Chapter 12: You can run!

"Something's more than likely truly wrong with the child, Dust." Tal whispered his thoughts over to his siblings as the five walked through the dark entrance tunnel of the cave they tracked the villains who escaped their and law enforcement's grasp. "He's seen a ton back in his life, he's seen a ton at their hideout. He was likely reminded of what Grandma told us, now he's focused and ready, to take vengeance." Dustin replied to his brother as they both kept their eyes trained on him walking with a brand new attitude. "He's taking every death too personally, he's letting his rage and anguish or something consume him." Tal voiced as he had worrisome thoughts in his mind. Janece slowed down after changing her mind about speaking to Derek after hearing her older brother. "Usually, it's tough for you to read a room or any feelings of another, wow. Dad used to say death weighing on a hero's shoulders is the greatest steroid to their perseverance and resolve." Janece interrupted with her two cents and a reminder. "He was hoping that's what would happen to us when— The implications of that are still unfair and incredibly dark. Creeped me out as a child." Dustin replied before he caught up to Derek to start a conversation. "Have something on your mind, Gray?" Dustin asked his student as he touched his shoulder and tried to get his attention. "Violence." Derek answered him with a surprisingly quiet tone. Dustin didn't fix his gaze away, he was trying to puzzle together what was truly on his mind as they walked deeper through the darkness of the cave with Janece's light shining their way hanging above them were Stalactites, columns and around were stalagmites. The Squad walked until they entered a room with a great chasm around them flowing water from the walls within this forest mountain cavern. There seemed to be four separate entrances high around them. One on the far left, one on the far right, one on the directly above the center of the great chasm and after Dustin turned around he noticed one directly behind them and brought to their attention. Each entrance looked like it was carved with an expert climber or spelunker in mind. Someone with a truly adventurous calling.

"I never could have predicted this, we can traverse with the hanging Stalactites and grip on to the miniature spikes they conveniently have" Dustin shared his observation with the team. "These garbage villains are after the Lore Vessel's repository, somehow, they found it?!" Tal realized after an epiphany and dropped jaw. "Crap, crap, what the hell, you guys are still sure their existence are only rumors, right?!" Janece asked with a worrisome tone. Derek could read everyone's worry but Dustin saw his expression was one of confusion. "Gray, this is possibly a place of legend unspoken about in History. If a villain's motives are seeking power, wealth or status, they would want to know about these myths called Lore repositories. We shouldn't have brought him on this one if there's an inkling of a chance that this is one." Dustin informed Derek before turning to his siblings and letting them know his thoughts. "I got it, I'm inexperienced and not ready, all the more reason I'll try my best to stay out of the way but I won't hold back if I'm given no other choice." Derek responded with a lower tone. "This kid's smartest moment so far." Tal commented as he was taken aback by his response. Dustin fixed his eyes on Derek, wanting to say something encouraging so desperately but he couldn't since he agreed that it was the best plan taking his safety, their primary priority, into consideration. "If it comes to that, we're sorry in advance for failing you, but I refuse to allow it to, we should devise a plan and get moving." Dustin replied to Derek and his siblings, Janece nodded but Tal went to check out the cavern after becoming curious. Dustin and the team devised a plan, split up to investigate. Tal decided he'd take the far left, Janece decided she'd take on the far right, Lowelle decided on the center above while Dustin would take responsibility for Derek's well-being and him being with them. He'll team up with him. Tal halted himself before saving his little brother from gunfire outta the blue after he noticed something wasn't right, the two sat behind cover under fire thanks to a very tough column. intending on calming him down, Janece ran to grab onto Derek but he slipped through her fingers, he had already let his feelings take hold of him and he flew heading straight for the mysterious cowboy he saw footage of to make him his first victim of his vengeance and wrath. Janece threw a punch out fueled by her frustration of how hard headed but thin skin Derek proves to be.

Dustin commanded his youngest brother to follow and protect Derek, with a simple nod towards him after they exchanged looks, Dustin heard a voice from above that sounded familiar and sinister catching his attention. Tal and Janece saw their little brother going after Derek, they continued with the plan with just a slight change in who went towards which entrance that wasn't taken, they decided without having to agree, Tal gave her a thumbs up. As Lowelle traversed over the chasm using the harsh and deadly environment that he was perfectly athletically fit for and trained, he walked in on Derek getting backed into a corner by two unknown assailants, one was cocky with shades with pink lenses and trash talking him while the other exceptionally bloodthirsty with black around his eyes, the way he moved didn't sit right with Lowelle. They both held strange branches from a birch tree tightly in their hands. He got their attention by throwing a rock he had on him at the back of the bloodthirsty adversary's head. Lowelle lowered his brows, showed them a smirk and began warming up, wide stance with his right hand next to his shoulder and his left far from his body.