• The Stranger •

I heard footsteps echoing through the tunnel just before we left. I threw my arm out and stopped Sithra. She looked at me with giant eyes. Something was wrong.

     I held a finger to my lips and pointed to one of the buildings beside us. We ducked inside through vines and cobwebs. A dim light flickered in the tunnel. It grew brighter... Whoever was there was getting closer.

     "What do we do?" Sithra whispered.

     "I don't know..." I replied quietly. "Who else could be down here?"

     "Sorcerer?" A man called out with a hint of smugness. "Come out. You can't run forever."

     "Is that..." Sithra looked up. "The professor?"

     "I know you have a friend with you." Zeymah announced. "Come out and we won't kill her despite knowing far too much."

     "Did they do something to Marie?!" She gasped, realizing she was in no state to run away.

     "I don't think so..." I shook my head. "If they did, we would have heard screaming."

     "But what if she didn't get a chance to scream?" She blinked, terrified. "I can't lose her again, Onix..."

     "I know." I peeked through a crack to see the Professor lifting his torch to see further.

     "Maybe we could get around him..." she suggested.

     "Yeah." I laughed humorlessly. "He'll see that coming. No doubt he's got someone guarding the exit."

     "How do you know?"

     "Because..." I faced her. "I've been trapped in his freak show for most of my life. I have no intention of going back."

     "Very well, Onix." The Professor huffed, frustrated. "I guess when we find you in here, and we will find you, we'll have to take care of your little Sorceress friend as well."

     "No...!" I started to get up, but Sithra stopped me. "I can't hide here like a coward. He'll find me eventually..."

     "Onix..." She teared up. "Please don't..."

     "I'm not going to let that monster get you too..." I rested my hand on her cheek. I wished... I wished we had more time... "Run."

     "No-!" She cried out as I bursted out of the ruins.

     "Well well." The professor grinned and faced me. "Finally came to your senses."

     "I'm sorry you think I chose this." I told him through gritted teeth. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Sithra beginning to sneak towards the exit.

     "Who's that?" He caught my stare. "We will happily bring both of you back with us."

     "No!" I cried in defiance. Raising my hand, I prepared to blast the Professor to oblivion...

     Another magic blasted me and Sithra into a wall...

     "Well done, brother." The professor grinned and walked over.

     Everything went dark as I blacked out...