Rising Heroes Book Five: The Last Storm

Chapter Two: The Underground

Disclaimer: I don't own HOO or VE

Chapter Two: The Underground

As Lia led them further and further underground, Chase tried not to get worried. He always felt better when he was closer to the sea- and then here he was, going deeper and deeper into the forest.

The apocalypse could have at least happened closer to the ocean.

Finally they reached the bottom. Chase looked in wonderment at the tunnels held up by wood and steel, hard-packed with bricks and stone so it felt like they were in an actual house. "What is this place?" he asked his sister.

Lia shrugged. "The Resistance," she said. She peered at Chase. "I remember you."

"Well, I'm your brother," Chase said.

Lia shook her head. "It's weird. It's like I have these memories, but I didn't exist when they were made. And then I woke up and was here. Does that make sense?"

"Sort of," Chase admitted.

Lia led them further in. "The leaders will speak to you," she said.

She led them to a larger room with a giant table and chairs. The group sat down, including Lia. After a minute nine people walked through.

"Uncle Milo!" Pearl jumped to her feet. "And Sal!"

It was the rest of the time-travelers: Milo, Sal, Raina, Rudy, Adele, Gale, Gabi, Byron, and Birdie; although they now all looked like they were in their twenties. After hugging their respective family members, they all sat down.

"I don't understand," Bia said. "How is this possible?"

"You tell us," Adele said. "We arrived back at our normal time, but everything was a mess. Rhea and Leviathan helped Kronos, Lilith, and Sammael to win. Our whole families were wiped out."

"Including... our parents," Pearl realized.

"We think they might have disappeared before then," Birdie signed. "We've found documents about them potentially being at the New York Battle or in New Orleans at some point."

"Then why aren't they here now?" Nixie asked.

The others glanced at each other. "They might have... disappeared," Milo said reluctantly. "Their- our- parents died before we were supposed to be born. We did manage to get that information."

"Then how are we here?" Chase asked.

"I don't know," Gale said honestly. "I think there was some kind of time dilation because our siblings--your parents--were sent closer to when the change in time happened. But because we were sent further forward, we escaped it somehow."

"At least temporarily," Gabi amended.

"Do any of you have the Immortie?" Birdie signed.

Betsy shook her head. "No," she sighed. "We got sent back a different way."

"What about the other Immortalities?" Callie asked.

Lia shook her head. "No. We already tried that. Rhea and Leviathan destroyed them."

"Then what are we supposed to do?" Nixie said.

"We survive," Sal responded. "We... we slowly build out strength."

"That won't work," Lia snapped. "We've tried that."

"There must be something else," Chessy insisted. "Some way to go back. Betsy--if we could amplify your power somehow..."

"It's not a bad idea," Rudy mused. "We don't have any power amplifiers here currently, but if we found one..."

"And if it doesn't work, we're all going to die," Milo grumbled.

"We're living in squalor anyway," Lia argued. "I'd rather at least try than stay here for the rest of my short pitiful life."

"Ok, ok," Raina held up a hand. But just as she was about to speak, the ceiling rumbled. The whole room shook, and dust fell from the ceiling.

"What is happening?" Pearl shouted.

"You must have been followed," Gabi said, casting a slight look at Lia. "Looks like you'll be leaving here after all."

The sound of heavy bootsteps could be heard from the stairs. "You have to leave!" Gale shouted.

Lia led them towards the exit. "Wait, what about you?" Chessy shouted back.

Adele shook her head. "We'll hold them off for as long as we can," she said grimly. "Go. Check all the hiding spots. Go back in time. Fix this."

Betsy looked like she wanted to stay with her aunt, but Chase dragged her away. "Hey!" she yelled as he wrapped his arms around her waist and practically carried her to the stairs.

"This is for your own good," Chase huffed. When they got to the stairs he set her down and started to push her up them.

The whole underground lair was shaking now, nearly on the verge of collapse. As they raced up the stairs, Chase cast one last look at the last of the resistance.

And then they were above ground, in open air, racing for their lives. The sounds of shouting and fighting could be heard behind them, slowing fading the further they ran.

"I... need a breather," Betsy panted, slumping against a tree. The rest of the group stopped beside her.

"There's a safe house a couple miles from here," Lia offered. "We don't have to run... but could you, like, speed walk?"

Betsy nodded. "I think so," she said.

They started moving again. "How long has that area been undetected?" Callie asked Lia.

Lia shrugged. "As long as I can remember. But I woke up in this reality like... a year ago, I think? Yeah, a year. But it feels like longer."

"I'm just wondering how they could have found it after all this time if you've gone so long undetected." Callie said, frowning.

Lia shrugged. "It was bound to be found eventually. They probably tracked your guys's energy or something."

"Maybe," Callie conceded, but she was still frowning. "It just doesn't make sense... I mean, how? Why? Why now, of all times?"

"It doesn't matter," Lia said. "Right now we just have to worry about staying alive."

Suddenly there was a rustle from nearby. Turning, they saw two figures making their way through the brush.

"Griffin!" Nixie recognized him instantly. She ran forward and hugged him, then turned to the girl beside her. "Beth? But... how?"

"Leviathan captured me as soon as we got back," Beth said. "But... my mom isn't dead. Neither is my dad. That stopped me from disappearing. I just got freed... we've been trying to find someone."

"We heard there was a stronghold this way," Griffin said. 

"It's destroyed now," Lia supplied. 

Beth glanced at her dad. "We still need to keep moving," he said. "Your mom is waiting."

Beth glanced at the others. "Be safe, ok?" she hugged them. "We'll try to find you. Stay alive."

They started to walk away, but Griffin leaned towards Nixie first. "Be careful," he said. "I can't pinpoint who... but there's lies in the midst of your group."

Nixie nodded, then watched them walk away. The whole thing felt like a fever dream. But she forced herself to turn around and keep walking.