A Trip to the Elmray Mountains

Wednesday, 4 March 2099

To Bruno, he felt as if death followed him everywhere. The first time was in the carriage, when the explosion killed Alec Cade, Roger, and Isaiah. The death did not stop there. The next day, Bruno was nearly killed himself at the memorial. Instead, Sir Espington was shot, Lee nearly lost his life, and Geoffrey Otis the Espington Eatery Waiter (who waited on Bruno twice) was shot and killed. The next day, Tuesday, Bruno had been invited to see Faulkner get Exiled into the Pines. Bruno thought he was not going to see Faulkner die, just get thrown into the woods. Wrong. The mother Grizzly attacked everyone, ending in the deaths of both Faulkner and Melvin. Three days in a row, full of death. But, wait, there was one more person: Mr. Honey. Wednesday, the first day of ESH, Bruno met Ria Esteves, a Fabrics Marketer. She introduced Bruno to the ill Mr. Honey. All he wanted was a promise from Bruno (who was a total stranger that day) and then the old man did not care to live. Four days in a row, Bruno had witnessed death.

And, surprisingly, he was not traumatized anymore.

After the shooting, Bruno knew death was something to keep an eye out for. He was traumatized after the explosion because that was so unexpected. After all the things that had occurred in Espington, Bruno knew something tragic was bound to happen. He was not surprised to have found out that Faulkner wanted him dead, not Otis. Death would come now that he had enemies: O'Neill, Benson, (Anzalone, Jago, and Sayer?), Mavers. Death would come now that there was animosity between Adlington and Espington, Belington and Espington, Islington and the three Cities. Death would come now that Bruno knew there were Varmints and Piners living in the Pines. Bruno knew Death would come naturally, like Mr. Honey. He just hoped that his closest friends━Valinoti, Lee, Cariddi, Schmidt━would not be in Death's path. He hoped Carth and his family back in Adlington would be safe. Bruno also hoped his new friends like Spearman, Cradock, the Nurses, Ria, Klaudine, even Katrina were out of harm's way.

And after the automobile accident, Bruno prayed Rina would never get hurt again.

Valinoti was chewing on an apple in the common area while watching an Islington sitcom (all TV shows, but Espington News, were broadcasted in Islington). Bruno walked in with his backpack still over his shoulder.

"How's Ria? You know, the girl you just met today that you had to walk over to," Valinoti asked.

"I met her friend," Bruno answered calmly. He didn't need this. "He's dead now."

Valinoti sat up, coughed on his apple. His face of total sarcasm disappeared, replaced by complete concern.

"Dude, what happened?" he asked.

"A man named Mr. Honey worked at the Fabrics Market," Bruno explained flatly. "He was the one who made the Adlington sweatshirt. All he wanted was peace between the Four Cities. Mr. Honey was sick when I met him and now he is dead."

Bruno went to walk to Room B when Valinoti got up and stopped him. "Dude, I'm sorry I was rude before and also in the elevator. I just don't want you getting involved with all this stuff. We haven't been here a week and you're the most talked about guy in Espington! Your life has been spared countless times! Many people love you, yet many people frickin' hate you. I just don't want you ending up like Otis or...or Faulkner."

Valinoti had a look of sheer concern. He really did care about his friend. Bruno grinned, appreciated that.

"Thanks, Tim." And he walked into his room.

Thursday, 5 March 2099, 4:15 AM

At first, Anzalone had no idea what to do. He just stared at his mobile, rubbed his eyes with his left hand, blinked a million times.

Still Dylan J. Faulkner.

The mobile buzzed a few more times and then the backlight went out. Was that real? Or did I just dream that?

That was when the mobile buzzed again, five minutes later. The backlight flashed up; there was the green ACCEPT icon and the red DECLINE icon.

And, of course, Dylan J. Faulkner.

This time Anzalone clicked the green button.

"Hello?"

There was a bit of static, then, "Anzalone?"

"Faulkner?"

The voice laughed. "No, you imbecile. It's Espen!"

Anzalone sighed a breath of relief. But then he realized that this made absolutely no sense whatsoever.

"How do you have Faulkner's mobile?"

"Ake and I were waiting for the Exilation to conclude so we could pick Faulkner up and bring him to Adlington for Maximus to deal with, but sadly the bears got to him first, so we found his body and luckily the mobile was still intact. It took me a while to figure out the damn gadget but I managed," Espen continued.

"What do you want?"

"It is Thursday, Tyler."

"I know," he said, "I've been working hard on my next plan."

"You have three days," Espen said.

"And then I die like 'the Otis guy.' I know, Espen."

The Viking laughed. "You think I'm bluffing?"

"I never━"

"We already have an Assassin on Espington ground," Espen interrupted. "Sunday you will die, but not before we send a video of your parents' deaths with this dandy mobile."

Anzalone remembered Sir Adlington threatening his family in the Pines when he first escaped the Mining City.

"Mobile batteries only last three days until they need to be charged," Anzalone thought quickly.

"We have that dorky Viking, Ross, who can rig our solar panels to charge the dang gadget," Espen laughed. "Focus on the task at hand or the Anzalone Family is done for!"

And the Viking hung up.

. . .

Thursday, 5 March 2099, 7:49 AM

Bruno, Valinoti, and Schmidt left R9 for their second day of ESH after Valinoti let Jojo out to go to the bathroom. The giant Great Dane peed in a designated area for pets outside Inns Two (they really had those).

In Prime Class, Teacher Rudolph talked endlessly about the Brethren War: the Vikings of Adlington, the Guard of Espington, the casualties, the Presidents, the Sergeant Guard, the Head Vikings, the outcome. Bruno was falling asleep because Teacher Rudolph spoke in a thick monotone with absolutely no virve or enthusiasm whatsoever.

Anzalone was sitting in the back again, passed out━though Klaudine, Heather, and two other students were asleep as well.

"...The Brethren War of Two Thousand Eighty Nine concluded in just seven days after Madam Alice Adlington and Madam Cinda Espington committed suicide due to grief of their husbands' hatred for one another."

Teacher Rudolph clapped, waking up all the sleeping students━Anzalone nearly fell out of his chair━and snapping Bruno out of his drowsy stupor.

"We'll be having a small quiz on the Brethren War tomorrow," Rudolph grinned. "Hope ya'll paid attention."

The class groaned after taking a study guide from Teacher Rudolph. The bell double rang and Bruno did not hesitate to leave. Rina was putting her history textbook away as Bruno passed her.

"Hey! Can I walk with you guys?" she asked.

"Yeah. Sure," Bruno said.

"I actually have to ask Penni a question about the upcoming quiz tomorrow," Valinoti smirked. "Seems like she paid attention."

Valinoti nudged Bruno and he jogged over to Penni and the other girls up ahead. Penni looked back for just a second, noticed Bruno and Rina, and turned back around. Bruno saw that.

"How have you been?" Rina asked.

"Fine. You?"

"Good. Sorry I left like that yesterday. Nervous, a bit."

"Why?"

"You know why, Bruno."

He did.

They walked the rest of the way to Mathematics in silence.

. . .

Bruno worked on practice problems from his Math textbook; he had to plug certain numbers into a specific formula on Annuity.

Teacher Howell was about to read off the answers when a young woman entered the classroom. She wore gray dress pants with a cyan blouse. Her hair was put up in a bun and a blue pencil stuck horizontally through the strands.

"Sorry to interrupt," the lady said. She looked at her clipboard before speaking again, "but may I see Rina Espington, Heather Mueger, and Rich Bruno?"

Teacher Howell nodded to Bruno and the girls; they all stood.

"Follow me," the lady said.

Bruno looked at Valinoti before he left; his friend just shrugged.

. . .

"Is there a problem?" Heather asked the lady.

"No," she answered calmly, "we're just heading to the main office for you three to fill out an information form. All students will do it during the course of the day."

Bruno calmed down. He thought it was something with him and Rina because that girl could do anything since she was Sir Espington's daughter (she did make Bruno's schedule). But since Heather was with them, he realized it wasn't anything serious.

"Ms. Mueger, please come with me first," the lady said. "You two, please take a seat."

Heather followed the woman into a room, closed the door behind her. Rina and Bruno just waited there. There were about four or five cubicles with secretaries typing and writing down who-knew-what. All of the secretaries were women with gray and blue outfits. Another lady came from a room down the hall. Bruno recognized her almost immediately.

"Leta? What are you doing here?"

"Just follow me," she smirked.

Rina got up without hesitating. Bruno did not understand, but followed the girls anyway. They all entered a room and sitting at a desk was Sir Espington.

"Bruno, nice to see you again!" the President smiled. "Still jittery from that whole Grizzly experience?"

"Yeah?" Bruno, like always, was utterly confused.

Jago and Sayer stood behind the President; they rested against the back wall. Leta stood by Julius' side, holding a clipboard like the lady.

"Do you know why you're here?" Sir Espington asked.

"Well, I don't think we're here to fill out an information form like Heather," Bruno said and then realized something: "Heather was just called to make it look like no big deal, am I right?"

"This guy is smart," Sayer said.

"Yes, yes, Heather filled out an unimportant form and will be heading to Class Three once Two concludes," Julius said. "You two are here for something else."

"And what's that?" Bruno asked.

"I guess Rina did not tell you," Sir Espington smiled at his daughter. "We're taking a trip to the Elmray Mountains. We may switch your Occupation to Gatherer, which is basically like an Adlington Miner."

Bruno was confused. Why move to Espington and start a new life when he was going to be basically a Miner again? Then he thought of one word: overpopulation.

"We're going to the Elmray Mountains?" Bruno asked. "What if we get attacked by another Varmint?"

"More Guard will be around us," Sir Espington assured.

"So you took me out of Math for a trip to the Mountains to see if I'd be a good Gatherer?"

"Well, I doubt you want to be a Head Guard," Julius said; Jago and Sayer looked at each other at that point, "So we thought maybe Boss Gatherer would suit you fancy."

"Boss Gatherer?" Bruno repeated.

Sir Espington nodded.

Bruno turned to Rina. "Is she coming just because she's your daughter?"

Julius stood up. He peered at Jago, Sayer, Leta, and finally his daughter before speaking. "Rina is coming because she wants to spend time with you. She made this clear to me. I'm allowing her to come along. The incident with the Grizzly made me realize that she's in good hands if she's with you."

Automatically, Bruno thought of the word childish. Sir Espington just made it clear that he knew about Rina's crush. The President was now taking it upon himself to make his daughter happy. After the whole problem with Rina's ex, Hermes, Julius was very overprotective. Luckily, Sir Espington just admitted that he felt at ease if his daughter was with Bruno.

"Is that okay if I come along, Bruno?" Rina asked, sounding way younger than eighteen.

"Um, yeah?" he answered, not knowing why he needed to.

"Great!" Julius clapped. "Jago, get the auto ready: We're going to the Mountains!"

The automobile ride was awkward. Jago drove with Sir Espington in the passenger seat; Rina and Bruno sat in the back row with Sayer and another Guard in the two middle seats. To Bruno, the ride felt as if it was going on forever. The dirt trail ran alongside the cluster of pine trees. It was scary to think that Bruno was somewhere in there, fighting for his life, just two days ago. He was lucky he just ran into a Varmint and not the Piners (Are they even real?).

"Be there in five minutes," Jago said.

Bruno looked ahead, through the windshield, and saw the Elmray Mountains. They poked through the clouds, the tips covered in snow. Bruno could not believe how wide the mountain range was; it spread miles and miles west, although he couldn't see that far down. No one in the automobile seemed that interested, but Bruno assumed it was because they all had seen the Elmray Mountains already. This was Bruno's first time.

And this time the Espington Guard was ready; four Humvees followed Julius' automobile.

. . .

Two Humvees had already parked at the base of the Mountains. A bunch of Guard held either taser-batons or Obsidians━the name of the black, semiautomatic rifles the Guard, including Jago and Sayer, held. Sir Espington pointed to the Humvee on the left and Jago parked next to the vehicle.

"Excited?" the first word Rina said to Bruno during the ride.

"I guess," he answered, not knowing why Rina was so worried and childish.

Everyone exited the automobile. Dozens of Guard surrounded Sir Espington in a wide circle; Jago and Sayer walked behind Rina. Bruno noticed Diggs at one of the Humvees holding an Obsidian. He looked sad, staring at the gravelly floor, kicking pebbles with his black boots. Bruno remembered about Melvin, knew he had been a friend of Diggs. The young Guard, looked up, noticed Bruno, gave him a quick wave and fake grin.

"Follow me, Bruno," Sir Espington said. "We're going to the first tier of the Elmray Mines."

Bruno knew that Adlington Miners came here once and awhile, even though the trek with carriages was very strenuous and using trucks was just a waste of fuel. Adlington Miners typically stayed in the Adlington Mines in search of valuables, even though the Elmray Mines were filled with gems.

Sir Espington walked up the base of the mountain, a man-made, gravelly trail with a pennant planted at every half mile. Rina walked alongside Bruno; they looked at each other every once in awhile but broke contact almost immediately. Jago and Sayer were still right behind them, twenty Guard after that.

"Here we are," Julius said. "The entrance to the first tier of the Elmray Mines."

Bruno stared at a wide opening in the side of the Mountain; titanium bars held the arch in place. It was dark inside, although Bruno could see dim light bulbs in the distance. He almost fainted when he saw two familiar faces exit the Mine.

"Amaury? Mickey?" Bruno gasped.

The two Adlington Miners, and Bruno's best friends, were in their usual Mining uniforms: helmet, boots, and a Mining belt.

"Bruno? I don't believe it!" Amaury laughed.

"Feels like you're dead," Mickey chuckled.

Bruno embraced his friends, Jago and Sayer grunting a bit. Mickey nudged Bruno to turn around, he did, and all the Guard were staring in total suspicion.

"Who are they?" Sir Espington asked.

"My friends from Adlington," Bruno smiled. "Miners Amaury and Mickey."

"Oh, yes," Sir Espington grinned. "They're on the list to come here this Sunday."

Bruno turned his head around. "Is he kidding?"

"Wanted it to be a surprise, Dude," Mickey laughed.

"Food good there?" Amaury asked and, together, the friends laughed some more.

Rina walked up. "Ready to view the Mine, Bruno?"

"Girlfriend?" Amaury asked.

"No," Bruno said and for some reason he felt as if that was the wrong answer. He looked at Rina and saw how she did not like his answer either.

"Why ya here?" Mickey wondered.

"We're seeing if he's worth the title of Boss Gatherer," Jago answered rudely. Bruno could tell none of the Guard appreciated Adlington residents anywhere near them.

"Boss? Damn, Bruno, you've been in the City for less than a week and they're promoting ya?" Mickey patted him on the back.

"Lots of things have happened," Bruno elaborated. "I'll tell you Sunday."

"Well, we gotta head back to Adlington. Carriage is waitin'," Mickey said. "See ya soon, Dude."

Bruno hugged his friends goodbye and watched as the two Miners walked down another trail to their carriage and horses.

"Bruno, we're behind schedule now," Julius said. "Let's get going."

And, together, the group of thirty entered the Elmray Mines.

Bruno automatically thought about the Mines back in his home City. They were a lot smaller and cramped than the Elmray Mine, but the darkness, mustiness, and dampness were all the same. The Adlington Mines had rougher trails and tiers, included with hundreds of stalagmites and stalactites. The Elmray Mine had a smooth trail with steel beams nailed in the rock ceiling, stabilizing the entire Mine and Mountain. The light bulbs were the same as Adlington's, dust-covered and dimly lit.

"Right this way," Julius said.

The President turned a corner in the Mine and Bruno's eyes widened when he saw tile-floored locker room. Lockers made up the walls; hanging light bulbs illuminated the room; a couple chairs and tables rested in the middle of the area. Bruno had never seen anything like this back in Adlington (Tiled floors? Really?). Cradock the Boss Guard was lying atop one of the wooden tables. He sat up when he heard the crowd.

"'Bout time ya'll made it," he said. "Thought another Grizzly found ya."

The Guard laughed, although Bruno had no idea why that was funny━one of their men did die in the Pines.

"Cradock, show them the area," Julius ordered. "We'll be outside."

At that point, the Guard started to exit the Mine. Jago and Sayer were the last to leave; Rina and Sir Espington staid behind.

"We're all touring the Mine?" Bruno asked.

"Rina wants to spend time with you," Julius said. "I made that clear to you, did I not?"

Cradock clapped his hands together. "Well, not only am I the Boss Guard, but I am the Boss Gatherer as well; I facilitate the Gatherers and the valuables we collect in the Elmray Mines. We're not Miners because we don't use handheld tools, we solely use machinery and technology. Bruno, I want to see what you know about Mining and maybe you can take my job. Bein' two Bosses is alotta work!" the Boss Guard started laughing.

Bruno was annoyed, but did not show it. He had a feeling he was going to have absolutely no choice in the Occupation he was given. Maybe he wanted to stay in the Factory with Valinoti, Schmidt, Lee, and Spearman, but did it matter? Why not send Bruno back to Adlington so he can work in the Mines again as a Miner? What the hell is a Gatherer anyway?

"I'll be outside," Julius said. "Too dusty."

Before Bruno could realize what the President was doing, the man was gone. Rina stood next to Cradock, looking around the locker room (though there was really nothing to look at).

"Okay," Cradock clapped. "That's it! I'll be outside! Congrats, Bruno, you got Boss Gatherer!"

"Wait, what?" Bruno asked.

"Seriously? We need you in the ECC after the Grizzly incident! We know you're a good Miner." Cradock said. "The Elmray Mountains trip was strictly just for you and Rina. Take it. I'll be outside with Julius."

The Boss Guard took a pin of a mountain off his right shoulder and pinned it on Bruno's shoulder. Cradock left the locker room, left the Mines. That was when the silence started. Rina sat down on a seat, Bruno sat on a table.

"Good," she said. "They're gone."

Rina got up from the chair and walked right over to Bruno. She grabbed his face and pulled it to hers. And, just like that, they were kissing.

On instinct, Bruno pulled back. "What the hell is going on?"

"You don't want me to kiss you?"

"Well, yeah, but I'm just so confused!"

"I have to act like a little girl when I'm around my father," Rina explained. "He will always protect me after my ex. He's being a tad more lenient because he knows I'm safe with you. But Jago, or Sayer, or Cradock will always be around me somewhere."

Bruno could not believe how quickly Rina changed. She was shyer than ever when she was around him and her father or the Guard. But in ESH, Rina had kissed Bruno and now, in the locker room, she had kissed him again! Bruno didn't understand, but he really didn't care. Rina was hot.

"This is not exactly the most romantic date," Rina said. "But it's what my father put together and I had to accept."

"Can you just skip ESH whenever you want?" Bruno asked.

"Pretty much," Rina nodded. "I don't have an Occupation; I get everything for free. ESH is optional for me and I can make it optional for you."

Bruno shook his head. The Espingtons lived the life; Bruno couldn't imagine how awesome a life little Colton Espington had.

Rina sat next to Bruno on the table. "Wanna walk further down in the Mine?"

"Doesn't your dad want us to stay here?"

"What he doesn't know won't hurt him."

Bruno liked the way Rina talked when she wasn't around family or the Guard. He stood up and took Rina's hand. Together, they left the locker room and━without letting Julius or Cradock notice━turned left, deeper into the Mine.

. . .

Both Rina and Bruno turned on the flashlight icon of their mobiles. The cavernous Mine illuminated, making the stalactites look like glowing icicles and the stalagmites like wax candles. Every few feet, Bruno would notice a rat scurry on by either alone or with its family. Luckily, they weren't the size of boars. Bruno believed that the Varmint tail he had seen back in the Adlington Mines was that of a mouse or rat. He did not want to face one underground with minimal lightness.

The two stopped at a fork in the Mine, another right or left; they chose left. Rina then stopped at a bench Gatherers had placed at checkpoints throughout the Elmray Mines. The pretty girl took a seat, and slapped the empty spot gently. Bruno took his spot.

"Why do you want this?" Bruno asked immediately.

Rina giggled. "When I first met you, I blushed and I'm glad you didn't notice that. There was something special about you, the way you blurted out saying Islington was the one that attacked the carriage. I knew you'd be important to Espington, and look at you know: four days in a new City and you've managed to stop a Varmint, save me, and become a Boss. I admire that."

Bruno remembered his first interaction with Rina; she had a sprinkle on her lip that he had pointed out. After that, Bruno thought he would never speak to the girl again after what Cariddi and Lee had explained. Then, after the Rooftop Dinner at Espington Eatery, Bruno had bumped into Rina and she had said his name.

She had remembered his name.

"What about you, Bruno?" Rina asked. "Do you want this?"

He nodded, not knowing how to say it in words. Rina made a face as if she were saying, And?

"After seeing you in the Heart, I knew I had to meet you. My buddies told me about Hermes and how your father is protective. It didn't matter to me; I had to get to know you. Luckily, you felt the same way with the sketch and all. Valinoti said━Valinoti! He's probably worried sick! Probably mad again because I'm literally getting all the attention twenty-four-seven here!"

"He's fine!" Rina assured. "One of the secretaries took him to the main office to fill out an 'information form', too. He'll still be in the office by the time you get back for End Class! I thought it through, Bruno!"

She was right. Rina knew how to finagle with pretty much anything: the schedule, Occupations, friends. Bruno loved that about her, but didn't know if Rina's power was a bad thing, too.

"What's that?" Rina pointed.

Bruno was anticipating a Varmint, a six foot rat with razor-sharp teeth, rugged, white fur and crimson eyes, but there was no animal in sight. Instead, Bruno noticed a small flame in the distance. It was thin, like a candle atop a rock or something. Rina took a few steps forward, towards the mysterious flame, but Bruno stopped her.

Something wasn't right.

Bruno and Rina could not see the entrance anymore, they had turned that corner after exiting the locker room, the fork. All they needed to do was turn back the way they came, turn the right corner, pass the locker room, and dart out of the Mine. But Bruno thought that there wouldn't be enough time. Why did he think that?

"Bruno," Rina whispered, pointing at the flame.

The wisp of fire grew larger, brighter...closer. The entire tunnel was filling up with a blaze of orange and red flames. Bruno immediately grabbed Rina by the bicep and bolted back the way they came. He could feel the heat pressing against his back, crisping the hair on the nape of his neck. For a second, Bruno turned around and saw the bench burn up and disappear in the flames.

"We have to dive to the side when we reach the corner!" Bruno exclaimed.

"Okay!" Rina listened.

The corner was coming up on the right as was the wave of blazing fire. This was the fork in the Mine, although it was to turn right or straight this time (and the choice was pretty obvious when an eruption of fire was blazing behind you). Twenty feet. Ten feet. Five feet.

"Dive!"

Bruno and Rina dove to the right; the blast of flames continued forward, travelling down the tunnel. The wave of heat blew Bruno and Rina's hair back, burned their skinned a bit.

"Rina!" someone shouted from the entrance a few hundred yards away.

Bruno turned around and believed he saw Cradock waiting at the entrance, the daylight shining his figure into a complete shadow.

"We're under attack!" Bruno screamed, helping Rina up. But were they being attacked?

Dozens of Guard stormed into the Mine, gripping their Obsidians. Cradock, Jago, Sayer, and Sir Espington were in the front of the crowd, but they were still yards away from Rina and Bruno.

That was when the Mine started to shake.

Dust and bits of stone dropped from the rocky ceiling. Then the first stalactite fell, and then another, and then the scorched support beams.

"The Mine is collapsing!" Bruno heard Julius scream. "Run faster!"

Bruno held onto Rina, who looked at him with complete fear. The Mine was vibrating violently now; chunks of rocks dropped from the ceiling near and behind Bruno and Rina.

"Duck!" Bruno heard Cradock shout.

Both Rina and Bruno did just as a blast of golden light shot out of Jago's Obsidian. The beam struck a piece of stone that was plummeting from the Mine ceiling and falling towards Rina. The mass of rock poofed into a plume of dust once the golden light struck it. The motes got into Bruno's hair and face, but he did not slow down his pace at all.

"C'mon! Almost there!" Sir Espington screamed; Bruno heard strain in his voice.

The Guard continued disintegrating falling rocks with their Obsidians. Bruno heard the zaps and blasts, the bright, golden light passing his closed eyes. Finally, he bumped into someone who grabbed him tightly.

"Keep running," Bruno heard Cradock shout.

"Where's Rina?" Bruno asked, his eyes still closed from the dust.

"I'm okay!" she yelled from somewhere.

Bruno could feel the light through his eyelids; he was so close to the Mine exit. Hundreds of clomping footsteps echoing with the crumbling stone and falling stalactites.

"Dive, Bruno!" Cradock shouted, pushing Bruno from his back.

He did, putting his hands out in front of him. The ground was closer to Bruno than he had expected; bits up gravel dug into his palms and scratched his chest. Someone was there right away, wiping Bruno's face with a damp rag. He blinked a bit, and saw Cradock right in front of him.

"We gotta go!" the Boss Guard yelled, pulling Bruno up.

Rina was there, her blonde hair now a slategray (but somehow she still looked gorgeous with those aquamarine eyes). Sir Espington was right beside her, trying to pull out pieces of small stone from his daughter's hair. Jago and Sayer were yelling at each other for some reason, while all the other Guard━including Diggs━were aiming their Obsidians all around the trail and base of the Mountain.

Cradock pulled Bruno back to the automobile; Rina entered the cabin soon after. Sir Espington sat in the passenger seat, as Cradock started the engine.

"What about Jago and Sayer?" Rina asked.

"They're retreating!" Sir Espington shouted, his voice sounded shaky as if in total fear.

Retreating?

Bruno turned around. Not only did he see the sealed entrance to the Elmray Mines, but he saw all the Guard running back into their autos and Humvees. As Cradock drove the automobile further and further away from the Elmray Mountains, Bruno could have sworn he had seen something on the Humvee Jago and Sayer had just entered.

An arrow sticking out of the back tire.