16 Dark world... With the sun?

Those stairs… With each step, the pain from before gets stronger… My head started hearing those laughs again, this face was appearing before my eyes every time I closed my eyes. This slow movement of putting my foot on another step downwards was as slow as a turtle on land. I felt as time was passing by with me not noticing because, in my head, it took forever to go down.

We were almost there. As I looked around on the buildings, on the roofs or anywhere the bodies on the outer edges probably disappeared. I also then with the edge of my eye looked at the people going down the stairs, and I didn't see the old man. "Where the fuck…" I thought to myself while cursing each word.

"Ladies. You are obligated to fight now." He blinked with one eye that looked like a taunt. "If not you will be killed anyway so just choose if you want now or later. See ya or rather not." He started going up the stairs while laughing.

"What a dick." Barked Marcus.

"Indeed." Added Matthew.

"Guys listen. We need to be prepared for anything. We go between the outer and middle edges. We don't want to encounter the old psycho but also try to avoid as many fights as possible. You alright with that?" Marcus and Matthew only shook their heads as to agree. "Then let's go. I will carry Hayden until we get to our destination so cover us." As he ended his sentence Matthew made a big wall that looked like glass. I think he created a mirror with a premade image so that no one will see that we went that way. Smart and cunning.

We were walking for straight 10 minutes and we arrived at the place. There was still some sun from the above, but behind us was a maze of buildings within the shadow like territory. That's the difference between the middle and the outer edges. It's really dark since the whole arena is like a dome. The outer edges are under the curving of it and the middle where the hole is, it's bright.

"We need to hide the best we can. Matthew, can you create the same thing here?" I asked since the idea of being hidden behind a mirror with a fake view is brilliant.

"Well, I could but it really sucks on my stamina, and power consumption is enormous. So it's really hard for me to keep it on."

"Then just don't. We need to store as much power as we can so that when a fight comes we can eliminate one threat before the second." Explained Marcus.

"Well, the most important thing is to let Hayden survive… I really want to help him to at least try and achieve his goal." Estel seems to really care about me...

"All of you… I'm really thankful that you are so willing to help me… Even if I am magically retarded it still means a lot to me." They all giggled when I said the word "retarded". I don't know if I'm speaking with kids or almost adults…

"Well, maybe we can make a wheelchair together guys." Joked Marcus, well since he was a demon it was normal, but still making a joke like that…

"We don't have time for jokes now. Marcus, can you make a spotting device?" Estel already a little irritated asked Marcus.

"Right on it." Then Marcus created an eye and he made it fly higher so that he could see all of our surroundings. "It's somewhat clear for now. I only see some small commotion in the north-east from us but those are just some novices" Observed Marcus while holding his left eye with his hand.

"I think for now we are set. So now we can rest a little bit. Marcus, you can also close the eye view we are between buildings it's hard to spot us. Hayden tell me... If we were to leave this place… What would be your first goal?" Questioned Estel while looking at me suspiciously.

"Well, I think to achieve my goal I firstly would need to become someone a little higher up in the hierarchy. Like a Count or a Baron of someplace. Gather resources. Try to get any power that could help me scatter off that filth. Those 'noble' people… What have they actually done? Paid taxes? Sent some troops to the main monopoly? That's all they did and they were then bestowed with the honor to wield a title of 'noble'. Those children in their families that get almost killed if they are not powerful? Those that are abused? Also, the people that need urgent help which they can't get because they are poor… This is just so… 'inhuman' in my eyes." After I finished this sentence I felt as if a large stone fell off my heart.

"We get it, Hayden. But it's still… It won't be that easy you know? This world will throw rocks, set up fires, and dig down holes just to try and stop you. What can you do then? If you are all alone. How can you dodge or endure the hard rocks hitting your skin? How can you live while walking on flames? How after all that. How will you find the strength to climb that hole?" Sighed Estel with a very deep gasp in between.

"As long. This will only apply to me. If no one will have to suffer the pain I will have to if I want to save this world. I will endure those rocks. Go through the flames. And after all that I will climb out of that deep abyss, I will be thrown into. This is something I have to do. Most people don't see it. This massacre here. Dying men, even if they made bad life choices. They are still human. All three of you. Deserve! To live. You did nothing wrong! You just tried to escape pain…"

"You may think like it, but… If I didn't sell this information about our country. More people wouldn't have to live in poverty. They were to get new places to settle in. But now… The country made all the countermeasures to suppress that invasion planned for years now. Spies, soldiers, and even ordinary folk had to die countless deaths to be able to achieve that. And what I did? For my own survival even if I was young. I took those deaths and those homes. It's my burden now…" Tears fell from Marcus's eyes.

"If… If I didn't think of my own good. And tried to feel the pain of others that were worse than me… I could have just been free. With my family. Go to the academy. Have friends… Now… I'm here. In this hole full of shit… I consider you all my friends, but it's just… so much different... I'm sorry…" Sobbed Marcus while slowly lowering his head.

"Well… If I just endured the abuse from my mother and brother a little longer I could've just waited it out until I got into the academy. And then never come back. Now I'm here stuck in this place." He fumed and kicked a pebble, that kick was so strong it flew into the building and was repelled by the barrier.

"Well… It may seem that I shouldn't be here, but… If I just… Accepted the circle of life…"

"Don't you even dare say that!" I shouted really angry. "Don't you dare say that it wasn't worth it! If she would die anyway why wouldn't you try?! Even if you are here… Stuck… Powerless. You 'tried' to oppose this world! Like all of you three! you took the matter into your own hands! Even if they are now stained in blood… It's not an innocent one. And not one that could be saved… It was your choice that was supposed to change something in your lives." I again sounded like a motivational speaker.

"..." It was a long silence. Until we heard an explosion right next to our hiding spot. The ground was even shaking. "We need to break out of this damned place!" We heard someone's voice screaming. Since most of the guardians were still far away none of those understandable screams were heard up there. Only some minor roars that were not understandable.

"Guys, did you hear that?" Said Marcus while wiping his face with a shirt.

"We need to talk to them. Maybe… As Hayden said. We should try? No matter the odds. We need to talk to them." Said Matthew with a voice of reasoning backing that statement.

We left our hideout and shouted the same thing in the direction of explosions. We heard it back and so with that dumb method of screaming to each other we came to a close.

"We heard that you guys also want to break out?" The man requested.

"Yeah, we want to break out of this place as fast as possible. Do you have a plan or some more people that could help? And by the way what are your names?" Estel answered the question. He didn't even think or consider it as a trap set up by the guards.

"So my name is Lupo and his name is Lambert. As you can see we are both Lycans. And yes. We have some more people to help us. 'Some' is not enough. We have already organized a lot. But there are still some things we need to consider since some people from the group are close to their third year here. So we must make more plans."