It's strange going down the basement stairs. Feeling the echoes of our footsteps.

Once I land on the fourth-to-last, concrete step, I was right here when that guy got burnt. That time I didn't know better, but in a way it gave me a more understanding about who Emmet is. However, he still hasn't told me anything real about his life.

Guess the only thing that is real to him, is living these secrets.

Seeing now I made a terrible mistake believing his basement was Level 8. It wasn't. Wherever Level 8 is, I pray not to step forward in that place. I get a bad vibe from it.

I make it down to the last step, walking forward. I see the rocky-like decorum. Coming right towards a huge center what to me looks like a foyer. There's a metal slab table sitting in the middle, I bend slightly to see three screens in the table's surface.

I look back up to my far right is a hallway, filled with multiple doors all closed. But have a feeling, they're occupied. There's a little kitchen right nearby the hallway, where I hear Emmet mentions to me that is the Grub.

Further to the left side are a big training room, an arcade-like room, and a hangout room with laid back chairs and a large locker with five locker doors. And then there's a large metal gate facing me, a few yards away.

Almost everywhere including a larger spot on the bottom of the floor are shillouttes of the same symbol I saw on the doors and that crystal key; the symbol of the pointed beak facing up, wing-like curves on both left and right, and a circle in the center with multiple lines crossing through.

I'm quite impressed.

Then I hear a voice of a young male. I turn to see him walking out from one of those doors in the hallway. He's tan with brown wavy hair, and light brown eyes. He's wearing the same outfit I saw the last time, the charcoal-colored, polyester shirt and pants. He looks cool and laid back.

"Hey, so you must be Naven?!" He says with a Spanish-like accent.

I glance at him baffled. I try to turn to Emmet-seeking some clarity. However, he's back by the stairs, just folding his arms and smirking. Typical Emmet, letting me suffer while he's an observer.

The young guy soon walks up and extends his hand out. "Hey, my name's Silas!" He looks chipper saying that.

I extend mines, and we both shake. Suddenly, Emmet approaches. Now he comes. He informs me, Silas' last name is Archer. He's fifteen years old, and essentially their youngest member.

Silas laughs, "Emmet uses that for kicks."

I smile back, but then I take notice right behind Silas is another young male coming out of the exercise room. He looks tall almost higher than me, about 6'2. He looks buff. And as I glance at his overall appearance, he looks very Samoan.

I had met a classmate with that same nationality. That classmate had hair a military-style cut, where this guy has his long and silky black. I glance back at Silas and Emmet. "Who's that?"

Silas looks back and nods his head, "Oh! The tough-looking tall one over there is Ickie but to us, he's Icarus."

Icarus heads towards the table wearing the same training shirt, but his sleeves are rolled up near his shoulders. He leans to the table's edge, as he then salutes me along with a little grin. I nod. I look back at Silas, "Is Icarus a mute?"

Silas giggles, "Nah, he's just like to show off his Romaness."

"His what?!"

"It's Icarus' way of showing his strength and toughness, mostly to people he don't know and at times to us. He named that to make a nod to his last name, Roman."

So his name is Ickie Roman, but he likes going by Icarus. I think I now know. I glance further, observing his right arm. He has a lot of tattoos. Its heavy gladiator-theme with the helmet and sword, plus I see the sun, wings, and tribal tattoos stretching out of it.

I should get on the right foot with Icarus, don't want him to think I'm a threat. I then look back at his crystal grey eyes.

"I like the tats!"

Icarus views his tattoos, and then glances back at me. "You're welcome."

Then a female voice is heard. "Boys." She says annoyed.

I turn to see two girls coming out of a room and out the hallway, towards the center. And there they go. The two girls I last saw at the LightOut event.

The wild one, who now has cheetah hair; already shows her detest to me. I can see it from her sneering face. She gives me a snarl.

"Who's that delight?"

I don't know why I said that. I glance at the wild one as she comes toward me. I quickly spot Icarus blushing a bit. Silas moves out the way.

"No, let me Em." She stops Emmet from doing something. She steps close to me putting one hand on her left waist side. She looks displeased.

"Something I said."

"The name's Camille." She then flaps her hair to the other side. "But honestly, who invited this clown?"

Then the other female comes, the emerald eyed girl with the reddish-black hair, the one I bumped into. Terra. Her aura continues getting stronger as she comes to me.

"Camille, please." She says, she then turns to me. "Excuse my older sister." She then pauses, as she just stares. "Do I know you?"

I hesitate to say anything, which allows her to continue. She smiles, yet looks embarrassed. "I forgot to tell you who I am."

"Your name's Terra."

"Wait...how you?"

I give out a little grin, as she then widens out her eyes. "It was you. I knew I remembered seeing you. You bumped into me months ago right before the protest bombing."

"Yeah, I think I apologized for that. I can say it again."

"That's okay, Naven right."

I slowly nod.

"So you bumped her, huh?" Silas starts smiling, "Why don't you tell him your other name."

"What other name?" I look back to her.

Terra shakes her head. Camille frankly doesn't care about this. Then Emmet and Icarus remain silent. I wonder what he meant. I try to ask Terra. She hesitates for a minute.

"I'm the mothlead."

I wonder what's up with that until she explains.

"It's a ridiculous name. They treat me as their leader and a den mother. I'm the most grounded one, that's why. Plus I listen very well."

"You know that I'm the real leader around here." Camille says.

I'm amazed. Nice to see Terra again, it's really good to see her radiant eyes, those green irises shining a mere reflection of me. Her name dances around in my head.

But is this the group? Are they really who Emmet is counting on to help me find Anita and handle Raudan?

I hope they can, but there's something else, I can't get.

She lets me know, she likes my name. Her father named her Terra, and her mother named Camille. I found it interesting until she gives me the question, which one of my parents gave me my name. I ponder hard on that one. My lips pucker inside. My eyes lean away from Terra. I don't want to lie to her, but honestly I can't remember.

If I told Aunt Verdi, she would think my mother named me. Yet I feel it was my dad.

At the right time, Emmet steps forward. "Now that you're acquainted to everyone, I will like to properly introduce them."

He then pronounces them as the Shadowhawks. I feel puzzled, but Emmet explains further, that the Shadowhawks is only the group's title he coined a few years ago. They're actually magihunters.

A guy back in North Dawning, who lived in the same complex my apartment is at, mentioned a group he swore he saw nights ago. They were these magihunters hunting creatures that have been roaming around in the city at night. Yet these hunters do it in secrecy, explained why so many people feel what that guy said was just his stories.

But odd enough, Emmet tells me exactly the same thing. They're secret warriors, norms who used their blood to bond with special weapons, each with a unique feature. They mainly hunt down malefics. But the one fact he stands behind it, they are mortals. He won't allow any mages to become a magihunter.

I wonder what's with the hate. There's already that up there, with the magic ban and the violence. It's like these hunters patrol anything with bad magic while the centurions patrol the city. I mention patrol to them. However, I look at Camille. Her lips pouting. Icarus looks agitated.

"More like we terminate them." Icarus states.

"So being these magihunters, you half to stay secret." I question.

"We do things clandestine for a reason, to keep this city safe and to play along with the rules Dawning set a long time ago." Emmet explains, "We guard the city's underbelly. That's where those vile monsters, like to strike unseen to everyone else in the quads."

"So why put yourselves in constant danger?"

Camille snickers while going by Icarus, who still leans by the table.

"We would rather sacrifice our lives at the cost to stop the malefics." Terra says.

"And it's fun as well." Silas adds.

So they all enjoy doing this. Guess Emmet taught them well. I think. If they have a thrill in killing these creatures, I'm happy for them. But not for me. After my previous encounter, I don't want to see another malefic unless it's Raudan.

"Do you trust us to find that girl?" Icarus asks, as he leans back straight. He walks near me while holding his hands to his waist side.

"That girl has a name." I say feeling an insult to my girlfriend.

"We understand, Naven. Everyone will know the girl as Anita from now on." Emmet gets to the point in his furtive self.

I quietly thank him.

Then I reminisced what Emmet explained earlier about them being mortals using special weapons. How they're doing this for the city, I ponder do that include all the mages that live here. I even ask them if they like what M.A.D.O.O is doing; do they want the act to be repealed.

Camille says, "I don't like it, but we have no choice."

"Tell me, what you mean?"

I then get an explanation from Icarus. He lets me know about the mages trying to weave their way back to the public, praying to use their magic. But the thing is, they don't care about the M.A.D.O.O stuff that goes above. They only handle the mages who want to cause harm here and outside.

Outside?!

Silas seems hesitant to respond, he just stays quiet. I want to get his opinion, but instead I get Terra. She comes up to me.

"For me, I appreciate what the mages are doing." She smiles.

I support the mages, and I personally stand against the act but if I can see Emmet. He's looking at me. Letting me know, maybe tapping my head with his stiff finger. He would want me to remember clearly.

Director Vartwild holds the power to repeal.

Yeah she has the power, and unfournately there's no way she's going to change, unless something forces her too.

Silas says crackling, "We must face it. We half to treat every mage hostile because we don't know..."

"Come on, Silas." Icarus states a bit upset. "You should know better."

Silas looks at Icarus with a strange glare. Icarus backs off not wanting to start anything. I observe so baffled. I try to see if Emmet would help me further, but he stays behind the scenes. Being that stubborn fool.

And then a wise, placid voice speaks out, "He's only speaking his mind."

I turn to see the old man, who I saw here the first time. He's wearing a caped robe, his face wrinkly fair, and his long silver hair tied up like a ponytail. His eyes still solid white as if he has no irises.

Emmet then steps out of his stubbornness and introduces me to the old man. "This is my other friend, The Orre."

I nod quickly. The Orre is glad to see me here.

"I'm fascinated your arrival came at the right time."

Right time? What is this?

Silas crackles as he leans his hand over my left shoulder. "This is the way Orre speaks. He always speaks his mageful wisdom."

I suddenly get the point, as I look back to the Orre. He has to be a mage. And then as if Emmet can read my mind. Hoping he doesn't, that would be creepy beyond relief.

He mentions how The Orre is a powerful mage, how he saved his skin numerous times.

Orre grins, "It's always an honor."

Emmet explains further the Orre has been the Shadowhawks' secondary mentor and helpful guide to some wicked malefics; they have no idea who they're facing. I'm trying to bring all of this together, seeing how can we get to Anita anytime soon. Then I view The Orre signaling me to come to him.

I cautiously walk over to him, my tennis making those squeaking sounds. Once I stop a few inches from him, "I won't bite." He says.

"Trust him." Terra says encouraging me.

Emmet, I would expect. But to hear Terra saying that. I don't know. I haven't been so keen to put my entire trust with that man, Mr. Willgood. But I hardly know Terra. The only time I can remember I know her well, was that time I bumped into her by mistake.

However, I glare at The Orre. He grins slowly. I wonder what the harm is. I exhale a couple of seconds. I reach closer to The Orre. Then he surprises me.

"Lean out your hand."

I pause for a minute, but not trying back down. I can feel my right hand trembling a bit. I push forward, my hand going towards his. He suddenly covers my hand with his other hand. Both his hands, holding firm onto mines.

I then notice The Orre's eyes. His eyes already white yet are now turning even brighter. Then I look alarmed, The Orre begins to shake a bit odd.

What is he doing?

I glance at the others, they all not wanting to step in to stop as Emmet just stand there, folding his arms; just believing this is typical Orre. Then without a hesitation, The Orre cries out.

"Anita, the girl who was stolen from you. I know where she is."

I stay as he still holds onto my hand. "Where?" I ask.

The Orre shakes again while muttering two words.

The Outerlands.

I react awed. I heard about the Outerlands. It lies beyond Dawning's concrete wall. It is a dreaded place. A place where mortals and mages-according to the teachers and officials-, who don't live in Dawning, may not live the next day. They and other Neomericans live in unprotected colonies and town-like camps.

Most of them are Anti-Dawning. They rather ignore Dawning's beacon to live, and resume their remaining lives where they are currently at. I have heard this, countless of times during speeches at school and as well during Director Vartwild's promos.

And since the Outerlands is such deep and vast, holding the remnants of Old America, the unexplored areas must be where the malefics dwell.

Anita is out there.

Suddenly, I feel his hold gone. I look at his hands going back to his side. I repel my right hand back to me.

"I feel a life essence. It could be her. She is at the Forsaken Woods."

I halt, "What is that place?"

"Not a good one." Terra replies.

Emmet walks over to the metal table. He slides his left hand over one of the screens. Soon, a visual map of Dawning and the Outerlands is seen. Then a forested area is suddenly magnified. That must be the woods.

"The search for Anita begins now." Emmet instructs us, "That's your task. Head out to the Forsaken Woods."

"We need a tracer." Camille says.

"A tracer?"

Terra explains what a tracer is. They use a certain item that once belonged to the victim and let The Orre blessed it with his magic, so it can lead them to that victim. I then remember a loose button that came from Anita's blouse.

I noticed that back when I was at the apartment. It must've been ripped when Raudan and his trollish goons abducted her.

I quickly take it out of my left side pocket. I let them know it's for Anita. This could help them further, letting this button being their tracer. I give the button to Terra.

"This should do great." Terra smiles as she brings it to The Orre.

"But those woods is no joke, no telling what we'll face." Silas says.

Emmet informs them to go. Then in a hasten movement, I see the four of them rushing to the locker room. As they open each of their locker doors, they put on armor plates around their arms and chest, and then they grab their weapons.

Terra attaches two minibow-like bracelets on her wrists. Camille places a leather whip with the tip spiked up with thorns, by her side. Silas places multiple daggers around his velcro belt. Icarus grabs hold of a reddish-blue tinted axe, he then places it to his back. The axe arm easily attaches to his back armor.

Then as quick they head there, they all rush towards the large metal gate. The metal door opens, as the cranky sound lifts the door up. A little dust flies off the edge. I then spot five slick, silver hovcycles, each resting on the ground.

What are those?

Emmet looks at me and let me know those are the Harpy cycles. He crafted them and with a little bit of The Orre's assistance. Each cycle contains a self-charging cell that functions as the cycle's energy.

I can hear Silas joking, "No waste of gas."

Icarus mentions there are compartments. They can hold their weapons, and have other arsenal-particularly bombs-ready to use.

Camille looks disgusted towards me. "Why are we even telling him?"

Emmet calls out Camille, and demeans her because of that rotten attitude. It suits her though. I know Terra must not love her sister's remark.

I then notice the fifth one, still unoccupied. But wait, there are four of them. Where's the fifth?! I let them know about the fifth Shadowhawk, where could that person be.

I then hear nothing but silence. As if asking about the fifth Shadowhawk went unanswered.

"Good luck!" Emmet yells.

I take the prerogative and walk towards the fifth cycle. Before my hands can even touch the smooth seat, I hear Emmet's forbidding voice.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm going with them remember."I turn to him, glancing at those stern eyes. "They're helping me."

"I know that, but you're not going anywhere."

I just stand near the harpy befuddled. I turn to see Terra, she doesn't say anything. And then the next thing I know is Emmet ordering the others to go on. I watch the others, turning on their rides. Their cycles hover above the floor, and then zooming out through the tunnel.

I try to understand why Emmet wants me to stay. And then I realize he brought me down here under false pretenses.

They're helping me.

Just in their reasoning, they're helping me without me.

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**Please comment/vote on what you read so far. I really appreciate it.