"We're here," Mio said.

Mio's team stopped behind her and took in the cave wall that would serve as a portal in front of them. They were deep inside a cave where no human ever ventured into. She moved a hand forward and touched the cold cave wall with all the markings on it.

"It's beautiful," Mio whispered.
"Mio!" Roman yelled.
"I fucking knew it!" Mio hissed.

Mio turned around to see Roman and his team walk up to them. Roman stopped and took in his ex girlfriend who had made it there at the same time as he had. She was still beautiful with her long, light coppery red hair and her cognac brown eyes.

"I'm not even surprised," Roman said.
"We read the same books," Mio said.
"You stole my books and banked on me not remembering anything I read. However, I'm more surprised you managed to gather a team to keep up with me," Roman said.
"I made it here first," Mio said. "You brought your family because you don't have any friends. I don't need family. These people trust me 100%."

Mio looked at Roman's cousins Jimmy, Jey, Solo, Tama, Tanga and Jacob. There was a time she was part of the team. Her and Roman had broken up because they didn't want the same thing out of the ancient portal. She had left him behind, created her own team, and made her way there without Roman's help.

"Are we gonna open it?" Sami asked.

Mio looked over at her own team. She had gathered a good team who followed her blindly. Sami, Kevin, Seth, Randy, Grayson, Austin, Pete, Karrion and Scarlett. They were ten people versus seven people on the other side.

"No one's gonna open that thing," Roman said.
"Why are you here then?" Kevin asked.
"To make sure no one can ever open it again," Roman said.
"This is why I left your sorry ass," Mio said.
"I don't miss you one bit," Roman said.
"You do," Mio smirked. "I saved the texts you sent me those times you got drunk. I can easily prove I've been on your mind. You should have taken the hint when I never responded."
"Bitch!" Jacob growled.
"Control your dog," Mio said.
"Just shut the fuck up," Roman sighed. "Mio, I can't let you do this. It's too dangerous."
"At least come over here and touch it," Mio said.

Roman nodded and walked over to Mio. He placed his hand on the cold cave wall. For a few seconds they just stood there staring into each other's eyes while it dawned on them how far they had come even without each other's help. They had made it to this special place.

"I hate that I still miss you," Roman said.
"Aren't you the least bit curious to see the other side? You and me in there like we talked about. So few people have ever been there," Mio said.
"What's on the other side?" Austin asked.

Roman raised his eyebrows at Mio. She hadn't told anyone on her team what they were there for and yet they had chosen to follow her. He wasn't surprised. She always had a smooth tongue when it came to convincing others.

"Everything dark. Everything evil. Everything this world will fear," Roman said.
"Everything beautiful," Mio said.

Mio moved fast. Before Roman knew what was happening, her knee was planted in his crotch. He fell to his knees and howled in pain. He felt a hand grab his hair to pull his head back, and then a knife at his throat. He sat still and watched as Mio's team overpowered his team. It didn't take long before they all had duct tape around their wrists behind their backs.

"Shut them all up. I don't wanna hear a word coming out of them," Mio said.
"No, Mio! You can't do this!" Roman yelled. "Don't listen to her! She's gonna..."

Roman was silenced by Seth who put duct tape over his mouth. Mio smirked at Roman and then waved Sami over to her.

"What do I do?" Sami asked.
"Sit on your knees in front of me. This place needs both a male and female connection," Mio said.

Roman tried screaming at Sami that Mio was lying but no word could get out. Sami sat down in front of Mio and looked at the cave wall in front of him with a face full of excitement.

"Did you need the books?" Scarlett asked.

Scarlett held a backpack up with the books in it.

"No need. I memorized the words," Mio said. "Leave the backback here just out of reach of Roman. I like the thought of him crying about how close yet so far away he is."

Scarlett nodded her head at Mio and everyone on her team fell quiet while Roman and his team could do nothing but sit on their knees and watch.

"Open the gate, let in the light
Breathe in the shadows, dark and bright
You have been chosen, strong and true
To see the world in a different view
Embrace the darkness, embrace the light
And let your spirit take flight
Open the gate, let your heart be free
Shadows and light, your true self you'll see"

Roman let out a whimper. There was no way he could stop Mio now. She had spoken the words. There was only one final step to finish. Sami had no idea about the final step. There wasn't a need for a male and female connection. It was a lie to get Sami in front of Mio. She grabbed Sami's hair and slit his throat.

"What are you doing?" Kevin asked.
"We need a human sacrifice," Mio said.
"You could have taken one of them," Kevin pointed at Roman's team.
"We needed a willing one on this side. It doesn't matter on the other side," Mio said.

Sami took his final breath and the cave wall suddenly lit up in a yellow portal.

"Wow!" Scarlett said.
"Now what?" Karrion cross.
"Now we enter," Mio looked over at Roman. "Stay right here, love. We'll be back soon and a whole new world will appear."

Mio blew Roman a kiss in the air and turned to the portal again. She took a step forward and felt both warmth and coldness hit her at the same time. Shadows and light were battling each other. She took a deep breath and stepped through to the other side.