Blinding lights filled the cave. Thirteen men covered their faces simultaneously.

Rayman, Kevin, Fin, George, and Wolken stood their ground as the giant door opened with a hiss. Billy, Zeph, and Connor took two steps backward fearing what was inside. Mark, Lucas, Steven, and Carl ran to one side of the wall and pulled their shields up. Ben whipped around the corner, hiding, then poked his head out to look.

The blue pulsing lights stopped and through the door, bright white lights lit the inside. Staring in awe of the moving doors and lights that lit themselves on fire, they took it all in.

“How are those torches lighting themselves?” Fin asked flabbergasted.

“I think this is a ruin,” Kevin mumbled.

“Ruin? You mean one of ‘The Ancients’?” Rayman asked.

“Yes. I believe it is. The torches lighting themselves have something to do with the technology.” Kevin explained.”

Anyone with an education knew of ‘The Ancients’, they were their extinct human ancestors from thousands of years ago. Historians all around the world had been studying them for centuries but very little was known. The books Kevin had read while in school had taught him many things but the first humans were mostly a mystery. Many details were withheld due to the kingdom’s regulations of sharing information.

What the Historians did manage to discover was their technology far surpassed their own. All around the world small ruins proved their existence and solidified advanced technology. Ruins had been found in every corner of Isulia. No one really knew how they were built but proved a civilization from the past once lived here.

Historians from all four kingdoms worked to reveal the mysteries. That was several hundred years ago, under the Tyrannical rule of king Galton. In that time, the Historians died off without passing on their work until Xer grew to power and split Isulia into four kingdoms. During peacetime, research into ‘The Ancients’ continued and from then on was taught in schools across Isulia.

Something had wiped out ‘The Ancients’ and the cause for their extinction was never found. Many fossils were also dug up and revealed their shape and size, which the average stood at eight-nine feet tall and looked human, which is why the theory that they were our ancestors came from. Little was known of them but they did leave behind a dead language which to this day hasn’t been translated.

Kevin remembered reading in a book that many records spoke of glass windows that displayed paintings. The paintings could move on the glass and speak out loud. Even images that looked like humans could project themselves like ghosts into the real world. Having several professors explain these records had Kevin confused by many of the facts. Some would say different things, and others would deny outright that Ancients never existed. Saying it was all made up.

Truthfully, Kevin found it hard to believe such technology existed. Talking ghosts, moving pictures all sounded crazy. Seeing it with his own eyes, however, all doubt left him. The studies he did on the Ancients flooded back to him.

“This has to be the Ancients,” Kevin said aloud. “I can’t believe this structure is still intact though. It’s been thousands of years since they went extinct, for this to be here and still function is unbelievable.”

“What made the doors move?” Rayman asked. “They moved on their own. How is that possible?”

“What are Ancients?” Billy asked dumbly. “Are they aliens from space?”

Rayman looked over at him, not all that surprised the young boy didn’t know of them. “They were a human civilization thousands of years old but went extinct.” Rayman gave the short version.

Several nods of understanding came from a few others making him realize most of the men didn’t know about them. Not surprising, for the average man to get an education was rare.

“I suspect there is a machine inside that makes things move on their own,” Kevin explained. “I am no expert but I studied several books on them. Look there,” he pointed. “Those are mirrors that can show moving pictures.”

“I know a little about them too,” Rayman said. “I just can’t believe that it’s true.”

Everyone’s attention was on the mirror that Kevin pointed to. No one noticed a tall creeping figure coming out of the darkness behind them.

A noise behind Ben made him turn his head to look at what caused the disturbance. The glare of Ben’s torch and light coming from the room blinded most of his vision but he saw something move. It was too late.

Screaming came from behind Rayman and all twelve men whipped their heads around. It was cut short suddenly a moment later. Scratching and growling could be heard from around the corner.

“Ben!” Mark and Steven yelled simultaneously. “Ben, where are you!” they moved towards Ben previously.

“Stay back!” Rayman bellowed as he saw several moving creatures in the shadows.

They had red glowing eyes and they were hunched over like giant dogs. As far as he could tell, they weren’t merely dogs. Dozens of figures flooded in, filling the space of the entire cave.

“Demons!” Mark gasped. “I told you, Billy!”

“Shut up!” Billy hissed at his friend.

“W-what do we do?” Connor panicked.

They all instinctively gathered together, creating a shield wall. They shifted backward slowly into the doorway.

“Stay calm,” Rayman said. No sudden movements. We don’t want to rile them up.” Rayman ordered. “Keep moving back. There might be a way out this way.”

“They’re real, Rayman. Zepper was right.” Kevin whispered in his ear.

Sheer panic gripped Rayman. His mind was racing a mile a minute. These creatures had just killed Ben, in an instant their friend was gone. He refused to let it show, someone had to lead them regardless of the situation. Rayman forced himself to keep a cool head and lead his men.

“Stay together and in formation,” he ordered. “We will find another way out through the ruin.”

Suddenly, everything grew completely silent. Nothing moved, dozens of red eyes stood stationary gazing at them. One stepped out of the shadows, revealing itself completely for the first time. It was around five feet tall. It had armor plating all the way down its back. Scales covered the rest of the body. Many sharp bone-like spikes protruded out of its shoulders and down the middle of its head. Bones stuck out on the rim of its jaw, lining its lower mouth with what looked like teeth. Its neck was thick and muscles bulged out from the legs as it stalked closer. Monstrous teeth jutted out of its jaws as it opened its mouth with a low growl.

“Stay calm,” Rayman repeated. Seeing everyone tense in fear at the sight of the creature.

“We are all going to die down here,” Zepth almost wept. “There is nowhere to go.”

“Shut up,” hissed Kevin. “Rayman will get us out of this. We just need to follow his lead.”

Several more creatures broke from the shadows and followed the first. Dozens of them began to approach, slowly but steadily.

Rayman stood in the middle of the line of shields, he risked a glance backward but saw only empty rooms.

“Rayman! Rayman!” Kevin shouted. “Look!”

He turned quickly and saw them still approaching. “Yes. I see them coming.”

“No!” Kevin, Billy Mark, and Conner all said at the same time. “They stopped moving when you looked behind us.” Kevin finished for them.

“Uh, so?” Rayman said, confused.

If Kevin wasn’t so frightened by their situation he would have slapped him in the face. “They must be protecting something. Obviously, we are making them nervous each time we scoot further in.”

“Right. Okay, then our only option now is to keep moving into the ruins. Maybe they won’t follow us.” Rayman said.

“Didn’t you hear what I just said? I think there is something in here they don’t want us to find,” Kevin explained further. “But you’re right, our only option is to keep moving in. We can’t get through that many of them.”

The creatures started stirring again and grew restless, pushing forward again.

It felt like hours but Rayman knew it had only been moments. They had slowly pushed their way into the room and he could see another door down the long metal hallway. Coming up on the next room Rayman saw a small blinking light with a lever next to it. Constantly keeping one eye on the creatures pacing back and forth following them closely.

Rayman’s heart was pounding, threatening to burst from the stress and fear. More growls came from the demons.

Giant tube-shaped pods lined the walls. Out of several dozen, Rayman saw one glowing a cyan color. Small puffs of freezing air covered the large tube. It was roughly twelve feet tall and hung on the wall about half a foot off the ground. That’s when he noticed a fork in the room behind them. Looking back at the shuffling beasts, climbing over each other, as if unable to wait to attack.

The creatures stood still suddenly. Again they just froze in place with their red eyes piercing them. Noticing it too late, Rayman realized they looked past them over their heads, not at them. He jerked his head around to see a massive monster the size of the room. It was so big it could barely fit inside. How it managed to creep up behind them without a sound, Rayman would never know. This must have been the sound they heard previously coming from behind the closed door.

“Down!” Rayman shouted.

The warning came too late. Rayman pulled on Kevin's shirt and yanked him to the side and simultaneously dove down next to him.

Enormous claws swiped sideways from one end of the room to the next. Wolkin and Billy managed to duck under its attack but the rest of the men all smashed against the wall from the impact. Instantly the smaller creatures pounced on the heap of men, clawing and ripping at flesh and shields.

“RUN!” Rayman bellowed.

Without hesitation, Rayman led them down the fork in the tunnel away from the gigantic creature. He could hear a deafening growl reverberated through the metal halls. Crowds of scaled monsters immediately gave chase.

Rayman frantically searched for a way out. They had roughly a thirty-foot headstart on them. Kevin, Wolkin, and Billy sprinted behind him.

“They’re coming!” Billy panicked, picking up his speed.

“There! Kevin screamed, pointing at a slender door.

Not daring to look behind him Rayman shot straight for the door. He could feel the presence of danger behind them. Their footsteps echoed off the walls. Rayman could hear the loud snarls and pounding feet and panic threatened to overcome him.

The sense of being chased crept up his spine and he could swear they were on top of them. His urge to escape gave him an extra boost of speed.

Billy took the lead and crashed into the frame of the door. Rayman and Kevin both lost their footing and slid past it and fell to their knees. Scrambling to their feet, Billy grabbed Raymans arm and heaved him through, while Kevin launched himself through the air and into safety. Wolkin had slowed, waiting for them to get back to their feet. Luckily Wolkin had held onto his shield and backed into the door with it up.

Unable to close the door Billy pressed his back against Wolkin for support as the eight-foot creatures slammed into him.

“Close the door!” Rayman screamed at Kevin.

“I don’t know how!” he frantically looked around the room in vain.

Bodies flew at them and momentarily knocked Wolkin off balance even with Billy’s support. Rayman rushed behind him and shoved the shield forward. Kevin awkwardly pushed himself off the ground and quickly joined them, abandoning hope to close the door.

Another headbutt from a creature almost knocked them all over again. Arms reached over the shield clawing at their heads. Giant mouths pushed over the shield, trying to shove their way in. Kevin briefly stepped back and swung his sword at the scaled head. It clanged off the bone harmlessly but shocked it enough for it to retreat.

Straightaway another took its place, biting at Rayman. Ducking down, Rayman barely avoided the razor-sharp teeth from ripping his head off. Again Kevin swung and repulsed the attacker. A momentary respite gave them a chance to breathe.

A large paw swiped down onto Wolkin an instant later, almost crushing him to the floor but with the support of Billy and Kevin, managed to stand his ground. Claws pulled backward across Wolkin’s shoulder and ripped at his flesh, pulling off part of his chainmail and leaving him bloody.

Wolkin howled in pain but kept the shield up. “Help me!” he yelled.

Suddenly the force of a ramming machine slammed into them and threw Wolkin straight off his feet backward, opening the entrance. Billy was flung to one side and hit his head against a wall, knocking him out. Kevin and Rayman smashed into a table and flipped over backward onto the floor. Looking up, dazed Rayman noticed where Wolkin had landed.

He had been flung ten feet and sat motionless on top of an oval-shaped object. Blue gue oozed out from it. Rayman hadn’t seen it during the mad rush into the room but it dawned on him what it was.

The blue gue spewed out from a giant egg as tall as them. Wolkin’s body had broken the shell from the impact. Still dazed from being tossed over a table Rayman grew aware of his surroundings.

Howls and screeching came from outside and several monsters rushed into the room after them, only to halt in their tracks. Looking over at Wolkin, a tiny screech came from the egg, making them all pause in shock.

Kevin looked over to where Billy lay. He stirred but his head was bleeding.

Movement from the enormous egg caught everyone’s attention, creatures included.

A small baby creature pushed itself out of the blue gue, knocking Wolkin to the floor, and revealed itself. It opened its mouth and they could tell it was screaming in pain. The silent screech ripped at their hearts even though this creature would grow to be a monster. Breaking its shell further it slid to the floor, writhing around as if gasping for air.

The monsters in the room seemed to whimper in helplessness. Unable to aid the baby creature but huddled around it, ignoring the human’s in the room.

Shame filled Rayman as he looked at the poor thing. Guilt nearly overwhelmed him but he quickly snapped out of it and looked for an escape.

“We need to do something,” Rayman whispered to Kevin.

“There’s nothing we can do,” he whispered back.

Lowering his head in defeat, Rayman didn’t know what to do but stand.

“What are you doing?” Kevin exclaimed.

Nothing stopped him as he approached the squirming thing. Its mouth opened in another noiseless scream which hurt to watch it suffer. More than likely it was suffocating to death, unable to breathe due to the premature birth.

Rayman walked past the monsters huddled over it and bent down without a word. He placed a hand on its warm goey body and said something inaudible.

Kevin looked in bewilderment. The monsters didn’t try to stop him. Only bouncing around like dogs unable to help their dying baby. Whimpers and low squeals echoed off the walls.

Rayman sat down and pulled the creature into his lap and held it like he would any child. It didn’t try to struggle but lay there heaving on his lap. Its chest moved in and out trying to take a breath but unable. Kevin could tell Rayman was terrified but he rocked the baby back and forth, trying to comfort it as it died as if holding a child.

Rayman looked down at the poor creature and locked eyes with it. It was as if it spoke to him, telling him it was okay. He imagined this thing as innocent just like his daughter and son. Not knowing why Rayman nearly came to tears, he thought he could hear it telling him to not blame himself. That everything was going to be alright.

Its deformed arm flopped up to his chest and a flood of emotions and pain hit him and Rayman started yelling.

Without warning the entrance bent inward from two giant claws smashing through. With visible strain the arms ripped the thick metal walls outward revealing the enormous monster from before. It was crouched low and looked awkward but it had managed to bend steel walls at will. Several smaller monsters sped around it, weaving under and over trying to gain a view of the egg.

A roar so loud, Rayman and Kevin covering their ears couldn’t block out the sound, came from the beast. It completely ignored everything and shoved its way toward the dying baby. This was the first time Rayman had got a good look at the thing and couldn’t help but gawk at it. There was nowhere to run or hide, they just sat there watching.

The baby seemed to respond to the giant creature's cry and thrashed around even more. Several more creatures entered the room and swarmed around Kevin and Rayman, the baby still in his arms, whimpering as they watched helplessly. Strange groaning sounds came from all of the creatures as if mourning the passing.

It slipped from Rayman’s arms and flopped towards what seemed to be the father. The moment its arm left Rayman’s chest, the flood of pain and emotions vanished making him gasp for air. Making an effort to stand on its half-formed legs, the baby slipped in the gue and fell still. It didn’t move.

Rayman started to cry in realization, that he felt what the creature was feeling before it died.

Wolkin had woken from the roar and stared in utter horror, unable to move. Not wanting to draw attention to himself Wolkin stayed completely still. A moment later, a monstrous red gaze fell upon him.

Rayman thought it would swallow him whole right here and now but it stopped inches away from his body. The smaller creatures started growling and snarling. He guessed they were talking to each other.

Red eyes from all directions looked to Rayman, and shear fear gripped his body.

Rayman felt cold and utterly helpless. He closed his eyes and waited for the inevitable, thinking of Shay and his two children.