Brogan

 

Brogan hesitated as they peered into the box and saw something floating in the middle of the large box. He kept waiting for Jericho to tell him what to do, but his mate had gone silent again. “What do you think it does?”

West shrugged, “Not sure, but if you’re positive that Jericho said this was the correct box then I figure it’s safe.”

Rook reached out to grab the floating candle stick, when Brogan grabbed his arm and stalled him. “We need to be touching when we grab that thing. If Jericho said this was the box then it must help us some way. To me that means getting out of this room safely.”

“You think it’s like a portal or transport or something?” West moved to the opposite side of the object. “I don’t see any purpose for it, so I guess you could be right.”

“If it’s nothing then we don’t lose anything by holding on to each other, right?” Brogan moved his hand to Rook’s shoulder and glanced to West to make sure he was touching Rook too. “Okay, Rook. Go ahead and take it now.”

Brogan held his breath and waited, five seconds, then ten. “What the hell?” He murmured just as the air was sucked out of the room only to rush back in a moment later.

“Where are we?” West asked as he gasped for air. “That was intense.”

It wasn’t until then that he realized they weren’t in the room of boxes anymore. This was much, much worse. They stood in the middle of a sporting ring, the type he’d seen in old movies of gladiator fights. The stands around them were filled with hundreds and thousands of creatures of every size and shape.

“Anyone else ready to shit their pants at that sight?” Rook asked causally.

Brogan snorted at his friend’s warped humor, but he was right. There wasn’t many things in this world that scared him, but this was definitely at the top of the list.

West gulped audibly, “By all that’s holy please let the cage keep them out of the arena.”

It wasn’t until that moment that Brogan was able to focus on more than the eyes boring holes into them. West was right, there was what amounted to a large cage encircling the whole of the arena. It kept them in, but kept the demons out and that was enough for now.

“Don’t look now, but that entry way is opening. I think we have to fight our way out of here.” West said with a nod to the south end of the oval shaped space.

Brogan spun around and cursed as he saw at least a hundred humanoid bodies standing at the entrance, just hidden by the darkness that he couldn’t make anything out yet.  All at once the mass of bodies ran out of the cave and formed a line in front of the three men.

“This is….”

“What the…”

“This is beyond evil….”

All three men talked over each other in their surprise. “Jericho if you can hear me, we could use some advice. Anything would be useful here.” Brogan pleaded as he stared at the clones.

“Am I seeing things or is that us over there?”

“Babe, if you’re seeing things so am I. Because I see all of us too.” West said in a whisper. “Any suggestions or ideas on what to do here?”

“Yeah, don’t die.” Rook replied sarcastically.  “Think any of our supplies would work?”

“Wolves, listen to me carefully. Those creatures are just there to mess with your minds. In the midst of battle who is who will become hard to tell. Your only advantage is small. The doppelgangers will have slight imperfections. Brown eyes instead of blue. Right handed instead of left.  Small things that most would overlook. Use your pack link to help as long as you can, before they figure out some way to block it.” Jericho’s words cut off abruptly.

“Brogan, are you okay man?” West asked as he stepped close to the other man.

“Yeah, just hurts.” Brogan gasped. “Really close, he was just hit for giving us clues.” He turned his head and spit out a mouthful of blood. “Through that door, he’s on the other side of the gate those things came through.”

West and Rook nodded grimly. “We’ll help clear a path. You get to him and cut him loose. We’ll follow as quickly as we can.”

Brogan closed his eyes and grimaced, “Promise me you’ll meet me there as soon as you can and in one piece. I won’t be the cause of your deaths, or live with the knowledge I led either or both of you to your demise.”

“Here, take this potion. Cadence said it was camouflage. With luck, it’ll help you get through here quickly. Once you’re through the gates, we’ll wait a few minutes and take ours and follow you.  I don’t know how much of a head start it will give you, but hopefully it’s enough.”

Brogan pulled each man into a fierce hug before he stepped back and downed the contents with a shudder. “Holy hell, that’s disgusting.”

“But it worked. I have to concentrate really hard to see you.” West replied with shock.

He hated to leave them, but he knew this was his best chance to get Jericho. He’d only taken a few running steps when he heard the screams and running feet begin. He wanted to turn and look but he didn’t dare take his focus off the path to Jericho. Hundreds of Rook and West look alikes flooded around him as he dodged and weaved around them. It was the most surreal experience of his life.

“I’m sorry.” He whispered to his two friends as he finally made it out of the arena and raced down the hall. He knew nothing he ever did could repay them for what they were experiencing right now. He could feel their pain, confusion and worry every time they punched, stabbed or kicked their “mate”.  The emotional toil was weighing on them heavily and the fighting had only begun. Would any of them walk out of here still sane?

“If you can hear me like I think you can, I’m almost to you. Be ready. Our friends will be coming hot on my heels, but we won’t have long. If you’re not alone in there, I need to know what to expect. Talk to me, baby. Please.”