Chapter 7 - Chapter 7

𝕮𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗 7: "𝕽𝖚𝖎𝖓𝖘 & 𝕰𝖘𝖈𝖆𝖕𝖊—𝕰𝖙𝖍𝖆𝖓"

"Cut the crap!" My voice echoed.

In a blink, I caught Zawi's cue, nodded, and grabbed Lee by the shoulders. Turning sharply, I kicked the wall with all the fury I had left. The impact triggered a hidden lever—just as Zawi had gestured. The floor cracked open beneath us, and all three of us dropped into the vault below.

Above, the ceiling crumbled as the strike from those beings hit.

The only sound that followed us down was Lee's loud scream, echoing through the dark as we fell. Zawi caught both our arms mid-fall, helping us land as safely as possible on the jagged ground.

She lost her balance and tumbled forward, rolling across the stone. I landed upright, barely rattled.

"You scream too loud, you know that?"Zawi said dryly.

I muttered under my breath, "Was it necessary to push her?"

Zawi just grinned. "Hehe."

Lee winced as she tried to push herself up, only to collapse onto her stomach with a shaky breath.

I walked over and knelt beside her. "Lee, are you alright?"

"Yeah," she answered weakly.

I helped her up by the arm. "Sorry about that," I said.

She looked at me, confused.

"...About the misbehavior," I clarified, blinking awkwardly.

"Yeah, he's a bit clueless when it comes to ladies."Zawi chimed in.

My expression flattened into the usual deadpan I reserved for him.

"I'm fine, don't worry…"Lee said, rubbing her head. "Just a few scratches, probably."

After a pause, she spoke again.

"You said something about… your father?"

I met her gaze, knowing how this would land—and probably be misjudged. I sighed.

I still remembered the words Father used to drill into me:

I am Ethan Hathquill, the Welldweller of the Crimson Reapers. Son of the Royal Librarian—Neuvilla.

He always saw greatness in me, or at least something good. But after his departure, nothing felt like homeanymore.

Lately, I'd become... mournful. Withdrawn—not just from people, but from my own life.

A leader, guiding my reapers... and yet, I couldn't even find my way through my own wreckage.

I sighed at the thought.

"Abel… Abel was the man who fathered me," I said quietly. It felt like releasing something I'd been carrying for years.

Her eyes widened slightly as it clicked.

"So that's why you want to find the culprit so badly," she said. "You're the Royal Librarian's son."

I gave a small nod. She's annoying.I shifted uncomfortably and looked away.

"It's not easy… I…" I sighed again. "It's hard."

"I understand. Especially when it's about one's… father." She smiled faintly. "Reminded me of mine."

I looked at her and frowned, not at her exactly—more at the memory she stirred.

"Guys, look!"Zawi's voice cut through the moment. We turned toward him as he pulled back a tattered cloth, revealing a trunk—ornate, aged, and unmistakably important.

I stepped closer, frowning as usual.

"Your youth has an expiration date, you know."

"What?" I looked at him, expecting something relevant for once.

"Immortality ends with wrinkles, darling." He poked my forehead.

Deadpan again. I swatted his hand away.

"What's going through your mind?"Lee asked.

I blinked at her, saying nothing. She already knew.

"I'm familiar with this case," I said, arms crossed, giving a knowing nod.

"Alright, knew you'd say that. Would you tell us the actual situation?" She brushed off my attempt at being cryptic.

I kneel down and traced my fingers along the ornate design of the trunk, studying it. Then I looked back at her.

"It's twelve years old."

"What?" I heard her murmur in surprise. "Then why not open it?"

"No. It could be dangerous—"

Before I could finish, Zawi cut in, "Look, guys! It's a Goofy journal!" He was already holding it.

"Zawi! I told you—" I started, then instinctively patted my waist pouches, checking for the keys.

I looked up at him, blankly. The trunk was open. He blinked at me, feigning innocence.

"Oh, this?" he said, jingling the keys in his hand. "Swiped it off you earlier—when you were too busy having a meltdown. I couldn't wait, man. The suspense was killing me." He pouted.

I facepalmed, groaning as I dragged my hand down over my face.

"Listen here, ghost. I'm trying to be cautious here. Can you control your urges… for now?"

"Nah."

"Can you at least show me the… book you're holding?"

"Oh yeah. Here."

"Oye—!" I barely managed to catch it mid-air as he tossed. I opened it carefully... and frowned.

"It's empty."

I shot him a glare. "And stop messing with castle keys, at least."

The book, though blank, looked familiar. If I was right... The amethyst embedded in its ornate cover symbolized power manipulation. A relic like this wouldn't be left empty by accident.

What if…

"You thinking what I'm thinking?"Lee asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I was… until you asked."

"Guys!"Zawi whined. "You know I hate when people use mysterious cues! Tell me tooooo."

"Could you keep it down?!"Ethan suddenly snapped from across the room.

"But whyyy?"Zawi pleaded again, pouting.

Then it hit.

A bone-rattling screech—inhuman and shrill. It felt like it tore through the vault itself. Our hearts spiked, pounding like they'd burst through our chests. The ground trembled violently.

Rocks broke free from the ceiling. The very air trembled with the weight of the sound.

That screech—her again… That Pharaoh.

"Run, now!" I barked, throwing the book to Lee. She caught it and shoved it into her satchel. The air filled with choking dust as more stones rained down.

We didn't waste time.

Zawi spotted a tunnel and dove in. We followed, crawling through the narrow path that led into another enormous, collapsing hallway.

No one dared choose another tight tunnel—next time, we would be crushed. The structure was seconds from giving out. We ran.

Up ahead, a drop—no way around it. We had to jump. Between us and the other side was just darkness and death. Zawi, of course, just teleported. I ran straight across and leapt, landing cleanly.

I glanced back at Lee, she stopped at the edge and looked down.

I reached out with my ability and read her thoughts from afar—it took effort, and the strain drew a frown to my face.

.

A dark, raven-black abyss waited below—bottomless, uncaring. My body locked up. My breath shortened. Rocks slipped from the edge, tumbling into the void, one grazing my foot.

No... no no no—

My legs trembled. My whole body shook. It's too deep.

This was it—my acrophobia's perfect moment to betray me.

My lungs constricted. I couldn't move.

No... I can't do it. I… Can't.

.

"Lee!" I called out.

Her breath hitched at my voice echoing from across the gap.

"You have to make that jump! If you don't, you won't survive!"

She turned back to the endless black void.

"I—" she stuttered.

"Don't look down again! It leads nowhere," I warned her, voice tight. "Take a deep breath and decide. Are you giving up here... or breaking past this fear?"

She inhaled sharply, grounding herself—

CRACK.

A loose pillar above gave way. The stone slammed against her shoulder and clipped the side of her head.

"Do it!" I shouted.

.

There was no time. I leapt—

But my foot slipped mid-air.

I missed.

No.

.

The fall rushed up at her—until my rough, calloused hand seized her wrist, yanking her toward the ledge.

I dangled for a split second, stunned, as the platform above us collapsed completely into the abyss. Dust and debris roared in a thick cloud, choking the space.

"Lee!" Zawi dropped beside me, panic on his face.

I reached out with my free hand and then pulled—hard—until I tumbled backward onto the gruff ground, she crashed into my chest. My heart was pounding like it wanted out of my ribs.

I held her by the shoulder, steadying her.

"You alright?"

She gave a shaky nod, still breathless.

"Calm down. You're safe now," I said, rubbing her back gently.

Then she stood—fast—nearly jerking me off him.

"Move! Before the whole place comes down!"

I scrambled to my feet at her words and took off down the tunnel, casting one final glance back. Through the swirling dust, I saw it—the silhouette.

Still standing. Still watching us.

Then it turned away, and a cascade of falling rock blotted it from view.

I ran ahead, pushing through the crumbling path. But then I stopped—realizing Lee and Zawi weren't behind me. I turned back. They were frozen, staring down a right-hand path I hadn't even glanced at.

I shook my head sharply.

"Do you two seriously have any sanity left?"

I exhaled as they both stared at me with those squinty-eyed, smirking looks.

"Don't even think—" I started, but before I could finish, they tossed me into a nearby shaft cart and pushed it down the railway.

My heart jumped as we hit a sudden steep drop. I was about to fly out when I saw they were coming after me on their carts too—carrying a barrel full of dynamite and explosives. One of them lit a fuse and tossed it onto the tracks ahead to clear the way.

"Are they seriously trying to kill us?" I shouted. What the hell is wrong with their minds?

"Are you both crazy?" I yelled. Why was I even asking? "How do you know this isn't the way to our death?"

Lee hovered a map in the air, pointing the way forward. My mind was about to explode from their reckless antics.

"Oh, for the love of God, Zawi!" I growled, voice raw. "Stop stealing my stuff, will ya?"

All I got back was a blank "Nah."I knew he wouldn't stop. The wind whipped my hair across my forehead so fast I couldn't see ahead, so I silently prayed they'd somehow guide us out safely.

As if my prayers were instantly answered—

"Scream all you want,"Lee shouted with mischief as we neared the edge of a cliff. They're idiots.

"Jump!" My hoarse voice rang out. I used my abilities—there was a waterfall below and the chances of surviving the fall were slim to none. We all leapt together.

My eyes widened in horror at the darkness below—no water? How could I have been so wrong?

"Damnit!" I shouted. But before I could react, Zawi—fast as lightning—swerved his cart back onto the track, grabbed me by the collar, and pulled me in. We all crashed onto the other side of the rails with a loud thud.

I heard an"Oomph!"and realized I'd nearly crushed Lee's leg.

"Oh my!" I jerked away from her. "I'm truly sorry, I didn't notice you." 

She rubbed the spot where I'd bumped her and gave me a thumb-up as I steadied myself, one arm hanging over the cart's edge.

My attention shifted to Zawi, who was slowing the cart until it finally came to a stop.

"Why'd you stop, are you planning to die?!"Lee squeaked urgently from behind us, unaware that the danger wasn't over yet.

Explosions echoed from the fall—dynamites going off deep in the cavern below. The next path ahead was a minefield of explosives.

"Mother—Zawi, push!" My heart sank. I gestured desperately to the ghost to push the cart, and he summoned every ounce of strength.

We plunged into darkness until a faint light appeared ahead. My gaze fixed on the glowing flames at the front—whatever it was, it looked like the exit from this hell.

Suddenly, an intense heat blasted from the cave's ceiling. The darkness flickered as chunks of dirt rained down, and flames engulfed the area.

Then, a figure leapt inside.

"Kitt!" He'd come to rescue us. His eyes widened as he took in the scene—maybe still alive?

"You honestly thought I'd just let you all die here?" he shouted from a distance, throwing flames to break open the front of the cave.

With the cart speeding forward like a flash, Zawi dragged Kitt along. Both were half airborne as the railway abruptly ended, broken and spilling off the edge.

Behind us, the heat of the explosions threatened to burn our backs.

"Hold hands!" I yelled, because no one else seemed to have a plan other than to panic.

We leapt together from the cart, out of the cavern just as it collapsed and blasted behind us, the force kicking us free. Our screams echoed into the open air...