Requiem III: The Search for The Truth

by Bonnie Eagan & Alisa Joaquin

Part 36: Booby Trapped

Peter led Mia through the maze of corridors, trying to find an open door that would lead them up and out of the building. Things had changed since Peter and Caine met Tan in this place. It had been far easier to leave the first time after Tan's defeat. Chan and Jack Wong had acted as guides, leading them through the maze, though they had no choice in the matter. Peter and the Ancient both held Chan and Jack Wong in a hold that if they had tried to break out of, it would have been quite painful for them. With Tan's two former associates, Peter, Caine, and the Ancient were able to avoid Tan's booby traps and make it back to the outside.

Peter tried that route today, but something had changed. The traps that should have barred their way weren't present, and the first door that he tried was locked. Peter rubbed his hand together and concentrated his chi, but instead of the door opening, he received a shock that threw him back into a nearby wall.

"What happened?" Mia questioned.

"That was fun," Peter stated. "I've never experienced a blast of electricity from using my chi like that. Looks like the Master doesn't want us to leave this little party. Come on, we'll try another door."

Three doors later, Peter was beginning to get exceedingly angered, and the electrical shocks were beginning to take their toll, not only on his chi, but on his body as well. His right hand was red, and it was beginning to blister.

"You can't keep doing this to yourself," Mia stated.

"I'm not going to give up. There's got to be a way out of here."

"But your hand. We need to put something on this."

"It does not matter," Peter said, then focused his chi one more time, this time on the injury. For a moment, thoughts of his father flooded his mind during the time when they went after Tan, and they were going through the obstacles that had been set for them. One drew his thoughts, the one where one of Caine's wrists had been seriously injured. Focusing his thoughts, Peter willed his body to heal the blisters, absorbing them back into his body, then sending cleansing blood to wash away any of the damaged tissue.

Right in front of her eyes, Mia saw the blisters disappear. "How did you do that?"

"An obedient body will usually follow the mind of its master," Peter said, using his father's words. "Come on, we can't waste any more time here. One of these doors must lead out of here. I can't believe that the Master would bobby trap all of them."

Another half hour later, Peter felt the familiar tingling sensation at the back of his mind. His father was close, but he and Mia were nowhere near finding a way out of the maze that they found themselves in. In fact, they found themselves back where they started, at the entrance to the arena where the tigers waited.

Peter pounded his fist on the wall and then he heard his father tell him, *Look for the break in the pattern, my son.*

Peter closed his eyes then took in a deep breath. He opened his eyes then looked around. A small door that he had not seen before loomed before him in the shadows. He headed for it and checking with his chi, he found the door was open and not rigged to give off an electrical shock. He opened it and discovered a ladder climbing to the surface. He waved Mia over and they were soon on their way out of the tiger's maze.

Kermit brushed up against Caine when he suddenly stopped, and saw that Caine had a faraway look on his face.

"Caine, what's up?"

"Peter, he and the young woman are searching for a way out. It would seem the Master has made it very difficult for them."

"Do you know where they're going to be?"

"Yes, we must go this way."

"This is really strange, Caine," Kermit stated quietly. "You'd think that there would be a lot of guards in this place. I haven't seen anyone."

"There is no need for them."

"I don't understand."

"There is an evil presence to the place," Matthew stated. "Can you feel it, my son?"

"Yes. Master, can you identify it?" Kwai Chang asked the Ancient.

"Yes. The evil is great. The Master has summoned aid. We must be careful."

"What kind of aid?" Li Pei asked.

"Spirits of the dead."

Li Pei and Kermit both looked at each other. This was going to be one hell of a fight, but how do you fight a bunch of ghosts?

Continues with Part 37