From Moving Crates to Killing Gods-Chapter 5: Company

"Something’s coming." Kira whispered, rising again, her legs unsteady.

I listened. The sounds were coming from the passage we had just traversed. I looked from the narrow passage to the vast, black lake and back again. Allies could mean survival. But in this place, any sound could be a lure.

A couple of shadows could be seen on the walls of the cave, silhouettes created by the yellow light of the glowing moss. Three of them. Then they reached full light, I recognized the head with red hair first.

Ember.

And beside her, Darien, his usually stoic face, and Mira.

Ember’s mouth worked like she was trying to catch her breath, or maybe chew through a memory she didn’t want to remember. Her jumpsuit was burned at the wrist, still smoking.

Darien pressed a hand to his chest, as if holding his heart in place. Mira’s knuckles bled, thin red lines against her pale skin, but she gripped a blade of light like it was the only thing she’d ever trusted.

Another batch of shapes crowded the entrance of the cavern. Thirteen, all stumbling, coughing, raw terror on their faces. Some supported each other, others knelt as if the ground was moving under them.

The yellow glow striped them with a sickly color, made them look less like people and more like bugs in jumpsuits and boots. A few drifted to the lake’s edge. Others circled around the cave, unable to find a wall to rest their backs on. They all looked tired and traumatized.

"Ember." I breathed out.

"Allaran?" Ember said. "How did you guys get here? Don’t tell me you didn’t see what happened up there."

"I came here looking for my friend, and when the screams began, we just decided it would be better to not go back in that direction."

"Smart." said Darien. "Everyone who went to the green lights is already dead. I knew Corruptors fed on emotions, but I didn’t think that would mean they get to play with their food... all for a sliver of hope."

Then Mira started looking at the wall on the other side of the lake. She spoke quietly. "These should be the tunnels the Citadel Master told us about, Darien, but we’re still missing a Navigator."

"I know. We haven’t had the chance to discuss anything with them. I just hope none of the people who died had that ability, or we’re as good as dead."

’As good as dead? The Citadel Master knew about these tunnels? What are they looking for? ... And why did no one bother telling us any of this before?’

A heavy silence fell over the group. Then Darien cut through it and started doing what he knew best. Giving orders.

"Everyone, listen to me! If you want to survive, if there’s someone you care about, or even if you only want to get back to eating paste in Argent while picking your nose, listen to me!"

For a moment the heavy atmosphere dispelled, replaced by expectancy.

"I am Darien, a Zero. And as a Zero I know the path we need to take in order to survive the Exile. But out here, no one can survive alone. We need to stay together and use every single one of our abilities in synergy. Only then might we make it."

Then Mira spoke. "We are looking for a Navigator. We only have vague knowledge on how to reach the Citadel, which is why we need someone who can feel its location. So please, think deeply about your newly found ability and see if it could guide us back home."

A low hum of thought filled the cavern as everyone considered whether their abilities could be used to find a way back.

Then someone raised his hand.

"I think, maybe I can do it, but it’s not certain. I’m Finn and I worked as a miner in the Citadel. As you guys know, Argent is mostly made of silver, and for repairs around the city we need silver. The point is, I can feel the location of silver, and there’s this massive amount I can feel in the distance, but I don’t know if that’s Argent or not."

"Worry not, Finn." said Darien. "My father survived the Exile thanks to a Navigator who could also feel the silver inside Argent. He was probably a miner, and he guided him back to the barrier."

"That’s it, then. From now on, you will be our Navigator, Finn. We’ll entrust our destinies to your hands." said Mira.

Everyone’s gazes fell upon Finn. He was a small, shy guy who definitely didn’t want all that attention on himself, but probably his desire to survive, or to help others, pushed him just enough to put himself on the spot.

Then, the Zeros started telling us the plan. The only chance we had at survival.

Also, they explained the fact that Corruptors fed on emotions, like hope, which is how they find prey.

"But why hasn’t a Corruptor followed us here?" said someone.

"That’s because of this black lake." said Darien. "I’m not sure how, but this liquid emanates a radiance of despair so dense that the Corruptors can’t smell our emotions in here."

"So we can survive in this place?" Ember asked Darien, a little too hopefully for my taste, since this cavern felt horrid and putrid.

"Hmm... You might? I’m not sure. But every generation has had people who find this cavern, and I don’t see anyone around at all, so make of that what you will."

I leaned toward Kira and whispered, "So what do you think? Trade our one star cot for this luxury cavern suite with its own obsidian pool?"

Kira stared at me like I’d grown a second head. "You can’t be serious. I’d take the filthiest corner of Argent over this."

"Funny you mention that. I’ve actually camped out in those filthy corners before. No lakes there, though. Just bugs and frostbite."

Her eyes widened. "You slept on the streets? Why?"

I shrugged. "I thought I should experience it while I could. Exile was always coming, so..."

"That’s..." She hesitated, then shook her head. "Actually, I kind of get it. Did you ever get caught by the runic patrol?"

"Once, but I—" Darien’s voice cut through our conversation before I could finish.

"Enough rest. We need to keep moving. We have no rations for a comfy picnic and bonding session right now, so time to get your hands... and your everything dirty."

"We are going to swim all the way over there? Is it safe to swim through this black water that you just told us emanates despair?" said Finn, his voice trembling.

"In fact, it is absolutely not safe. Your mind might break while traversing these waters. That’s why we need to know the abilities of everyone, to figure out a way to get to the other side safely."

And just like that, we started discussing our abilities.