The Lost Relics Box Set Page 23

  “What do we do?” he asked his friends.

  “We have to cross obviously,” Sophia snapped. Killian chuckled. He didn’t take her moods personally—Sophia wasn’t one to handle stress well.

  “I got that, I’m just trying to understand the three staircases, I thought you had to partner with someone on the pool. At least that’s what we did during training.”

  “They’ve switched it on us, they want us to figure it out on our own,” Blake added. “My guess is we need to pick the right staircase.”

  “Well, we’re wasting time,” Dax growled as he strapped his bow to his back. Killian reached his arm back to make sure his spear was tightly bound to him. “I say let’s jump in as a group and figure it out as we go.”

  “The water is freezing,” Killian argued. “We need to be organized. If there is ever a time to dive deep, I can be the diver. Mercedes, you are the quickest thinker you work on figuring out if it matters which staircase we take, you three,” he said pointing to Dax, Sophia, and Blake. “You can fight off any surprises we might find in the water. If we wait too long in there, our body temperature will lower too much and they’ll disqualify us.” The rest of the group nodded their approval to his plan and stepped to the edge of the water. Other members had already jumped in and made their way to the staircase.

  Killian winced as he observed a small girl from the engineering department clinging to the side, too frozen to move. Another engineer was trying to coax her to let go, but the girl wouldn’t budge. Yellow flashing bulbs shone from her belt. He knew her body temperature was getting dangerously low, she would be disqualified in minutes. He turned his attention away from the poor girl unable to help her, took a deep breath, and plunged into the freezing pool.

  The water struck him to his core and knocked the breath from his lungs. He hurriedly glanced around and found his friends huddled and temporarily stalled as their bodies adjusted to the shocking water. Within a few moments, he saw Blake point toward the bottom of the pool where dim, blinking lights were. Killian nodded and pointed to his chest and dove deeper. His head pounded and his lungs screamed for air, but he kept propelling through the water anxious to get out of the pool. When he reached the bottom, he saw the gold blinking lights were attached to silver, old-fashioned keys that were tied to a long bar fastened to the bottom of the pool. His lungs were burning and he knew he had to surface soon. Reaching toward a key he was angrily pushed out of the way. A tall, dark competitor shoved him and wrapped the key he’d been aiming for around his wrist. Killian pushed through an anxious crowd of competitors ignoring the poor behavior from the other member. Finally, he weakly grabbed a key and pushed his foot off the bar holding the keys and darted toward the surface.

  The air was warm as his head broke through the glassy water. Filling his lungs with refreshing air, he scanned the frantic pool that was now filled with competitors anxiously trying to get out. He saw Dax’s bright head along with Sophia at one of the staircases. Quickly he swam over to them, now upon closer inspection he could see the staircases were blocked by tall, metal fences. The metal was not typical Ponderi steel, but opposite; it was distressed with pockets of rust dotting the thick bars.

  “Sophia, Dax,” He shouted just as he saw Mercedes and Blake surface again.

  “Killian,” Dax responded, “the gate, toward the bottom is locked. There are three separate gates.”

  Killian bobbed right next to the group and held up the key. “These keys were at the bottom, do you think it will fit into the right gate?”

  “That would be too easy to figure out which gate was the right one,” Sophia said shaking her head. “I bet the keys will open any gate, but you take a risk of picking the wrong staircase.”

  “I don’t think there is a wrong one,” Mercedes chimed in. “Look some people have already gone through on the other two staircases.”

  She was right, competitors were spreading two gates open and several were running up the stairs before disappearing through the thick, black curtain. Killian watched and waited. The pool area was suddenly filled with shouts and screams from behind the curtain. Some competitors that had begun their trek up the marble staircase stopped and ran back toward the pool, not daring to run into the unknown.

  Mercedes’ mouth hung open in surprise. “It sounds like both of those gates are horrible, if there is a correct gate, we might be at the right one.”

  “Or they are all horrible,” Dax seethed. “Guys we need to get going, look at the water…” Dax trailed off as they whipped their heads around. The water was lowering; something was draining the pool.

  “Quick, Kill give me the key!” Blake shouted. “We need to get out of the pool or we’re done.”

  Killian anxiously tossed Blake the key and he dove beneath the water. Dax swam to the gate and Killian followed so they would be ready whenever Blake surfaced again. Behind the two girls, other competitors huddled close anxious for Blake to surface again and for the gates to set them free from the freezing water and the whirlpool that was forming in the center of the pool. Although the leaders would keep the competitors safe, the daunting drain that was emptying the pool was intimidating. Especially since Killian had no idea what happened to competitors that didn’t complete the Peridus, what if that is what his unknown enemies wanted, for him to get sucked away from the open and be left alone away from the protection of his friends and the leaders.

  As soon as Blake’s head broke through the water it pulled him from his wandering thoughts. Killian and Dax pulled and swam hard against the bars and opened the impressive, yet ancient-looking gate. The group swam, quickly followed by others, until their feet hit the smooth, slick marble steps.

  Turning around they watched as the water level continued to lower. Competitors dotted the clear, blue pool trying to swim through the gate, but quickly the current grew too powerful and angrily pulled them out and away from their escape. It was horrifying to see them pulled under water through the giant whirlpool and out of sight. He shook his head from his place on the marble stairs as the others pounded up the steps. Killian’s eyes widened as the water drained completely, but no competitors were left on the dry floor of the pool. The Peridus was revealing the Ponderi's vicious and horrifying sense of competing.

  There was no time to stew any longer on the Ponderi and their methods. If he and his friends wanted to finish, they had to keep going or they would be in the same predicament.

  “Hurry, up here,” Mercedes shouted. The group darted up the slick stairway until they crossed through a dark curtain, hiding them from the spectators. Beneath the shroud, it was silent. They couldn’t hear anything that was going on beyond the black tent which made it all the more unsettling. There were three other young girls with them, but they made no move to take the lead. Instead, they followed Killian and his friends, still shaking from the water...or perhaps nerves he didn't know.

  “STOP!” Dax’s voice bellowed through the dark room. Killian could barely make out his thick arm grabbing onto Sophia’s shoulder. Sophia wrenched off the protective glasses she always wore, realizing she wouldn't need them in the dark. They both were looking down at the stairs where an entire marble slab was glowing in an eerie green color under Sophia's boot. Almost on cue with the glowing step, a hideous screech surrounded them.

  “Weapons,” Blake hissed. All of them grappled for their weapons. The three younger competitors screamed and tried to run from the awful noise. Mercedes breathed heavily as she stepped closer to him, anxiously waiting for the attack that was sure to come.

  A shriek and the sound of wings filled the air overhead. In a whirl, two black wings passed above them and pounced upon the three fleeing competitors. The girls cried and screamed, begging for help, but all Killian could do was watch in horror as the winged creature carried them off into the darkness.

  "Keep going, it might come back!" Dax commanded. They listened and darted up the steps, yet almost immediately the flapping wings filled the dark stair way again.


  "Not this time!" He heard Sophia shout behind him and release one of her long steel arrows. A bone-chilling cry sounded and a hideous, winged creature fell with a solid thud from above them. Its face was horrifying with hundreds of beady eyes dotting a black, leathery face. It had a small black hole for a mouth and strong insect-like limbs attached to a solid black torso. The wings were ratty, but impressively thick and heavy.

  When the creature hit the marble, it immediately disintegrated into nothing.

  “Aranide!” Mercedes shouted. Lowering her voice, Killian was sure he was the only one who heard the rest. “They aren’t supposed to be real, why would they be in Peridus? Don’t let them take you.” She shouted again at the group.

  “Why…what are they?” Sophia’s voice was frantic.

  “They are like leeches, slowly draining your blood through your chest, directly over your heart.”

  “It isn’t real guys, remember that,” Blake said though his voice wavered. The creatures appeared real in every sense, even the wind from their wings, and the stench of their breath. “The stairs are rigged and signal attacks. I'm guessing it'll get worse as we get closer to the top, but we have to keep going. Sophia’s stair had a small gold circle on it, watch for that mark or anything like it. Keep a sharp eye. Soph, you’re the only one that can see in the dark, you have to help guide us. ”

  They quickly began the trek up the stairs again, fervently watching for any strange symbols on the staircase.

  “Dax, your foot,” Sophia cried moments later.

  Killian could almost see Dax roll his bright, flaming eyes as he cursed, frustrated as he lifted his booted foot and revealed a subtle gold circle. Roars and screeches sang out behind them. It wasn't just one Aranide, it sounded like a flock. Hearing the low rumbling growl with the high pitched Aranide screeches, Killian knew the horrible leeches were joined by other creatures all too familiar to him.

  “Malumians,” he whispered, releasing both points on his spear. “And they aren’t alone. It sounds like those winged freaks are with them.”

  They sprinted up the stairs, ignoring any sign of the cursed golden circles. Ghostly glows filled the dim, never-ending stairwell as they set off trap after trap. The wings and growls were added upon by patters of hoofed feet and deep roars of strange, deadly creatures.

  "Mercedes!" Blake cried. "Help us know how to kill all these things."

  Mercedes was swatting her hair against ugly, deformed rabbit-like creatures that were attempting to gnaw on her ankle and elbow joints. "These...are...Geyser elves. Their...fangs are...like needles...not dangerous just...annoying!" She bellowed giving a group of the elves a hard, swift kick, sending them screaming across the stairwell until they disintegrated into nothing. "Most of these are creatures that aren't supposed to be real. They are mythical," she explained as they continued up the stairs. "I heard Malumians and more Aranide. I think we have a few harpies, maybe some Pans by the hoof sounds−basically poisonous satyrs. Just keep running, they are dangerous and take skill and tricky shots to kill. Try not to engage anything, it will take too much time. Only attack if you have to!" She was breathless from shouting her instructions as they ran.

  Glancing over his shoulder, Killian’s heart sunk as he saw the blood red eyes of a pack of Malumians pounding up after him. Grasping tight to his spear he stopped and faced the vicious creatures, ignoring the horrid wings that flew above them. Though Mercedes advised them not to engage the creatures, there was no way to outrun everything. Maybe he would be able to buy his friends some time, even if he was disqualified.

  Focusing on his targets he threw the spear as hard as he could, watching the sharp point lodge itself deep into the crown of the scabbed-headed leader. The wolf immediately disintegrated and the spear flew back to him. When the sleek rod was safe in his grip he turned and followed the others. Whistles of arrows sailed through the air passed his face, Sophia, Dax, and Blake had followed his lead and attacked the airborne Aranides. The distorted creatures burst into dust with each arrow, but the Malumians still pursued and the wings kept coming. Mercedes threw her blades at the wolves over her shoulders without even looking behind her; the knives hit two wolves square in the head, killing all the pursuing Malumians. He saw odd creatures slink from the darkness. Small, porcelain faces of young women built into small hawk-like bodies shrieked and aimed for their heads. Mercedes threw her daggers piercing both bird-women in the hearts. After they had disappeared, the hoof sounds began making their way back down the staircase away from the group. Hopefully, it meant the Pans were fleeing.

  Low flapping sounds whirred over Killian’s head.

  “Everyone get down!” Blake screamed. On instinct Killian dropped to the stairs, relief flooding through him when Mercedes dropped next to him, but a high pitched scream chilled him.

  “SOPHIA!” Dax’s heart-wrenching cry filled the air. Looking up Killian saw one of the horrible Aranide wrapping its terrifying limbs around Sophia’s torso and carrying her up into the pure blackness of the curtain until they could no longer see her. His heart pounded in his chest. He was the one that was supposed to be taken, now Sophia was gone.

  “No,” Mercedes cried. Heavy sobs heaved through her body. “I don’t want to go any further, this is horrible.” She cried turning into Killian’s shoulder.

  “We’re almost done,” he comforted. “Look, there is light up ahead. Sophia, I’m sure, is fine.” He said the words, but something warned him that the frightening creatures hadn’t been after Sophia. He didn’t know where the Aranide had taken her, but he had to believe she was fine if he was going to continue.

  “Dez, Kill, hurry something’s happening. We have to keep going!” Blake and Dax were sprinting up the last remaining stairs toward the brightness. Killian grasped tightly to Mercedes' hand and pulled her up with him. They ran two stairs at a time until they made it to the top of the horrifying stairwell.

  At the top, they could see a line of large steel doors, but behind them the floor was separating them from the doors. Something told him this was the final task, and all they needed to do was get across.

  “Hurry, we have to go now!” Killian shouted at Mercedes. He held her hand tightly and they sprinted to the splitting floor. The gap was large and presented a real risk of them falling into the crevice. At the same time, they both pushed off the smooth marble and soared through the air.

  The air was knocked out of him when he slammed against the side of the open floor, his legs dangling over the gaping hole. Mercedes screamed. She hadn’t made it all the way and now dangled from his hand over a wide, endless black space.

  “Killian, Killian!” she screamed frantically trying to grip him tighter. “Don’t…don’t let me go.”

  “Hang on, I’ve got you,” He said trying desperately to pull himself up. He could feel Mercedes slipping. “Hang on Mercedes.” His heart pounded as he watched competitors from the other two stairwells leaping and falling short of the wall and disappearing down the deep crevice.

  “Killian, I’m slipping!” Before he could do anything, her smooth hand slipped from his own.

  “No, Mercedes!” He watched as she sped toward the blackness, screaming until she disappeared from his gaze. Killian wanted to let go and fall after her, but two hands reached under his arms and pulled him over the edge.

  “Mercedes fell!” he cried into Blake’s face. “Let me go.”

  “Kill, no,” Blake said firmly. “We need to keep going! She’s going to be okay, come on we’re almost done.”

  Blake dragged Killian with Dax’s help toward the steel doors. He looked around at the small group of remaining competitors. There was Lucan, Sam that he’d met on the rock walls, a boxy looking girl with blonde hair and a permanent scowl on her face, and small Ann who had cried for him during his first knife fight with Lucan.

  As he gasped for breath trying to get his emotions in check, the doors opened wide and a robotic female voice spoke to them.

  “Finalists will enter the sim
ulation through their own door. Please step forward now.”

  Killian stood straight, desperate to end this mad, horrifying tournament and find Mercedes and Sophia. Taking a shaky step, he walked through one of the dim doorways into a dark room. The door behind him slammed shut and he was alone.

  Chapter 16

  The Simulation

  Silence encircled Killian and it was deafening. His hands were clammy and his heart beat furiously in his chest. Stepping across a high threshold thick, warm, syrupy fluid poured from somewhere above him. Killian choked and coughed as the bitter liquid flowed into his mouth and down his throat. He wiped his eyes as it began burning, but with every clean swipe of his hand a new rush of liquid replaced it.

  The syrup was tacky and rank. After a moment, a quiet beep sounded through the room followed by the robotic voice. "Subject assessment complete. Please step forward."

  Fast, furious puffs of air covered Killian's body from all directions. He felt the wisps tousle his hair and clothing. Just as soon as the puffs had begun they ended, and the sticky liquid was gone with them. He held his hand close to his face. It was amazing. Not even a small amount of residue was left on his skin.

  Bringing his gaze to the empty room, he quickly grabbed the rod behind his back. Holding the closed spear brought him a small sense of security since he had no idea what to expect in the simulator. With each step, the room lightened until it glowed with a soft ghostly light. It was eerie and empty apart from the surrounding walls covered in enormous mirrors; from every direction he saw his reflection. As far as he could tell he was completely alone, but in the same moment a loud scream filled the room. Behind him, he saw two figures in the mirrors. His jaw clenched as a familiar voice rang into his ears screaming his name.