Even though I had seen some crazy shit recently, this takes the cake. My eyes kept scanning over the floating island that hovered in the air, taking in all its little details.
The structure was massive, even from this distance, I was able to tell that much. The island was a jagged, irregular mass of earth and stone, as it hung in the air, defying gravity. From the edges, occasionally, some disgusting black goo would drop and fall to the ground, vanishing before it hits the surface, burnt by the sunlight. There was some vines and roots that dangled from the edges, swaying gently in a breeze that didn't exist.
And even from where he stood, at its center, we were able to make out a massive navy-blue spire, that stretched beyond the clouds, its architecture ancient, yet stunningly beautiful.
All three of us just stood there, mouth agape, completely and utterly shocked by what we are staring it. Eventually, it was Zeke who spoke, his tone not lacking in dry humor.
"Things just keeps getting more fantastical. What's next? A princess that never cuts her hair is trapped inside the spire, we have to save in order to destroy the Abyssal Heart?"
Isabella snorted in an unladylike manner, folding her arms, stifling a laugh.
"As if we will ever get that lucky."
I rolled my eyes and responded.
"Is an afterlife battle royale not fantastical enough for you?"
Zeke barked out a laugh, wrapping an arm around my shoulder and pulling me into a side-hug, only met for bros.
"Fair enough."
Being squeezed, I pushed him away with a laugh. Then, turned back towards the floating island, still admiring it, but the admiration now less evident, as I began considering how we could get up there….
"Look."
It was Nico who spoke this time. My attention turned towards him, as he pointed downwards, to the very center of where the tunnels maze formed the pattern.
"There is something rising from there."
Isabella raised an eyebrow, turning around and squinting her eyes to look closer.
"I don't see anything…"
Zeke also shook his head, unable to find what Nico has mentioned, staring at the young boy dubiously.
"It's rising to the air like smoke, from the ground."
I was still suspicious of Nico, but up until now, the young boy has done everything he could to help us. That doesn't mean I won't trust him less, though. He has been a cunning and deceptive person from the very start, from the very beginning of our meeting.
Crounching down, I squinted my eyes to get a better look. Both Isabella and Zeke followed suit, Nico as well, as he tried guiding us to what he saw. That's when my eyes caught it.
From the very center, below exactly where the floating island hovered, a faint red smoke was rising from the ground, extending to the sharp rocky below of the floating island, like a rope. It was almost like they were connected together, once the 'sun' rose even higher, it just made it even more visible.
"I see it."
I said after some time. From the corner of my eye, I saw Nico heave a sigh of relief. Looking back towards the rest of them, i saw them grin widely.
"Me too."
"I saw it!"
We all nodded our heads, exchanging meaningful looks. We hurled up, beginning to plan our next move, even though it was pretty obvious from the start.
"Do you think that red smoke could be the way to enter the floating island?"
Zeke inquired. Nico nodded his head without any hesitation, maybe a little too quickly, as if he was sure of it.
"I can't think of any other way."
I frowned, folding my arms together, as I countered his point.
"But why are we even focusing on the floating island here? What if it's just another diversion and the Abyssal Heart is safely hidden somewhere else? Hiding it in the floating island seems a little too obvious for me."
At the new perspective, Isabella nodded her head, furrowing her eyebrows, looking thoughtful.
"I agree with Morgan. We just can't be sure yet. The more time we waste here, the longer we will keeping Cas waiting."
Zeke's expression darkened at the mention of Cassie, his tone now carrying a hint of impatience.
"But we can't hesitate to make moves now, either. Being too passive and trying to consider all outcomes is what's really taking up time. We need to move. Now."
Nico sighed, as he nodded his head in agreement with Zeke.
"I agree. Even though this could be very obvious bait, you three seemed rushed for time. Since you are, we should just take the risk."
I bit my lip, considering this. I was tempted to argue more, to say even more unreasonably things, all to see how Nico might react. With my suspicions of him now heightened, I need to find ways of testing him subtly.
But not now.
Zeke has stayed true to himself, laughing and making jokes, but it wasn't difficult to see that waiting so long, taking up so time, has started affecting him. He was growing more impatient and worried about Cassie. It's almost like Zeke saw the latter as some fragile sister meant to be protected and cared for. It was honestly sweet, their relationship.
I gave Isabella a knowing look, which she understood immediately and nodded. It was time for us to concede to their point.
"You're right. Let's go."
Zeke heaved a sigh of relief, even Nico seemed pleased. Without saying anything else, he turned towards the red smoke. That was the red smoke we saw and mistook as light in the darkness, before the 'sun' rose. That red smoke will be what guides us to the floating island and possibly, to the Abyssal Heart and Lord Tanmi as well.
Nothing was needed to be said, as we began making our way towards the red smoke. From where we were, it was a good distance away. Perhaps around twenty to fifteen minutes away. So, it was a good idea starting the walk early and not stalling it any longer, otherwise, we would be wasting precious time.
Zeke and Nico followed by closely together. The two of them seemed to have gotten closer as of late, perhaps even silently agreed to be true allies, instead of it being temporary. Or perhaps this is just Nico manipulating Zeke? Or Zeke manipulating Nico? I couldn't be sure, but what I knew was that they both looked comfortable around each other. Like best friends.
As usual, Isabella was with me. Compared to the two of them, she was most comfortable around me. That much was very evident and made sense, considering we have been together ever since the beginning of The Mulligan. I wouldn't have survived this long in this Hellish afterlife battle royale without her assistance.
Still, with the recent distance I put up between us, we haven't talked much. Atleast, not after the battle with number three. Even throughout most of the walk, navigating using the ceilings of the tunnels as pathways towards the red smoke, we didn't talk much towards each other. I could tell Isabella had alot to say, but she held her tongue.
Atleast, for awhile, until she broke it.
"I'm not sure if I really apologized for this but….im sorry for lying to you when we first met. I didn't really trust you."
'Why was she bringing up something so irrelevant?'
I thought. Did she think that was why he has suddenly distancing himself from her? Regardless of the reason, he didn't want to be rude. No, not to her. So, he responded without much hesitation, keeping his tone casual.
"I understand. I didn't trust you much, either. But look how far we have come. Don't linger on it."
Isabella looked at me for a few seconds, she opended her mouth to say more, but closed it, unable to find the words to express what she was feeling inside.
Human emotions were complicated. Especially for someone like me, who lacks emotional intelligence due to how I lived most my life on the streets as a homeless. They couldn't be expressed freely, sometimes even through action and words, emotions can remain unsaid and unexpressed. Yet, despite it all, those who understand each other so well, could understand ones emotions with a glance and sympathies with them, the way they desired to be sympathized.
I wondered if I would find someone like that in my life, but that's just a wishful dream and I knew it. In this game where everyone has to kill each other to reach the ultimate end-goal, such meaningless desires will just be a burden.
Before long, we had reached our destination. Well, not exactly reached, but it wasn't far off now. The destination itself was visible, the red smoke had become brighter.
"What is that?"
I heard Zeke say, confused. As he suddenly halted, crouched and squinted his eyes to get a better look. He was focusing on where the red smoke was coming from.
"There seems to be some vast open space there. It's in the shape of a square."
I hummed thoughtfully, leaning forward to get a better look as well. Isabella was right behind me, her expression serious and determined, unlike the face she showed me, whenever we had those conversations.
Nico waved a hand.
"Whatever it may be, the only way we can find out is by getting there. Don't stop now."
Isabella groaned.
"I'm in desperate need for water…"
Zeke barked out a laugh and patted Isabella's back hard enough that it made her cough out. Zeke thought it was a joke, but I knew why Isabella seemed so worried. Dehydration was a severe issue for her, due to her inconvenient curse. If we continue stalling any longer, she could end up having hallucinations and becoming weakened from the lack of water.
I spared her a brief worried look, before turning away.
"Then let's end this quickly."
All of us exchanged looks and nodded meaningfully. Without waiting any longer, we had started continuing the March towards exactly where the red smoke from rising, the vast open space in the shape of a square, at the very center of the stone tunnel mazes.
It didn't take us long to arrive. Around five minutes later, we were there. Zeke jumped off first, landing swiftly on the ground. Then, it was Nico. Afterwards being me and Isabella.
"Is that…"
I heard Zeke speak, his voice trailing off in wonder and excitement.
Looking up, I saw exactly what he was staring at. He was looking at exactly what was emitting the red smoke. It was….some sort of portal?
It seemed like one. There was an obsidian layer to it, coming around in a giant circle, from the very top of the circle, the red smoke was coming out, connecting to the floating island right above us, which was casting a huge shadow over the square, making things appear much darker than they seem.
The portal itself was shining an eerie crimson colour, the transparent smoke-like gas that made up most of the portal made it clear that it was the 'door' which teleportates, by stepping inside it.
Isabella, recovering from her wonder first, asked.
"Do we…?"
Nico replied without any hesitation, his tone carrying a hint of excitement.
"Yes, we do. Let's go! The Abyssal Heart is within our reach now…."
All of us didn't say anything else. This was quite reckless, just rushing forward and entering the portal ever so casually, without considering where it might lead us, if it would lead us to the floating island at all, but i wasn't gonna stop them. Not when what we have been tasked with searching for this whole time is at our grasp.
So, all four of us simultaneously rushed forward towards the portal. Then, as quickly as our bodies passed through the red smoke, we vanished into thin air, with a faint pop sound.