No Way Out
Rusty pulled his loved ones close, wrapping his strong arms around their trembling forms. The warmth radiating from him offered some comfort, but it couldn't fully combat the biting cold. The tight-knit group huddled together beneath a heap of thick, cozy saddle blankets, seeking refuge from the chill. Next to Rusty, a fire crackled in an old trash bin, providing some much-needed warmth. Previously, the earth trembled violently, splitting his brewery apart and sending everyone into a frenzied panic. Luckily for Rusty, he and his three friends had a strategy for emergencies like this. With a quick wink, he signaled to Macey to abandon her tray and follow him right away. They slipped into a supply room skillfully concealed behind the bar, soon finding a hidden door cleverly camouflaged in the rock wall.
They ventured into a cold, dimly lit hallway that led to Rusty's underground home—the fastest route to his rocky residence. Upon entering, Rusty and Macey swung open the door to find Butter, the sand cat, and Rizzo, the caracal, huddled together in fear. Rusty glanced at Macey as she joined him in the spacious doorway. She, too, was startled, her chest heaving from the rush of adrenaline. Instinctively, she moved to comfort her sisters, quickly making her way to them as they reached out with open arms for a warm embrace. All three girls turned to Rusty; their eyes filled with questions. He recognized those expressions well; over the years, he had learned the meaning behind each one. The scowl paired with narrowed eyes indicated they were angry with him—a look he dreaded encountering. Then there was the droopy-eyed, zombie stare that signaled they were either tired or bored. To complicate matters further, they would sometimes flash him a huge grin accompanied by a shy giggle, a clear sign they had a secret, or were up to no good. His favorite expression was the broad, toothy smile, which meant they were simply overflowing with joy. He often saw that smile as frequently as he did the angry look. Lastly, there was the shocked or scared expression, characterized by wide eyes, an open mouth, and raised eyebrows—a look that usually mirrored whatever concern they were feeling.
With his hands raised, he said, "I know you're all curious about what happened, but I'm just as confused as you are. The rockfall has blocked the exit from the bar. Those who managed to escape in time got out, but unfortunately, those who couldn't were crushed underneath. I'm just relieved that we are all safe. I'll check the back tunnel and see if it's clear as well, but in the meantime, I need you three to gather some blankets. It's starting to get colder for some reason. I'll be back shortly. Oh, by the way, the camel saddle blankets are stored in the chest in the back bedroom."
As soon as he gave the commands, he quickly made his way to check on the exit tunnel. A wave of relief washed over him when he saw that his home remained unharmed, but a growing unease settled in regarding what lay beyond the rocky walls. Rusty approached the back door and turned the knob, flinging it open wide. What he saw left him in shock and filled him with deep worry. His heart sank; any hope of escape was abruptly destroyed. The entire back tunnel was obstructed by enormous boulders. With his head hung low and his eyes heavy with sorrow, he knew in his heart that this was the end. Thankfully, he took comfort in knowing they had stocked enough food, water, and other essentials in the bunker. Yet they couldn't remain trapped indefinitely. With the changes in their surroundings, they needed a source of heat to survive. They had never anticipated such a crisis, as they were creatures of the desert. Only Nova and her sisters could have predicted this turn of events. They were aware of the ancient legends surrounding the portal keys. Although they had recounted the story over the years, it had always been brushed off as just another bedtime story, leaving everyone to carry on with their lives as usual. This crucial knowledge first reached humanity, and as it spread, domestic animals listened and absorbed it too. However, they always thought of themselves as wild creatures, never imagining that this information could affect them in any way. That belief shifted when one of the most insightful hybrids began to share the wisdom, marking the start of the quest for the portal keys. By all accounts, Zarda and his group have existed in hybrid form for quite some time since their transformation, yet they have yet to fully realize its potential. More generations are still to come, and they will usher in a completely new existence, especially now that the keys have been mishandled. Nevertheless, the world and its many realms will flourish abundantly and beyond measure, until the master speaks his command upon them.
Rusty returned to find the girls piling blankets one after another. Macey was the first to notice his serious expression, having grown accustomed to that worried look he frequently worn. She immediately paused her task and approached Rusty, regarding him with an earnest gaze.
"Rusty, are you alright?" Macey asked, her voice filled with worry. "What did you find? It must be something awful, because you look like you've seen a ghost. Please, share what you know," she urged.
Rusty gazed at his daughter's face and murmured the grim news, "The exit is sealed off from all sides. Now, all we can do is wait for death to find us. I have no way to clear the boulders blocking our escape. It seems we will likely freeze before we starve; I've noticed my breath hanging in the air, which tells me it's gotten even colder. I can't help but wonder what has happened outside." Turning away from her eyes, he added, "Don't share this with your sisters. You're stronger than they are, and they won't handle it well. We must shield them from this truth for their own sake," Rusty said with a heavy heart.
Macey decided to offer her sisters hope instead of the harsh reality of despair. Meanwhile, outside the brewery, help was on the way in the form of Grizk. His father and the militia were working diligently to rescue the people of Wadi Rum and bring them back to their headquarters in Ilhthid for safety and warmth. After thoroughly searching the city, they set off for Belmora. Grizk had earned his father's favor and asked if they could look for his friends there. Zee understood this would take them off the planned route, but the look of sorrow on Grizk's face tugged at his heart. Although he agreed to his son's request, Rez protested vehemently. He couldn't comprehend his father's decision and reasoned deep within himself that his father was becoming weak as a leader—a flaw he needed to rectify as soon as possible. He had been promised the throne, but lately, he had seen changes in his younger brother that had caught their father's attention as well. Rez feared that his grip on leadership was loosening. Despite recognizing the impact of his actions, he continued to rebel, as it was in his nature to resist anyone who opposed him. Grizk, on the other hand, remained calm and untroubled, no longer affected by his brother's negativity. Rez noticed this newfound strength in Grizk, and it filled him with dread.
"Before I send you out, I want to share what Mayor Briven told me. They mentioned that a seer had a vision revealing how our world came to be in this state. According to the vision, a mongoose discovered two portal keys and bound them together, but it was too early to do so, resulting in an explosion that caused the division of the earth. The seer saw the great separation and the tragic loss of life that followed. It seems time is not on our side, and we must work swiftly on all our tasks from here on out. I will assign Grizk and your cousins to keep your team safe. As for the rest of us, we will continue our search for survivors. We need to adhere to the plan and move quickly. We still need to check on Shadizar, Plenorian, Rock Taheri, Spirit City, Zerzura, Nakura, and even Sarookh Harbor to ensure they are okay. Now go, save your friends, and then return with more of our militia in a third buggy. Go, my son, and we will meet again soon," Zee said.
Zee headed off in one direction while Grizk took a different path. It appeared he had made numerous backward trips rather than advancing. He held onto hope that his friends were still alive. The snowfall had subsided, revealing a clear sky, though it remained cloaked in the darkness of Nova's cosmos. Up in the heavens, the two spirit sisters, Nova and Lantana, observed the turmoil plaguing the divided kingdoms below. The landscape was no longer the arid desert of Saudi Arabia, nor was the United States united anymore. Montana had become a realm unto itself, as had several other states that had fractured away. States like California and Florida were now scattered remnants, rendered uninhabitable. Africa too stood alone, but fortunately, it had not drifted far from the sun, maintaining its orbit. The wise Nebula kept a watchful eye on this continent, for she held a deep affection for its people. When she learned of King Zarda's capture, she was filled with sorrow. Despite her care, she had no power to intervene, as the Master had bestowed upon her authority only over the great luminary. Like their elder sister, Nova and Lantana were aware of their duties, yet Nova seemed to be experiencing a rebellious phase. She often interacted with the beings below, relishing their company. The Master observed with great patience, biding his time for the moment to confront her disobedience. His love for her was profound, yet he possessed an unwavering disdain for evil.
Grizk drove with extra caution, navigating the chaotic roads left muddied by the heavy snowfall and his own tire tracks winding back and forth. The cold was turning the slushy patches into dangerously slick surfaces. As he pressed on the accelerator, he could feel the tires struggling for traction. The city of Belmora loomed ahead. Grizk maintained a steady pace as he entered the devastated town. Bodies lay motionless on the ground like frozen statues. The once-vibrant marketplace, filled with a myriad of colors that contrasted against the bleak brown rock walls, had been reduced to ruins by massive fallen boulders. Grizk noticed that the brewery door was ajar, partially obscured by debris. He could see little inside, and he had no way of knowing if anyone remained alive. Six and Akkis exchanged uneasy glances, both feeling a sense of dread. In their minds, the mission seemed doomed before it even started. The town appeared desolate and lifeless, leading them to believe that survival was unlikely. Grizk understood that his friend always managed to push forward, no matter how chaotic things became. As the only brewer in town, he had witnessed events that most people in Belmora would never encounter in a lifetime. Despite the bleakness of the situation, Grizk held onto hope in his heart that they would find the missing residents alive.
Akkis left his sister in the vehicle while he swiftly made his way after Grizk towards the doorway. Meanwhile, Six stepped out of their ride and cautiously positioned herself to keep an eye out for any unusual activity abroad. With her drum gun at the ready, she patrolled the perimeter, fully alert. Whenever chaos erupted, troublesome monsters and frenzied creatures seemed to emerge, as if drawn out to join the fray. Hopefully, she wouldn't have to draw her gun; maybe they had all succumbed to the hoar frost of Lantana and had frozen solid like new statues of Belmora inhabitants. Grizk and Akkis had made their way inside it was clear those who survived the rock fall had not escaped the cold, and those who did escape the cold found death under the rocks crushing blow. Grizk listened as silence was all around. He was afraid to call out in case more rocks shifted and fell down. He had to think clearly and wisely on what to do. He circled back around as he looked among the vacant bar room for any signs of openings beyond the wall. To his misfortune there was no way in and no way out as it seemed. He walked back over to his cousin Akkis and searched his backpack for any special guns or rope.
Inside, he discovered an array of useful tools, including a rope and several firearms that Akkis had stowed away for their journey. Grizk carefully examined three different weapons. The first was a double-barreled shotgun, a practical choice for close-range encounters, but not quite suitable for his current needs, so he pressed on. The second weapon he uncovered was a sleek hammer AR, expertly crafted for combat yet ill-suited for moving rocks. Just as he was about to lose hope of finding what he sought, he pulled out the third firearm — an ideal Ray gun. It was the very one his cousin had wielded to fend off spiders during their trip to Tarangire a season ago. This gun was Akkis's favorite; he never ventured out without it. Grizk felt a sense of relief seeing it had made the journey with them. Akkis on the other hand was concerned of Grizk digging in his personal pack, he swung around to see his cousin holding his precious Ray gun. He swiftly retrieved it from his hands and held it close to his chest with a gruff look upon his face.
"No one touches baby Ray, but me. Got it." said Akkis.
Grizk nodded in agreement and encouraged Akkis to focus the ray gun's melting rays on the stacked rocks, given his insistence on using it. He suggested starting from the top and working downwards slowly, cautioning that they should stop and move to another spot if they noticed any signs of instability. Although Grizk would have preferred to take on this risky challenge himself, his cousin had always been attached to his gadgets. Thus, Grizk was tasked with assisting Akkis and watching over him, prepared to step in if the situation became too dangerous for both of them. He had no desire to turn a rescue operation into a dual mission for his father. Akkis approached the largest boulder on the rock wall, aiming his ray gun straight at the imposing mass. A vibrant green laser beam surged from the gun's barrel, melting the rock as the glowing energy began to liquefy its components. To their amazement, there were no additional rocks lodged in the ceiling above; instead, they discovered a spacious opening that allowed snow to cascade down. It seemed Akkis had chosen an excellent location to start, with no immediate threat of more rocks falling he was safe to continue his job. However, Grizk insisted on him taking a few breaks to listen for any signs of tremors. If they detected any vibrations, they would need to exit quickly to avoid being trapped or crushed. Fortunately, the air was clear of debris, and the earth remained tranquil.
The rock debris was finally melted into a liquid state, the cold worked quick to turn it into a solid mass of ice. Grizk hopped over the slick patch and entered the second half of Rusty's bar. He saw nothing but shattered drinks glasses scattered about, leftover plates of frozen food and empty chairs tussled as the sight of hybrids fleeing in fear. He searched the room closely, then the bar, then suddenly he noticed behind the bar a door open into a supply room behind it. He held up his submachine gun close to his chest as he cautiously entered a long cold hallway. Grizk observed a faint light peeking beneath the gap at the bottom of another door at the end of the hall. He signaled to Akkis to follow and be ready in case behind the doors were foes not friends. Grizk heartbeat raced with adrenaline. He reached for the doorknob and slowly opened it, meanwhile inside Rusty and his family sat huddled under the blankets warming by the trash fire. It was all they had. Torn pages from old books and anything else that wasn't frozen that could burn, they had inside the flames. Akkis quietly stepped in behind Grizk, standing in shock at the scene in front of him. Grizk had been right his friends were alive, just barely, but alive none the less.
Grizk cleared his throat before breaking the silence, "Excuse me, I have a pizza order for a Mr. Rusty and gang." said Grizk comically.
Rusty and the girls exchanged joyful, surprised glances at the suddenly familiar voice. Overwhelmed with happiness at their rescue, they felt like crying, yet worried that their tears might freeze. They sprang from the blanket pile and rushed toward Grizk and Akkis, enveloping them in warm embraces. Rusty grasped his friend by the biceps, gazing at him with a shaking head in disbelief.
Rusty stood in astonishment, relieved that their journey wasn't heading toward his feared destination. "How on earth did you manage to navigate past all those rocks?" he inquired.
Grizk smiled at his inquiry. "Come along, my friend, and I'll all the details while we make our way back to my cozy home," Grizk responded.
With those welcoming words, the six of them exited the vast tomb and reunited with Akkis's sister, who remained on watch outside the brewery door. They hurried toward the comforting warmth of Zenneth Ilhthid.