Chapter 46

Sanctum’s Gates

- They searched for him beyond the gate wondering restless as to his fate -

Chaeron looked into the distance and saw the orange-red ember of the sun dying behind the darkened clouds. As he looked on, stars began appearing in the night sky, twinkling softly.

But he was worried.

Where could he be?

As the last rays of the sun disappeared, the giant doors of Sanctum started to close. Its doors were so wide that an army could enter at the corner and pass unseen. But it closed with a dreadful slowness.

He should be here by now.

Chaeron noted the small group of boys and girls that had gathered within the blue light which thrummed and danced in rays above. It was blinding to look at and the young pupils could not look up, shielding their eyes from the blue radiance which shimmered all around.

Only a fraction from the original group had made it to this point. The three days had taken its toll. Some of them shivered with sickness. Some were bloodied and bruised. The journey had sifted the weak from the strong.

Suddenly, a computerised female voice spoke and resounded all around.

"Candidates. Step into the red light that will appear shortly before you. This is so that we may register your presence with us. Please step into the light one by one."

Where is he?

Chaeron’s heart sank. It was time. The candidates were being made to report in their attendance. Those that did not make it to Sanctum’s gates in time would not be granted admission into Sanctum.

"Step into the red light that will appear shortly before you. This is so that we may register your presence with us. Please step into the light one by one."

Chaeron frowned. Shielding his eyes from the glare of the thrumming blue radiance above, he got to his feet and walked slowly past several boys and girls. He walked to where a blonde girl lay on the cold blue floor. Her eyes were closed and blue light danced across her face.

"Lyla!" he whispered. "Wake up!"

Lyla jolted upright, startled.

"Did you hear that?" asked Chaeron.

"Aye," she said, her eyes darted around anxiously. "Did you find him?" she asked. Chaeron shook his head.

"We must find him. But I do not see him around," said Lyla.

"I fear the worst," said Chaeron grimly. "What if he did not make it?"

"He deserves to be here," whispered Lyla. "More than than any of us."

As they spoke, a red light appeared before them, flashing bright red amidst the blue. And like the blue light, it thrummed and had a blinding glare of its own. Boy and girls started to walk slowly toward the red light forming a queue.

"We left him behind,"whispered Lyla, and Chaeron sensed the despondency in her tone. "I left him behind."

She feels guilt.

"Even when I was weak and he had the chance to go on without me," continued Lyla. "But he never left any of us behind."

"Please, step into the light," said the same computerised voice.

Chaeron saw a boy step into the red light. The red light pulsated and vibrated.

"Look," said Lyla, pointing to the boy that just stepped into the red light. "I can barely see in this blinding light but is he not the blond boy that travelled with Gargan?"

Chaeron squinted in the glaring blue light.

"I cannot see," he said with frustration.

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"Neopales Sharp. Welcome to Sanctum," sounded the voice, and the red light swallowed the blond-haired boy.

"Next!" called out the voice and another boy stepped into the red light.

"Look! It is the black-haired boy with the strange hair," said Lyla, pointing at the familiar hulking figure.

This time Chaeron saw him too.

"Aye! It is. Gargan must be here somewhere too. We must ask him what became of Varu. Perhaps he knows!"

"What?" scoffed Lyla. "You think he will help us? After all he has done to us? For all we know he has left Varu outside for dead!"

But Chaeron was already moving swiftly to the front of the queue. Boys and girls in the queue eyed him suspiciously.

"I am just looking for someone. No need to worry now," said Chaeron, giving nervous smiles all around.

"Rasp Whisp. Welcome to Sanctum," said the voice and the red light swallowed up the black spiky-haired boy. "Next!"

A massive hulking boy stepped into the red light.

It was Gargan.

"Wait!" shouted Chaeron, running toward the figure of Gargan who turned with a single eyebrow raised.

Lyla arrived alongside him.

"Gargan! Listen, I know we have had our differences", said Chaeron. "But let us put that aside for the moment."

Gargan towered over them.

"You two whelps again?"

Chaeron ignored him.

"Where is Thonavar?"

Come on Gargan. You may have been our enemy before but you can help us now.

At the mention of Thonavar’s name, Gargan’s mouth split open in a wide smile.

"We have all made it thus far. We have all made it to Sanctum’s gates" said Chaeron. "But we are missing our friend. We need to find him. Please tell us where he is," said Chaeron.

"You will not find your friend inside the gates of Sanctum," said Gargan, still smiling. "He did not make it. For he was not strong enough to survive the journey," he said mockingly. Then he turned his back on them and laughed to himself.

"You evil bastard," hissed Lyla, her face livid. "What did you do to him?"

"You scumbucket!" shouted Chaeron angrily, rushing at Gargan with a cry of anger.

Gargan flashed another grin as the red light enveloped him.

"Gargan Beefheart. Welcome to Sanctum," said the voice. Before Chaeron could reach the still-smiling figure of Gargan, the red light engulfed him and he was gone.

"Next!" The computerised voice rang out.

"Move," said a girl, coldly pushing Chaeron aside. "You are in my way."

She was next in line.

Chaeron and Lyla moved away from the queue. There were only about ten more boys and girls in the queue. They saw the twins Marallene and Marubelline standing in the middle of the remaining queue.

"He is still outside," said Chaeron. "I am sure of it."

"Yes," said Lyla, her face still livid with anger. "But what can we do now?"

"Look! The gate still remains open! We can still do a quick search of the grounds outside," said Chaeron.

"Let us go then," said Lyla, making a line for the doorway, whose giant doors were stil half open. "We will need to be quick. We do not have much time."

Stepping outside, Chaeron saw that the grounds were very dark. The night sky greeted them immediately. The stars were out in the thousands. A breeze blew. But Thonavar was nowhere to be seen.

Where could he be?

Suddenly, there was a flash of a blackness darker than the night sky. Chaeron gasped. Dark robes fluttered all around before settling before them in the form of a dark hooded figure. The hooded figure stood standing, staring at them from within his hood.

"What are you two doing outside? Should you not be inside the gates?"

The figure spoke with a deep almost-booming voice.

"The door closes as we speak."

"We were looking for someone," said Chaeron, his eyes searching the surrounding area. "We think he may have fallen somewhere just outside Sanctum’s gates."

"We came to rescue him," said Lyla boldly. She stared defiantly at the hooded figure.

"For whom were you searching?" asked the hooded figure.

"You do not know our friend but his name was Thonavar. Thonavar Ironhand," said Chaeron softly. He sighed.

"It is well past last light. It is too late to go out for him," said the hooded figure sternly.

"You do not understand. It is not fair," said Lyla to the black-robed figure. "We owe him much. We cannot abandon him to his fate."

"You both must return inside," said the figure again, Lyla and Chaeron did not move and the hooded figure spoke again. "Return at once. Should the doors close and you be left outside, you will have failed."

Then, with a swirl of black robes, the figure was gone, leaving Chaeron and Lyla to stand under the night sky. Exchanging meaningful glances, the two walked in silence back past the giant doors and into the blue light.

"We have failed him," whispered Chaeron, his face downcast. Lyla did not answer. She turned to hide her face.

"Do you think we will ever find out what happened to him?" asked Chaeron. His shoulders were slumped.

"Aye, I do not know. But in the meantime, I have a score to settle with that giant toad of a boy," said Lyla through clenched teeth. Her blue eyes flashed, illuminated by the blue thrumming light all around.

"Aye," said Chaeron in grim agreement. "Gargan will suffer for this. He will suffer tremendously."

The two were the last in line to approach the red light. Lyla stepped first and the red light flared brightly. Chaeron saw Lyla disappear without a sound.

"Lyla Evesong. Welcome to Sanctum."

Then, alone in the chamber, Chaeron cast one last look at the doorway.

Come on.

A minute passed but there was no one there. Then, with a saddened heart, Chaeron stepped into the red light. He felt a pull and a sucking sensation as he was warped away but not before he heard the words:

"Chaeron Theon. Welcome to Sanctum."