Once they pass, he removes his hand and mask.
“How did you know where I was?” I ask Braxton, as he wipes the sweat from his brow.
“I saw them carry you down here, but I wasn’t able to get to you sooner because these tunnels are crawling with Morrigan. I’ve been hiding in here, checking every couple of minutes to see if anyone was coming, then I saw you.”
“Where are the others?”
“Let’s not talk here. Come on, follow me.”
The walls of the tunnel we’re in are covered in sheetrock, and dusty wood floorboards creak beneath our feet. We walk for several miles before coming upon a set of granite stairs that lead up to a small oblong room, with two caskets sitting on either side of the arched doorway.
“What is this place?” I ask, walking slowly through the room.
“It’s a mausoleum. The previous society used them to bury their dead, from what I understand. According to the names etched on the stone coverings, these appear to be Parson Mathan’s parents.”
The tomb smells of death and decay. Petrified flowers lay scattered atop the windowsill by the woman’s resting place. Two stained glass windows depicting ancient beliefs adorn that side of the wall.
We exit the building into overcast skies. As we walk towards a small wooden house, I turn back and see thousands of tiny flagstones lining the ground. The nuggets are no bigger than my palm, but are precisely placed in perfect alignment behind the crypt.
Braxton knocks on the door three times before opening it.
The door opens to reveal the last person I ever expected to see…Jagger, alive and well. I’m overwhelmed with emotion. At last I can start to believe that things might actually work out somehow. He stands, beaming, and we rush together, wrapping our arms around each other in an embrace that I’d rather never end. It feels good to be there, secure and safe, if only for a moment.
He gives me some food before he goes back to help tend to two of the four guards that have minor wounds. After taking off the uniform, Braxton removes a small kit from a rucksack at his feet and applies ointment to his wounds; his face and arms are blackened and bloody. I sit down on the floor close to his feet.
“What happened?” I ask, after finishing a tin of pears.
“They were waiting for us,” Braxton begins, wincing. “We made if about twenty miles before they attacked. They were waiting in the trees. The skies rained propellant rounds at first, then conflagration slugs. They took out a good portion of my men, then captured the rest of us.”
Jagger comes over and sits next to me. I lean on him as he wraps an arm around my shoulders.
“How’d you all escape?”
“There are tunnels underneath the city,” Braxton begins. “The city seems to have been built one story off the ground. The other night when they were transferring us from the interrogation room under the chapel to the prison, Jagger showed up dressed as one of the Morrigan, and managed to overpower the guards. We followed the tunnels that seem to wind in all directions under the city. They finally led us out here.”
I look up at Jagger, quizzical expression on my face.
“How did I escape the blast? Yeah, good question. When those two came on board the shuttle, they separated. One went to the front, while the other one headed towards the back. I was able to corner the one in the control room, snapping his neck, then stripped off his clothes and put them on. The other one didn’t even notice the difference.”
“The High Ruler isn’t going to be happy about this,” one of the guards states as he puts his boots back on.
“That’s an understatement,” another replies. “When are we leaving, Braxton?”
“As soon as you all have your strength, we’ll go.”
“I’m not leaving without Lehen,” I voice, rising to my feet.
Braxton frowns. “Fine, then you’re on your own. We’re going to hike to the nearest hatchery and call for a transport as soon as we locate a passageway out of here.”
“What will the High Ruler think if you come back without me? I’m not even supposed to have left Acheron.”
“Then what do you suggest, Trea? We don’t even know where he’s being held,” Braxton says with contempt in his voice.
At the mention of her name, I feel Trea fully emerging, as anger and rage begin to build up.
“Let’s obliterate the city,” I say with a grin on my face.
“You can’t be serious, Meg,” Jagger says standing. “How does that help find Lehen? That was the main reason for coming here.”
“If they don’t want him killed, they’ll have to move him, giving us a chance to rescue him amid all the chaos.”
“And how do you propose we do that?” Braxton asks, as he stands.
“Jagger can do it. He can put on the uniform, go into the city and retrieve supplies and weapons that we can use to take down this monolith.” I point to the discarded clothing on the floor.
“No,” Jagger replies walking out the door into the small forest outside.
“Fine,” I say turning my focus on Braxton. “Perhaps one of your men will volunteer to go.”
“I’ll do it myself,” Braxton retorts. “Nuceira has always been an adversary of Acheron, so seeing this place fall will please the High Ruler. I’ll also try to locate Lehen while I’m in there.” He puts the outfit back on and heads out.
Rain begins to pour as I close the door behind him. I’m not able to see Jagger any more even though he was just there a moment ago. I could follow him, but perhaps he’d rather be alone with his thoughts, so I decide to leave him be.
Tobin, Braxton’s second in
