Chapter 51 - Follow the Crumbs... (1/2)

Before becoming one of the twelve heavenly signs, Bennox and Owen were still making their way back to the dorms from the clearing. Nearing the dorm, just as Bennox and Owen reached the split off in the middle, a loud screeching noise rang out from behind the dorm building. Flinching slightly, they shared a suspicious glance. Though it was for a split second, Bennox thought he saw a small flash of blazing red hair around the corner.

”Should we go check, Bennox?” Owen tilted is head towards Bennox. Blood flaked off Bennox's face as he tried to speak without stopping in pain.

”…Sure…” Leaning one arm against the side of the building and the other over Owen's shoulders, they made their way around the dorm's corners. Above them the Hal robot crawled away on the walls. It eyed them for a moment before scuttering off.

Owen rounded the corner and saw nothing suspicious. Just a plain dirt path with the forest close by. Bennox however, saw signs of something. Not really fighting but not really casual either. The smeared dirt brushed to one side, multiple footprints, large and small. There was a slight round circle where someone or something had spun. Bennox couldn't figure out what happened.

”Hey Bennox, was this door always here when we came?” Owen pointed to the dark door on the side of the wall. Bennox's legs shook. He could feel that if they went through that door, they would start something irreversible. Owen turned his head to look at Bennox.

”Hey? You good?” Nodding slightly, Bennox swallowed his hesitation.

”We go in.” Owen shrugged and they shifted towards the door. The sudden change from solid floor to steep stairs almost caused Owen to trip. Bennox flailed against the wall.

”Owen!” Bennox swat at Owen's head.

”Err… sorry…” Owen readjusted his hold on Bennox, they began to descent into the darkness. Behind them the door slid closed soundlessly.

As they neared the bottom of the steps a faint light lit up the darkness. Owen's steps became more confident and Bennox calmed down. Before they knew it, they had entered a large room, the size was immeasurable in the dim lighting. The cramped walls expanded and left Owen's side. Both of them shifted until Bennox and Owen's hand found the wall again.

”Owen, don't lose the wall okay? We don't want to be stranded in the middle of this darkness.”

”Mmn.” They continued. To the far right a slight glow drew Bennox's eyes.

”Owen! Hurry, we need to go to the right.” Not sure why but still sensing the urgency in Bennox's voice, Owen dropped his hand from the wall and piggybacked Bennox towards the right. Although Bennox was relatively light, he was still almost the size of Owen so they had only moved for about fifty feet before Owen stopped and put Bennox down.

”…I-it's tiring… carrying you…” Owen was breathing hard. He hadn't expected to run far but only fifty feet was too short. Bennox patted Owen's shoulder.

”It's fine you idiot. I never said, 'carry me' did I?” Owen's face burned. He silently thanked the darkness for masking his face right then. He had just assumed he'd be carrying Bennox over.

”Whatever. I'm not doing you a favor next time.” Owen huffed and began to walk away.

”Owen, wrong way.” In the darkness Bennox could tell that Owen was embarrassed. His friend might be prejudice against girls but that didn't mean he wasn't soft in come places. Owen stopped for a second and came back quickly.

”I-I knew that. Just testing you to make sure you're okay…” Owen didn't really sound sure of himself. Bennox laughed it off, or at least tried to but the scratches on his cheeks ruptured when he opened his mouth too wide.

”Let's go…” Bennox limped over to the right. Owen hurried after Bennox, still unsure what Bennox had seen in the darkness.

After a few minutes of slow shuffling against the wall Bennox felt something different on the wall. Slight but still noticeable, a small line. A gap between the wall and something else. Bennox stopped and ran his hand over the wall, searching for anything unusual.

”Bennox?” Owen had bumped into Bennox's back due to him suddenly stopping. He leaned on the wall to catch himself from stumbling into it. Just as his hand touched the wall it slipped away from him. Blinded by light, Bennox raised his hand to cover his eyes. Owen fell into the light and landed hard on the metal floor.

”Javier, there are two more not one. Did you miss something?” Bennox couldn't tell where the voice was coming from. He tried to back away but someone grabbed his arms and pulled him forward.

”H-hey!” Bennox let his hands fall and tried to find the wall but his eyes hadn't adjusted to the light yet.

”Pull them both in.” Bennox wasn't sure why but something about that voice reminded him of Lydis. Indifferent and yet domineering.

”Roger!” Another pair of hands pushed Bennox from behind. He heard the soft sliding of the door closing behind them. The weight of air in the room seemed to intensify. Bennox fell to his knees and clenched his chest. They must've done something! He looked over to Owen next to him and saw the same thing happen.

Owen rolled over to face upwards. The light was becoming less and less blinding but there was a pressure on his chest now. Like a hammer that was steadily grinding deeper into his ribcage.

Both boys lay on the floor for a minuet when Bennox suddenly prang back up. The light was no longer blinding and the pressure had disappeared. Shifting his hand over his chest Bennox stared at the purple haired girl looming over him.

”W-what happened?” The girl smiled and jumped around Bennox, her eyes scanning him. After finishing her scan, she beamed him another smile and skipped towards a black-haired boy. Bennox turned over and pulled at Owen.

”Owen… Owen!” He shook Owen and saw his eyes pop open.

”I'm up. I'm up!” Owen rolled onto his side and propped himself up on one arm. He stared at the large room with a few kids scattered here and there. Moving closer to Bennox, Owen whispered into his ear.