Chapter Eighty-One: The Dark Tower
On the third story of a dark, ancient tower, A.D. opened his eyes. He found himself on a rooftop, standing with a group of strangers. The air was thick with nervous energy. There was a man in his forties with a bald head named Dunk, two girls around A.D.'s age named Koni and Megail, an older woman of about forty named Tina, a girl a bit older than A.D. named Mira, and two boys slightly older than A.D., Fin and Rodi.
In the center of the rooftop was a large, historical-looking circle, etched with ancient pictures and strange writings. A space in the middle of the circle was empty, as if something was missing.
Suddenly, a high-tech watch on everyone's right hand blinked and a message appeared: "GET THE BLACK STONE AND FILL THE CENTER PLACE AND GET ALIVE FROM THERE."
Another message immediately followed: "YOU HAVE YOUR ZONE AND OTHER TEAM ALSO. THE STONE IS IN YOUR OPPONENT TEAM'S ZONE. YOU CAN USE YOUR ZONE AND SAVE YOURSELF."
A third, more ominous message appeared: "WARNING: BEWARE OF MONSTERS."
As the last message faded from their wrists, a door on the floor of the rooftop suddenly opened, revealing a staircase leading downward. They all descended into a massive, cavernous space filled with ancient, crumbling buildings.
A new message blinked on their watches: "THE GAME HAS BEGUN."
The sunlight vanished, and the area was plunged into a state of perpetual twilight. Everywhere was dark, but not completely. A.D.'s breath quickened, but he quickly brought it under control, his training kicking in.
Laser light flashed across the area, outlining the boundaries of their zone and the opposing team's zone before winking out. From the other zone, a chorus of eerie, monstrous sounds echoed in the gloom.
"Hey, you all, don't be afraid! I'm here," Dunk said, trying to project a sense of calm. "First, we'll introduce ourselves, then we'll think about what to do next. My name is Dunk." He gestured to the others.
The others followed suit, introducing themselves one by one until A.D.'s turn came. He remained silent, a quiet intensity in his eyes.
"Hey, don't panic," Tina said, noticing his silence. "We aren't bad people. Just introduce yourself."
Before A.D. could speak, the strange sounds grew closer, accompanied by the shuffling of many feet.
"This isn't the time for that," A.D. replied, his voice firm and low. "First, we have to find a safe place."
They moved quickly through the darkness, the unsettling sounds of the monsters growing closer. An ancient building loomed before them. "Let's get in," A.D. urged.
Inside, the building was sparsely lit by a few old oil lamps. It consisted of two rooms and a main hall. In the hall, several large, ancient trunks lay scattered.
"What is that?" Mira asked, her voice a nervous whisper.
Dunk began to walk toward one, but Fin stopped him. "Hey, stop! What are you doing? It could be dangerous; there could be something inside."
A.D. stepped forward, reaching for a trunk. Megail grabbed his arm. "Hey, stop! Don't be stupid."
A.D. gently freed his hand, ignored her warning, and opened the trunk. A soft green light emanated from within, illuminating his face.