***Panic attack warning***
Will have **** at beginning and end.
A cold empty feeling spreads through my body as we arrive closer to the vaults.
"It will be alright." Pronto assures me.
I look at him unsure. "Yeah maybe."
My body feels numb yet filled with such emotion.
As we reach closer to the entrance of the vault room.
******
When we get to the entrance I can feel my pulse quicken.
I try to swallow the huge lump in my throat.
I feel the walls beginning to close in as my body begins to tremble.
I can't let them see me like this.
I squeeze my eyes shut only to see my mothers body being absorbed into one of those monsters.
"...igh. Ra..." I hear a familiar voice but can't tell who it is.
No one is down there.
No one is down there!
No one is down there!
Everyone was in town square. Everyone was in town square.
I feel someone grip my shoulders.
"Rayleigh it's okay." I open my eyes seeing the worry in Will Shane's eyes.
I gulp and will myself to slow my breathing until Will releases my shoulders.
******
I look straight ahead at the stone wall where I see the lever.
Using a Tormato slug's energy I release the lever and the stone slowly rolls away.
Taking in a deep breath I drive my mechabeast inside.
"This place smells..." Trixie pauses a moment.
"Stale. It smells stale." I sound relieved and smile sadly.
At least no one has been here for a while.
"Which vaults are we opening?" Will had driven up beside of me.
"Which ever ones we need to." I hold my head up looking down the stone hall which opens up at the center and branches off into different spaces where cube like safes are lined up.
"Kai care to help out." She chirps before jumping into my slug tube.
"Most of the vaults are sealed with smolten." I inform everyone before getting off my mechabeast.
"Smolten? Why would you use smolten? Wouldn't it be hard to find Forgesmelters?" Trixie follows behind me.
"Not for us. Exlisle Cavern, my home, we focused on the the needs of all types of slugs. The few people ,who the shadow clan approved of, went to a lightwell. Once they returned they acted as a guide for all types of slugs."
I smile sadly as we spot my family's vault.
"Kai care to help?"
She chirps in responce as I load her in my blaster.
"Eli use Torch and open any safe you feel like you'll find something. Take only the gold coin. No personal belongings."
Eli nods quietly before loading Torch and firing at a nearby safe.
I stare at my family safe before Will get my attention.
"You don't have to do this. We'll find another way."
I answer him by shooting my blaster.
The smolten burns seat revealing the steal lid.
"If we are taking innocent people's money I can use mine." I state bluntly before slowly walking to the vault.
I close my eyes as I open the door.
I open them seeing moms ruby hair pin.
I smile sadly as I grab it.
"Was that your mothers?" Trixie takes a closer look.
"Yes this is my mothers." I say softly as I place it firmly in my hair.
I grab one of the 2 medium sized bags of gold coin as Trixie grabs the other.
Why is she helping me?
Why are they helping me?
Why haven't they left yet?
I ask myself as I place my gold coin bag under my seat.
Trixie places the other bag beside the one I grabbed.
"I have a few things I want to grab before we leave." I state walking back to the vault.
I find a small lime green and dark blue blaster with a note attached to it.
I see mine and Drake's name on the front.
I feel my eyes furrow with confusion and loss.
I slide against the wall while opening the letter.
Our children,
If you are reading this it means the Fear demons returned.
The blaster here is for you Drake. Use it well and listen to your big sister.
Rayleigh please don't mourn our capture for long.
There is a way for someone to escape the grip of the Fear Demons.
Impossible as it sounds it has been a few occurrences in history when someone has broken free.
Train Drake well for there is a war brewing.
We are both very proud of the two of you.
Be brave.
I stare at the note a few moments before folding it into my pocket.
Drake's new blaster sits in my lap before I stand and look some more in the vault.
I find one of dads spare Bandoliers.
A simple grey strap with two rows of three slug tube slots going up the chest.
I also find a two new sets of slugslinging outfits.
A tight fitting navy blue long sleeve shirt, black pants and combat boots, along with two black cloaks and two backpacks the larger one tan and smaller one light green.
I see everyone has met back at the mechas making small talk.
I grab the rest of our personal items, which isn't much, before meeting up with them.
"You guys got enough gold right?" I look at their small and medium sized bags.
"Do you feel guilty taking this?" Pronto asks hesitant.
"Yes I do but we have to go." I answer him.
"We have to hurry and leave." I say before anyone else says something.
Once we return Drake and Junjie are the first to greet us.
"Did you find the vaults?" Drake asks.
I smile sadly as I bring his blaster out of the seat compartment.
His eyes get wide with excitement.
"Mom and dad left us a note. This blaster is yours." I gently hand it to him along with his clothes.
I open his backpack. His new bandolier and holster and a few slug tubes are inside.
"When get to where we are going you can change into your new clothes. Then I can show you how to gear up."
He nods while looking at all the designs on his blaster.
"Are we ready to leave." Amanda asks standing beside Will mechabeast.
I look around seeing everything is picked up and dust scattered back everywhere to cover our tracks incase someone finds their way down here.
"Yes." I put the flames out.
Will, Junjie and myself create a ball of light in our hands.
Junjie gets on the back of my mecha and Drake sits in the middle of us.
"It isn't too far away."
At least I hope it isn't far from here.
"Once we get there we'll rest then try to find some food." I share my plan with everyone.
I fell guilty when I hear Pronto's stomach growl loudly.
"Some food sounds good." Trixie agrees.
I should have been able to have enough food for everyone.
"I know a place." Eli says quietly.
I nod before turning away to lead the way.
The tunnels in a way all look the same but someone like me is able to see the small differences. As a slightly different shade or texture or how moss grows in a different pattern.
After a while I see the familiar trail.
"We're close."
We continue forward as the temperature slowly warms up.
When we reach the door I get down and have Junjie lead our Mecha inside.
Everyone parks their mechas facing the exit incase we have to make a quick escape.
The ones that have sleeping bags grap them out their mechas and lay them out.
I grab my backpack that has all my clothes minus my new boots.
I'm lucky my parents guessed the right boot size.
I watch Kord and Grendle set up two blankets as the Gang gets their extra clothes.
They must have back clothes on them at all times.
Everyone let's Drake be the first to change.
After a few short minutes he comes out in a light green long sleeve shirt with light shoulder padding and dark grey pants with padding at the knees.
I see black running shoes in his hand.
The Gang changes into their extra set of clothes identical to what they were wearing.
Junjie changes back into the clothes he wore here.
Amanda, Will, and Grendel don't have any extra clothes.
We'll have to go to Caverna mall if our names are on a bounty list.
I quickly change into clean clothes.
I place my dirty clothes in a plastic bag to wash once we get to the southern caverns.
Dana should still live in Bainlan Caverns. Will she recognize us?
"It seems your in deep thought." Junjie hugs me from behind.
I take a breath.
"In Bainlan Caverns there is a woman named Dana. I was just wondering if she will recognize us." I answer leaning slightly into the hug.
"Bainlan Caverns. Is this in the Southern Caverns?" He asks.
"Yes. She visited during the coming of age ceremony. Exlisle Cavern was known across all the caverns as we were the only ones that taught the top ten children and the descendants of the previous protectors the art of SlugFu." I close my eyes as I remember the ceremony.
"Rayleigh do you swear to protect the teraportal and the central caverns even if it cost you your life."
My heart pounds against my chest but not of fear but excitement.
I've waited for this since I was born.
"I Rayleigh Alpin of Exlisle Caverns daughter of Noha and Leo Alpin. Vow to protect the lives of all have humanity."
I remember I was supposed to say I vow to protect the people of the central caverns. But then I remembered the Slugs and shadow clan.
I seen many surprised faces but my mother looked proud.
"Then I Kamron Alpin grant you the right to proceed in the training to insure the saftey of all who have humanity."
I open my eyes to everyone huddled under a blanket watching something on the Holotablet which Trixie is in the middle of Eli and Drake.
Trixie has her arm around his shoulders.
Drake looks as he is about to fall asleep.
I smile seeing him able to trust them.
"Want to join them?" Junjie asks in my ear.
"Do you guys have room for us?" I ask after Junjie releases me from his hold.
"Come on over here. We are watching
Badder than bad." Trixie waves us over.
"This marks 18 times." Eli comments as a sit down beside Drake and Will.
"It's still a great movie. Ray have you watched it yet?"
I shake my head it her question.
"Haven't watched anything in about two and a half years.
"Welp now you can't say you haven't watched it." She reminds the movie back twenty mintues.
I lean against Junjie as we watch the movie.
It's so peaceful. It would have been like a normal day with friends if it weren't for us being in an underground chamber hiding away from Blakk industries but right now I'm just going to enjoy it.
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