By the time we emerged from the main hall, darkness had swallowed the campus whole. Only the faint glow of streetlamps lining the road offered a lifeline back to the dorm.
"Feels wrong, doesn't it?" Aaron said, his eyes scanning the shadows. "A place where heroes train to fight demons shouldn't be shrouded in darkness." He said
"Yeah, it's creepy," I muttered, quickening my pace to move past him. The darkness seemed to press in on me. All I wanted was to get back to my room, take a hot shower, and scrub this whole experience away.
We continued down the road in an unsettling silence. My heart hammered against my ribs, and I found myself instinctively scanning the darkness at the edges of the streetlights, searching for any flicker of movement, any glint of a red eye. "Calm down," I thought, forcing myself to breathe. The magic barrier is still intact. They'd also implemented more security measures after the last incident. But reason struggled against the prickling unease creeping up my spine.
"Hey," Aaron started, then hesitated for a moment, his brow furrowed. "You okay?" he finally asked, his voice laced with concern. Not with his usual suave bachelor tone.
"Honestly? No, Aaron, I'm not," I admitted, taking a shaky breath. "This whole bellator thing... it's not what I signed up for. I was supposed to be at a normal college this year, surrounded by textbooks and bad cafeteria food, not facing whatever lurks in the shadows."
"Hey, I get it," Aaron said, his voice calm and reassuring. "No one really does when they first get here, except maybe students from those crazy warrior families or other magic-wielding races. But me and you, we were in the same boat. I had no idea what I was getting myself into either." He paused, a wry smile playing on his lips. "Want to know how a this fine suave specimen before you ended up training to fight demons?"
"Fine," I conceded, a flicker of curiosity sparking in my eyes despite myself. I had never heard Aaron mention his past, and the idea of him being just as clueless as me was oddly comforting. "But can we walk and talk? I'm ready to get back to the dorm."
He nodded, and we continued down the path in a tense silence. Finally, Aaron spoke, his voice regaining its usual dramatic flair.
"Well, let's start with a bit of world-building, shall we?" he said. "I grew up in a picture-perfect suburban town in Michigan. Not quite the city, not quite the countryside, but a comfortable sprawl with just enough farm families to keep things interesting. We had sprawling forests for summer bike rides, apple orchards that boasted the best cider, and bonfires were the height of teenage excitement. Speaking of which..." His voice trailed off, a flicker of sadness crossing his features. "I remember this one bonfire, the last one with all my childhood friends before we went our separate ways. College was calling, and everyone had different dreams. I, being the ever-practical one, chose the local community college." He paused, taking a deep breath, and a tear escaped, tracing a glistening path down his cheek. The carefree facade he'd maintained faltered, revealing a vulnerability I hadn't seen before.
"Anyway," Aaron continued, forcing a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes, "let's get to the part where my life took a sharp turn. I was stuck in my room at my parents, killing time before a date with this girl from a dating app – yeah, cringeworthy, right?" He let out a humorless chuckle. "I was neck-deep in this fantasy RPG, can't even remember the name anymore, when my phone rang. It was Lynn, my childhood friend. She was supposed to be off at college, studying to be a nurse. But her voice sounded frantic, barely recognizable. She kept rambling about some online post... something about Charlie's sister... an accident... he was in bad shape." Aaron took a shaky breath, wiping a tear that escaped down his cheek. "The next thing I knew, I was having this vivid vision – Charlie, my friend, laying in a hospital bead tubes coming out all over him his face bruised and battered. The next few weeks were tough. We got to go see him one last time before he passed but some of my friends couldn't handle it, seeing him like that. That's when I..." His voice trailed off, his eyes filled with pain. "That's when I spiraled. Depression, alcohol... it was a dark time.".
"Damn, man," I said, my voice thick with sympathy.
"That's... that's awful. I can't even imagine." I patted him awkwardly on the back, unsure of what else to say.
"It's fine," Aaron mumbled, forcing a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Anyway, to get my mind off things, I ended up at this party with a date I can't even remember the name of. She ditched me early, but hey, free drinks, right?" He took a swig from his flask that he kept in the inner pocket of his vest, the gesture belying his forced lightness. "Everything just felt... wrong from the start. The people reeked of something unnatural, the food tasted like despair, and the whole atmosphere was just off-putting. But like an idiot, I kept drinking. Then, I heard these muffled screams coming from behind a closed door. Stupid curiosity got the better of me, and I decided to investigate." His voice dropped to a whisper. "I pushed open the door, revealing a dark stone staircase leading down. At the time, I just figured it was an old basement, but oh boy, was I wrong. I reached the bottom, and what I saw..." He stopped abruptly, his face contorting in disgust. "It was a nightmare. Corpses, torn to shreds, littered the floor. Crude weapons hung on the damp stone walls, and in the corner... people, chained up, their eyes filled with terror." He gagged, tears welling up in his eyes. "That's when I knew I'd stumbled onto something far worse than a bad party."
The dorm entrance loomed before us, a beacon of warmth and sleep. Yet, I barely registered it the story unfolding on Aaron's face held me captive. Sleep could wait. I had to hear the rest.
He sank onto the bench, a heavy silence settling between you. His hands gripped the edge of the bench, knuckles white. "There was no escape," he finally muttered, his voice low and strained. "The others... from the party.... they followed me down the stairs, a twisted parody of the happy faces I'd seen earlier. They looked human enough at first, but as they got closer, their features contorted. Their eyes..." He paused, his gaze flickering to the darkness beyond the pool of light cast by the dorm entrance. "They became like a cat's, glowing with an unnatural light. Horns sprouted from their foreheads, and fangs dripped with a vile ichor. Fear turned my legs to lead, but I stumbled back, desperately searching for an escape." He took a shaky breath, his voice barely a whisper. "The floor was slick beneath my feet, the metallic tang of blood filling my nostrils. Then... darkness. I hit my head, a sickening crack echoing in the silence. The last thing I remember... a terrifying acceptance. This was the end. Then..." His voice trailed off, his eyes widening in a mix of fear and confusion. "A blinding flash of light. And when I woke up, I was no longer in that hello hole. I was here. At this academies hospital wing."
I let a few seconds pass so i could process all of the info he gave me. "That sounds like some serious nightmare fuel. No wonder you ran those things you described... they don't sound like anything anyone would want to fight." I said my eyelids now fighting my eyes to close.
"You definitely need some rest, buddy," he said with a grin. " I got to get back to the Bellum clubhouse – who knows what kind of trouble Nox, is stirring up without me keeping an eye on her."
"You sure man?" I said with concern. "its pretty late your more then welcome to crash on the couch?" I offered.
"No worries, new security measures and all that," Aaron said.
"What do you mean new security measures?" I asked.
With a casual shrug. Then, with a flourish and a loud snap, he vanished before my eyes. One second he was there, offering a mischievous grin, the next, just an empty space on the bench. Great, Aaron can teleport now, just like the staff. Fantastic. That mental image of him warping around campus like a rogue pinball is exactly what I needed tonight. I made my way up the stairwell and up to my floor. after emerging from the stairwell, I found the warm glow of the TV illuminating the familiar common room. Elizabeth and Lexia were nestled on the couch, a blanket pooling around them, engrossed in a 90s animated movie about a legendary city of gold.
"Hey guys, what's up?" I asked, walking past them in the direction of my dorm room. They returned my greeting with a lazy wave, their attention already back on the screen. Relief washed over me as I noticed Lexia's relaxed posture, a stark contrast to her tense form earlier.
Entering my dorm, I found the common area deserted - everyone must be asleep already. A note from Jordan about leftover pizza in the fridge. It was a nice gesture, but after the day I'd ha, all I wanted was sleep. I made my way too my room, I didn't even bother getting changed out of my clothes plopped onto my bed and passed out.
Sunlight streamed through my window, forcing me to roll away. A glance at the blaring alarm clock sent a jolt through me. 11:23AM shit.
"Overslept!" With a jolt, I launched myself out of bed and bolted towards the door, I didn't even stop to change. I ran into the living room, I found Jordan, Reese, and Connor glued to the TV, playing a video game.
"Well, well, well, look who finally decided to wake up. What's the big rush, sleepyhead?" Reese teased.
Skidding to a halt on the unforgiving tile, I landed with a painful thud. "Seriously, guys? Not a single one of you thought to wake me up?" I scrambled to my feet.
Jordan barely glanced away from the TV, his mumbled reply barely audible. "Nah, figured you could use the rest... classes are out, anyway."
"Classes are out...why?" I asked. rubbing my hip it began to sting from the impact.
Jordan shrugged, not taking his eyes off the screen. "Beats me. Email this morning, said all classes are cancelled for the week."
The whole week? I wonder if it has something to do with what happened yesterday, a shiver ran down my spine as i remembered my encounter with Lilith.
Connor's brow furrowed as he tore his gaze from the TV. "Hey, Lance, you alright?"
"Yeah, I'm good," I mumbled, my voice strained. "Just need a shower to wake myself up fully." I turned and retreated towards your room, yah a nice shower should make me feel better.
I cracked open the door, surprised by the influx of new faces. Tess, Skifra, even Luna – what was she doing here? They were going through the kitchen cabinets. Aaron, Nox, Jean, Elizabeth, and Lexi now joined the others in the living room. Hey everyone, what's going on?" They all turned to look at me.
"Look who finally decided to grace us with their presence!" Elizabeth chuckled, a playful glint in her eyes.
A warm smile spread across Aaron's face. " we figured we'd give the good news to all of you in person."
Nox's practically leaped out of her seat, a wide grin splitting her face. "You all made the team!" she paused looking at Jean. "Well not all of you...I really wish you would've tried out."
"I know it would have been great being with you all...but ancient witch craft is my best option." she said standing from her seat and walked over to me. She gave me a nice hug and we exchanged a quick kiss. "Congratulations, i knew you could do it." she whispered.
I could feel the blood rush to my cheeks, She looked stunning even though you could tell she just rolled out of bed. Her hair was a mess of orange and her clothes hardly matched but that just increased her beauty to me.
"Alright everyone, listen up," Aaron said, clearing his throat. "Now that you're officially initiated into the club, you'll get access to some new perks. Actually," he continued, glancing over at Nox, "with classes being cancelled today, I figured it would be the perfect opportunity for a tour."
A wave of moans washed over the room. "Ugh, not on our day off," Lexia muttered. "Come on, Aaron, can't this wait?" Elizabeth chimed in.Aaron's shoulders slumped, a hint of disappointment flickering across his face. "Well," he said, a hint of steel creeping into his voice, "let's just say your participation is mandatory today." A sharp crack echoed in the air as Aaron snapped his fingers. The familiar walls dissolved into swirling colors, the room and its surroundings melting away, replaced by the front lawn of the Bellum club house."Shall we?" Aaron said with a confident smile, gesturing towards the entrance to the club house in-front of me."Seriously, Aaron?" Nox said, rubbing her stomach with a playful roll of her eyes. "A heads-up next time would be fantastic. Teleportation nausea is not my idea of a good time." Despite the grumble, she straightened her posture and started towards him"Um, excuse me," Jean said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Would it be possible for someone to take me back to my dorm first? I'm not even in the Bellum club.""Nope, no escape for you, Jean! You're coming with us," Aaron chuckled. "Besides, I have a feeling you'll be getting really familiar with the place this year.""But I'm not even in the club" she argued.Aaron and Nox exchanged a look, seemingly ignoring Jean's question. With a practiced ease, they turned and beckoned us inside. But Aaron's words echoed in my head: what did he mean by Jean needing the facilities often? He definitely knew something he wasn't sharing.We squeezed through the unassuming doorway of the Bellum Clubhouse. Inside, the air crackled with a faint, magical hum. The winding staircase that greeted us seemed to defy logic, spiraling upwards for what felt like twenty stories. Exhausted but intrigued, we followed its path, finally reaching a massive set of ornately carved wooden double doors where Aaron stopped."Stay close, everyone," Aaron said, his voice dropping a notch from its usual smooth charm. "No wandering off. Understood?"Aaron placed a hand on the ornately carved double doors. With a silent murmur, the wood glowed faintly, then swung inward with a heavy sigh. We shuffled through the doorway, the air turning noticeably cooler. The long hallway stretched before us, a long corridor lined with identical, imposing doors. "This," Aaron announced, gesturing at the first door on his left, "is the Bellum Club's library." He waved his hand, and the door creaked open with a slow, protesting groan. A wave of cool, musty air washed over us, thick with the scent of aged paper and forgotten lore. Inside, the library stretched vast and shadowy. Towering shelves, groaning under the weight of countless leather-bound volumes, lined every wall."Anything you need to research can be found here," Aaron said, his gaze lingering on Jean. "Think you might need a refresher on some ancient magic?"Jean's eyes widened to saucers. Speech momentarily deserted her, and she could only manage a jerky nod, her gaze sweeping across the vast library."Alright then," Aaron said, the library door snapping shut behind him with a finality that echoed down the hall. "Moving on. Next up, the review room." He strode purposefully down the hallway, a faint hum emanating from his direction as he neared a door on the right. As he approached, the door pulsed with a soft, blue light, then swung silently open.Compared to the opulent library, the review room felt sterile. Bare walls surrounded a simple setup: an old-school video projector facing a worn canvas screen, with a scattering of well-worn couches arranged around it.Lexia raised an eyebrow. "Wow, Aaron," she drawled, "a projector and some beanbags. Very impressive.""Yeah, this room could definitely use a makeover," Aaron chuckled, shrugging. "But it gets the job done. We mostly use it to review old matches so nothing fancy."Aaron chuckled, the sound echoing faintly down the hallway as he turned and strode back. The review room door sighed shut behind him with a finality that sent shivers down my spine. We inched closer to the next door, curiosity and a growing tension warring within me. A rhythmic clang echoed from beyond, the unmistakable sound of metal meeting metal. It was a sound that sent a jolt of nervous energy through the group.Aaron's brow furrowed, a flicker of surprise crossing his face. He glanced at Nox,. "I thought we cleared the training room for the tour." A beat of silence hung heavy in the air before he sighed, a hint of frustration in his exhale. With a wave of his hand, the door creaked open, revealing a glimpse of movement within.The door groaned open, revealing a space unlike any we'd seen so far. It resembled a small, sterile interrogation room, except on the opposite wall, a thick pane of reinforced glass separated us from...ruins. A city, reduced to rubble, stretched out in a desolate landscape. Sitting at a desk on our side of the glass was Bolt."Bolt," Aaron said, his smile faltering for a brief moment. "What's going on in here? I thought I secured the training room for the tour."Bolt's head snapped up at the sound of Aaron's voice, a startled yelp escaping his lips. His gaze darted past Aaron, taking in our group for the first time. His wide eyes narrowed slightly, a flicker of something unreadable crossing his face."When did you...?" he began, his voice thick with surprise. Before he could finish, his gaze settled on Aaron's shoulder, then traveled further down the hall. A sheepish grin replaced the initial shock."Sorry, Cap," he mumbled, his voice laced with a hint of apology. "Didn't hear you coming in. But you know how those two get when they want to train there is no stopping them." He gestured towards the reinforced window, his earlier intensity returning."An unexpected opportunity," Aaron said, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes. "Perhaps this can serve as a live demonstration." He gestured for everyone to move forward.As we crowded closer, the scene through the reinforced window exploded into a whirlwind of violence. Two figures, their forms obscured by the chaos, battled a relentless horde of nightmarish creatures. One, clad in dark hoplite armor and a Spartan-like helmet, wielded a colossal executioner's axe. It swept through the demonic ranks with brutal efficiency, cleaving flesh and bone in a sickening spray.The other figure, a stark contrast to the brutal axe-wielder, seemed to defy gravity, hovering effortlessly in the air. Their dark green armor, etched with intricate ruin patterns, shimmered faintly as they unleashed a torrent of spells from a glowing golden staff. Each spell, a shimmering bolt of energy, arced through the air, decimating the demonic horde and giving the black-armored fighter a much-needed respite."Nice moves, sis! You sure know how to handle those things!" Jordan said with a grin."Wait, that's your sister? The one wielding the axe?" Elizabeth asked, her voice filled with curiosity. "Yep, that's Alice alright," Jordan replied with a mix of pride and concern etched on his face. "And the one floating? That's Angelo. Looks like they're putting on a show for us. Though," he added with a wry smile, "seeing my sister fight demons makes me realize I have a long way to go before I catch up to her."A wall of fire erupted with a deafening roar, sending Alice tumbling through the air. The ground rushed up to meet her, but just before impact, a surge of unseen energy cradled her and deposited her gently on her feet. Angelo's quick thinking had saved her. Shaking off the daze, Alice scanned the battlefield.The inferno's source became horrifyingly clear. A colossal dragon, easily the size of a small skyscraper, emerged from the smoke. Its obsidian scales seemed to devour the light, and six monstrous heads, each fuming with infernal breath, swiveled on sinuous necks, searching for prey. Alice charged forward."We have to help them!" Jordan cried, his voice tinged with panic as he clenched his fists. "They can't take on that thing alone!"Bolt chuckled, a deep rumble that echoed in the confined space. "Easy there, newbie," he rumbled, clapping Jordan on the shoulder with surprising gentleness for such a burly dwarf. "It's just a simulation. They won't get hurt...not physically, anyway." His voice trailed off, and a flicker of something unreadable crossed his features. "Besides," he added, his tone regaining its usual gruffness, "a six-headed monstrosity like that is barely a warmup for your sister and Angelo."A prickle of unease crawled up my spine. It wasn't a sound, not exactly, but a presence. A dark whisper, barely audible at first, wormed its way into my thoughts. "Lance..." The voice was low, raspy, and laced with an unseen malice. It repeated the name again, a touch louder this time, "LAAAAANCE..."I felt an invisible force pulling me away out of the room. I snuck away and made my way back into the hall.The whispers morphed into a distinct voice, slithering into my mind. It was smooth, seductive, laced with a power that sent shivers down my spine. "Well, well, well," it cooed, "look who decided to listen. Don't you want the power, little hero? The power to save your friends, to protect them from all harm?""Azriel is that you?" I asked.The chuckle that erupted in my head sent a fresh wave of terror down my spine. It was a sound dripping with dark amusement. "Oh, don't worry about your little friend," the voice purred, the words slithering into my ear like a venomous snake. "They're safe. I simply desired some quality time, one on one, with the hero of the hour.""Power," the voice whispered, a seductive caress in the emptiness of your mind. "Power beyond your wildest dreams. The strength to not only save your friends, but to rewrite the very fabric of this world." A pause, heavy with expectation. "All you have to do is continue down the hall."My legs began to twitch, a sense of rebellion against my will. I fought to regain control, digging my heels into the sterile floor. It was a futile effort. My body lurched forward, drawn by an invisible tether towards the hallway's split.Two paths yawned before me: the well-lit one, a continuation of the familiar sterile halls, and the other – a gaping maw of darkness. The voice in my head, a seductive purr now, urged me right. "Power lies there," it whispered, "untapped and waiting." My breath caught in my throat. The very air in the dark hallway seemed to hum with an unseen energy, a promise and a threat rolled into one.Straining against the relentless pull, I managed to steal a glance ahead. A single door marred the inky blackness, unlike any I'd seen before. Its surface wasn't painted or polished, but seemed to absorb the light itself, leaving behind a swirling vortex of obsidian. A suffocating aura emanated from it, a palpable sense of evil that sent shivers down my spine and made the hair on my arms stand on end. It wasn't just darkness behind that door; it was a living entity, a malevolent presence whispering promises of power at the cost of your soul."Good little hero," the voice cooed, a sickeningly sweet melody in the oppressive silence. "Just a touch. That's all it takes to unlock your true potential."My fingertips brushed against the cold, swirling surface of the door. A jolt of dark energy crackled up my arm, momentarily overriding my resistance. Panic clawed at my throat, a strangled cry dying unborn in my constricted lungs.Suddenly, a powerful grip clamped down on my shoulder. The surge of energy faltered, yanking me back from the door. I whipped around, expecting to see the grotesque manifestation of the voice, but instead, a figure stood bathed in the faint glow filtering in from the well-lit hallway."Lance!" A familiar voice called out, filled with both relief and a hint of reprimand. My vision cleared, and I recognized Bolt, his normally gruff face etched with concern. "What were you doing over here?" I must have had a horrified look on my face " Are you ok?" He asked."Uh, yeah," I stammered, my voice barely a whisper. "Just... checking things out. Got a little bored waiting." It was a pathetic lie, and even my own ears couldn't believe it.Surprisingly, Bolt didn't press the issue. A slow grin spread across his face, wide enough to be unsettling. "Well, look at you, Mr. Explorer," he rumbled, his voice devoid of its usual gruffness. "But enough sightseeing. You wouldn't want to miss the real show, would you?""The real show?" I asked."Yes the real show" Bolt boomed, his grin wider than ever before, almost manic. "We get to see Nox and the Cap go toe-to-toe in the training room!"With a surge of adrenaline, I ran with Bolt, the memory of the chilling door spurring me on. We thundered back to the training room, the promise of a different kind of fight was a welcome distraction.