Chapter 35: Ruidi

I always hate waking up in an unknown place with an aching head. Sadly, it happens ALL the time in a demigod's life. Crumpled beside me lay Tim. He seemed a bit too pale. Charlie was somewhere nearby. I gently shook Tim.

"Where... are we?" Tim mumbled.

"I don't know... But I think we're captives." I answered.

Tim sat up and scanned the room. It was dark and gloomy. A dull grey shade with moldy corners.

"Wait a second..." I said slowly. "Where's Caiyi?"

Everyone shrugged.

"He's not dead, right?" Charlie whispered.

"I don't think so." Tim answered.

I nodded. It was a gut feeling. We were the Legendary Three, so we should at least feel something when one of our own is killed.

"Maybe he got away," Tim suggested.

"Yeah, hopefully," Charlie sighed.

"Hmm... Now, how do we get out?" I studied the room. I guess they won't leave an air vent this time. My brain worked as I spotted an imprint of a door near the top of the wall. The chamber's ceiling was very high. The only way to reach the opening was to fly. Let's just hope it was an opening.

"Up there." I told them, pointing to that mark shaped like a door.

"Um... isn't that a bit obvious?" Charlie remarked.

I sighed. "Yeah, but it's our only option right now. Though it might be a trap."

"Why not give it a try?" Tim suggested. "It's not like we'll die or anything..."

I unfolded my wings and flapped up. I pressed my hand on the imprint, and it started to shimmer. I felt like I was getting weaker and weaker. The world started spinning so fast that I barely noticed energy leaking from my hand. Luckily Tim noticed in time.

"Take your hand off!" Tim yanked my hand away.

All I knew was that once my hand left the wall, I felt better.

"You ok?" Charlie asked.

I nodded wearily, feeling rather drained and tired.

"I bet the whole wall sucks up our energy," I muttered when I felt better.

"Actually, what if we didn't touch the wall? What if we used something to cover our hands?" Tim suggested.

"That could work..." Charlie answered.

"It better work," I said under my breath. "Do any of you want to try?" I offered.

"I will," Tim flew forward. Carefully, he stretched his sleeve over his hand and tried pressing the imprint. The door shifted and swung open with a soft creak. Suddenly, the entire room was flooded with bright, blinding, white light pouring from the opening.