[This is a work of fiction, only meant to be enjoyed, not to be taken literally. We mean no offense to anyone, any organization, or any religion.]
[4] Chapter 4: Eyes of Apophis IV
March 26th
XX MountainRange
The escaped students and professors thanked the markings that were left when entering.
It was thanks to those trails that they had managed to retrace their steps and return to the checkpoint.
Just a few meters away was a small white light, which was none other than the entrance.
"Phew, thank goodness."
A female student exhaled shakily, clutching her heavy bag while steadying another beside her, who sighed in relief.
Most of them shared the same expression.
However…
"Che."
Professor Lukham ground his teeth in frustration, standing beside the usually haughty Margaret.
Her eyes trembled, so did her body, prompting the older professor to glance at her.
Lukham couldn't blame her.
Even now, chills crept down his own spine at the mere thought of what they had seen.
But if it was terrifying for them… it must have been far worse for Ishanna.
After all, he had stayed behind to face that thing alone.
"…fessor… Professor, Ishanna, he—"
Lukham glanced at her again, his lips parting into a wry, slow, bitter smile.
He parted his lips.
"Flores will be fine."
The words lingered at the tip of his tongue.
Yet even as he said them, he lacked the conviction to believe it himself.
Who was he trying to deceive?
Even a child wouldn't fall for such a lie, after all, that thing wasn't an animal, no matter how one looked at it.
It was a monster.
The horrifying realization washed over him again.
"Hahahaha! It was my fault! I was the one who caused it!"
Margaret, despite Lukham's attempt to console her, only broke down with tears streaming down her face.
Her mind reeled back to the eerie eye she picked up in that place; it had to be it, she was convinced.
Lukham, confused, only shook his head, holding her hand and pulling her forward.
"What is done is done, that guy sacrificed himself so we could escape, respect that!"
As he spoke, he gestured toward the students moving through the dark passage toward the faint light ahead.
Perhaps, just perhaps, if Ishanna hadn't stayed behind, none of them would have made it out.
And worse… they might have unleashed that monstrosity upon the world.
No one wanted to dwell on that thought.
Just when that was slowly settling in.
"Professor! Guys!"
A voice echoed from the entrance, accompanied by two figures rushing in.
"Nathan! Reeves!"
"Thank goodness…"
The team outside had already prepared the moment the tremors began, which brought a wave of relief.
Although most of them were still shaken, most of the students visibly relaxed.
After all, they had faced death not too long ago, and slowly, the two helped the student outside.
Outside was bright.
Unlike the dark surroundings lit only by torches in the cave, here it felt safer and warmer.
And as they all got out—
"Professor Lukham, care to explain what happened?"
Ferah Abbelah
The general studies professor stepped forward and stopped before Lukham with her arms folded across her chest.
Her brows drew together, clearly demanding an explanation.
No one had agreed to a trip that turned into something this dangerous.
Lukham understood that best. He lowered his head, then slowly lifted it.
"Down there… it was a monster."
His hands clenched into tight fists as his lips pressed together, leaving the others stunned.
To anyone listening, it sounded exaggerated.
Yet the shaken expressions of the students who had gone down didn't seem like it was.
Then again, the violent tremor from earlier, made it difficult to dismiss.
Ferah kept her arms crossed, a bead of sweat sliding down her temple as her mouth twisted into a thin smile.
"Heh, a monster? At least make it believable—"
"Professor, where's Ishanna?"
She was about to dismiss the notion when Reeves appeared behind Lukham with that question.
Nngh.
Lukham stiffened, turning his head over his shoulder to look at the male whose bangs shadowed his eyes.
"Flores, he…"
Before he could finish, footsteps echoed behind Reeves as the young male turned to the figure.
It was Margaret.
She no longer had her usual proud and rocky expression, but one filled with vulnerability, especially fear.
"It was my fault; he stayed behind so we could escape."
She clutched her right arm with her left hand, lowering her gaze towards the ground.
A heavy silence fell.
Everyone froze in realization at those words.
It wasn't a joke, however, what no one expected was that...
"Kuh—!"
Reeves spun around, still wearing his gear, and sprinted straight toward the cave they had just escaped from.
"You!"
"Leave me alone! I'm dragging that idiot out myself!"
Before anyone could restrain him, he had already rushed back into the cave with his equipments.
"Professor!"
The blond-haired young man shouted, looking toward Lukham, who only shook his head.
Nathan wanted to chase after him too.
But that would be reckless. It would only mean sending another student to his death.
He understood that.
Lukham understood that, yet—
"I won't lose any more students, damn it!"
With that, he turned away from the cave and pointed toward the trail descending the mountain.
"All of you, head down the mountain right now. We'll contact emergency services immediately."
Despite the command, most of the students stood frozen. The staff, however, reacted at once.
It was a sensible decision.
After the violent tremors from earlier, there was no guarantee the mountain would remain stable.
Evacuating was the safest course of action.
This was also to avoid any other complications, it's best they evacuated.
"Student Nathan, organize the equipment packing with the other boys."
Lukham directed the order at the blond, who clenched his jaw before finally nodding.
Without another word, he ran off with several of the others.
Only then did Lukham face his colleague.
"Mrs. Abbelah, please guide the girls down first. We'll follow as soon as we're finished."
She hesitated briefly, then inclined her head.
The gravity of the situation was not lost on her, even if they didn't mention the monster.
What happened earlier, the trembling of the mountain, was already enough.
But now.. things were more serious than that.
"Fine. But you will give a complete explanation for whatever absurdity happened down there."
The man gave a single nod in understanding, and soon, they all began moving.
Meanwhile—
Deep within Apophis Cave.
Haah… haah…
Ragged breaths escaped him as he slumped against the wall with his body battered beyond recognition.
Blood formed a puddle around him.
It trickled from his forehead and lips as its warmth spread across the cold stone with pain coursing through him.
He was certain bones had shattered.
'That hit sure was powerful.'
Cough—
The metallic taste thickened in his throat. Even drawing breath felt like dragging blood into his lungs.
So this is what it feels like…
'My lungs are gone, huh?'
His eyes blurred, struggling to keep his eyes straight on the slithering hiss of the giant snake.
Slowly, he parted his lips to speak, only for more blood to violently spill out.
"Ugh…"
HISSAAAA!
Though the world seemed to dim around him, the furious hiss of the giant serpent still reached him.
Rather annoyed, an angry scream.
Yet as dire as his condition was, the creature hadn't escaped him unscathed either.
His heartbeat slowed.
'Ah... is this the end?'
Ishanna's thoughts spiraled.
Thinking he could beat such a thing, or that he could confront it and win, was wishful thinking.
But then again, he really didn't have any choice.
Maybe… I shouldn't have forced that last move.'
Ishanna thought, but there was nothing he could do anymore; he could no longer even move his fingers.
From the scraping and shifting he sensed through the stone, Ishanna knew the serpent was closing in.
However—
Kghtch—!
Rustle!
A strange sound split the air.
Through his fading sight, he could barely make sense of it, yet the noise was unmistakable.
If he had to compare it to something… it resembled chains grinding against one another.
Hissss!
A loud, animalistic hiss resounded as his fingers twitched. Something was definitely happening.
In a fit of struggle, he focused, drawing the last bit of strength in him.
But what he heard next was a voice.
"A mere pawn like you."
From who knows where, a figure that shouldn't have been there was standing right in front of the towering snake.
From the sound alone, Ishanna could tell the speaker was male.
However, the tone of their voices was cold, like two people speaking in unison.
And their demeanor showed through it, haughty like a classmate of his, but their voices held something more.
If Margaret was prideful.
Theirs would be as though they rightfully owned the world; that was how their voice sounded.
Because of this, Ishanna concentrated more.
However, all he did amounted to little.
At the very least, he regained a bit of focus.
Vaguely, he could also spot a golden color wrapped around the snake.
Chains?
Hiss!
It made a loud noise thrashing around, but no matter what the giant snake did, it couldn't escape.
Crick–! Crack!
Rumble!
"Well, since he has obtained that… I suppose I can spare you."
With those words, footsteps echoed across the cavern floor.
And judging by the sound of their steps, they were drawing closer and closer to him.
"Haah, what a troublesome child."
Ishanna, despite trying to focus on the person's features through his thinning vision, couldn't even make them out.
However, he felt something warm on his otherwise cold body, or rather on his face.
Fingertips.
The person's fingertips rested against his forehead, with warmth lingering around there.
And that warmth seeped from that contact, spreading through his frigid body.
What was even more bizarre was the golden glow of particles around him.
'What bizarre..'
His thoughts trailed as the last bit of focus slipped away like sleep pulling him into a deep embrace.
But before he finally lost focus.
HISSSSS!
RUMBLE!
The cavern shook violently, the ground quaking as though the mountain itself were collapsing.
However, Ishanna's consciousness had completely slipped away even before he could register it
❝ ❞
What started as a trip that was meant to unearth a relic turned into a traumatizing horror trip.
March 29th
Ainsworth Academy
Board room
"So you expect us to believe you encountered a monster? Professor Lukham, is this some sort of farce? A student died!"
The room was bright.
Not too bright, but well-lighted enough and semi-spacious, it wasn't a room that was too big or small.
Warm rugs were placed on the floor with potted plants and artwork across the wall.
A soft and mild breeze blew in from outside.
In front of Professor Lukham, however, was a table with four figures sitting there with blazing fury.
The first to speak was an older woman nearing her forties, wearing a hat like a witch.
Wrinkles marred her face, making her look the part, coupled with her clothes that seemed sagacious.
Bang!
She forcefully slammed her hand on the desk, fury still blazing in her eyes.
"Akachukwu Reeves, how do we explain this to his sponsors! Tell me, Professor Lukham Miles."
Lukham simply lowered his head, his lips pressed thin.
"Oi, oi, Grandmaster Eunice, please calm down."
"I'm calm!"
A man in his forties was the second to speak, attempting to calm his colleague.
He had a lazy look about him, with slackened jaws and a tiresome expression on his face.
"Can't blame the greedy students; they brought this upon themselves."
Slowly, the man looked up.
"If only you had reported it to the school first."
Lukham's eyes blazed in quiet fury as he hung his head low.
His dissatisfaction was particularly directed at the man, Senator Wishall, but he said nothing more.
Ultimately, the responsibility rested on him.
But the way Wishall spoke about the sacrifice of a student, passing it off as greed, stung him.
He knew the senator's words were meant more to shield his own interests.
Margaret had confessed that it had to do with an object Ishanna found on the altar of the place.
And because of that…
Perhaps, had they informed the academy beforehand, the outcome might have been different.
But that option was gone.
Even now… they've confiscated everything.
Lukham exhaled quietly.
At last—
"What occurred three days ago was regrettable. You have my condolences."
"Hah! Headmaster, you truly believe this absurd tale?"
A man who resembled a figure from some wizard chronicle spoke next, silencing Eunice.
He had long white hair cascading down his back, and a beard reaching his chest.
Slowly, he stroked it thoughtfully.
Then his gaze slowly shifted toward Grandmaster Eunice, who immediately clenched her teeth.
"Haah, when dealing with the things called relics, we ought to exercise patience."
Gandhi stroked his beard once more as every head dropped low in thought.
Mysterious temples.
Indeed, for something that wasn't known, how much mystery it contained was really up to anyone's guess.
With that thought, Eunice gazed at Lukham.
"Professor, what about that student? Is he awake yet?"
Lukham gave a slow shake of his head.
"No, Grandmaster. He lost a significant amount of blood and suffered a concussion. We've received no improvement yet."
What followed the evacuation had been catastrophic.
As feared, the entire mountain had collapsed soon after the students descended.
It was a scene of devastation.
When rescue teams finally arrived, only Ishanna Flores was recovered.
The colossal serpent, the temple, everything had vanished, as though it had never existed.
However, thanks to deeper investigation, they found something interesting about the rock formation.
It was thanks to that they were able to catch a semblance of breathing space.
"Mmm. So, that child was the brave kid who sacrificed his life to save his mates, huh?"
"Headmaster, do you still believe that-"
"Wishall, have you seen the looks on those children's faces? An entire class cannot fabricate such terror."
Under that steady look, Wishall raised his hands in reluctant concession.
Lukham felt a quiet sense of gratitude toward their wise and respected Headmaster.
Without him, who knew what harsher measures might have been taken in the name of accountability?
"Even so, as the one who proposed the expedition, disciplinary action is unavoidable. Do you accept that?"
"I do."
Lukham bowed deeply.
As he straightened, he caught the Headmaster's subtle wave of the hand.
He understood that gesture.
"Please excuse me."
With that, he turned and stepped out, the door closing behind him with a soft click.
Lukham rested his back against the wall and let out a sigh.
A tired one.
The hallways of the Administrative Building stretched out in front of him with glass panes that reflected sunlight.
It was sunny, very much so.
However, his attention was away from the sun.
Riiiing~
Mm?
Lukham blinked, feeling his pockets vibrate. He kept his hands in his pockets, bringing it out.
A message displayed itself on the small interface.
His eyes widened.
Without hesitation, almost instantly, he broke into a jog, veering left and taking the stairs two at a time.
Ainsworth Academy.
Despite being called an academy, it was a college.
It was a prestigious one at that, featuring all three stages of the academy, from elementary to college.
Naturally,
They were spread across different locations, with the college having the largest facilities.
Other than the Administrative Building at the front, near the entrance to the campus.
There were many other buildings.
Paved and brick roads with plants and grasses beautified its surroundings, especially the buildings.
But right now…
Ainsworth Academy Teaching Hospital.
Shiick!
The sliding door clicked open, revealing the room inside.
Inside, a simple bed rested against the wall beneath a window left open to let in the breeze.
A thin, nearly translucent white curtain swayed gently with the wind.
On the bed, sitting upright and gazing out the window, was Ishanna.
"Flores, you're awake."
Lukham's expression softened, his brows relaxing as he rubbed at his face with a mixture of grief and relief.
He moved closer, lowering himself into the chair beside the bed.
Once he did, he placed both hands on his thighs, lowering his head, towards him.
"Flores… that day… I'm sorry. We—I… I ran away, I—"
"Professor, it's alright. I chose that myself. And I heard what happened to Reeves."
Hearing those words,
Lukham finally glanced up; he saw the pure grief and the hollow expression in his eyes.
A thought welled in from Lukham's gut.
I should have stopped the other fool too.
They could hardly have anticipated the entire mountain range collapsing, but hindsight offered no comfort.
What had happened had happened.
"Fumu, I know that fool ran to my aid, but to even think."
The young male muttered, glancing outside the window.
In hindsight, he would have done the same for his friend too, no question, but to think Reeves was no more.
He was devastated.
"For your bravery, the school wishes to honor you. And since you were closest to him…"
"They will ensure you are taken care of."
Policies like this had been implemented in case a traumatic event happened.
And it was this…