Imaginary Friend

"Alright everyone, we're out of time. We will be leaving now. My Skeleton friend here is going to use a skill that opens a gate to where we will be staying from now on.

I will warn you, on the other side of this gate, is a cave of sorts.

Do not be alarmed by your surroundings when you reach the other side. It is entirely safe and you will not be in danger. For the people who go first, please do not linger when you reach the inside of the cave. If you linger on the other side of the portal it is likely that you will be trampled by the people coming behind you."

Their was a heavy atmosphere in the courtyard as everyone listened to what Grant had to say. It was clear that everyone was apprehensive. Partly because they were being forced to move on little to no notice so it meant that their was danger lurking nearby, and also because they didn't know what their new lives would be like when they reached their destination.

Humans were creatures of habit by nature, and to break a habit is always stressful.

As soon as Grant was done speaking, he signaled for Skit to activate the skill.

With a wave of his hand, a gate the size of a two car garage door opened in front of Skit. Once it stabilized, he signaled to Grant that it was ready.

"Alright folks, it's time to go. Do not be afraid, Scott, Carly, and Toby will go first and you will follow them through. I promise you that their is no danger on the other side, all you will experience is some slight discomfort from passing through the gate."

As Grant mentioned, Scott, Carly, and Toby were the first ones to pass through the gate, but no one immediately followed because they were all apprehensive, but eventually one lone man worked up the courage to go through as well. He had nothing to lose, after all the zombies had already taken everything from him at the beginning of the apocalypse. As Ethan passed through the gate, gradually more and more people passed through it until they were nearing the end of the group.

"Grant, I suggest we get moving, the entity I sensed earlier has increased its speed and is heading directly towards us. I can say without a shadow of a doubt that it felt the large mana expenditure here so now it's headed in this direction."

Grant didn't answer, he just turned towards the remaining survivors and started urging them to move as quickly as possible.

As the last group approached, Grant grabbed Richard and Robin and threw them through the gate, before he picked up Ally in his arms and jumped through the gate with Skit hot on his heels. As Skit passed through the gate, it slowly shrunk before disappearing completely as if it were never there.

A few minutes later, what appeared to be a tall skinny tree, came walking around the corner and into the courtyard that had just been emptied.

The creature just stood in the center of the courtyard as if trying to sense something or someone within it's surroundings.

"Mmmm... what a high class skill.... world too weak.... not possible... but still happened.... mmmm... Curious indeed..."

Meanwhile, inside the dungeon, Grant had just appeared on the other side of the gate with Ally in his arms and Skit by his side.

"That was a treant race. It is unlikely that it was hostile, but they are a curious race. It is likely that it will not give up easily until it finds the source of the mana it sensed, or in this case, me."

"Is that bad for us? I mean if it isn't hostile, then can we have a conversation with it and try to strike up a deal?"

Skit just shook his head.

"That will not be possible for you anymore. We undead, are natural enemies of the treants. Now that we have formed a partnership, it will be impossible to form one with them.

Unfortunately you will be forced to, at the very most, form a non aggression pact. But they will never ally with you."

"Just like Sherlock, you too, can really be a pain in the ass, you know that Skit?"

"Who is Sherlock?"

"My imaginary friend, you got a problem!?"

While Skit and Grant were bickering back and forth, Ally was still resting in Grant's arms, so she decided to take the opportunity now that the conversation had devolved into a childish back and forth to ask to be let down.

Grant was startled when he realized that he was still holding onto Ally. He could see that her face was as red as his was due to embarrassment, so he placed her on the ground and they both turned away from each other.

After a moment of silence, Grant turned around and, "I'm sorry Ally, this bag of bones over here can really be infuriating. I got distracted"

"Think nothing of it Grant."

Their short back and forth was followed yet again by an awkward silence before Ally actually started looking around and taking in there surroundings. She was caught off guard by the sheer size of the cave. It was hard to believe that something that large could exist underground, but the proof was right in front of her.

Richard and Robin quickly ran over and joined their mother to look around at everything in amazement. They weren't the least bit concerned for their safety because Grant had promised that it would be safe, and he had yet to lie to them since they met.

While Ally and her kids were in awe, the survivors had all gathered into a tight little group in the middle of the giant room, looking around in both fear and curiosity. They didn't want to overstep and land in a dangerous situation so they all stuck close together.

Seeing this, Grant decided to walk over to the group and try to explain a few more things now that they were safe and he had the time.

"Folks, please do not be afraid. Their are no monsters here and currently there is only one way in and out of this place.

Scott, if you send four men up that pathway to your right, they will find the exit. Please have them stationed there but do not pass through the barrier. They simply need to watch the entrance and nothing more."

Scott quickly sent four men up the path that Grant had pointed out. Seeing this, Grant just nodded his head and continued with his little speech.

"I know it may be hard to believe, but this cave was created by The Path and is what is known as a dungeon. I have sole control of this dungeon so you do not need to fear it. Over the coming days and weeks, we will be transforming this place into a sprawling underground camp.

We will search for food and building materials outside once you have settled in. We will need volunteers to participate so if you are willing, please speak with Scott or Jerrod.

As for what happened with the trainee's that went with me earlier today to level up. It is regretful that we lost 12 good men. But, that is the state of the world we live in now. Danger lurks around every corner and we will need good men and women to step up to face those dangers.

I will not allow freeloaders to stay here. You can call me a tyrant or whatever else you want. But you will earn your right to be here and that is nonnegotiable.

If you have any questions, Scott or Jerrod will take care of everything.

If you wish to join the second trainee squad and not be stuck doing remedial jobs for the rest of your life, then follow me. We are leaving to train in an hour. Monsters don't sleep, so neither will we, for tonight at least."

After Grant finished his little speech, he walked over to where Ally and the kids were before telling them to follow him. He led them down the hallway towards the room that Skit and him had held their meeting. He told the three that they could stay in the room away from the rest of the survivors. A perk of being so closely related to the owner of the dungeon.

After seeing that they got settled in, Grant returned to the large room to see if anyone was going to volunteer for the training. Unsurprisingly, their were few people who wanted to participate this time around, but Grant was happy that even with the trauma, Ethan had still decided to continue with it.

While he was overlooking the group from a distance, Jerrod walked over and tapped him on the shoulder.

"You sure you don't want to lead? You seem to be taking charge of everything already, so why bother passing it to me?"

"Because, this is merely a stop on my Path towards greatness."