Chapter 86 : Dungeon

From the moment the Queen handed her the sapphire ring, Axion can sense a surge. She can feel the warmth coming out of the ring. The more she focuses on the ring, the more she's being drawn.

Something is calling her. Pulling her to a place she doesn't know. Telling her which path she should take.

She knows following the ring's guidance might lead her into learning things she doesn't want to know. But she needs answers.

As soon as the sun rose, another wave of demonstrators filled the capital. Chaos filled the streets. Protesters march towards the palace, demanding to see the Queen. Few anarchists burn vehicles in the middle of the road. Public stations are vandalized. Some people took this opportunity to loot the shops around the city. The military shots tear gas in an attempt to disperse the mass. But the situation only escalates into a full-scale riot.

Axion and Rum blend in with the demonstrators, trying to slip towards the palace. At the front gate, soldiers are barricading themselves with shields. Axion glances at the sides of the gates.

"To think that they even set up turrets and put out tanks. Just how far are they going to oppress these people?" Axion mumbled.

"It's terrible," Rum added. "It's as if they're fighting a zombie apocalypse."

Axion looked at Rum. They both nodded.

They sneak through the protesters and make their way to the far side.

Not far from the palace gate, there's an entrance to an underground passage. The entrance is shaped like a well and covered with a wire screen. Axion pulled open the wire screen and they both climbed down the ladder.

Water splashes as Axion's boots landed on the ground. She turns on her flashlight and starts looking at the long alley.

"This passage should be safe for us to reach the palace," said Rum.

"Let's hope Versatel didn't pay any attention to this passage," said Axion.

They walk through the dark narrow passage. The closer they are to the palace, the bigger the passage becomes. Soon, they reach an intersection with several tunnels. Loud streams of water echoed through the tunnels.

Rum looks at her GPS.

"Huh? Well, this is a bit unexpected," said Rum.

Axion looked at Rum's GPS. "One of these tunnels should lead us to the palace, right?"

"Yeah… well… These tunnels are old and we don't have time to check the accuracy of this map. Seeing at the place we're standing now, we should be right below the palace's front yard," said Rum

"Can you figure out which way we should take?"

"Hmmm… I think we should take that way," said Rum as she points to one of the tunnels.

Suddenly, the ground shakes. Dust falling off from the old walls. Rum and Axion went silent until the tremors stopped.

"Looks like they start to use the big guns," said Axion.

"We need to move," said Rum.

Axion nodded.

They continue to go through the dark tunnels. A while later, they reach an iron bar door. Axion looks around. There are other iron bars doors, circling the room.

"We should be right beneath the palace by now," said Rum.

Axion nods. She breaks the lock and opens the gates. They walked through and slowly glanced around.

"Something feels off," Axion thought to herself.

"Who are you?" asked a voice.

Startled, Axion and Rum pulled their guns. They saw a middle-aged man behind one of the metal bars.

Now that Axion takes a more careful look around, she realizes that this is the palace's dungeon where they keep prisoners. She can see silhouettes of people locked inside the prison.

Rum and Axion look at each other before they walk closer to the man that called them. They noticed the man wearing a royal guard uniform.

"You're not from around here, are you?" asked the man.

Axion exchange look with Rum for a moment. "No," she answered.

"What are you doing here?" asked the man.

"We're trying to sneak into the palace. Tell us where to go and maybe we can help you out of here," said Axion.

"What are you trying to do in the palace?"

"We're looking for the prince," Axion answered.

"The prince? What do you want with the prince?"

"We're with Flavius. We're here to help," said Axion. "You're a royal guard, aren't you?"

The man frowned. "You're with Flavius? isn't Flavius supposed to be with the prince?"

Axion and Rum look at each other with confusion.

"The Prince's convoy was divided when Versatel locked them outside the border," said Axion. She then explained everything to the man.

"The last time I saw the Prince was when he set out to the southern border," said the man. "As soon as he left, Versatel took over the palace and locked all royal guards down here."

The man takes a long sigh.

"Are you still willing to fight?" Axion suddenly asks.

"Fight? What chance do we have to fight Versatel?"

Axion pulled the sapphire wing from her pocket.

"That ring?! Where did you-"

"Your Queen gave it to me," said Axion. "I need to get this ring to the Prince," she adds.

"I know you've been locked here long enough to make you give up. Versatel is powerful and we don't know where the Prince or the Queen is. The plan I recklessly made with my friends might not be enough to convince you. But can you at least have faith that this Kingdom is not over yet? Not until this ring sees the Prince alive or dead."

The man looked at the ring. He contemplates his decision. He then looks at Axion in the eyes. "What do you need?" he finally asked.