“Urban Mystic” by Aelius (part 2 of 2)

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You’re listening to The Voice of Dog. I’m Khaki, your faithful fireside companion,

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and today’s story is the second of two parts of

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“Urban Mystic” by Aelius,

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who can be found at FurAffinity under the same username,

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showing both stories and artwork in his gallery.

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He has also been published twice, in Inhuman Acts

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and ROAR 8 by FurPlanet.

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Last time, John, Lance, and Alexis found themselves at the forefront of a demon incursion

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brought on by the passing of a comet.

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After barely surviving an encounter with a terrifying demon,

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they discovered evidence that a dark occult ritual

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would be taking place soon.

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Though outmatched,

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they know they’re the only ones capable of facing cultists with mystical powers,

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and are preparing themselves

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for the fight of their lives.

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“Urban Mystic”

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by Aelius, Part 2 of

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2 Alexis stared up at the ceiling, unable to sleep.

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As she lay on the couch in her friends’ dorm,

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she could only wonder what they might face, and it frightened her.

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In spite of what they had fought against when they began their journey to protect their world from dark magic,

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she knew there was so much more out there than what they could prepare for.

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She was well aware that there were beings

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and places totally beyond her understanding,

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and she and her friends could face them in mere hours.

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“We’re not ready…” she muttered.

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After another sleepless hour,

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her rabbit ears swiveled at movement behind her in the kitchen area.

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She shot up and whirled,

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only to find Lance’s form lit up by the fridge’s tiny light.

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“Oh…” he said, “Sorry,

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I thought you were asleep.”

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Alexis lay back and rubbed her face.

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“No… It’s all right. Just still shaken from…

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you know.” The ferret walked over and sat down on the floor next to the sofa.

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“I am, too.” The two then turned to see John peering out from the hallway,

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his eyes reflecting from the streetlamps out the window.

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Lance grinned. “Can’t sleep, either?”

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The skunk walked over and plopped down on a worn recliner.

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“Nope. I find it odd how, after facing all we have so far, only now are we having trouble sleeping.

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I think we must’ve been facing some wimpy demons before now…”

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Alexis smiled. “We’ve never dealt with a comet or eclipse event.

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We’re experienced,

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but we’re still rookies.”

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John sighed in acceptance,

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then showed a small grin.

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“Remember our first night?

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When we tried to chase down a pair of serpent imps that had broken into a butcher’s shop?”

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Lance groaned. “I try not to.

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Not only did the imps escape, but we nearly set an entire block on fire due to throwing the wrong spell.”

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“That’s nothing,” said Alexis.

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“When I was younger and

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learning hexes and spells, I accidentally blew up my grandmother’s home.

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Luckily she was on vacation at the time, but no one ever believed me when I tried to own up to it.”

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“Disbelief is too common,”

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said Lance. “Why do we keep doing this when no one’s going to believe us or thank us, anyway?”

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John winced. “Don’t tell me you’re doing this for recognition…” “N

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-No, of course not.

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I just… well, it’s frustrating that no one acknowledges the work we put in.

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I’d almost consider

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letting a few imps go just so people might see ’em and start thinking there’s something else out in this world,

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but then again people could get hurt if I let that happen,

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so… I’m stuck fighting in the shadows.”

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John smiled. “The shadows are where you do your best work,

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considering your mystical combat style.

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But I understand what you mean. It’s tough, though you gotta consider the fact so many people out there aren’t ready to believe in a hidden world yet,

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and denial would only put more in danger.

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This is the sort of thing that has to gradually return to public knowledge.”

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“Is that an Aurora belief?”

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“Actually it’s my own.

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People are stubborn, and they can be dangerous when trying to believe

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whatever they’ve set in their minds. It can’t be forced.”

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“Look at it this way,”

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said Alexis. “Maybe we’ll be the ones helping to herald a new age of mysticism.

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With the increase in supernatural activity, this could be a sign that magic is returning to our realm.

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The evidence that we can live in harmony is already there —

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just look at John’s aether pistol.

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Technology and magic, embraced!”

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Lance was silent for a moment, then,

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“Maybe. First we’ll have to live that long, though.

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We’ve just barely survived most of our encounters thus far.”

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John nodded. “There have been plenty of tough challenges,

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close scrapes, and lethal situations, but we’re still here.

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I can’t imagine any circumstance we’ve been in where we didn’t pull through by utilizing everything we know

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to keep each other alive.

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We’re a team.” Alexis grinned.

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“Fated to friendship, perhaps?

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Destiny?” Lance rolled his eyes.

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“Oh, come on…” John laughed.

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“We do get along well enough.

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We’ve known each other even before we discovered our mystical talents.”

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The room was silent for a little longer,

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then John spoke back up,

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“Truth is… there’s no way we would be here if it weren’t for that.

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You two are the best friends I’ve ever had.

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I’m glad we’re doing this, all of this, together.”

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Alexis and Lance both nodded.

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Alexis added, “I am, too.

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You guys certainly put up with my spacey nature a lot better than most.

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And I’m sure there’s no one else Lance could get along with.”

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The ferret blinked.

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“Hey! Well… yeah okay,

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you’re right. I do enjoy hanging out and fighting with you two.”

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John shifted in the chair.

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“So no matter what happens then…”

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“Yes,” said Lance, grinning.

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“We’re stuck with each other.”

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Alexis leaned up.

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“And tomorrow night?”

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John answered, “We do what we’re meant to do.

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We finish our exams, then gear up for the fight of our lives.”

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“Provided we can get to sleep first…”

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“No sleeping spell?”

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Alexis shook her head.

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“I don’t trust ’em.

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Besides, there might be a stipulation that a prince or someone of equal or greater royalty has to kiss you before you can wake up.”

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Lance rolled his eyes again and leaned up.

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“Here, how about some meditation, then?

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I’ll teach you.” In spite of everyone’s stress,

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Lance’s techniques did help,

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though as they finally calmed enough to drift off to sleep together in the living room,

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fear over what they may face continued to linger in their dreams.

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Tomorrow was certain to be life-changing for all of them,

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and they refused to let doubt stop them from protecting their city.

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In spite of the trio’s lack of sleep,

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they managed to complete their last exams for the semester through the next day,

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freeing them to prepare for their trek

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into the tunnels.

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Sunset dimmed the sky to deep red.

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Upon arriving at his storage unit,

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John slid newly-filled vials of glowing,

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multicolored quintessence fluids into one of his belts

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and holstered his aether pistol.

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The skunk grabbed his spell tome

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and secured it closed,

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then slung it to another belt and pulled on his old leather longcoat.

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He gave his spectacles one last polish

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and donned his worn,

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wide-brimmed hat,

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running a finger along the brim before leaving.

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In another unit, Lance ensured his pockets were filled with whatever poisons,

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medicinal herbs,

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potions, or powders were needed,

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then checked his mask.

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He inserted multiple shuriken,

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knives, and rolled spell tags into his belts.

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Upon sheathing his sword,

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he strapped it to his back and exited to meet John at the storage depot’s entrance.

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The skunk sighed uneasily.

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“Ready?” “As I’ll ever be.”

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Lance put a paw on John’s shoulder.

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“Focus… and whatever happens will be our fate.”

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John nodded. “Yeah…

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thanks, Lance.” In her dorm,

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Alexis fastened her coat

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and slid her retracted staff into one of its pockets,

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then carefully wrapped a tiny silver chain around her right paw.

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The rabbit secured her headband,

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keeping her bangs from covering her eyes,

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and let out a breath to calm herself.

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“Just like any other night.”

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She clasped a necklace around her neck,

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from which an ankh symbol dangled over her chest.

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She exited to find John and Lance already waiting for her at the fountain just outside the building.

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“Let’s do this.” * * * Evening had well progressed by the time they reached the subway tunnel exit

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from where yesterday’s incident occurred.

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Outside, the tracks were completely blocked off by hazard barriers and police tape.

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John kneeled, rubbing his shins.

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“If we’re going to avoid public transport while in full gear,

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then maybe we should invest in some motorcycles.”

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Alexis tilted her head,

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looking at all the equipment.

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“You’d think they would station some guards or something…”

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Lance narrowed his eyes.

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“This entire area is vacant.

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What if whoever’s in there took ’em out already?”

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The trio stood silent as the thought sank in.

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John finally spoke,

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“I know we’re committed not to break any laws in our quests, but this time…

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I think we have to pass those barriers.”

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The three mystics made their way in,

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hurrying alongside the rails until coming to the spot where they faced

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the acidic demon last night.

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Alexis ran a paw along the cracked walls,

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nose twitching. She then stopped.

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“Here.” She stepped back and waved her paws,

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muttering a quiet chant.

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Runes ignited over the concrete,

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lighting an enormous,

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decorated circle.

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More broken runes glowed around them

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on various parts of the floor and wall,

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though the portion of the floor where John had sealed the gate to the Underworld remained dark.

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Lance glanced around at all the symbols.

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“You were right… someone has been experimenting.

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Which one of these leads to the hidden tunnel?”

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Alexis frowned. “None of them.

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These are containment runes,

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and hastily-summoned ones at that.

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I see a few basic symbols indicating someone was testing the area for mystical properties, but there’s

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no indication that someone actively connected to an unknown tunnel from here.”

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John motioned to the giant glowing circle on the wall.

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“What about that? It’s a gateway design.”

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“Yes, but that’s the exit.

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Someone cast it here without even connecting it to an entrance,

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so right now it’s completely useless.

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I dunno why someone would go through all the trouble using their energy

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to make it if they’re not gonna use it.”

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Lance rubbed his chin.

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“Maybe whoever cast it was interrupted before making the entrance?

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Or perhaps the entrance is cast somewhere else, like the

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hidden tunnel we’re looking for?”

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Alexis shook her head.

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“Half the designs needed are missing from the circle,

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which means there was never an entrance cast in the first place.

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It’s like putting a door in front of a brick wall.”

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Behind them, John had fixed a blue lens to his spectacles.

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“Well, it’s obvious we’re in the right place, at least.

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There are signs of mystical seals cast here before.

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Someone’s used this area to get to the hidden tunnel.”

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He squinted, looking at various sections of wall,

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then pointed, “There.

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A recently-sealed gateway.”

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Alexis panned her paws over the area

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and a glow formed, showing an elliptical design with spiked symbols hovering around it.

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She nodded. “Yep, this is definitely recent.

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Probably cast a few hours ago at the most.”

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John stowed the blue lens and unstrapped his spell tome.

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“I think I recognize that particular seal.

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There might be a way to bypass it.”

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He flipped a few pages and examined the text,

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then set the book down and held out his paws.

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Rotating them slowly,

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he spoke a broken line,

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paused to recheck the correct pronunciation,

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then chanted. The seal glowed brighter,

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then the concrete blocks behind it detached and spread,

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opening the path.

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John restrapped the book and smiled.

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“Told you this thing comes in handy.”

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Lance shrugged, following the skunk through.

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“I never said it was useless… just

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unwieldy.” John lifted his nose as they walked through the smaller passage.

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“Scent trails… multiple figures.”

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“Well, occultists are known to travel in groups,” said Alexis.

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“Makes summoning rituals easier when you have enough people standing in the right spots.

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spots.” Lance lit a fireball in his palm to provide light.

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“Just how far is this tunnel supposed to go, anyway?”

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John scratched his head.

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“At least a mile, probably two or more.

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The ley lines cross at a point over the water, so we’ve got a ways to go.”

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Alexis smiled. “I don’t hear any shrieks,

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so hopefully we’re not too late.”

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“No traps, either,” said Lance.

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“They were apparently confident in their ability to hide this place.”

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Alexis stopped and looked back.

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“Actually… it’s better than we thought.”

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The two males turned to see the doorway behind them

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gone. John grimaced.

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“I didn’t expect it to reseal itself…”

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Lance continued on.

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“Well, we’re still breathing, so apparently there’s another way to the surface further on.”

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The narrow tunnel stretched on and on,

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angling downward as they traveled.

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Between the claustrophobia and the fact they were getting further away from the surface, the trio became wary once again.

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Finally, they saw a faint light ahead.

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Alexis put a paw on Lance’s arm.

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“Douse that flame…” The ferret’s fireball disappeared

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and the trio snuck forward,

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trying to remain quiet while drawing their weapons.

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The tunnel opened up into an expansive chamber

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with dozens of glowing runes decorating the cavern walls.

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In the center, a bright sphere hovered,

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arcing lightning.

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Five hooded figures surrounded the sphere,

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chanting incantations to maintain it.

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With a bright flash,

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the sphere flattened and opened from the center,

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spouting fire. The hellish Underworld lay within.

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One of the figures stepped toward it,

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pointing to those at each side.

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“Okay, we can keep this sustained for only a few minutes. You two,

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make sure it stays open.”

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Two other figures joined him

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in front of the portal as he continued,

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“Debra, Jacob, you’re with me.

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Cerberus will detect us soon so be prepared.”

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Otherworldly shrieks interrupted them.

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Shadows darted out from the flames of the portal

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—serpent imps. The occultists

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whipped out submachine guns and lit them with spells,

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driving the demons back.

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A larger figure burst from the portal and lashed out with dripping,

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oily tentacles. John,

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Lance, and Alexis leaped down,

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hitting the demon back with charged spells and searing fireballs.

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John shouted, “Stop this ritual immediately!

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We won’t let you bring any more abominations into this realm!”

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The occultists whirled to face them in shock.

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The oily demon roared and flung a glob at them,

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forcing them behind a boulder while more demons slid out from the portal.

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John and the leader aimed their guns at one another.

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The skunk snarled,

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“Close the portal before you doom us all!”

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The leader, a jackal, scowled and lowered his weapon.

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“You have no idea what you all just ruined…”

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Another glob struck the wall behind them,

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forcing a wince. A smaller demon bounded over cover and lunged.

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The jackal held out his arm

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and lightning coursed between him and the monster, sapping its energy dry

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until it fell to the ground shriveled.

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Over the sounds of gunfire and reverberating spells,

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he signaled to a companion, a horse.

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“Debra! Show him!” The mare sprinted over to John

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and grabbed his forehead, chanting a quick incantation.

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John froze as images accompanied the mare’s telepathic voice flooding into his mind,

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showing him exactly

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what the presumed occultists were doing, all in a single instant.

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This is a rescue mission.

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We are members of the Federal Bureau of Investigation,

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charged with handling matters of paranormal activity and the occult.

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Last year, a team from our division used the passing of Comet Lovejoy to study fractures by weakened ley lines.

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They discovered that a portal to the Underworld could easily be forced open during these celestial events

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and they entered the underworld to gather research.

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Unfortunately, they encountered Cerberus,

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who stopped them from escaping before the portal closed.

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They have been trapped within the Underworld ever since.

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We have been sending beacons through smaller,

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less sustainable portals during every celestial event since to try and figure out

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where in the Underworld they might be,

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and now we have finally zeroed in on a possible location where we can enter

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and pull them back out.

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This comet’s passing

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weakened the fractures enough to allow a portal large enough

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to enter ourselves

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—an opportunity we will not get again for months,

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possibly even years.

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John snapped back into consciousness to find Debra

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staring back at him.

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Behind her, the jackal and an iguana fired at unseen creatures beyond their cover,

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while Alexis arced lightning from her staff and Lance threw fireballs.

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John’s jaw dropped.

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“The F.B.I. has a paranormal division…

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Of course they have a paranormal division.”

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He looked at Debra.

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“We just made a horrible mistake, didn’t we?”

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“Yes,” she said. “Huge.”

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The skunk shouted a quick spell,

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covering his pistol and arm in runes, then spun and fired.

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Blue sparks nailed a slimy,

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coiling demon and sent it flying back, disintegrating.

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The jackal glanced over in surprise.

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“Where did you get that gun?”

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“Heirloom!” John replied.

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“Name’s John, by the way.”

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“Agent Samuel Davis,” replied the jackal.

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A shrieking, winged beast charged out from the portal toward the mystics.

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Debra and Alexis flung out their paws,

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summoning shield spheres that warped

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and then combined.

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The demon nailed it and vaporized upon contact.

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The rabbit and mare nodded uneasily to each other in thanks.

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Samuel reloaded his gun

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and stood. “We don’t have much time.

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Jacob, let’s go!” The jackal and iguana rushed toward the portal.

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Huge glowing claws ignited around Jacob’s hands

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and he slashed away the demons blocking their path.

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A haunting roar echoed through the flames

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and a black figure darkened the portal’s opening.

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Flames vanished and a gigantic fist reached out,

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pounding the cavern’s floor.

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Samuel and Jacob

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stopped in their tracks.

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The rest of the creature emerged,

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its huge form blocking the portal.

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Black skin covered bulging muscle,

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and three scowling canine heads with glowing-red eyes stared back at the mystics.

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Cerberus’s three heads spoke in sync,

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growling a deep, reverberating voice,

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“Leave this place, Earth dwellers.

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You’ve no business in my realm.”

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Samuel shouted back,

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“We’ve only come to rescue our allies who are trapped there! They are from our world!”

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Cerberus snarled, “No one enters the Underworld,

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and no one leaves the Underworld. If they are within,

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then they shall remain.”

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Jacob rushed forward

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and slipped out of view, trying to teleport,

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but reappeared before passing the portal.

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“What the…” Cerberus held out a paw and blasted a wave of white-hot fire.

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The mystics darted out of the way before it left behind molten rock.

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Jacob tried to circle around. “We need

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a clear line of sight to teleport through. Otherwise that giant dog’s aura will block us!”

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John pulled out his tome.

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“Alexis, cover me!” The rabbit tossed up a shield sphere.

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“This won’t last against Cerberus for long.

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Hurry!” Samuel’s jaw dropped.

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“You brought an entire spell tome?”

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Another blast forced him to dodge.

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As John feverishly skimmed the book, Lance and Jacob took turns sprinting in to slash at Cerberus’s claws,

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keeping the creature distracted

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while Debra helped the other two summoners maintain the portal.

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“Whatever you’re planning, do it now!” she shouted.

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John stopped on a particular spell.

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“This might work… Lance, Alexis, get behind me!”

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The shield dropped

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and John dashed toward Cerberus with his friends following close.

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Samuel stopped firing at Cerberus’s heads,

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noticing what John’s crew was doing. “Wait,

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don’t!” He dove away from another blast just in time to see John and Alexis

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weaving spell runes as they ran.

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Lance grabbed their shoulders

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and the trio disappeared.

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John, Lance, and Alexis hit the steaming rocky ground and gasped for breath.

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Alexis cast a quick spell,

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allowing them to breathe.

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“This will help for now,”

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she panted. “The air here is toxic in large doses.”

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John got to his feet and looked around.

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“Welcome to the Underworld…”

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All around him, the bleak landscape painted a picture of death and hopelessness.

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The ground was completely bare,

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save for an occasional patch of spiraling dead thorns.

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Plumes of fire gushed out from cracks here and there.

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In the distance, rocky crags gave way to a vast sea of glowing vapor,

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where more flaming geysers spurted out.

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High above, black smoke obscured whatever sky there may have been,

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while arcs of lightning angrily flashed.

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“What sort of being would ever call this place home?”

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Lance brushed himself off.

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“What did you do to make that teleport work?”

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“An aura bypass. Shifts our auras to slingshot around that of a larger, stronger presence,

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kinda like how a star can throw a comet around with its

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gravity.” “Hmm, wonder why the agents couldn’t do that.”

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“I doubt they know the spells I have in my tome.”

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John grinned and patted his book.

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“All the more reason to carry this along.

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Though due to the mana that bypass consumes against a powerful aura like that of Cerberus,

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we won’t be able to use it again.

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Not until long after that portal closes, at least.”

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Alexus shuddered. “Let’s not wait that long.

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I don’t want to be here any longer than we need to.

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Hey, why are we here, anyway?”

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John pointed at a glowing blue light nearby.

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“I’ll bet that doesn’t belong.

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It’s a beacon. Let’s go!”

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As they ran, John explained to them the vision Debra cast in his mind, defining the mission to rescue the trapped agents.

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Lance frowned. “You sure you can trust them?”

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“Casting a lie-detecting spell was easy enough to prove it.

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Let’s just hope those agents are there waiting!”

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When they arrived, they found the area empty.

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Lance nervously glanced back to the portal in the distance.

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“How long do we have to wait?”

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The ground burst open,

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sending the trio flying back

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with flames trailing from their fur and clothing.

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John landed hard

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and rolled back, dazed.

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He tasted blood in his mouth.

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“This is not gonna be fun…”

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Lance guided himself into a tumble and cast waves of light around his sword blade.

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Ahead, two large shapes rose from the fiery pit.

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The same type of acidic demon they had faced in the subway tunnel.

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Alexis helped John up

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and held out her staff.

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“I did a bit of research of my own earlier this morning.

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I think I know what might work against them.”

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Lance flipped back,

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deflecting acid globs with his sword.

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Alexis leaped past him

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and jammed her staff into the ground.

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The demons rushed forward as the staff’s tips glowed,

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then Alexis unleashed a powerful shockwave that sent them soaring backward

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along with embers and pieces of rock.

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Alexis staggered to her feet,

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leaning on her staff.

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“Please work…” The beasts tumbled

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and rolled to their feet, snarling in fury.

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Alexis’s ears fell.

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“You can’t be serious!”

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She knew she lacked the mana to cast more shields after that blast.

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A metal spike shot from the ground

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and impaled one of the beasts,

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dangling it high above the landscape.

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The second beast whirled in surprise

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only to be blasted with a wave of violet lightning,

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tearing off its face and part of its shoulder.

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As it collapsed, three figures rushed over

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—a bear, a deer, and a bat.

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Their clothing, once the decorated robes worn by the FBI’s paranormal division,

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had been reduced to tattered rags.

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Their bodies were thin and malnourished,

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covered in soot and grime.

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The deer waved to John.

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“You three trapped here, as well?”

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John motioned for them to follow.

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“No, we’re here with agent Samuel Davis and his crew.

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We have a way out!”

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The three agents traded glances,

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then rushed to join with John, Lance, and Alexis

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on a sprint for the portal.

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Roars echoed behind them

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as more demons drew near,

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attracted by the sounds of the previous scuffle.

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John whirled and fired back with his aether pistol,

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nailing pursuers with perfect accuracy.

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In front, Lance slashed at anything that stood in their way,

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aided by the bat’s lightning blasts.

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Alexis used what mana she had remaining

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to heal the others,

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boosting their stamina in the process.

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The portal ahead warped,

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destabilizing. The deer’s eyes widened.

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“We must hurry!” The bear waved his paws

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and spoke a quick incantation,

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then stone pillars rose up ahead of them

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to provide steps up to portal.

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John blinked. “The demons have stopped chasing us…”

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Cerberus charged through the portal and smashed the columns,

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roaring, “You will not leave!”

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The six mystics froze,

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unable to pass the gigantic three-headed canine.

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John pulled out his book

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and opened to the inner back cover.

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He hesitated, then sighed.

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“Get ready to summon those steps again.”

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Lance lifted an eyebrow.

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“What are you doing…?”

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“Demonstrating how knowledge is power.

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Literally.” As Cerberus charged at them,

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John read the final incantation

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and let the book hover in front of them.

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Red runes lit up all over its form.

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John grimaced and punched toward the giant.

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The book struck Cerberus in the chest

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and detonated like an arcane shape charge,

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throwing him back so fast his body carved a trench in the ground as he went careening backwards.

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Alexis gawked. “Are you… gonna get it back?”

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John pointed at the portal.

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“Now! Go!” The stone columns returned and the six mystics rushed up and out of the Underworld.

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As soon as they hit the cold ground of Earth,

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the portal flashed

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and faded away. Samuel and the others gathered around the six, smiling.

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“Welcome to Chicago.”

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The cavern jolted

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and cracks appeared all around them,

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spouting water. Debra waved her paws over a lit portion of wall.

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“The energy sustaining this cave is fading.

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We gotta go before it collapses!”

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Decorated circles ignited on the wall

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and the rocks parted, opening a door.

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Alexis grinned. “So that’s why we only saw the exit seal.

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The entrance wasn’t cast yet!”

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Debra shot her a glance.

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“You saw the seal??”

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Everyone bolted through the gateway with rocks

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crashing down behind them.

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They tumbled onto the ruined floor of the subway tunnel

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just before the seal faded

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and concrete filled in the hole.

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John breathed in the air of his own realm again

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and smiled. “We did it.

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We actually went to the underworld and survived!”

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Lance shifted under him.

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“Yeah, feel free to get off me anytime…”

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“Oh! Sorry…” Everyone helped each other up.

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The three rescued agents found themselves surrounded by their fellow mystics.

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Debra and the bat

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tearfully embraced

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while the bear set down a loaded, oversized satchel.

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Samuel’s smile faded.

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“Where are the other two, Richard?”

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The bear shook his head.

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“They didn’t make it.

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They had an equal part in our discoveries, though.

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The Underworld is far more than just fire and bare rock.

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rock.” He nodded to the satchel,

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“There are a few samples of

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things we collected while searching for a way out.

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Between those and our testimonies,

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I think we can familiarize ourselves with the Underworld a bit more.

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Hopefully prevent this from happening again.”

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He then handed the jackal two necklaces.

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“And they deserve to be remembered for their bravery.”

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John’s eyes widened

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as he saw the symbols on the pendants.

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“Those are Aurora runes…

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Are you…?” Samuel and the other agents traded glances,

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then pulled out their own identical necklaces.

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“The U.S. arm of the Aurora order exists as the occult and parapsychology division of the F.B.I.”

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John smiled wide.

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“This is unreal… Do you realize how long I’ve dreamed of joining your ranks?”

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Jacob grinned. “I’m not so sure.

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You did interrupt and nearly sabotage a rescue mission…”

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Lance put a paw on John’s shoulder.

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“We didn’t know at first.

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But we did figure out a ritual was happening at all. And we helped!”

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Debra nudged Samuel.

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“They’re pretty gifted, from what we’ve seen.

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Much more than anybody their age that we’ve encountered.”

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Richard chuckled.

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“Considering the fact you came into the Underworld to rescue us,

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I’d say you’ve got dedication!”

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John sighed. “I lost my tome in the Underworld, though…”

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Lance squeezed his shoulder.

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“You’ll find new spells.

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At least you won’t have to lug that big thing around anymore.”

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Richard nodded to Samuel,

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who rolled his eyes and pulled out his smartphone, tapping into an app.

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After a moment, the jackal then stowed the phone

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and a message pinged on John’s own phone.

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“Since you’re committed,”

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said Samuel, “this might help.”

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John blinked, looking at his phone.

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“How did you… Wait,

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what is this?” “One of our policy manuals,” Samuel replied.

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“As an ebook. Our grimoires are in the same format.”

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Debra grinned and held up her own smartphone, which displayed a series of runes on its screen.

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“Spell tomes for the new age!”

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John couldn’t help but smile.

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“Wow… thanks! You actually trust us?”

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The bat tapped his head and winked.

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“Mind reader. Don’t let us down.”

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“So… does this mean we’re becoming Aurora?”

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Samuel directed the others to prepare to leave.

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“Consider this gesture your preliminary induction.

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Study up on that manual, and we’ll be contacting you soon.” He snapped his fingers.

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John, Lance, and Alexis blinked,

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finding the agents gone

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and their scents erased.

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“Whoa…” said John. “Teleportation?”

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“Nope,” said Alexis,

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looking at the clock on her phone.

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“Hypnosis. We were standing here in a trance for seven minutes.”

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John grinned wide.

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“They didn’t erase our memories.

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This is amazing! After what they told us, we might be able to become some of the greatest mystical warriors of our era!

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Not only that, but they didn’t confiscate our weapons or bring us in for rogue magic use.

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That means they trust us!”

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“But they’re watching us,”

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said Lance. “We’re being judged for worthiness,”

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said John. The trio exited the tunnel

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into the cool night air.

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Seeing the brightly-lit skyline of Chicago,

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John took another breath and smiled.

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“Look at that… a perfect reminder of why we do this.

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Sure, people might not believe us,

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but did you see the relieved smiles of those agents when they made it back into our world?

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Just think, we’re working to ensure nobody else will ever have to go through that nightmare.”

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Lance stoically nodded.

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“True enough. I guess protecting them from that is better than being recognized for it.”

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Alexis smiled. “I can live with that.”

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The three friends made their way back into the city,

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knowing they could expect a visit from the Aurora soon.

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Confident in their abilities,

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they felt ready for anything.

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This was the the 2nd of 2 parts of

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“Urban Mystic” by Aelius,

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read for you by Khaki,

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your faithful fireside companion.

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As always, you can find more stories on the web at thevoice.dog, or find the show wherever you get your podcasts.

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Thank you for listening

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to The Voice of Dog.