Hello once again, I tried to make this one a bit longer and was just going to combine the two chapter here but I thought it would be better to keep them split. Enjoy
Chapter 4
"une…. Jaune….. Jaune." Listening to the faint voice that called to him. The voice of a girl he did not know called to him. He could make out her shape in the distance. Her silhouette was covered in a fog but a light seemed to shine behind her.
Jaune!
That time it sounds like… "Snap out of it." A stinging pain from his cheek awoke the dazed knight. Looking up he could see the face of teary eyed Alice staring down at him. It took a second, but he remembered Cardin swinging his mace at his friend.
Sitting up he turned to Alice to see if she was hurt. Holding her shoulders Jaune looked over at the startled girl. "Are you okay? I don't see any damage." Jaune placed his hand on Alice head shifting her hair to find anything wrong.
Feeling her shacking, Jaune looked down to see why. Only to notice her face turned a little red, before he could say a word she wrapped her arms around his neck holding him close. It was his turn to be red as he felt her chest against his, but his attention changed to the fact Alice grip got stronger.
Things started to fade again to black as Jaune tapped on Alice shoulder. "Uncle, Uncaa.." One last squeeze Alice loosened her grip, leaning her head against his she softly spoke a few words.
"I'm sorry wha..?" Jaune try to ask before Alice moved her head to be face to face with Jaune looked close to his eyes before she went off.
"You better be! First you're a dork that got a big head for beating a few thugs in the city, then you're a cute dork that needed to stop being so hard on yourself and practice more, now you're flipping soldiers and knocking them out in the blink of an eye then passing out." Alice finished flustered, trying to catch her breath. She left the part of his eyes out, just thinking it was her imagination.
Jaune froze trying to figure out what Alice just said, "I Flipped Cardin! I… wait did you call me cute?" Jaune asked tilting his head a little to Alice.
"T-That's not the point!" Alice replied punching the back of Jaune's head to keep his head low so she could hide her blush.
The pain stung but Jaune tried to remember what happened. He thought till the memory came to him he looked up to confirm, only to see Alice chucking rocks at Ren who laughed at the upset Alice.
After Alice calmed down a little and Ren had a new lump on his head, they sat down to tell Jaune what happened.
Jaune looked to his friends shocked as much as they were. "Guess training is paying off." He final said scratching the back of his head. Placing a hand on his chest he tried to feel if the stone was still there. He could feel a weak pulse but was not sure.
"So glad to see you unharmed Jaune, Cardin has also recovered from the heat and will resume command after your report. And Alice he send his apologies. Now did you pick the advance team yet?" Looking up they saw Russel staring down at them with a smirk.
Though it turned to a frown when all three got up. The two boys stood a head taller while Alice was at head level. "Yes we've been ready for a short time." Ren smirked backed. "And I will note his apology in my report when we get back." Alice added starring daggers at him.
"Fine, you know the drill, be back in an hour and report." Russel snapped at the three before turning back.
The three continued to glare, imagining chucking different items at the back of his head.
In the forest the group made their way around the mine trying to find a point to enter. Besides the front gate the rest of the walls still stood with minor damage.
"I'm worried." Jaune final broke the silence staring at the mine. His hand grabbing his chest.
"Besides the obvious, why?" Ren asked scanning the area.
"Well look at the mine's walls. Besides the front gate there is no other way inside. No forced opening and no claw marks high enough that shows them climbing over."
Ren gave a worried look as the Blonde knight continued.
"With only one way in the mine must have put all their defense at that point. So something powered past it to get inside. So is it still inside?"
The two starred silently at the mine. "Geez way to set the mood, Jaune but I think your wrong."
Both jumped as Alice popped beside them again. "Really great timing Alice." Both angrily looked at an innocent Alice.
The three made their way to the back of the mine, were a small quarry was made. "I was checking the back and thought I say something moving. It was small for a Grimm so I chased it to here and then I lost it. But went I went a little deeper I found a path in the side of the rock that headed to the mine."
As they made their way down to the opening Jaune felt the stone on his chest pulse the closer they got. "So, you think they tunneled in the back?" Alice asked looking at the two who looked closer.
"This looks more like something popped out of the rock then dug in." Ren looked closer to the marks of the side of the wall.
"Great that just adds more to this stupid mission." Alice anxious stated placing a hang on her head.
"I will go in first, with my shield we have the best bet if we get attacked. Ren take middle and get your knives ready. Alice get our backs and light the sticky candles as we go. Also make sure nothing surprises us."
Sighing the two nod at the knight, not liking that he would risk the most if something happens but could not think of any other way to enter.
The three enter the opening slowly made their way inside. Strange while it was dimly light from the candles Jaune and Ren could still sense what was around them. Their other sense kicked into over drive trying to pick up anything around them. Jaune again felt the stone pulse this time more frequent, though he pushed it out of his mind thinking it was just his nerves.
Alice was having a harder time, she could barely tell were the others were after the light behind them disappeared. She did bump into Ren a few time causing for an awkward apology.
A couple of minutes later they made their way to were the tunnel connected to the main vain. Quite as possible the three moved into the mine with more room they spread out a bit.
After scouting the area they found that the area to the right went to the main mine. A large cave picked clean, that was once home to the miners before the attack, now only a grave for those trapped by the invaded Grimm.
Moving back they were about to leave to report when Jaune felt something. A cold shock moved up his back. His heart raced as his body went on full alert. Jaune looked to Alice and Ren. Both had their weapons out and inched to the opening eyes fixed on the darkness in front of them.
Jaune was about to signal them to retreat when the stone on his chest started to burn. The closer he got to the opening the hotter it got. When he moved closer to the dark it pulsed crying for him to move forward.
Jaune took a step forward, to feel a hand on his shoulder. He turned to see Ren eyes still not moving but Jaune could tell they both wanted to leave. But the pulse seemed to move him further into the dark.
He looked to the darkness one last time then back to his friends. With a smile "Trust me." Was all he could say.
His smile seemed to calm his comrades but they still kept on guard. Holding a light the three made their way past the dark.
There instincts screamed for them to turn away, but they pressed on. Step by step the creeping invisible threat started to tear at their will. But they looked at Jaune and felt a warmth come from him.
They paused as they reached a corner, for a black claw laid sticking out from it. Braising for the worst they moved around ready to attack. But stood paralyzed at what they saw.
"What the fuck, what the fuck, what the fuck, what the fuck, what the fuck." Alice quietly repeated, after reeling back from the sight.
"That can't be right," Ren looked on in shock.
Jaune could only stare at the sight in front of him. A pile of Grimm slaughtered lay on the ground but on top of the pile with a sword still imbedded in the heart of a man. The man was covered in some sort of black substance. It looked like charcoal that was sticking to his skin. He wore a miner uniform but his face was also covered to his eye it was replaced with a red orb. His hands sprouted white bones to form a claw.
The sound of screaming echoed throughout the mine. Shacking them from their frozen spell.
More cliff hangers haha... sorry like I said I was going to combine the two chapters into one But I think the next Chapter deserves its own page. for whats about to happen. Thanks for reading leave a review or comment or question. I thank every one that did so already. it really helps.