"Boomer, you got any more explosives?"
Boomer smirked. "Enough to blast us out of here."
Angel scanned the nearby walls with a scanner built into her watch, one that Dan had built for her. She stopped at a corner. "Here. There's a tunnel system that'll lead five miles from this place."
Blue's eyebrows knitted together as she watched the gang. "Will you guys be alright?"
Brad was too busy glaring daggers at Lloyd, and Karly was practically dragging herself out of the cell, head lolled back as she groaned in protest. "I can barely do a push-up, you want me to walk five miles?" Blue covered her mouth to stifle a laugh. Then she realized. She hadn't laughed in so long.
Astron pulled Blue into a final embrace. "Just kick that bastard Joe's ass."
Blue smiled. "Oh, he's going to be getting much worse than that."
Etrius raised a brow. "Who's Joe?"
Blue and Astron froze. "Uhh- no one important."
Boomer knelt by the wall and primed his explosives. Everyone stepped back. Really stepped back. Karly was recording this on her phone. Blue stared at her. "You had your phone this whole time?"
Karly smirked. "If my teachers couldn't find it, neither can the Superior. Besides, there's no service down here."
The sudden detonation made the ground tremble beneath them, vibrations traveling up the soles of their feet. Thick smoke clogged the air.
Angel was right. Through the sizzling hole that Boomer's explosives had created, a single long tunnel stretched out, a light source at the end. It reminded Blue eerily of the time when Lloyd first shared his past with Nox.
Boomer struck a torchlight against the wall, it's scarlet light casting long dim shadows along the walls. Jeise took the torch and led the way.
"Everyone, go! Now!" Beecher pointed towards the light.
Blue watched as the creators made their way towards the light, while she and the team remained in the shadows, preparing to fight the Superior one final time. Boomer noticed the crestfallen look in Blue's eyes, but he said nothing.
Blue sighed. "Alright. Let's go. Whether this battle means the death of us, we'll die saving our worlds."
Etrius raised a brow. "That's not what you told the rest of them."
Blue steeled herself. "That's not what they need to know. I just need them to live so they can carry on our role as Artists. If nobody's around to remember the castle world, it's going to disappear altogether. I can't risk them coming with us."
The team darted through the rapidly decaying hallways. Blue's heart was in her throat. She could feel the Superior's presence drawing closer, and she was sure the dark energy he omitted would give her nightmares for weeks. That is, if she lived to sleep again.
But the close proximity of the team gave her confidence, made her feel safe even though she knew they were all in danger.
Soon, blackened fog began to secrete from the windows and vents, spilling onto the floor like water. It felt colder than ice, and Blue's toes instantly numbed. She remembered describing the mist in her stories, and seeing it in the animation, but feeling it firsthand was the most sickening feeling she'd ever felt. It wasn't mist. It was pure evil.
The General's running pace slowed to a limp, and he collapsed to his knees, groaning. The team skidded to a halt and glanced back. The General was holding his head, eyes squeezed shut, appearing oblivious to his surroundings. He looked like he was fighting an internal battle. "Go..." He grunted.
Beecher looked concerned for the first time, and Lloyd darted back to him. "What's happening?" His eyes scanned the black mist around them, swirling towards The General, as if attracted to his presence.
"Lloyd-" Nox started with shaky breath. "Be careful!"
Boomer aimed his shotgun at the mist surrounding them, although he wasn't sure what good it would do.
The General's breath quickened. "Lloyd..." His strained, agonizing tone was descending into something dark. Ominous. Hungry. "Get away..."
Lloyd's brows creased together, and he gripped The General's shoulders. "What?"
"RUN!" The usual light blue spark in his eyes was gone. In it's place was darkness. A darkness that only Lloyd recognized. And he prayed he would never see it again.
Lloyd's eyes widened as he stumbled back. "Oh, god-!"
The General ground his teeth, growling in a tone he hadn't heard him use in years. "You're mine, swordsman." He whipped out his magnum caliber, aiming directly at Lloyd's heart. "Dead or alive."
Two gunshots fired in unison.
The first one bounced off the translucent shield Angel had summoned around Lloyd. The second came from Beecher's sniper, sending the bullet straight up the magnum's chamber and causing it to explode in The General's hand.
Furious, The General pushed past Lloyd and started for Angel. Lloyd unleashed a scream of rage, grabbing his arms and swinging him back. The General grabbed Lloyd's sword from his sheath, hurling it into the mist.
Beecher aimed his sniper again, intending to shoot The General, regretting not doing it back in the castle. But he couldn't get a clear shot at The General without hitting Lloyd. He cursed himself. "We don't have time for this!"
"The mist is bringing out our darkest parts," Blue whispered. "We need to leave before it does the same to the rest of us!"
Lloyd growled as he wrestled with The General, who was eerily stronger than the last time they'd fought. "Everyone, go! I'll take care of this."
"Lloyd, I'm not-" Etrius shouted through gritted teeth before Beecher put a hand on his shoulder. The pained look in his eyes told him they needed to hurry. Already he could start feeling the effects of the black mist seeping into him.
Lloyd glanced back at Blue with a smile. "Besides, it's time to repay my debt."
Beecher grasped Blue's shoulder. "Let's go!"
Blue hesitated for a moment before following the rest of the team. Angel's feet carried her through the hallways, but her soul remained with Lloyd.
The General saw the others leaving and darted after them, but Lloyd help him back. "You're not going anywhere, bitch."
The General shrugged him off, glaring at him with evil colliding intentions.
Lloyd rolled out of the way from another attack, retrieving his sword from the shadows. He whirled around to face The General, the black mist swirling around their feet. If he was going to die, he would die protecting his brothers. "Alright, Creticus. Derek Frank. The General. Got time for one last dance?"