This was it. They had moments to act, but despite Michael’s earlier bravado, for him, this felt completely different. Rising to the occasion to survive was difficult but felt natural. Like survival was an ingrained instinct hidden away inside of him; but this? This was someone else struggling against him, fighting his survival. So, for a moment, he hesitated.

Carolyn, however, did not. “Like we’ve got to go. Shar, can you like open that wall to get us out of here?”

Sharon shook her head, “It’ll take too lo…”

Carolyn cut her off, which caused Sharon to roll her eyes. “Then we’ve like got to run. We’re sitting ducks in the open here. We need to find some place that isn’t so like wide open.”

Before anyone could protest, Carolyn was already trying to push Avialian up while motioning for the others to get moving. Avialian still seemed to be a little out of it and was staying on the ground with her legs splayed out and a distant look in her eyes. Carolyn had managed to shake the hesitation from Michael at least.

“Come on, we have to go,” Michael grabbed ahold of Avialian’s hand as he looked down at her.

She looked up at Michael for a moment before her gaze fell to the ground. She still didn’t move.

“Are we going to…try to fight them?”

“Like I don’t think we’re really prepared for that kind of thing. We just have to like get out of here.”

“It looks like we…won’t be going anywhere…Not unless we…leave her here…”

Carolyn winced. She ducked down and tried to shove Avialian forward again. This time she managed to move her about a foot before some kind of two-pronged spear landed in the ground nearly an inch from Carolyn’s foot. Others followed suit and landed near Michael and Sharon.

“I’m guessing the plan now is to surrender?” Michael said as he slowly put his hands up.

“I do not know…if that is a…gesture that will…translate well…”

“Well, it couldn’t like hurt?” said Carolyn as she joined him and raised her hands above her head.

Sharon sighed and started to mumble as she put Avialian between her and the incoming spears.

With their hands up at least a dozen creatures stepped closer. They were similar to Avialian, but with much more jagged skin, almost like they were made of chunks of raw crystal, while she was a carved and refined gem. They all had a two-pronged spear in one hand, and more in a sort of sling on their back. In their eyes was nothing. No anger, hatred, joy, passion, or anything. At best there was a sort of apathy. Without a word they started to lift their spears to throw them as a low rumbling echoed through the ground. Like there was a barely perceptible earthquake.

“Wait, can’t we talk about this?”

“Yeah like, we surrender or whatever. So take us like to your leader.”

Their cries fell on deaf ears as one of them hurled their spear forward, right towards Michael.

CRASH!

There was a sound, almost like a small explosion as one of the monstrous statues broke through the wall and intercepted the spear with a punch. The apathy of the creatures seemed to shatter as the shambling monstrosity stood between them and their targets. It should have been too large to fit in the hallway, but the crystal it was made from seemed to shift and contort, allowing it to move around like a liquid in the confined space.

Confusion and a fear overtook the attackers as they began to throw their spears at the new monster. Their precision seemed to have all but disappear as it was replaced with a sort of desperation. At least for all of them except one near the back. The giant easily swatted away their spears with speed that seemed like it should’ve been impossible for something that size. Several of them took an anxious step back, but then one of them rushed forward.

While the others had the look of apathy replaced with different kinds of fear, he had an almost joyful look. As he rushed forward, he loosened the strap holding the spears to his back, and they collapsed to the ground. A cocky grin spread across his face as he took his only spear left in one hand and jumped over the incoming fist from the giant. As he cleared the incoming strike by inches, he thrust his spear down into the giant’s arm. As it made contact, the spear vibrated, and a chunk of the statues arm shattered around it.

SLAP

Avialian blinked as Sharon slapped her. “Get ahold of…yourself Avialian. We…need to get…out of here…”

Carolyn and Michael were both having trouble understanding everything that was happening as Sharon continued to try to rouse Avialian.

“Like Michael would…say, you need to…focus on surviving first…You can mourn when…our lives are not…at risk. Now let’s go…”

Without waiting for her, Sharon started to run down the hallway away from the ensuing fight. Finally, Michael and Carolyn came to reality. Each of them took one of Avialian’s hands in theirs and tried to get her to follow them. Sharon must have gotten through to her, because after blinking a few times, a look of determination rose on her face, and she stood up to run away with the others.

They were all panting as they made it out of the hallway, but the sheer magnitude of what they saw blew them away. They came out of the hall, and into a massive dome that would put the state of Texas to shame. The ceiling went up so high, it felt like they couldn’t see the end of it, along with it extending it far past the horizon in every other direction. All while everything was made from beautiful crystal, with strange architecture that would put humanities greatest craftsmen to shame. Yet, it felt especially strange because there was nothing alive in sight. Almost like they had walked onto some long abandoned movie set for a top of the line sci-fi movie.

“So like, -pant pant- anywhere we could like -pant pant- lie low?”

“I do not…of course! Yes, follow me. I do believe I know of the perfect place, but we must hurry.”

Michael tried to say something, but his lungs were on fire. His brain was also yelling at him that this was way too much rigorous physical activity for his caloric intake.

Avialian motioned for them to follow her as she took the lead. She led them down a grand spiral stairway then through a series of smaller tunnels before eventually ending in a surprisingly bare square room. It was easily the size of a decent apartment, but with no walls, appliances, windows, or anything else. Just a small archway that led to a winding tunnel that served as the only apparent entrance and exit.

Everyone sprawled out to finally catch their breath. Even Avialian seemed a bit winded. Michael got back out the bottle of water but made sure to not touch the fish this time. He was worried that that’s what attracted the guys who had tried to kill them.

“You like could’ve said you could control those things.” Panted Carolyn.

“If you had let…me finish my sentence…I had been about…to tell you that…”

Carolyn sighed. “You like could’ve led with that ace in the hole you know.”

“Or maybe next time…you can let me…speak?”

“Come on, now’s not the time. We need to regroup and figure out a plan.”

“Our best chance for survival now is to head to the throne of heroes.” It was obvious Avialian was still shaken, but she was doing her best to hold herself together.

It looked like both Sharon and Carolyn were about to say something, but Michael cut them off. “Then it’s decided. We’ll rest up here, and head for the throne once our strength is up.”

The warrior stood over the shattered remains of the giant. The wall it had broken through had repaired itself and looked like there was never a hole there to begin with. Satisfied with the outcome, the others were already leaving back the way they came. However, the one who had destroyed it was inspecting its shattered remains. He pushed pieces around with his spear as a confused look plastered his face. With each piece he inspected it only seemed to grow. Until he finally picked up a chunk and a flash of realization filled his eyes. His mouth hung agape as he quickly turned around and sprinted past the others with the chunk still in hand.