''Rolo!'' Kara and Nathan shouted.

The trio approached Rolo who was hunched over, taking a breather. Rolo was a young man who was probably in his late teens. Somewhere around 18 or 19 years old. He wore a baby blue shirt and dark gray trousers. Nothing out of the ordinary for Sunday clothing. However, there was something about the way he wore it that caught Ben's attention.

Unlike Nathan, Rolo hadn't tucked his shirt in and the shirt didn't look like it was ironed out either. Not to mention Rolo's unconventionally long hair. 'Hipster' was the first word that came to mind when looking at Rolo. Or maybe it was the sword and buckler he was carrying with him. Overall, Rolo gave Ben a very relaxed impression.

Kara bombarded Rolo with questions.

''How are you Rolo?! Are you okay? You're not hurt anywhere right?''

''Yeah, yeah I'm fine. Don’t worry, Kara'' Rolo said breaking eye contact.

Ben looked into room 8. Like them, Rolo should have been assigned to a group with two others. Rolo seemed to notice where Ben was looking at.

''They didn't make it,'' Rolo said avoiding eye contact.

Ben thought he saw tears welling up in Rolo's eyes. Understandably so, Ben was almost crying himself. What happened to the world? It would probably take some time for them to truly grasp what kind of situation they had ended up in. That is if they even would be able to survive to see that day. As things were going, it seemed survival would be a privilege of the few.

Kara grabbed Rolo in a hug and stroked his hair. She comforted him just the way she comforted Nathan. At times like this Ben was happy they had someone like Kara. Someone to depend on. And someone who didn't hesitate when it mattered.

Kara released the hug and grabbed Rolo by the shoulders.

''Rolo, we have to go now. We need to find a way out.'' Kara said.

''Don't worry,'' she said, ''we'll mourn Christine and Patrick when we come back.''

''Weren't we looking for dad?'' Nathan asked.

''Nathan, we have to get out of here alive. Don't worry about dad. You and I both know if anyone will make it, dad will. He knows all the secret paths in this stupidly oversized monastery.'' Kara said.

''I'm not leaving without dad,'' Nathan said.

Nathan was standing with his arms folded over each other. It looked like Nathan wasn't going anywhere without John.

''I also want to help pastor Everstein,'' Rolo said. ''I owe him a lot.''

Kara was conflicted but couldn't hide that she also wanted to look for her father. She knew they had to survive, but they would definitely have to take a detour if they went searching for their dad. She was willing to take the risk.

He was the dad that adopted them when they needed him most. And she knew he knew this place best. If they actually got to him, their chances of survival would grow exponentially.

Kara shifted her gaze to Ben. Nathan and Rolo followed suit. Nathan and Rolo knew Kara also deeply wanted to save John. The only one they weren't sure about was Ben.

Feeling the guilty stares of the trio in front of him, Ben felt awkward. He knew what they were thinking, but would it be the best decision for him? From the looks of it, they wouldn't take the fastest way out if they went looking for John. This detour could get him killed.

Ben looked at the group and realized he wouldn't be able to convince them to go with him to do otherwise. And going alone would be even more dangerous. He didn't know the route to get out, and he wasn't strong enough to survive on his own. Maybe he could beat one wolf on his own, but if there were any more, he'd die without a fair fight.

And it's not like they had any time to discuss this openly. That wolf just got away, and chances are he was getting more buddies to go and attack them. If they stayed here any longer, they would probably get surrounded.

''Alright, I'll go with you guys,'' Ben said.

Nathan grabbed Ben by the shoulders. ''Thank you, Ben, truly. I won't forget this.''

Ben would never expect Nathan to say those words to him, but here he was. It only took an apocalypse for Nathan to treat him like a normal person. Although, this does show how much he valued his dad. Somehow, Ben found a newfound respect for Nathan he never thought he'd foster.

Kara and Rolo nodded at Ben.

''Let's go, dad was probably in his office when this all started,'' Kara said as she walked deeper into the hallway. Rolo stopped her.

''Let's go through here,'' Rolo said as he pointed back at room 8.

He led the group into room 8. In the corner, a dead wolf and two mangled bodies could be seen. 'Christine and Patrick, huh' Ben thought.

Just a second ago they were in the same situation he had been in. Transported to a white world and returned with a weapon and a head full of unanswered questions. These people would never have the chance to get answers to those questions. Ben hoped he would.

Ben walked up to the dead bodies and reached his hand out.

‘’Ben, wha..’’ Rolo stopped himself when Ben closed the deceased eyes. Rolo joined him and took a final look at the pair.

‘’Let’s go,’’ Ben said.

Rolo bent down and grabbed a shield that was used by Patrick and offered it to Ben.

‘’Here, take it. They won’t need it anymore.’’

‘’Thanks.’’

Luckily, the shield could be strapped to his forearm. This way he had both hands free to use on his halberd.

Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

As Ben was equipping his halberd, Rolo walked to a corner bookshelf.

‘’Nathan, can you help me with this.’’

Nathan walked to the bookshelf and helped Rolo carry the bookshelf to the side revealing a door. Rolo grabbed his necklace from underneath his shirt and showed it to the others.

''Let's go through there. It's also connected to the pastor's office.'' Rolo said.

''Let’s do it, do you know the way?’’ Kara asked.

Kara cut straight to the point. Asking how he knows about this passageway and even has the key could happen some other time. They had to leave before other wolves would come after them.

Nathan scratched the back of his head.

''Yea, I've used it a few times too,'' Rolo said looking away and scratching the back of his head.

''Have you been sinning, Rolo?'' Nathan said glaring back at Rolo.

''Chill, chill Nathan,'' Rolo said as he put his hands up. ''The pastor knew. I've had some issues lately...and the pastor knows about it. Told me I could use this secret passageway if I ever got overwhelmed by all this camp stuff and just wanted to talk. Even showed me some routes to cool places.'' Rolo admitted.

''Once we get in, first go right and immediately take a left turn. Then go straight until you meet the next door. That's where the pastor's office is.'' Rolo said.

Ben suddenly felt very relieved. The chances that a wolf was in a secret passageway would be smaller than in the regular halls. Not to mention, the hallway was significantly more narrow. Looking at the size of the wolves, they would only barely fit. If they entered, they wouldn’t be able to move freely. It looked like this passageway would be even safer than taking the quickest route out through the hallways.

Rolo walked up to Ben and offered his hand.

''I haven't introduced myself, yet. I'm Rolo, nice to meet you.''

''Nice to meet you top, Rolo, I'm Ben.''

It looked like everyone finally settled their nerves down and was ready to move on.

''Are we done with the chitchat? It's not like we have time or anything.'' Nathan said.

Nathan was about to go on a mini-rant when howls could be heard in the hallways. Reinforcements had come and they were not in a good mood.

They must have found their dead companions as they were howling frantically, perhaps hoping the perpetrators would just show themselves to them.

''Alright, let's go'' Rolo whispered as he took the lead.

Ben followed suit with Kara in tow and Nathan in the back. When the wolves followed the bloodied steps into room 8, the group had already left.

***

''I've never met you before Ben, but I didn't expect you to attend this camp,'' Rolo whispered.

''Yeah, it's my first time... Wait, you know me?'' Ben said.

Rolo laughed. ''Of course, I know you. I think most of the people at this camp know who you are, aside from Nathan maybe. Your mom is Mrs. Neilson right?'' Rolo said.

Ben looked puzzled.

''You're kind of famous in the community, Ben. 'The son of one of the councilmembers in the Grey community is an atheïst.' That's how you're known. Sounds kinda cool doesn't it?'' Rolo said with a cheeky grin.

''Keep it down, do you guys want to die?'' Kara whispered.

They put their heads down and continued in silence. Ben had felt completely anonymous when he arrived at the camp, but it looked like that wasn't true.

He had asked his mom what they thought of him at the church before. But she always dodged the question. He didn't think much of it and just let it go. But it looked like him being an atheist was kind of a controversial topic. There must be a reason why almost everyone in the camp knew about him.

The board must have put a lot of pressure on his mum since her son was an atheist. Yet, she didn't pressure him in any way shape, or form. Maybe that's why John invited him to the camp, and why his mom insisted so heavily on it. To slightly nudge him into religious ways. He wouldn't know though unless he talked to either of them.

The group arrived at the next door. Rolo knocked on the door. When nothing happened, he carefully inserted the key, opened the door, and peeked out. 'Looks like he's done this more than a few times.' Ben thought.

''It’s clear,'' Rolo said as he fully opened the door.

Ben got up on his feet and took a glance at the room. John obviously wasn't here.

The first thing he saw were two corpses of wolves. Ben pinched his nose as suddenly the smell hit him. Taking a closer look at the bodies, it looked like the wolves had been cleanly cut in the neck. Both of them. 'Did John do this?' Ben thought.

Ben was surprised because none of them were able to easily pierce the wolves. Not even Kara with her arrows, and definitely not Ben with his halberd. He wondered that if John had done this, how he could possibly have cut the wolves so cleanly. Did he put everything into Strength? That wouldn't make sense, since he had done the same and he still couldn't pierce them cleanly like this. Or was he a swordmaster before he switched careers to being a pastor?

''Now what,'' Ben said. John wasn't here, but his body also wasn't here. And looking at the wolves' bodies, John should be okay.

''He must have gone looking for us,'' Kara said.

''Then do we go back?'' Rolo asked.

The group went silent. They could go back and forth like this through the secret passageway, but what were the chances they would find John. Maybe he was already at room 3, found it empty with a dead wolf in it, and already left again.

''We leave, let's escape,'' Kara said.

''Kara!'' Nathan said.

''If dad went looking for us, he'd probably already be at room 3. Seeing it empty, he'll leave again. We won't find him if we go back. We should leave and hope to find him outside. Look.'' Kara said as she pointed at the dead wolves.

''He's strong, he'll survive,'' Kara said.

Nathan was about to go into a heavy discussion when the group heard sounds of sniffling from behind the door. The group froze as they tried to not make a sound. The sniffling only got louder and louder the longer they stayed silent. The sniffling had arrived at the door when it suddenly stopped.

''AWOOOOO''

The group tried to run back into the secret passage when the door suddenly caved in. A wolf already pouncing on the Rolo.

Rolo tried to ready his shield, but the wolf already swiped it away. The wolf got ready for another swipe when it noticed a halberd stuck in its side. Ben didn’t waste the opportunity and stabbed the wolf and even managed to pierce its muscle this time.

Once the wolf registered what happened, it flinched and took a swipe at Ben. Shielding himself from the swipe he tried to back off.

Nathan took this chance to aim his mace at the wolf’s head. The wolf noticed however and switched targets to Nathan. It clawed at Nathan, slamming him to the side as well. Nathan was left in the corner of the room limping with four bright-red gashes on his arm.

SWISH

An arrow flew to the wolf, but the wolf dodged it. At the same time, Ben brandished his halberd and charged the wolf, hitting it on the same spot he hit it last time. This time his stab actually fully punctured the wolf, only stopping at end of its stomach.

The wolf collapsed as the blood sprayed out and its organs fell on the floor.

[Congratulations! You have slain a lv.2 Mimic Wolf]

[You gained 4 bronze coins!]

''Get ready! They found us. Go back into the passage!'' Kara said as she put Nathan’s arm around her neck and helped him into the passageway.

''I sure hope the wolf didn't call his buddies just now,'' Rolo said.

''I wouldn't count your luck,'' Ben said as he grabbed his halberd. As he closed the door the wolf entered through and placed a cabinet in front of it.

The group went back into the passageway when more howls could be heard at the door. It seemed like a whole group had gathered, and they know their prey was inside.

A wolf started slamming the door. However, the door already gave in again after two tries.

''Ben, Rolo. The entrance only fits one wolf at a time.'' Kara said when a wolf faced the entrance of the passageway.

Kara grabbed Nathan’s shield and gave it to Ben. Ben passed it on to Rolo who knew what he had to do and dropped his sword. With Rolo ducking in the front with two shields and Ben in the back with his halberd, this was their best shot.

Looking back into the office and hearing the growls of the wolves, Ben estimated there must be over 10 wolves in there.

The wolves hesitated to jump in when looking at the huddled group in the narrow passageway when one of the wolves barked an order and a wolf walked up.

‘’Brace!’’ Kara shouted as the wolf leaped at Rolo.

The group would have been knocked over by the charge if they weren’t all supporting each other. The wolf stopped on the layer of shields of Rolo.

‘’Push!’’ Kara said.

Rolo pushed as hard as he could as Ben tried to fit a sneaky stab in. Ben managed to pierce hit the paw of the wolf, leaving it slightly staggering. Another wolf was about to step up when they heard a voice.

''Is there someone there?!'' someone shouted.

''DAD!'' Nathan and Kara shouted simultaneously.