THE LAST KEEPER

The twenty-one had soon become twenty-two because Lira, who had not stopped following squad 25. They were still one member short, but anytime someone dared join, Kaka would make them suffer so much that they quit. Only one had dared, and he had not lasted. Perhaps it was because the squad did not want to give away Sagiri’s sport. Even so, Lira had become their shadow so much that they had grown weary of sending her away. She was now like a shadow member of the squad. She fought well and was smart, but sometimes she behaved like a child or just said weirdly odd things.

She had even asked kiuga once if he remembered where he was born because she didn’t.

The twenty-two had entered the valley midday, nine days ago. It was cold and dark and mostly silent, but nothing was odd. They were not planning to stay long, just entering the valley that everyone avoided for decades, and coming out alive was all they needed to do to get the highest merit score.

Then quickly, they realized how bad their decision was. Not only was it cold, continuously cold as if the very cold itself was seeping into the bone. The instructors were only there to see them successfully go in and come out. It would ensure there was no cheating. The warrior initiates, wherever the merit mission they would be going on, were afforded flares. To fire a red one in case they wanted aid, and the white flare if the situation had turned deadly and they needed to be pulled out immediately.

They soon realized the deeper they went, the odder something was. Lira had said something was watching them or someone, but even with their intensive training, the squads could not hear anything. Oka shivered with fear with every step they took, and soon she had slithered underneath Gavina’s combat coat.

At that point, the squads had decided to go back. They wanted to go as deep as possible before going out, but they could not ignore the uneasy air in the place. They only had to enter the valley and come out, so even though the instructors were just there to watch and give back their feedback to the college, they had suggested that the two squads go back.

The two squads were a bit bored, but they had only entered the valley for merits. They started their return journey.

They were sure they had only walked around for two hours in the valley before deciding to go back out, but as hours went by without them finding the exit, the cause for alarm had increased.

”Could we have missed the exit?” Kiuga was the first to sound his worry. He was, after all, the best strategist, and he had a smart head attached to his neck. Everyone had the feeling that something was wrong, but they had hoped the exit would pop out at some point.

”There is no way. We hadn’t even gone further in, yet now we have been walking for almost five, and the exit is not getting closer.” Zazarie said.

”Could we be going in circles?” Pavire asked.

”Imposible. You know Oka doesn’t get lost.” Gavina said, but it was clear there was worry in his voice. Oka had not come out from under her coat ever since he hid away, and Gavina knew that was a bad signal.

Oka was not so easily scared, but this time he had not stopped trembling.

”Could we be stuck under an illusion....” Ulekai panicked even deeper. It was a wonder how a boy like him was in a squad like Squad 25. Even with his abilities in fighting and a slightly smart head on his neck, it was clear he did not fit in the madness

”Let’s get out of here and quickly, everybody run!!” Kiuga said after a moment of silence.

Everyone moved at Kiuga’s command. They ran as fast as they could for the exit, but soon it was clear that they were not getting anywhere. No matter how fast they ran, their exit did not come any closer. In fact, the faster they ran, the more the feeling that they were stuck in a maze increased.

”Everyone, stop!!” Kiuga announced after a while. He always remained calm in tough situations, but this time, even he could feel the invisible blade hanging over his head. This was not just any situation. They were for sure trapped now, and they did not know whether they had been running deeper into the maze or, worse, just running in circles. ”Something is wrong.”

”Of course it is. We could have been out by now.” Kaka said, circling a bit as if checking for enemies, before he stopped.

”Are we going to die? Is this an illusion?” Ulekai asked again.

”No, this isn’t an illusion. This is something else. Our watches are working just fine.” Kiuga refuted.

”Don’t tell me we are stuck in something worse than an illusion,” Gavina said. Her vice was still strong, but there was now some fear in it.

The worst part is that they could not see the enemy, and they did not know what they were up against.

”We need to stay calm and think clearly,” Kiuga said.

”This is indeed odd.” Ntao the Kafika 1 instructor said.

”I should have stopped you sooner,” Ataku the Galka 25 instructor on the mission chimed in.

”This is not the time to think of what we could or could not have done. We could have come anyway, even if you denied it.” Gavina said.

”Should we fire the flares and call in help?” Lira said, and everyone turned to her. She was sitting on the floor on a small rock, chewing on something that looked like a stick. She was unbothered but completely bothered at the same time. She was an odd nut.

”We should. We can’t wait until it gets bad,” Kiuga said. He had come to learn that it was better to take action in situations you did not understand and call for help than to wait for things to get worse.

”No, we won’t! That will lower our marks. Even if we get the merit. We will not get the privilege.” Pavire said.

”Well, I am speaking for squad 25. If you ladies want to stay in this valley and die for the merit. Be my guest.” Kiuga said in a serious tone this time. He was now wearing the face of a general, and everyone on squad 25 nodded before retrieving the red and the white flares at the same time.

pop!

pop!

The sound of the almost two dozen flares tore through the silence of the valley.