A few years ago...
"It's all your fault, Keinan! I told you this was a bad idea, but you didn't want to listen!" Ajax's voice pierced through the heavy silence of the room, filled with a mixture of anger and sorrow. He clutched his father's lifeless body tightly, rocking back and forth in a heartbreaking display of grief. His eyes were red-rimmed, tears streaming down his cheeks unchecked, as if his entire world had shattered into irreparable pieces.
Blaze and Ethan cowered in the shadows of the cramped, dusty office; the air thick with the musty scent of neglect. Spider webs draped the corners like ghostly veils, adding to the eerie atmosphere of their refuge. Each breath they took seemed to echo like a distant plea for safety, haunted by the relentless pursuit of whatever lurked outside. Fear gripped them all, paralyzing them with the dread of being discovered again. Survival was their only instinct now, a desperate plea in the face of overwhelming danger.
I sat numbly against the door, my mind struggling to process the horror unfolding before me. The scene replayed in my mind like a nightmarish loop. I glanced anxiously between the door and the window, both feeble barriers against the horror outside. Dusty panes obscured any hope of a clear view, leaving us feeling vulnerable and exposed. The reality of our predicament was surreal, a cruel twist of fate that I couldn't comprehend.
Ethan, began moving cautiously on all four, quietly bridged the gap between us. His movements were cautions; each crawl aimed at soothing shattered soul before him. He spoke in hushed tones, his voice a lifeline in the suffocating silence of despair. "Hey, Ajax. Look at me. I know this is unbearable, but if they find us, your father's sacrifice will be in vain. He wouldn't want that you to die in here. Stay quiet, stay strong."
Ajax's eyes met Ethan's with a flicker of fleeting hope, a silent acknowledgment of the grim reality that was happening. His grip on his father's body loosened slightly, the weight of grief and guilt is still heavy on his shoulders. Ethan's words snap him back of his despair and made him gain back his composure, like a fragile hope amidst the eerie ruins in a long god forsaken door that threatening to engulf them all.
In the stillness of that haunted room, surrounded by shadows and echoes of loss, we clung to the wall trembling uncontrollably, dreading by fear and the desperate urge to think a way out of here and survive. Each moment stretched out agonizingly, every sound and creak made jumpy as my eyes kept looking out to the windows in the pitch-dark hall before me.
Ajax gazed at Ethan with a mixture of uncertainty and gratitude, his eyes gleamed with determination once more despite of our dire situation. After a short moment of silent, he nodded before taking a deep breath convincing himself to get it together. Ethan suddenly motioned for us all to huddle closer to him, his gaze fixed on each of us in turn. His voice, though soft, carried an air of determined reassurance.
"Okay, kiddos, listen up," Ethan whispered urgently, his tone a blend of confidence and maturity. "I've got a plan to get us out of here safely. Just trust me on this, okay? Everything's going to be alright."
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His smile, warm and comforting despite the perilous circumstances, momentarily eased the tension in the room. For a brief moment, we allowed ourselves to believe that escape was within reach, guided by Ethan's plan.
As Ethan outlined his plan, my heart began to sink with each detail, realizing the risks he was willing to take for our sake safety. Tears welled up uncontrollably in my eyes, betraying the fear and helplessness I struggled to contain. I whispered desperately, my voice cracking with emotion, "No, Ethan, please... There has to be another way. You can't do this. We can figure something out... maybe they've left..."
My pleas dissolved into incoherent murmurs, drowned out by the overwhelming dread tightening my chest. I pleaded with Ethan, telling him to reconsider, even offering to take his place. But Ethan remained resolute, his look at me with a brotherly smile as he gently wiped away my tears with his sleeve.
"Listen, Keinan," Ethan murmured softly, his voice a mixture of brotherly affection and unwavering determination. "I have to do this. You're my little brother, and I promised Mom and Dad, I'd get you home safe. So, you and the others need to run straight for the door, no matter what happens. Can you do that for me?"
His words pierced through my fear, grounding me in the reality of our situation. I nodded silently agreeing to his words. Ethan's leadership, his selflessness and courage, embodied everything I admired and cherished in him as my older brother. In that moment, I wished I could have found the words to express how much he meant to me, how profoundly I looked up to him as my protector and guidance.
"Don't you dare die, Brother." I managed to whisper; my voice barely audible amidst the turmoil of emotions.
Ethan's response was swift and reassuring, infused with his trademark confidence and a hint of playful bravado. "Who do you think I am? I'm invincible, remember? I'll be right behind you all," he said with a reassuring grin, redirecting our focus back to the imminent task at hand.
As Ethan positioned himself at the rear of our group, I understood the significance of his choice. Memories of our childhood games flooded my mind, the pretend adventures where Ethan always assumed the role of the protector, ensuring no one was left behind. His decision now mirrored that unwavering commitment, a testament to his enduring strength and love for us all.
But as I watched him, a sense of powerlessness gripped me, realizing the magnitude of what he was about to do. My 14-year-old self in that very felt small and helpless in that very moment, unable to shield my brother from the dangers closing in around us. Ethan's determined smile, etched in my memory, haunted me with its bittersweet reassurance of his indomitable spirit.
Carefully rising to his feet, Ethan surveyed their surroundings with a practiced eye, searching for any useful tool amidst the debris. His gaze settled on an old pipe lying nearby, and he picked it up firmly, testing its weight in his hand.
"Just in case," Ethan murmured, his voice low but resolute, addressing us all. "It's better than going out empty-handed."
With a determined expression, Ethan turned towards the office door, his eyes narrowing as he assessed the imminent challenge ahead. He motioned for me to take the lead as the tension now became thick and my heart start to race as I crawl toward the door with Ajax and Blaze behind my tail.
"Okay, now on three!" Ethan whispered urgently with a serious look "One... two... NOW!"
In unison, I surged forward, propelled by Ethan's decisive command. The door swung open with a creak, revealing a pitch-dark corridor beyond. Adrenaline surged through me as we moved swiftly, each step echoing ominously against the old concrete floor.