Authors: Philip Mcclennan
“Yeah, but…”
James cut her off. “I’m squad leader. We’re going this way!”
The stern and serious nature of James’ tone led the twin to believe that it would do no good to reason with him. She wasn’t happy about this, but she didn’t challenge him. He was after all, the leader of the mission.
With the aid of the descendant, James navigated the labyrinth with relative ease. The group reached a large opening. Inside of it, lay a small pathway, no more than six-feet wide. Either side of it was a long drop, a drop into darkness. Cody looked over the edge of the pathway nervously. “I wonder how far down it goes?” he said.
“Still scared of heights?” said Jade, slightly teasing him.
It was true that Cody had once been afraid of heights. In fact, he had frozen still at the top of a zip line once back in the time when he and the others had lived on the complex training. That was a long time ago, however, and now he was a fully-fledged agent. He had well and truly conquered his fears.
“Very funny,” said the young Texan, following carefully after James who had already set off across the narrow path.
“Be careful. Watch your step,” James warned. After successfully navigating the pathway, the group reached the enchanted waterfall. This wasn’t your standard waterfall, however. As it poured down from high above, into the darkness of the long drop below, the group noticed that the water was changing colour by the second. Within the water, were the colours Red, Yellow, Purple and Blue. It reminded James of a rainbow.
“Come on, it’s ok,” said James who advanced slowly towards it.
“How do you know?” asked Rachel.
James paid the twin no attention and disappeared through the waterfall. “You have to see this!” he shouted from behind the water. Cody looked at the others and shrugged his shoulders. He then followed on after the agent. Jade and Rachel quickly followed suit after him.
The fountain began to give off a green glow and a sudden flash of white light covered the immediate area. “What’s going on?” asked Jade.
“It’s showing us something,” replied James.
The group could now see a large room, lit by several fire lanterns. Ancient drawings filled the walls of the room, far larger than the agent’s had seen in any other area of the pyramid. The group could not enter the room though; they could only merely look into it. The images had appeared within the fountain that they stood before. All watched on with interest as someone began to enter inside.
“It’s Chad! Hey, Chad!” shouted Rachel.
Chad and Sophie entered the room through a doorway, but they could not hear the calls of their friend. The two twins continued to shut the male agent but with no success.
“He can’t hear you, girls,” said James. “I don’t think we’re close to that room. This is just an image.” The group continued the watch as Chad and Sophie began to investigate the room.
“Nice axe man. I wonder where he got that from?” said Cody, in reference to the golden axe which Chad wielded. James, like Chad, had done previously, sensed great power from within the blade.
Inside the room, Chad and Sophie examined the walls. Strange symbols were placed below the drawings on the walls. They resembled some sort of language. “What is all this?” said Sophie. Chad looked closely at the drawings, and then the writing underneath it. Chad understood the strange writing, even though he had never seen it before. The imagery on the walls showed two large circles with patterns in the middle, and the drawing of stars were scattered around them. One of the circles was full of shiny patterns, whilst the other was coloured in shade.
“I’m guessing these are planets maybe?” said Chad. The truth was, he knew this because the strange writing underneath the images eluded to two worlds. ‘
One world shines out across the stars, whilst the other is cast in eternal darkness
’ read one passage.
In front of the two planets were two images of what Chad could make out to be dragons.
‘Ethecatl, the Wind Serpent. Guardian of the realm of light. Protector of Alexandria.
These were the words encased underneath the dragon that stood next to the shiny planet. The dragon looked like it was standing on guard in the imagery. The second dragon which flew near the shaded world had the words, ‘
Samael, the Angel Of Death
’ encased beneath it. The dragon looked to be attacking the other one.
Another huge passage was located beneath both worlds. It told of an epic battle between Ethecatl and Samael long ago and the fate of both worlds would be determined by the outcome. The writings also told of a Great War that plunged both worlds into despair. Sophie looked on as Chad gazed into the imagery with wonder. She kept looking at it herself, not understanding why Chad was so fascinated by it. She kicked the sand underneath her feet, a clear sign that she was beginning to get bored.
James looked on with interest from within the fountain. He could see what Chad was seeing.
“Chad, what are you doing?” asked Sophie, who had watched him stare at the wall for long enough. Chad didn’t pay her any attention, instead continuing to read. “Chad!” Shouted the Irish girl.
Chad became almost enchanted by the writings. “Don’t you get it? This is a fountain of knowledge, ancient knowledge…”
Within the fountain, James began to feel a presence. He felt something approaching, although from where he could not say. He began to look around.
“What is it?” asked Cody.
“Something’s wrong,” James replied.
A huge flash of white light appeared from within the fountain. A figure dressed in white slowly walked in front of the four agents. The long white hair was instantly recognisable. It was Lucius! He turned his head in the direction of James and smiled. “So…you opened the door. Well done.”
Lucius vanished through the images of the fountain and materialised inside the room in which Chad and Sophie were stood. The four agents looked on helplessly as Chad and Sophie were confronted by the white haired man. Chad was still fully engrossed with the paintings and failed to pick up on the new occupant inside the room. Sophie, however was paying full attention of her surroundings and spotted the white haired man out of the corner of her eye. She took out her gun and pointed it at Lucius. Her enemy lifted his hand and the gun flew out of the agents grasp and across the room. The Irish girl took out one of her knives and stood in a fighting stance, preparing for battle.
Chad had now sighted the foe also, however, he wasn’t as startled as his colleague.
“So you’ve found it. It’s beautiful isn’t it?” said Lucius.
Chad thought for a moment, trying to think what the white haired man was referring to. “Oh you mean the drawings!” he said. Chad took another quick glance at them and nodded. “Not bad, I thought the part about the dragons fighting was a little far fetched.”
“The guardians are legendary beasts. Far beyond your comprehension sadly,” said Lucius. The hit of mockery was edged in his voice. He looked down upon Chad, almost in pity.
“Wow, careful or you might hurt my feelings,” replied Chad sarcastically.
“What are you doing here?” asked Sophie.
Lucius paid the Irish girl no attention, not taking his focus off Chad even for a second. “So here you are, truly the tragic figure. Far worse than I ever could have imagined. As the second act of our story begins you will finally find your place. A place in a world you have never belonged. Isn’t that right…Chad?”
Chad didn’t fully understand the extent of the white haired man’s words, however, he got the impression that Lucius knew a little more about him than perhaps he was eluding too.
“So, are you going to tell me what’s going on or do I have to beat it out of you?” said Chad.
Lucius laughed off the agents challenge. “Brother, but you’re not ready yet. You are not ready to know the truth.” Lucius began to laugh. “Oh, how ironic fate can be. I would never have thought all those years ago that my triumph would prove me to be the superior one!”
The agents shared a quick glance. They both thought that the white haired man had a screw loose. “What the hell are you talking on about?” said Chad.
“What, did you forget me?” Lucius said with a grin edged on this face.
Chad looked the man up and down. “I’m pretty sure I’d remember a freak like you!”
“I’m Lucius, of Underworld! You have no idea what you’re dealing with!”
Chad pointed the golden axe in the man’s direction. “Really? And what type of stupid name is Lucius anyway?”
Sophie wasn’t entirely comfortable with Chad goading the white haired man. She had witnessed first hand just what Lucius was capable of after the brutal beat down he handed to James. Still, the Irish girl had faith that Chad knew what he was doing, or she hoped as much.
Lucius began to walk slowly around the pair. A smile formed on his face once more. “Your world will burn. Your will succumb to the will of Kanto. Every soul in this pathetic realm will be ours. You cannot even fathom what is about to transpire.” Lucius kept constant eye contact with Chad during his taunt. “You do not even grasp the true power of the weapon you hold in your very hands.”
Chad looked down at the axe and gripped the handle firmly. “I’ll show you just how powerful it is!” he said, pointing the blade in the white-haired man’s direction.
Lucius gave a cunning smile like he knew something that Chad didn’t. He then began to laugh in a mocking tone.
An image flashed before Chad’s eyes. He dropped the Axe and began to hold his head in pain as images appeared in and out of his mind. Images of death and darkness flashed within his very soul.
Watching on from the fountain, a voice deep within James’ subconscious urged him to help his friend. Suddenly, James was filled with the knowledge of how to get to the room where Chad and Sophie were located. “Come on, let’s go!”
“Go where? We don’t know how to get there!” said Cody.
“I think I know the way, come on!”
“How?” asked a confused Jade.
Realising the need for haste, and also because he had no suitable explanation as to how he suddenly knew where to go, James ignored the twin and proceeded out of the fountain.
Back inside the room, Chad was now on his knees whilst Lucius stood over him laughing. Sophie didn’t know what to make of the situation. She was stuck in two minds. One part of her wanted to attack the white-haired man, however, she knew it was practically impossible for her to take on Lucius alone. The other part of her wanted to help her fallen colleague. “Chad! Get up!”
He could not hear the Irish girl’s words though for another voice filled his head. “
Wake up
!” a cold and somewhat emotionless voice said to him. Chad had heard this voice before. He had heard it in his dreams, and also, he heard it the day he had almost killed Sergeant Cooper. Now he heard the voice once more, however, this time the voice was much clearer.
“Something the matter?” asked Lucius who was finding the whole thing quite amusing. “Listen to the voice boy, let it consume you.”
“Shut…up!” shouted Chad, who forced the words from his mouth.
Another strong flash of images made Chad scream out in pain. He could no longer see the room he was in. Instead, he now stood on top of a mountain. It was night and the sky was dark and shaded purple. Chad had never seen a sky quite like this before. A man stood before him. The man was a couple of inches taller than Chad, and very well built. His hair was dark but his eyes were darker. The man wore strange clothing, much like that he had seen on Lucius.
In fact, Lucius was stood behind the man, who was Kanto, King of the Underworld. Alongside Lucius stood Harriet, the Sorceress of Underworld. The woman had long brown hair and wore a purple dress. Her eyes showed true power and also a fierce hatred. Four younger women stood behind her, although Chad could not make them out properly as they lurked in the shadows. Kanto began to speak to him from within his mind. “
We are the bloodline of Underworld. You will succumb to my will. You will be my pawn, my puppet. You will do my bidding.
” Kanto, along with the rest of his company, turned and looked over the mountains edge on which they were standing. Over ten thousand men and other creatures could be seen in the distance. They held fire torches and wielded weapons. Further in the distance stood the dark fortress of the Underworld, the castle from which Kanto controlled the entire dark realm.
“
The humans will be broken. What makes them weak, will only make us stronger.
” A huge battle broke out beneath the mountain. Humans began to be slaughtered by the armies of Underworld. Then, the image faded.
Lucius was gone. Sophie stood watching Chad, who during his outer body experience, had just gazed into a particular circular image on the wall.
“Chad? Are you ok?’ asked Sophie who was a little reluctant to get too close. She had not only witnessed him freak out, but also had seen Lucius vanish from the room in an instant. She was very confused about the entire situation. “Chad?”
“Ha ha ha!” Chad started laughing. The agent began to talk in phases, making very little sense. “Ha ha ha, total destruction. Induce panic. Break the will of the people, ha ha ha!”
“Ok, Chad you’re starting to freak my out!” Sophie said.
Chad seemed almost like a different person and Sophie had two blades ready just in case he turned on her like he had turned on Sergeant Cooper back at the headquarters. Chad held up his hands at the drawing of the two worlds looking completely mesmerized by them. A large circle of light appeared, and Chad began to push his right hand into the light. It appeared as if Chad was pressing something.
James and the other agents now entered the room. The light faded away quickly upon James’ arrival. The presence inside of James had shown him a visual map inside of his head, guiding him to this destination. “Hey, guys! We’ve been looking everywhere for you!” said Sophie, who was both excited and relieved to see them again.
“So, what happened to you two?” asked James as the group walked over to them.
Cody noticed Chad looking at the designs on the wall with deep concentration. “Hey, what you looking at?” asked the young Texan.