many different branches: the Children of the Seas, the Children of the Flame, the Children of the Mountains, the Children of the Trees, and the Children of the Sky. They formed a civilization somewhere around here. Some Children dropped their traditions and brothers to follow nothing. They would put down the weapons used by their family, and follow their own way. They were the Fallen Blades.”
“But you said something about ‘what they were before’.”
“The Children of Light came from the Fallen Blade. The saviours of the Brothers’ War. However, the Children of Shadow were another breakaway from the Fallen Blade as well.”
“And what does this have to do with demons?”
“The Shadow Children killed man, thus starting the Brothers’ War. They were merely a fraction compared to the rest of the Children. But the Shadow’s sold their souls away, damned for eternity. They became demons and they killed everyone. The Light Children defeated the main force. But the souls were immortal now, and the survivors are here today.”
“You have got to be kidding?!” Alex exclaimed. This was obviously some joke. “I mean children in wars.”
“They weren’t actual children, you fool! They are described as being smaller than the average man, they were fierce warriors! They died fighting for this land! The Children of the Sky were thrown from catapults as sacrifice! The Forest were hung from the branches. The Flame were burned to death! And the Sea drowned in the salty waters! They gave up everything for us!”
Nathan ran off towards the tree and climbed its branches. Alex laughed in disbelief, but when he looked back towards Hanna and Leal they stared at him seriously.
“It is true. We have seen it for ourselves.” Leal told him.
“Now, you have to decide. Either believe us and stay here or ignore the threat. If you choose the latter you must leave town.” Hanna explained.
Alex thought slowly. He assumed he would have to live there, not with Ebony, if he stayed. But he had no idea where to escape guilt anywhere else. Alex figured he should just reveal the whole place to the authorities. That kid was already messed up and needed help. He looked around the underground room and told them his answer.
Later that day, Drake wandered around the secret basement. “Where is Alex? Has anyone seen Alex?” Drake ventured over to the fighting mats and saw two masked fighters, their increased skill told him who they were. “Hanna! Leal! Where is Alex?”
Leal removed his mask and looked at Drakion. “He…”
“He left, didn’t he? I will go send Nathan to make sure he leaves town.”
“Wait…” Leal called out.
“I am right here.” Alex said, removing his mask.
But I went back to the other page and found out that you did indeed rewrite it. I like the new prologue, btw, and Vipee already mentioned pretty much what I had in mind saying. I like how that book dropped on Nathan's head, though. lol and the explanation of the Genesis. :yes:
Oh, and, that little bit with Thomas/Nathan was hysterical.
At the very end I thought Alex had left, but then he removes his mask and shows himself. I thought he had really left or something. Keep 'em coming. :yes:
But good job, you made some progress with the story. :yes: