part0013

L ater that evening, I felt sick as the weather started changing for the worse. I could barely make out Autumn in front of me as a fog of snow blocked my view. I looked down at the rope, the only thing guiding me through this mess.

The stiffened twine became loose as I walked right into the back of Autumn.

The sun was quickly setting as the temperature dropped by the minute. Every breath I took felt like I wasn’t getting enough air. Struggling to breathe, the harsh winds took a toll on my face.

Autumn yelled something but I couldn’t hear her over the storm rolling in around us. We were in over our heads; this storm would be the end of us.

“I said, help me with the tent!” she screamed, grabbing a hold of me, snapping me out of my trance.

We quickly set up the tent and climbed inside to weigh it down from the harsh winds blowing on us.

“I don’t feel too good,” I stuttered as she removed my wet clothes.

“In your pack, there is a heat blanket,” she said, pulling my gloves off.

I tried to feel my face but couldn’t feel anything. The cold air and wind had frozen my face, numb to the touch.

“Keep talking to me, Mark,” she demanded.

“Veronica, is that you,” I mumbled, losing track of reality.

“I think you’re getting hypothermia. I need you to stay with me, Mark! ”

I felt a rush of warmth come over me as she pressed her skin against mine. The heat blanket covered us from the cold air outside.

“Is that better?” she whispered, covering the blanket over our heads.

“I think so, I can feel myself getting warmer,” I said as she squeezed me tighter.

“Don’t get any ideas, I am only doing this to save your life,” she laughed, rubbing my arms to create more heat.

“H-h-how far did we make it today?” I stuttered, feeling my body defrost against her warm skin.

“We’re at 8,000 feet, Mark. I’m sorry but I couldn’t push you anymore.”

“What?” I questioned, trying to sit up.

“Stay down, you would have died if we would’ve kept going. Tomorrow, we will push harder; we’re going to make it.”

Realizing we had only made it halfway after the second day angered me. At this rate, we would never make it back in time.

“Focus on right now. You need to get your body temperature up if you’re going to climb anymore tomorrow.”

“How should I do that?” I stuttered.

I flinched at first when her lips pressed into mine, and I realized she was kissing me. I pulled back from her, and felt lightheaded as I started drifting away.

My eyes shot open as I sat up in bed and pulled the covers off. I was in a room, decorations hanging on the walls. I ran my finger across the dresser as a thick layer of dust came up.

I walked through the halls, where pictures hung everywhere. People were posing in them, a family, but all their faces were covered. The smudges on their skin wouldn’t rub off as I tried to see who they were.

I went down the staircase, the floorboards creaking with every step. A familiar feeling like someone was watching came over me as I stepped off the last one. More decorations filled the house.

I walked toward a noise I heard; coming from the next room, it sounded like water running.

Turning the corner, a woman stood, back facing me. She was doing the dishes as I just stood there watching.

“Hello?” I said, taking another step forward.

She didn’t answer me as I realized these decorations were familiar. I walked into the next room and two kids were sitting by the television, just staring at a black screen. I could tell this was based on the old TV and decorations. I couldn’t see their faces either as I walked toward the front door.

Time seemed slowed down in that instance. I reached out for the knob, hand trembling. The knob turned and I pulled open the door as two hooded men walked past me. It was like they couldn’t tell I was standing there.

“Daniel, we have great matters to discuss,” the one said as he removed his hood.

It was Grimm, looking to be ten years younger. The other man kept his hood on as he remained in the shadows of the room.

This was my house and my dad the one they were talking to. I stepped back into the corner in disbelief. The kids must have been Charles and I when we were younger. Our parents had held meetings with the cult right in front of us.

“Daisy, can you come in here a minute,” my dad urged as she walked toward them.

“What is it, Grimm?” she questioned as he sat down in fear .

“The Order; they have recovered a key,” Grimm stuttered, fearing for his life.

“They what? We were assured it was gone many years ago.”

“I’m sorry, Daisy, they kept it hidden for 500 years and we are just now learning of its existence.”

“How are you just now finding out about this?” she questioned the man in the corner. “We placed you in the Order for things like this.”

The man in the shadows said nothing as she yelled at him. Whoever he was, he must have been a traitor for the Syreni. If this was the past, he could still be in Dracfort, and he could be the one who had let Grimm in.

“Aurora is not going to like this,” my dad uttered.

My mother walked around the table, looking out the window at the pure darkness of the night.

“Maybe we could use this to our advantage. Aurora won’t be at full strength for another ten years or so. If we could get that key, it will increase her powers, making her even stronger.”

“We will do whatever it takes to get that key, even if it takes the full ten years,” Grimm uttered.

“Blessed are the followers, for they shall be eaten last,” she smirked as they all nodded.

Back on the mountain, the cold air didn’t feel as cold as I had remembered. My body felt back to normal as I quickly got dressed and unzipped the tent.

“Don’t be mad, it was Josiah’s idea,” Logan said as he quickly jumped up from around the fire.

“I told you to stay at the sanctuary!” I screamed as he cowered behind Autumn .

“Josiah found out that Autumn had gone with you and he sent us up here to get her,” Laila said as she walked up behind me.

“He sent you both up here just to bring her back down?”

“I told you, Mark, he’s very over protective. Like I told these two already, I’m not going back till we have the demon moss.”

“I’m fine with that,” Logan mumbled. “I’ll just tell him you forced our hand.”

I walked over and sat around the fire with them as we all stared at the lively flames.

“We have to make it back in time,” I whispered.

“We will. Mrs. Deluca told me the lowest level she had seen the moss grow was at 12,000 feet,” Laila said. “Maybe we’ll get lucky.”

“We should get moving,” I uttered, standing up to grab my backpack.

“I’m sorry about what happened to Callie. I know you two were starting to get closer,” Laila uttered, grabbing my hand.

“Thank you, and I hope your brother is going to be fine.”

“Devin, yeahh; he’s just milking it at this point,” she laughed. “He has a crush on Mrs. Deluca.”

I made my way up to Autumn as Laila walked behind us with Logan.

“Is everything alright?” I asked her.

“Yes, why wouldn’t it be?”

“You just seem really distant today.”

“Did we kiss last night?” I asked as I remembered what happened .

“Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone. You have to get back to your damsel in distress, so we should just focus on the task at hand.”

She walked past me and didn’t want to talk anymore. She seemed mad at me because I had feelings for Callie? We did kiss last night, I remembered it.

“Who do you guys think is the traitor?” Logan questioned, walking up next to us. “Someone had to have let that Cambion in here.”

“Mrs. Deluca did my tattoo on the ship, so could it be her?”

“She doesn’t seem the type to help a bunch of bloodthirsty demons,” Logan laughed.

Laila gasped as she grabbed Logan’s arm. “What if it was Dexter?”

“Dexter?” I questioned.

“Yeah, you just got here so you probably don’t know this, but he’s a Cambion,” Logan said.

“I’ve spoken with him and he told me he was human.”

“He doesn’t like people talking about it because everyone thinks Cambions are all bad, no offense,” Laila added.

“I don’t know, guys, he is the one who recovered the scale from Aurora’s skin.”

“Exactly. No one else has ever been able to get a scale from her but suddenly he did,” Logan said.

“My dad would know if he was working with the Syreni, Logan, he’s actually a good man,” Autumn cut in.

“Well I don’t trust him and until you give me a better option of who did it, I’m sticking with him as the traitor,” Logan laughed as Laila nodded at him.

“You two aren’t like a thing , are you?” I asked, noticing them acting close .

“No, of course not,” they both said awkwardly, pushing away from each other.

“Keep your eyes sharp, guys,” Autumn demanded, leading the way.

“Yes ma’am,” Logan said sarcastically as we continued to ascend the mountain.

We didn’t speak much for the rest of the day as we pushed harder than we ever had. Another storm moved in as the snow fell like pouring rain. We must have been close now; I could feel it. The sun was setting behind the mountain as the dark crept in.

“Autumn, can I ask you a question?” Logan asked.

“Well I’m going to anyway,” he said, laughing nervously. “Why are you always so distant from the rest of us? Like you don’t want anything to do with the people in Dracfort.”

She stopped abruptly and looked back at Logan as he flinched. I could see her getting even more mad than she already was. The look in her eyes showed hatred and disgust.

“You know what, Logan,” she started as a crow flew overhead, making noises all around us.

She quickly turned and looked in every direction as Logan and Laila looked confused.

“It’s her spirit animal,” I explained.

“A crow?” Logan questioned.

“Were not alone up here,” Autumn said, reaching for her sword.

“We didn’t bring weapons,” Laila said, leaning into Logan’s arms .

“Get in between us,” Autumn demanded as we stood back to back, swords drawn.

The dark shadows were moving closer as the light was almost gone behind the peak of the mountain. The wind picking up, it was blowing the snow harder and harder. I heard a whistling noise from somewhere out in the abyss.

“Do you see anything?” I yelled over to them, squinting through the never-ending snow.

“Up there!” Laila yelled, pointing to what looked like a pink glowing object up ahead.

We quickly moved toward it, ready for a fight. Wielding my grandfather’s sword gave me immense confidence and pride. The light was reflecting off the icy walls of a cave.

Autumn stopped us as we approached the entrance to the cave.

“I’ll go in first,” she whispered, stepping in front of us.

Following her one by one into the eerie cave, the snow seemed to pick up behind us. Walking through the tight tunnels, I was in awe at the amazing ice formations. They looked like crystals or mirrors as the light skimmed off them and down through the tunnel. We followed it deeper and finally got to an opening where glowing moss was growing in the center of the room.

“That’s it!” Logan yelled, running over to it.

“Wait!” Autumn yelled as Logan walked out over a sheet of ice.

It crackled beneath his feet as he stood still with fright.

“Don’t move a muscle,” I whispered to him as our voices echoed through the cave.

He stood there, looking back at us in fear. The ice floor beneath him looked like it could give way at any moment.

“What do I do?” he whispered, trying to stand motionless .

“If this floor breaks, that demon moss is going down with it,” Autumn whispered as we noticed it was growing on a rock in the very middle of the ice.

“I can make a run for the moss and then throw it back to you guys,” Logan said as the ice creaked beneath his feet.

“No, you’ll fall through the floor; we don’t know where it goes,” Laila insisted.

“There’s all kinds of networks and drop-offs that go deep into the earth from here,” Autumn said.

“You’re not going to commit suicide; we’re going to find a way to get you and the moss,” Laila urged, tears forming in her eyes.

I looked around the room, and it quickly became apparent that it would have to be either Logan or the moss. There was no way he would be able to get the moss and run back before the floor started breaking apart.

“Mark, what about your powers? Do you think you could lift the rock off of the ice?” Autumn suggested.

“That’s a great idea,” I said, focusing my energy.

I let that rage build up in me as I stared straight at the rock. Thinking of only the rock, it wiggled as more cracks formed.

“Wait!” Autumn yelled as I held the rock in place with my mind. “Look! The moss is connected to the ice around the rock. If you pull the rock up, it’s going to break the ice.”

“What if I run for you guys at the same moment Mark pulls up on the rock?”

Laila reached into Autumn’s backpack and pulled out the stashed rope.

“Let’s do it,” Autumn said as they gently tossed the rope out to Logan.

He slowly tied it through his belt in case he fell.

“On the count of three,” I focused back on the rock. “1, 2, 3!”

The rock lifted straight out of the ice as the glassy sheet floor broke instantly. I pulled the rock over to us as Logan ran for the edge. The ice broke up beneath his feet as he dropped out of sight.

He let out a girly screech as the rope stiffened. “Pull me up!”

“You scared us!” I yelled down to him as we pulled the rope up.

“Hang on!” Laila said, wiping the tears from her cheeks. “Life is too short. Maybe I do have a thing for you.”

“So, do I for you. I love you so much,” Logan yelled to her as we raised him higher.

“Awkward,” Autumn laughed, looking at me.

“Stop right there!” a voice echoed around us.

We nearly dropped the rope as a man in a green hooded cloak came around the corner.

“Hold the rope, Logan!” I yelled down to him as the man approached.

“Who are you?” Autumn questioned.

“I’ve been called many things over my lifetime but you can call me Viktor.”

“We’re going to pull our friend up and then we can talk,” I uttered, pulling the rope tighter.

“It gets very lonely up here, children, I think we should have a little fun,” he said, pulling Laila from us.

“Wait!” I yelled, dropping the rope slightly as it became heavier.

“I’m not sure how much longer I can hold it, Mark!” Autumn yelled.

“What is going on up there? ”

The hooded man took Laila by the arm and held her toward the hole.

“I will give you to the count of five to pick one,” he laughed.

“No, what do you mean, pick one ?” I said, using everything in me to hold the rope.

I quickly tried to use my powers to push him away from Laila but something was stopping me.

“Nice try,” he giggled. “You think you’re the first half-breed I’ve come across with powers?”

“What do you want from us?” Autumn yelled as I noticed blood dripping from her fingers.

“What do I want?” he repeated. “I merely want to play a game, child. Now pick one, either he dies, she dies, or they both die.”

“I’m not picking, we can work something out,” I begged.

“1,” he said as I noticed his bony hand with long fingernails.

“Let me go guys, save her!” Logan yelled up at us.

“No, you can’t do that Logan,” Laila cried hysterically.

I felt my leg burning as a howling echoed through the cave. My wolf came around the corner, growling at the hooded man.

“Impressive,” the man said as he removed his hood with his free hand.

I nearly dropped the rope; the sight of the man was incredibly shocking. His bright red eyes were almost blinding to look at. Skin like cracking stone covered his face. Jagged spikes adorned his head where his hair should have been.

My wolf turned and took off running back through the cave, whining, its tail between its legs .

“Animals never did like me,” he laughed. “3.”

I felt the pressure building up higher, and my hands blistered from the weight. There was no way I could decide between the two, but if I didn’t, they’d both die.

Laila was crying hysterically as Logan begged us to choose him.

“Wait!” I yelled as he opened his mouth.

I remembered what Josiah had told me as I took off into the woods. He warned me about a hooded creature up here on the mountain.

“Let’s make a deal.”

He paused and got a big smile on his disgusting face. “What do you propose?”

“Let my friends go and I’ll stay behind and do one favor for you. Whatever you want, I’ll do it for you.”

“Mark, don’t do this, he’ll never let you leave!” Logan screamed from the hole.

“Deal,” Viktor said as he tossed Laila to our feet.

We quickly pulled Logan up and fell to the ground with exhaustion.

“Take that moss back to Deluca; tell Josiah I’m sorry.”

“Mark, let me stay with you,” Autumn pleaded.

“You need to push these two to make sure you get back before Callie dies.”

“Let’s go, child,” Viktor said as I stood up to follow him deeper into the cave .

Looking back at them, terrified looks on their faces, they reluctantly walked toward the exit. I nodded at Autumn as she stared back at me.

Following Viktor through the cave system, it became more apparent that he had been here a very long time. All over the cave walls were markings and pictures drawn into the ice and rock. The number 6060 was written over and over again all over the walls. I felt the markings and a feeling of weakness came over me as I closed my eyes.

I was instantly transported back to the field at the bottom of the mountain. I felt the cool breeze on my face, the high weeds blowing against my legs. Something wasn’t right; it didn’t feel as I had remembered.

I stared up at the immense mountain and a forceful wind knocked me to the ground. Rock shot out of the top of the mountain, rolling down the sides. The white of the mountain quickly turned black as something emerged from the cave. The closer they got, the more I saw it was more than one.

Hundreds, thousands, of creatures walked down the mountain toward me. The field froze all around me as they got closer. The once-blowing weeds froze still. The cold air passed through me as my blood, too, turned to freezing.

I could now make out what they were, human-like creatures, just walking toward me. Their red eyes lit up the field in front of me.

I turned to run but stopped at the sight. The once lively forest was now a frozen wasteland. I tried to run, but my legs were stuck to the ground, frozen. A panic came over me as I tried to move while the ice crept slowly and steadily up my immobile body.

Frozen there in place, ice was slowly consuming all of me. The creatures got closer and closer as they began spreading out, creating an aisle in the middle of them. Riding through the field toward me was an elk. It stopped a few feet from me, one of the creatures riding it .

The frozen skin was hanging from his face, the bright red eyes staring straight into me. I could see the bone beneath his peeling skin. The great elk in front of me had eyes just as red as his. Its skin and hair hung from its body, while the antlers were ragged and scabbed, covered with blood and drooping skin.

The creature riding the elk stepped off and pulled out a sword. It looked to be made of pure ice, with a single flame trapped in the center of it as he raised it above his head. I closed my eyes as the horde gathered around me.