Steve looks at the tactical shotgun that Theodore dropped on the ground, walks over and picks it up and says, “Guys, I have an idea.”

“Oh, what's that?” Ivory asks.

Steve replies and he starts to pull out all the shotgun shells to take a count, “I can make an IED with these shells, maybe.” Steve counts twenty-one shells, then says, “Okay, by my estimate, there should be about 400-500 grains of smokeless gun powder in all of these, if they are loaded with proper 00 buckshot. If I can figure out a way to make the pressure build in an IED and direct the blast, it could damage one of these stones enough to make the structure of the ring fail.”

“Make the pressure build? What do you mean?” asks Story.

“Oh, when smokeless gun powder was first made, it burned way too fast to be used for firearms because faster burn equals more power, so they had to slow the burn down, with additives or something. So that means, in order to get the kind of bang we want, we need the gas and pressure to build in an enclosed chamber,” explains Steve.

Story October takes a look at the shotgun and says, “Why not just fill the barrel of the shotgun with all the powder and leave one shell in the chamber, block the end, tie a string to the trigger, and aim the blocked barrel at the stone, or something like that?”

“That might work, if it doesn't, we'll have to find a demolition crew to come down here... then there are the authorities, permits, city approval..." Steve explains, “But the moment authorities get involved, how long before the US Government steps in... do we really want them securing this site and trying to figure this thing out?”

Ivory replies to the question with, “If this is anything like what Story claims it is... I don't think anyone, or any organization should have control of this site... it's far too dangerous.”

“We have to destroy it..." Story adds as he uses his phone to takes pictures of the structure and the rune markings carved on the stones that make up the ring. Then makes a quick video of himself standing in front of the ring, he explains what it is and how they plan to destroy it, to save the World.

Ivory says, “Oh my god, that's a good idea.” She makes a quick video of her own, making a report of what has happened and even shows Theodore down below, then she says, “This is career-making material.”

“Or career ending." Steve interjects.

Once they finish their productions, Story and Steve carefully open the shells up and make the IED and set the device. They brace it in place with rocks, then they use Paul's climbing rope to rig the trigger and hide behind some debris.

Steve looks at Story and says, “I hope this works,” and he pulls on the rope gently.

There is a loud boom sound, then the sounds of stone cracking and falling, they look up over the debris and see the stone ring starting to roll because of the base stone was shattered. It rolls off the mesa and crashes thunderously below. The sphere of light and energy remains in place but starts to send out pulsating rings of light as electricity arcs all over the cavern, the noise gets slowly louder, and the pulsing slowly increases in frequency.

“Um, guys, I think the stone ring was containing the energy... now there's nothing containing it... we should run, like, now!” Story's voice gets progressively louder as he stands up while shooting video and gestures them all to go and says, “Okay Claire, point the way out!”

Rocks and small stalactites start to fall from the ceiling of the cavern and there is a rumbling sound.

Claire jumps up, excited that Story has given her a command and acknowledged her existence, and she says, “It's across this bridge and pretty straight forward but there are weird dead guys down there!” They all run across the bridge; she purposely falls back to get behind Adelle that was trailing the group. When Adelle is on the bridge, Claire purposely falls into her, and it knocks Adelle over the rope handrail.

Adelle grabs the ropes and hangs on and screams as loud as she possibly can. Claire says, “I'm so sorry, I fell but give me your hand, I'll pull you up,” while grabbing Adelle's wrist and adds, “I won't let go, I promise.”

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The pulsating light gets more intense, and the noise gets louder as stones fall from above, smashing into the bridge, it starts to come apart as Adelle grabs Claire's wrist and Claire holds onto Adelle's wrist but then lets go but Adelle doesn't let go, her grip is surprisingly stronger than Claire anticipated. Claire tries to break Adelle's grip and Adelle realizes what she's doing and screams.

Story October comes running up to help and grabs Adelle's arm, just as Claire was about to break her grip.

Story says, “What happened?” while the bridge starts to break apart, then he pulls her up and says, “We gotta go!”

“Oh, she fell over and, and, um, I was trying to keep her from falling,” Claire nervously states.

Adelle gives her an angry look and punches Claire hard in the face, and says, “Fuck you, bitch, you tried to drop me!”

Claire stumbles back and almost falls over the side of the bridge, but Story grabs her shirt and steadies her.

“What the fuck? Look, we gotta go, now!” yells Story as he pushes them forward as the bridge collapses behind them.

Steve is looking back and yells, “Everything alright?”

Story yells, “Yes, go!” and motions him forward.

The group runs up to the area with the zombie guards and Claire yells while holding her bleeding nose, “Okay, you have to say..." but is interrupted mid-sentence when Steve and Story rush past and each behead a zombie. Claire finishes with, “Or that..."

Adelle plows into her as she passes, knocking Claire into the wall and says, “Oops, bitch, I fell!” glaring at Claire as she passes.

The group twists and turns through the cave and Ivory notices Claire's bleeding nose and says, “What happened to you?”

Adelle answers, “My fist fell into her face! Bitch tried to push me over the bridge!”

“No, I was trying to help!” Claire insists.

Adelle replies, “Shut the fuck up, you lying whore, before I punch you again!”

Ivory and Steve glance at each other and Ivory says, “Okayyy.”

They reach the exit, with the door/bookcase and Claire says, “You have to say a secret word,” and they all look at her except Steve.

Steve just kicks the door/bookcase down and says, “Everyone, go!” while gesturing them through and says, “And up the stairs!”

Once they are all outside, he guides them down the hill and to take cover behind some really big trees as the ground rumbles and shakes. Cracks begin to appear throughout the cemetery and all around the hillsides with white light shining through, the ground starts to expand and bulge. Then suddenly a thunderously loud noise shatters the quiet morning hours, and a beam of light pierces the clouds, emanating from the center of the cemetery. Next the entire cemetery explodes, throwing dirt, rocks and caskets hundreds of yards in all directions. More than half of the debris lands in the lake, with most of the caskets floating, some bursts open and corpses are tossed out into the water and in people's yards and in the streets.

In a few rare events, caskets went through the roofs of houses and then broken open inside the living room or kitchen, tossing a corpse out into the room.

Story October catches the whole event on video with his phone, holding it to peek around the tree.

“Oh, my fucking god... that's so messed up,” Ivory mutters, looking at the debris, caskets and dead bodies all over.

Calls are made now that cell phones are working. The group breaks up to go home or back to hotels. Steve wraps his arm up in his jacket so no one can see that it's glowing. Adelle is united with her mother. John is united with his wife.

On the front page of the local newspaper, the headline reads, 'Underground gas explosion destroys cemetery.' News vans from nearby bigger cities show up to report the disaster. There were injuries reported but no one was killed, miraculously. There was extensive property and vehicle damage reported, especially from anything that was close by the cemetery.

The next day, Story is at Steve's apartment, examining his arm, he says, “It looks like the glow is almost gone... to normal eyes but not to mine,” he points to markings that are barely noticeable and continues, “These are some kind of arcane runes, and from what I understand, your arm is now permanently imbued with a touch of the Aethereal, it's like a metaphysical scar and the things I can see with my sight are similar to those swords... and more.”

“W-What does that mean?” asks Steve.

“I think the good news is, you can interact with magical and supernatural creatures with this hand now,” Story says, with a smile and adds, “But don't quote me on that, not yet anyway.”

“Well, I guess I really don't know what to make of that but I'm glad the glow is fading at least,” Steve says with a sigh.

Story says, “I have a lot of work to do but let's stay in touch,” holding out his hand for a handshake.

Steve shakes his hand and says, “If you ever need anything, let me know, I'll do what I can.”

“I just might do that,” replies Story.

Ivory gives Story a hug and says, “I'm in this now too, just let me know what I can do.”