Chapter 8
Life, Death, and Sacrifice
-Well here is 8 also the last chapter and then THERE WILL a sequel called The Insiders
Disclaimer: I'm not a woman so I can't be Suzanne Collins
Gregor felt worthless right now. He had been captured and his friends were going to walk into a trap.
How could he not notice them when they were right there next to him waiting to capture them. He sighed.
Now the only thing he could do was wait and wait until the general brought back news.
'Alright,' he thought. 'Let's review the past few days. Okay so it started with Luxa and Ripred coming to get me saying there was another prophecy. So me and my friends and our family's packed and as we were entering they told me there wasn't another prophecy and they thought the only way to get me down was to tell me there was. He entered with everyone met an amazing bat and trained. They set off to take out the colony. There were some problems, yes, a fight and a wounded. But still in the end they still managed to get to the outskirts of the colony and then he got captured .' He sighed again.
He heard screams. He couldn't make out what was being yelled though. Then suddenly they stopped.
'So that's it. Game over. We're all going to die or are already dead. Perfect.' He sighed yet again 'Why, Why, Why did I bring the other along.'
He let out a brittle laugh 'I'm starting to wish that sandwich made another prophecy.' He laughed again. "Course I would have to believe he could see the future first. No a prophecy definitely would not help giving me closure."
He heard something not yelling but talking and footsteps. He sat up. Is it possible that they made it out alive?
"Where is he Ripred?" Nick asked. "The sooner we find him the sooner we kill the colony's queen and get out."
"Up here I believe now shut up we don't want to alert his guards above everything else." The rat growled back.
They continued in farther Ripred leading the group until finally he stopped in front of a slab of wall.
"Right here. Behind this wall is our warrior."
"Great now how do we get through." Erin asked.
"Leave that to me." Ripred said.
And with that he set to slashing the wall. Leaving marks and weakening it up. When finally he stopped he said nothing just backed up and charged the wall. He broke right through and plowed into an unsuspecting Gregor.
"Gerroffme."
Ripred sat up. "What was that Gregor."
"I said get off me."
"But I'm so comfortable."
Ripred got off and moved over with the rest of the group.
Gregor sat back up and looked at all of them "Nice of you to stop by. Look and your all… not here. Where is Jacob?"
Nobody looked like they wanted to answer but finally Luxa started explaining. "Well on our way to get you we came across a canyon We could jump it if we had a head start."
Ripred took over. "It was an ambush we all almost made it. He went last and was about to but they got to him and he ended up falling off."
Tears stained Gregor's eyes. Jacob was gone un-living or for a better word dead.
"But…" "But?" "What you don't know it that there were ledges that could have stopped his fall. So he could be alive. In fact let's send his bat to search it might bring results."
"Send the bat and everyone else mount I know the way and we'll need to fly." Gregor said while pointing to a large hole that the General left out of.
When everyone was set they flew right through the hole with Gregor at point.
It was seconds later that Luxa came up next to him. "How exactly do you know this is the right way, Gregor?"
"Simple," he said. "It's where the general entered and left."
"The what?"
"Big, black, and powerful cutter. Like an honorary guard for the queen. We're going to have to kill him first then we can get the queen."
"Oh. Well that explains it." She looked over at him. "Are you okay, you look like you really want to kill something?"
He sighed "Well let's just say that if possible that bug will die by my sword."
They flew on and on until something weird appeared at the end of the tunnel.
"Is that light." Nick yelled
"Yep we're about to enter the true chamber be prepared." Gregor screamed back
They seemed to take hours to reach it but when they reached the chamber it looked nothing like one would think. The entire chamber was caver in a substance that had an eerie blue glow. It was domed shaped with about one-hundred holes exactly like the one they just flew out of. It was held up by six thick pillars. In the middle of these pillars was a tower with a platform on it, and on the platform was a smaller dome. Also on it was the General, staring at him mocking him,.
"Alright at the bottom of the tower there are enough entrances for all but two decide who's coming and then set up I'm going in." He heard people calling for him behind him but he was too far gone.
The next he knew he was on the platform fighting. His senses heightened. Slash. Cut. Block. Chop. Block.
Then Luxa was next to him. They were both fighting with everything they had then he was on the ground and there was an ear piercing scream. Someone was hurt he looked and there was Luxa on the ground her side slashed the general over her. He got up as quick as possible and right as the cutter lunged he put himself between her and him. Blocking her. The fight began again and he yelled for Zeus.
"Zeus. Zeus! ZEUS!"
"Yes Gregor." The black bat said.
"Listen closely. Take Luxa to Aurora and tell Ripred it's time to keep his promise."
"Yes, Gregor."
"Oh, and Zeus." "Yes?" "You've been an amazing flier." With that Gregor returned to fighting and Zeus carried out his orders.
Minutes later he saw the bats flying away.
He turned back to the cutter as went for a charge. He jumped out of the way but something went wrong he was still moving . He looked behind him and nearly gave in then. Not only was he caught on the mandibles (N/A: that's what they are right?) of the general and they were both going over the edge of the platform.
'Falling he was falling and he was on the back of a giant ant. Beautiful. Well at least he might live it's only a fifty foot drop and the ant will break my fall.'
They hit the bottom. He was alive Gregor rolled of the cutter and looked around he was surrounded by cutters. "Who's next?"
"I'm still here." Gregor froze and turned and wished he didn't. The general was there and he looked pissed as hell.
"You're mine overlander."
He looked around the other cutters had backed away. He looked for his sword and saw it behind the general in front of a pillar. So he did what anyone would do. He turned and ran and hid behind a pillar the general charging him.
The general not only rammed the pillar but destroyed it at the bottom. There was a rumble from the roof. Gregor looked up as dust and rocks fell from the roof and got an idea.
'It's a long shot but maybe… just maybe.'
He ran to the next pillar. "Hey general you okay or do you need a time out." He taunted. Then to himself he added 'Note to self, think of better taunts.'
The general shook the confusion out of him-self and charged and as he was right in front of the pillar Gregor jumped out of the way and just as planned the general crashed and destroyed the next pillar and the roof caved in a little more.
He did this again, again, and again. When he got to the final pillar he picked up his sword and looked around. The colony would finally collapse taking him and the queen with it. The general charged but instead of moving he dropped to the ground and held up his sword successfully slashing him in half and killing him. The colony started to crumble he looked at the dome as a giant boulder crushed it he looked straight up as one came for him.
Then he was outside on a mass of black fur.
"You came back."
"Yes your right if I can stop death then I will."
"Hmm… well I got a deal for you then.
Ripred sat in the high hall waiting for Zeus to return with Gregor hopefully. After getting back they found out that Ashley had survived and another pleasant surprise Ripred was right Jacob had only fallen twenty feet and broken both legs. When Gregor's voice finally sounded out.
"Ripred need to talk to you about something very important."
"Gregor first the colony is?"
"Off the map."
"Good. Now what is so important."
Luxa stood on the walls of Regelia looking in at the city so focused she didn't hear him come up behind her. "Luxa?"
She turned there he was "Gregor!" and she ran into his arms. "We thought you were dead."
"I am but I'm not." Seeing her confused face he explained
"I'm leaving but not going up. I'm going out to live in the dead lands for some time. Learn more about the Underland. The either when I'm ready or when I turn six-teen I'll come back. But until then no one but you and Ripred, not even my family, can know I'm alive. If anything terribly important come up give a message to Ripred he'll find me.
He looked at her she had tears running down her face. He wiped them away.
"Look at me." She opened her eyes. "I will come back for everything and I guarantee I'll come back don't worry."
He leaned down and captured her lips in a deep kiss. Even after the kiss Luxa kept her eyes closed. When she opened her eyes he was gone.
"Don't worry he's smart he'll come back." Ripred said from next to her.
"I know he will." And she looked back toward the city.
-Well That's it folks look out for the sequel it'll come soon.
