(Etrius' team)

The team sauntered through the shadows of the city, remaining out of sight. This was exactly where the coordinates were leading them, but they had to park the Humvee in the outskirts of the forest. While the city was mindlessly busy, Etrius' team was travelling through the underground abandoned subways.

The team walked to the next subway exit, sloping up towards the surface.

"That must be it." Etrius stopped when he saw a towering, almost castle-like building protruding into the sky in the center of the city. It's outer walls covered in black stone, white light emanated from the archway windows.

An evil, threatening, daring aura surrounded it.

"I'm going in," Etrius announced in a hushed tone. "The rest of you, stay here."

"Are you kidding?" Josiah chucked. "There's no way you're going in there without me."

"And risk losing you again?" Etrius' olive green eyes burned into hers. "I don't think so. This is an infiltration mission. If I bring too many people inside, it will blow our cover. Besides, what's the worst that could happen? I'm immortal."

"So am I," Josiah retorted. "Or—at least, I think I still am. But what do you have? Immortality. That's it. They could do so much worse to you. I have powers that could get us in and out of there in one piece."

"Nox can—"

Nox shook her head, her hair soaking wet from the lingering snow in the air. "I may have been awakened from cryo-sleep for the second time, but my powers are still too weak for combat. I need more time to recover."

"And time is something we don't have," Josiah stared at him firmly. "I'm going with you."

Etrius crossed his arms, his nostrils flaring. "Fine. But I don't want to see anyone crying to me if this plan fails. We're going in, finding Ray and Mullins, and getting back out."

Each team member returned Etrius' salute except for The General, who stood with am ambient posture. He wasn't used to showing recognition to someone below his rank.

Once Etrius and Josiah departed, Nox was left with The General and Lloyd in the subway. The General and Lloyd disappeared into another alleyway, leaving Nox to guard the entrance.

But what was there to guard?

Something was going on between those two, and they were keeping the team shut out in the dark.

Nox's powers were still weak in reading minds, but she knew one thing.

It had something to do with Josiah.

Quietly, Nox made her way into the underground rural hallways, lined with decaying white walls. She heard hushed voices speaking behind an old, abandoned train. It's tracks had rusted to the point that the train had toppled over on it's side.

Nox hid behind one of the large, rusted wheels, barely seeing The General and Lloyd on the opposite end.

"I can see you're running from the past, Lloyd. You have to face your consequences." It was The General.

Lloyd hissed back in a tone that Nox had rarely see him use. "My consequences? You're the one who had me in chains for a whole year. You're the one who caused both me and Etrius so much pain. You're the one who killed him!"

Nox's blood turned to ice as she kept herself hidden from sight. What was Lloyd talking about? He almost never let anybody in on his past—how could he be talking about this with The General?

"Don't turn everything around on me, Lloyd." The General snarled. "I gave you a choice to either follow orders and neutralize the target, or run away and end up in your cell again. Your decision is what brought you here."

"Go to hell." Lloyd growled with as much malice he could summon.

"I think you don't want me on this team."

"You think?"

"So I'm going to give you a warning," The General shoved him against the surface of the overturned rusted train, making it shudder and echo within. "Don't get in my way."

"What the hell do you think you're planning? The Three Elders are ruling Earth. There's nothing more for you to do here."

"Believe me, Lloyd," His eyes pierced into his like knives. "I'm capable of so much more."

Lloyd remained silent.

"I'll give you a second chance. So don't screw it up like last time, need I remind you. If I see you interfere with my plan once more… This time, Etrius will pay the price. Do I make myself clear?"

Lloyd didn't say a word, but he responded with a heavy nod.

The General smiled. "Good." And he turned and left.

Nox heard his footsteps coming long before she hid herself from sight in an alcove. She saw The General's silhouette move past before she made her way back to where Lloyd was.

He was sitting on the floor, his knees drawn up, head buried in his hands. He looked destroyed.

Nox closed the distance between them, her heart hammering. "Lloyd?"

"You heard everything, didn't you?" He didn't meet her gaze.

Nox blinked. "What are you—?"

"Don't bullshit me, Nox. I knew you were hiding behind the train the whole conversation."

Nox sighed, giving up. "That didn't sound much like a conversation." She narrowed her eyes, kneeling by Lloyd. "What was that bastard talking about?"

Lloyd finally raised his head, red and weary eyes watching hers. "I doubt The General knew you were eavesdropping. If I tell you, you have to swear you won't tell another living soul."

Nox crossed her arms. "You're not the only one with secrets around here."

Lloyd's eyes darted around the subway to make sure The General was truly gone. With weariness in his eyes, he confessed.

Left with more anger in her heart than shock, Nox crossed her arms. "I can relate."

Lloyd laughed, shocking Nox slightly again. "Can you?"

A muscle in Nox's mouth twitched. "My parents were separated from me and executed for treason. I've spent seventeen years trying to harness and hide this power, only for me to get captured in the end, sent into cryo-sleep for fifty years, awoke to find my life torn to pieces and nearly destroyed the Earth. So, yes. I can relate."

Lloyd sighed, burying his face in his arms again. "I'm sorry. But I'm in deep shit right now. Now that The General is on the team, he has the power to tell Etrius the truth whenever he wants."

Nox's hand found his. "We won't let that happen."

Lloyd's brows creased together. "We?"

"You said it yourself. The General doesn't know that I know. I'll keep an eye on that bastard," Nox folded her arms around his shoulders, helpless at the fact that he'd been through so much, and there was nothing she could do to change the past. "This'll all work out."

Lloyd sighed, his thumb stroking the inside of her wrist. "I hope it does."

Something tugged at Lloyd's heart, lightening his instincts. The General had fucked up everything Lloyd had ever known, and he was the same man who destroyed Nox's life, and nearly used her powers to destroy the Earth.

Lloyd wasn't going to let him lay another finger on her.

Etrius and Josiah neared a cave that was dug on the opposite side of the building. Lights lined the side of the concrete cave, and trucks were parked along the edges of an electrical barbed wire fence.

"Think you can get a cloaking device over us?" Etrius inquired.

Josiah stared at him. "Huh?"

Etrius shook his head. "I mean—a shield."

Josiah scoffed, summoning a shield around the two of them. "What do you think this is? Harry Potter?"

"Harry—what?"

"…Never mind."

Sticking to the shadows, the team made their way inside the cave. Etrius didn't have any trouble disabling the security camera wires in the electrical box situated near the entrance before they proceeded inside.

Etrius and Josiah stuck to the upper catwalk railings, glancing down below for any sign of... something. They didn't even know what to look for.

"Look," Josiah whispered, pointing down below as a group of soldiers who were carrying two black chambers. The soldiers behind them carried oxygen and hydrogen tanks, connected to the chambers by wires. The names Sgt. Mullins and Private Ray Williams were etched into the iron surfaces. "That must be it."

Etrius' eyes widened, then narrowed. "Let's do this."

In one swift motion, Josiah let the shield sink into the ground. They hurled themselves from the catwalk railing, catching the guards by surprise. Etrius didn't have much trouble snapping necks while taking bullets with little damage. Josiah threw up shields around herself, simultaneously knocking guards out with bursts of power.

In minutes, unmoving bodies lay around Etrius and Josiah. The chambers had been dropped to the floor, and oxygen leaked from the broken tubes.

Etrius swore. "Shit, let's get them out of there."

Etrius grabbed Ray's tank while Josiah grabbed Mullins'. They ripped off the doors with brute strength.

The chambers were empty.

Etrius dropped the iron lid, letting the realization sink in. "It's a trap."

The floor broke away beneath him, casting his mind into darkness.

Even before Etrius opened his eyes, he knew he was in deep shit.

His wrists were locked in chains. Two people were dragging him across marble floors by his arms. His ribcage ached.

He blinked languidly. A dim flicker of sleep remained, threatening to tug his mind back into unconsciousness, but he forced his eyes open.

Velvet black tapestries draped off archway windows. Snow had collected on the window sill outside, glimmering in the dim sunlight. Stone columns supported the arced ceiling above.

The air smelled of blood and decay. His stomach turned.

Whispered faded in and out from the shadows, speaking in a language Etrius had never heard before.

Where was Josiah?

The guards who were dragging him suddenly halted. They spoke in a foreign tongue before letting Etrius drop.

His arms hit the floor roughly. He groaned, not enough energy in his system to protest.

"Quick work." A familiar, aged raspy voice spoke.

Etrius' eyes flicked up to see the Three Elders seated in their gold thrones. The Presence, The Darkness, and The Pestilence. The Pestilence was the only female in the group.

"Where… Are… They…?" Etrius breathed, a dim cloud darkening his vision.

The Pestilence frowned. "Who?" Her voice was surprisingly soft and light. "Ah. Your comrades. I'm sorry to say, they aren't here right now."

Etrius stared at her with ground teeth.

She spoke again in an even softer tone. "I did enjoy hearing their final screams as we slit their throats."

Etrius' eyes widened. "You're lying."

She giggled. "Am I?"

Footsteps resounded from behind Etrius. Josiah emerged into his peripheral vision, arms crossed, her eyes staring lifelessly ahead.

"Josiah?" He rasped.

"Don't try reaching to her," The Darkness growled, his voice deep and low like a bear. "We have her mind in our grip. There's nothing you can do to bring her back."

Etrius' heart hammered. "I don't understand."

"Do you honestly believe that child was just awoken from the dead, and conveniently found her way to you and your team?" The Presence quipped. "And those comrades of yours left a message stating they were asleep? I still can't believe you fell for that trap. Nonetheless, it was the perfect way to gather you all. And we have the child to thank for it."

Etrius let all this information sink in. Then, he turned to Josiah. "Hey."

Josiah met his stare with nothing in her eyes.

"Josiah. He called you kid."

Josiah's face softened for a fleeting moment, but as soon as it arrived, it was gone. She crossed her arms again, then stood by the Three Elders' side.

The Presence leaned forward in his throne, his eyes watching Etrius'. "Where are the others?"

Etrius remained silent.

A muscle in the Presence's jaw twitched. "Don't make me repeat myself. You know where they are. Just tell us, and make this easy on yourselves."

Etrius shut his eyes, preparing for the worst.

"Very well." The Presence rose from his throne, walking behind Josiah. He produced a jagged dagger from his belt, then held it against her throat. "This is no ordinary dagger. I'm sure you're aware of enchantments. One cut in her skin, and it's over for her. So, what will be, Human?"