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17 | Sophie’s Labyrinth

2044

LUCAS Gray

Snow whipped around the bikes in great puffy clouds and dustings that spread and shook up the ground below them. Creatures of all shapes and sizes popped up from the depths of the snow and hopped back underneath—LUCAS noticed creatures that looked like rabbits that had an elongated stomach and feet slithering through the thick packets of snow dunes from the disturbances from their bikes. There were birds that hid in the trees and the hollows within, although the colors of their feathers tended to blend in with the snow and the gray-white atmosphere. It made it easier to pick them out from the black bark from the trees.

They had been on the road for hours—LUCAS palmed the black fragment in his hand and felt an energy surge he powered the both of their bikes with. They were able to keep rolling as he fueled up the tanks if they rode side by side—he could feel Ally tense up behind him as they got almost so close to intertwine the bikes themselves.

Once they were topped off Roshe sped off ahead on one of their many shortcuts through rocky mountain-passes. They had long since said goodbye to the deserts of the mid west and have welcomed the cooler atmospheres of the snow-capped forests thus leading to their current trails through the chilled biomes. They were not so dense as to halt their progress, but it did allow them to skip major settlements for a straight shot toward their destination.

“We’re aiming for Florida,” Laven wielded command of the bike like a trusted steed prancing through the air with a great respect. Behind her was LUCAS who had been holding her tightly, and behind him was Ally who similarly held her arms around LUCAS. Laven gripped the handles of the bike tight as she reared her head back to be heard better. “Lot of talk has passed around here that it’s developed like crazy. Based on Allison’s trajectory they were beelining toward there. We might even be able to head them off.”

Ally behind them looked unsure as she always had when talk had shifted to her alternate self, but Laven had an inkling—perhaps because she could hear fragments of her thoughts similar to how Ally could hear hers—that she was mounting an effort to feel okay with the situation.

It was a tough situation to sort out and Ally had only been thinking of it for the past day. Even though it had been one of the longest days of her life it was still just a single day. It was a wild concept that she could grasp logically, but emotionally it sent a hurricane of questions running through her brain. She knew the answer to those questions was not something she could work out between her present party—much less even between her and Jace, but her deciding to keep moving forward didn’t erase the confusion the feelings had brought.

LUCAS felt similar energies from her, but he didn’t have the same certainty that Laven did. He felt another sensation prick behind his eyes and suddenly felt Levi speaking out. He leaned forward to Laven and whispered, “I’m going to lean against you, I’m okay. Levi’s pulling my leg trying to get my attention.”

“Okay, you’re going in now?” She asked.

“Yes, I’ll lock my arms here, but be careful of any crazy bumps.”

“Got it, let Ally know. And please be safe. I don’t know exactly what you do in there, but come back.” Laven said.

LUCAS nodded then pulled his head back. “I think you might want to shift your grip to the sides of the bike,” he looked at her questioning look and continued, “I’m going to be going inside myself—daydreaming if it’s easier to understand. I have something I need to check out.”

“Okay, ” she nodded. Jace appeared next to her and made another grounding agent so she could shift away from leaning into him.

LUCAS nodded back and then fell himself fall forward as he went inside his mind. He opened to the central hub; Sophie’s door was open—just like he had left it. He moved inside and felt himself speeding through the labyrinth after Levi’s trail. He passed by dozens if not hundreds of dead ends and tributary paths before meeting up with Levi at a central complex that led to a staircase deeper within.

“I finally found the end,” Levi said. “It took quite a while but figuring out the logic of the labyrinth was easier after taking a few purposeful wrong ends. By looking at a central scan I was able to guess which zones led to paths I didn’t need to worry about checking and…here we are.”

“That is excellent. Thank you Levi. Want to come with me through here to see what we find?”

“I don’t think I can unless you bring me—I have no clue what it looks like on the other side so I don’t think I could go in alone.”

“Right,” LUCAS said. “Okay then, let’s go,” he put a hand on Levi’s arm and the two shuffled down the stairs into darkness. LUCAS closed his eyes and lights from above turned on harshly one by one down the long stretch of stone passageway. The comparisons to a hidden temple were not lost on him, but he closed the distance between the end of the massive hall in seconds. He found a terminal point sticking out of the ground and placed his hand on top. Files opened around him with articles and photos. He saw pictures of Sophie logged across the country at various points in her life. The resemblance to her younger self was instant and he wished his father could be here to see this moment.

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Levi had caught up to him, huffing at the effort needed for him to make it. “Find anything on her current location?”

“Yeah. It’s in here somewhere. There’s a lot of info on where she went after leaving SubCon. She separated from the others and lived like a nomad out in California for a few years. She was heartbroken my father wouldn’t leave with her—but I don’t know if they could have ever had a friendship if I’m being honest…too much history, you know?”

“I think I know what you mean, but it’s a shame she felt that way,” he said.

“She was always a loner, even before she met Cain.”

“She knew Cain?”

“Long story,” LUCAS said. “Important takeaway is she’s used to doing things for herself by herself. It’s why I’m not surprised that she kept to that when the world turned over in 2022.”

LUCAS stopped as he sifted through files, picking one up and holding it close to him. “Here…wait a minute.” He said, his eyes scanning it over again. “There’s no way this is a coincidence.”

“What, where is she?”

“She’s in Florida. She’s where we’re heading to find what we’re looking for.”

“That’s…I cannot believe that. That is ridiculous,” Levi said.

“Can you stay here and check over the parts I skimmed? Let me know if there’s anything you think I should now. I gotta go back up. I’m currently riding on a motorcycle that can hover off the ground and I’d like to not fall off.”

“Oh that sounds terrifying and awesome all at the same time,” Levi said. “Yes, go back and get up. I’ll check the rest of this out. I would like to know more about her, so I’ll be sure to be thorough.”

“Thanks man,” LUCAS nodded.

“No problem. Stay safe.”

LUCAS opened his eyes and tightened his grip against Laven in front of him. He could feel her tension loosen as he came back to.

“What’d he have to say?” Ally said.

“One of the people I’m looking for is exactly where we’re headed.”

“What?” Laven asked.

“That’s…” Ally began. “That’s oddly convenient.”

“I’m suspicious of it as all hell but considering we’re already heading there we can kill two birds with one stone.”

“What are you hoping to achieve by seeing them?” Ally asked.

“I don’t think I’m specifically hoping to achieve anything,” LUCAS said. “I think I’d just like to know she’s doing okay.”

“I don’t know if anybody out there is doing okay considering some of the rumors I’ve heard of the place, but we’ll see.”

“What kind of rumors?” Ally asked.

“Well first, they supposedly hold this tournament that pits people against each other like the ancient gladiator fights all for their emperor’s pleasure.”

“Did I hear that right?” Ally asked. “Emperor? Those still exist?”

“Yep, it is not pretty. They say he’s a mad king who has made a deal with the devil for his power.”

LUCAS turned back to Ally and a single thought crossed between them.

“That sounds mighty familiar to our own target who seems to have made a similar deal.”

“Yeah, her making way for Enforal is concerning considering the possibility of having more than one of those demons present.” Laven said.

“Well we should probably pick up the pace then,” LUCAS said. “Do you think we could combine our powers?”

“Combine?” She asked, taking her eye off the path ahead for a moment.

“I have no doubt Roshe and Bambo will catch up, but I think we need to pick up the pace. Do you think you would be able to use your power in addition to the energy I can channel through the fragment?”

“Are you sure that’s something you want to do?” She asked.

“I can try to assist,” Ally said. “Maybe Jace can act as a conduit—really get us moving.”

“I don’t want to do it if it will knock you out of commission,” LUCAS said. “So don’t overstep if you think it will.”

“Let’s do it,” Laven nodded. “I want to see the look on Roshe’s face when we take off.” She took in a deep breath and LUCAS saw the filigree begin to glow across her body. “I’m ready when you are—but if this works, you’re both going to need to hold on tight.”

“You hear that Ally?” LUCAS called back.

“Yes sir,” she said.

The formality made Laven laugh, and LUCAS tried to hide his embarrassment as he closed his eyes and felt the fragment start to resonate in his hands. In the darkness behind his closed eyes he saw a young girl who looked shockingly like Ally. It was decidedly not Ally, though. Her hairline was different, and the shape of her face was sharper. Her form was corrupted in a way he couldn’t put a finger on. She vanished as the power continued through his body and suddenly he felt another presence between himself and Laven. Jace looked back at LUCAS, and he smiled.

“Pardon the squeeze, this might be uncomfortable for the length of our flight. Please keep your arms and legs inside the vehicle at all times. Thank you for boarding—”

LUCAS couldn’t hear the rest as they shot forward like a rocket and lifted into the air. The bike rode on a golden flame undercut by blue embers and the wind pressed each of them close together. LUCAS tried everything he could to keep his arms locked on Laven. Jace had been holding onto LUCAS and Laven, and Ally behind was holding onto LUCAS with all her might.

They flew like a golden rocket through the sky and suddenly at the edge of their vision they saw a gigantic castle in the distance with an encircled city within.

Enforal.