Chapter 6

The crystal blue moon shone full that night, which meant that their chances of sneaking out minimized. The trio, Michael, Triton and Thomas, scampered through the facility, while glancing left and right to ensure that they did not catch any guards’ attention. They heard a footstep, and immediately, retreated into the darkness of the corridors.

A distant voice spoke, “I most definitely heard something this time. I think it came from over there.”

“These kids just don’t know how to be disciplined. Taking them to the military camps would be a wise thing to do.” came another more harsh voice.

“Guards, be silent…” whispered Michael.

“Said the man who raised his child in the library.” mocked the first guard.

“Humph! Your child did not do any better… Anyway, there’s nothing here, let’s go. I’ve wasted enough time in my life.” sneered the second guard. With that, the dimming footsteps of the guards sounded the corridors once more, along with some murmuring that the trio could not comprehend.

“I told you this was a bad idea. Why did you have to drag me into this?” hissed Thomas as he gave Michael a nudge.

Michael just placed a finger on his lips, giving Thomas a serious look. Thomas had no other choice but to keep his frustration to himself. Michael slowly rose and scanned the hallway. Then, when he was satisfied he signaled the rest to follow. They wandered through more corridors and the journey seemed forever.

“Do you even know where we’re going?” questioned Triton with frustration.

“Yes I do and if you could do me a favor, please be quiet!” There was a tone of annoyance in Michael’s voice. Thomas knew it was not Triton, but the fact that he really was lost. Triton just rolled his eyes and followed closely behind.

Finally, in the shadows, they saw the gate at which they each had once entered, and now seeking to exit it. Although in the night, the gate still shone in the moonlight, with golden harpoon-like bars that protruded out of the ground and the walls. On both sides, there were two guards standing, each with a spear in their hands. They had a red crest on their shoulders which signified that they were indeed elite guards and are not to be trifled with. A sense of accomplishment and worriment stirred inside of Michael. He turned to Thomas who shrugged.

“We need to think of something to get past those guards.” muttered Michael to Thomas.

“Who goes there?” shouted one of the guards who was now looking in their direction.

Immediately, Michael dragged Triton and Michael behind a wall. Thoughts emblazed his mind, “By Ior, these guards are like supercharged! How could they have heard me from this distance?”

“I am giving you 3 seconds to reveal yourselves or I would put you under arrest!” hollered the guard whose voice challenged Triton’s.

“My God, they must have seen us! What to do…what to do?” the thoughts in Michael’s mind ran about in a frenzy.

“Hey, you do know how to get us out of this, do you?” whispered Triton, who looked at Michael hopefully.

“ONE!” shouted the guard.

“My powers and skills aren’t strong enough to subdue an elite guard let alone two!” muttered Michael fearfully.

“Neither am I” admitted Triton who has already unsheathed his weapon. Michael’s expression became frantic and then the grabbed Thomas by the shoulders.

“TWO!” another shout was heard.

Michael’s expression became frantic and then the grabbed Thomas by the shoulders.

“You…You are an alchemist right?” mumbled Michael and Thomas nodded his head immediately, “Then could you please help us find something… anything that could subdue them?”

“I …I don’t know” babbled Thomas.

“LAST CHANCE!” hollered the guard.

“Just try…please.” said Michael as he let go of Thomas, who began searching through his pouch which hung from his waist.

Michael exited the confines of the wall and revealed himself, mind still a blur.

“Hey, hey… let’s not get violent here. Me and my friends just want to go out o the Arena for a short while.” said Michael as he tried to calm himself, “Would you, handsome young gentlemen, let us through?”

“On what reason?” spoke the guard in a softer but still serious tone.

“Emm… Well, Frederick asked me to go out to fetch some crystal wine from the nearby Tavern outside.” Explained Michael while keeping his composure, “You know how he likes his wine…must be fresh from the Tavern.”

“Then he should have given you a letter stating permission that we allow you to leave this facility, where is it?” demanded the guard, hand raised out.

Michael paused for a moment as he glanced back and forth, left and right. Then, almost instantly he unsheathed his sword and charged towards the guards.

“A runner! Raise the alarm!” screamed the guard to his partner. The partner nodded and ran for the lever which would sound the alarm.

Michael rushed towards the lever as well, but the other guard struck him from behind, leaving him on the floor in seconds. He quickly got up, avoiding a deadly blow which would have left him unconscious. He exchanged blows with the guard, struggling to keep up with his speed.

The sound of metal clashing reached Tritons ears, who mumbled under his breath, “That idiot…” He rose and left Thomas to search for something that would successfully subdue the guards.

Michael saw Triton approaching and shouted, “Don’t worry about me, get the guard who is activating the alarm.”

“Where?” replied Triton, who found himself parrying with the same guard as Triton.

At that moment, a loud screeching siren filled the hallways.

“Great, now look what you’ve done!” shouted Michael who just dodged a strike from the guard’s spear which could have impaled him.

“Me? It was you who pissed of the guards!” yelled Triton, as he backed away from three blows from the guard.

“Found it!” cried Thomas behind the wall.

“About time!” barked Triton who was fighting the other guard who had returned to help his partner.
Thomas ignored Triton words and took out a seemingly small and empty bottle and threw it at the first guard which exploded a cloud of white gas. The guard screamed as he held his hands onto his eyes and collapsed to the floor. Thomas then threw another smaller vial which contained a dark blue liquid towards the second guard. It exploded like the bottle but it poured out the liquid onto the guard, nearly hitting Triton. The Guard started burning at the touch of the liquid and fell to ground shrieking.

Triton backed away and shouted at Thomas, “A little closer and I may be a fried chicken!”

“What did you do to them?” Michael asked, sheathing his sword.

Thomas was about to reply when they heard loud footsteps coming their way from the left hallway which illuminated brighter and brighter, most probably from a torch.

“No time, let’s go.” said Thomas as he rushed out of the gate with Triton. Michael took one last look at the Arena and followed Thomas into the wilderness.

Chapter 5

“No, it couldn’t be. It was just there…” the thoughts of doubt and hope encircled in Michael’s mind as fear clouded it.

“Are you sure you did not misplace it?” asked Thomas, foraging the room for any possible clue to Michael’s loss. Michael just shook his head wildly as he continued to find his gauntlet.

“You must remember the last time you saw it, don’t you?” asked Thomas as he crouched down to peer under the bed.

“Well, I can only remember having it in my fight with Satan… You don’t think he took it?” replied Michael as he tore of the bed sheets and emptied the drawers. Triton suddenly rose and headed for the door.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Thomas shouted, “You’re supposed to help Michael find his gauntlet.”

Still heading towards the door, Triton retorted, “I am helping. I am going to ask that boy Satan whether he took your gauntlet.” He seized his hammer which was lying on the side of the door and headed off.

A feeling of pity built up inside Michael and he thought that it was best that he followed him, leaving a flabbergasted Thomas behind.

“I know what you’re thinking. Don’t do it.” said Michael in authority.

Triton turned around, his emerald eyes glared in to Michael’s. “Look, do you want your precious little gauntlet or not?” threatened Triton slowly.

Michael felt anger rising into him but shook it off. He just nodded his head and Triton gave him a smirk. “I thought so” mocked Triton.

They reached the room in which Satan was kept. Triton slammed the door open and marched in. There lying like a corpse on the bed was Satan. Michael inspected his injuries and found that Satan’s condition was much worse than his. He even had some parts still stained fresh red with blood from their encounter with the unknown being which seemed to emerge from within Satan.

Triton showed no pity and snatched Satan’s collar, hollering, “YOU! IF YOU TOOK MICHAEL’S GAUNLET, YOU BETTER GIVE IT BACK OR I SWEAR THAT I WILL BREAK EVERY, SINGLE, BLOODY BONE IN YOUR BODY” With that, Triton threw Satan back down, who just moaned in reply.

Triton pointed a long and meaty finger towards Satan and screamed, “DON’T FAKE IN FRONT OF ME! I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE IT! GIVE IT –”

“STOP IT! Can’t you see he is an injured man? If you want to question him, do it when he is better!” interrupted Michael with his voice rising after each word.

“I don’t trust this worthless piece of trash. He might very well be the assassin who attacked me! He might be the host of a demon who would one day destroy everything! You think this “thing” deserves pity?” argued Triton with a voice which could challenge he sound of thunder.

“How do you know that he has this “so-called” demon inside him? LOOK! His gauntlet was lost as well. If he took my gauntlet, then why would he lose his as well?” Michael’s anger was building up so rapidly that he found himself hand ready at his sword.

“I still don’t trust him. They are all the same. Demons, they raid towns, villages, cities just for their amusement. And when they are finished, they leave the dying to rot.” Triton’s tone suddenly becomes extremely solemn, “You do not know what I have been through Michael, the pain, the misery, the suffering. They attack your homes not only at night, but some in broad daylight. I have seen it, felt it, and even embraced it. You know little of these demons.”

Triton then took one last look at Satan and then left the room. Michael’s anger for Triton was suddenly flushed away. He gazed at Satan, and realized that Satan was feeling a same pain as Triton did before. He needed to help him, but how?

As he re-entered his room, he saw Thomas still helping to search for his gauntlet.

“Some discussion, what happened?” asked Thomas as he lifted up some chairs and tables.

“I don’t want to talk about it.” replied Michael as he lay on his bed, “You better get some rest.”

Thomas nodded and left the room quietly, leaving Michael, who was immersed in his thoughts.

Suddenly, an idea to save Satan hit him like a ton of bricks. He immediately rose and rummaged through the desk beside his bed. He held up a piece of paper and on it, was the sign that he had drawn earlier. He smiled to himself, extremely satisfied with the idea that he had thought of and treaded out of his room.

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It was the last match of the day and Triton was watching at the sidelines. The sound of swords and shields colliding into each other seemed to amuse him. He chuckled as the one of the competitors stumbled and fell nearly costing him the match.

Thomas ran into the hallway looking completely exhausted and said to Triton, “I finally… found you… (pant) Do you know where Michael (pant) is?”

“How would I know? He is probably with his new best friend. The injured man in the room upstairs.” scorned Triton who was still facing the arena as the last competitor fell.

“He has been missing since this morning. Come’ on, you experienced the same thing as he did. Furthermore, you are his friend.” Thomas tried to persuade Triton as best as he could.

Triton turned to Thomas and said, “Firstly, I am NOT is friend. Secondly, if he is missing, why should I care? He has that “coach” Samuel to take care of him. And thirdly, I don’t think he like me very much either.

“Well, Samuel has been missing too after he went of with Frederick. And you are the only one who can help us. What’s more, Michael broke you from your trance. So technically, you do owe him something.” argued Thomas and he glared at Triton.

“You know, you and Michael are so alike. Fine, I’ll go on your little “scavenger hunt”.” smirked Triton as he walked ahead of Thomas. Thomas just smiled and followed behind. Triton went up a few flights of stairs, through a corridor and passes a room where the sick are treated. Thomas then knew exactly where they were going and immediately spoke.

“Look, if you are thinking of going to his room, I have already checked it.”

“Do you trust me or not?” replied Triton as he made his way down another hallway and into Michael’s room

“It is not that, I just checked there before and I am telling you he is not-” Thomas paused as the gazed at Michael who was busily packing supplies into three rucksacks.

“Told you so” laughed Triton, but Thomas ignored that remark and asked, “Michael, what do you think you are doing?”

Michael wrapped up the rucksacks and tossed two of them to Triton and Thomas. He carried the last rucksack and explained to Thomas’s confusion, “Well, I decided to find out what that mark I saw meant and how to remove it. So, I would need your help to do this task with me.”

Thomas and Triton looked at each other in bewilderment as Michael gave them a small grin.