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Chapter 3- Guilt and Other Uncomfortable Emotions

Chapter 3- Guilt and Other Uncomfortable Emotions

This was definitely Dean's fault. One hundred and nine percent, their current predicament was all because Dean was born. Or, such were the thoughts rolling through his tiny head.

Ms. Tender brought her arms out and pushed her students to the back of the cave to protect them from whatever voice had uttered such terrifying words.

"Fear not, mortals. I am only a Summoning," A low laugh rumbled through the stones. Many students looked up to the stalactites that shook concerningly and cowered more.

"A... summoning," Tessa said, putting on quite the front of bravery. "You mean, someone summoned you?" She said, coming to the quite obvious conclusion.

"But of course. I would not be here if not. And thou wouldn'st be here if not either. It was not only I that was summoned, but yourselves. Someone or something amongst your midst has summoned you all here to the underworld. With me as your guide."

Out of the shadows came the Summoning. Broken, red skin covered him from head to talons. One split in the head was the smiling mouth from whence the terrifying voice resounded. Three horns branched out from the top of his head, each with something black dripping down from them. As a quite horrifying sight, two of the mortal human wizards in training did collapse in a damsel-in-distress faint upon the floor. No one caught them.

Tessa turned to her students, anger in her eyes. "Who summoned this demon!"

"Now, my lady, you flatter me. However, I am no demon. Simply, a Summoning." The mouth split the demons mouth open more and more as he uttered more deep words.

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Ms. Tender paid him no heed. "Answer me, you foul children!"

The children all shook, but not Dean. For Dean was one of the two who had fainted in such an un-brave manner. So, as the children loked around for someone to blame, the blame was not put on him. For they expected whoever to have summoned such a Summoning to have a strong heart and brain and to not cower at the sight of the demon. And there were only six of them in all, if one included Ms. Tender in such a count.

Alas, Deans cowardness saved him more than he will ever possibly know.

"Worry not, mortals. I shall point to the summoner now." The Summoning pointed one long, clawed finger at the Summoner... Which just so happened to be a stone wall. He, in fact, pointed to the invisible table. But, seeing as it was an invisible desk, the mortals could not see it. They'd started blankly at what they incorrectly dubbed at the wall, then looked back at the Summoning.

"The... wall... Summoned you?" Tessa asked, uncertain and unbelieving..

"Of course not, you fool. Walls can not summon. But invisible things can."

A collective gasp rang through the cave as the three students began searching in vain fr whatever it was that was invisible.

"You will not find it, I fear, children. Walk with me."

They hesitated as all smart children should when a stranger with aging skin told them to walk with him. They would have stayed there for the rest of their numbered days had fire something not been caught on fire. (This was, in fact, Dean's invisible desk. It caught flame because it is wood in the Underworld.)

Those who still had the feeling in their legs and in their hearts picked up the two fainted children and ran with them, following the Summoning through the winding cave.

"Welcome, Children, to your undoing."

Without so much as a warning, the Summoning stepped aside, allowing the running kids and their teacher to go pass him. They were able to stop right before the edge of the cliff that led into a bubbling pool of lava. Some screamed, others cried. But they were all glad they were alive.

That didn't last long, however. Seeing as the Summoning shoved them all off the cliff and into the pit of fire.

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