Chapter 59 - The Fourth Floor
"Finally!", Lucas heaved a sigh of relief.
"You are very impatient. You should start working on that.", Arthur said.
"Just shut up.", Lucas retorted.
The mist around them started thinning, and they arrived towards a more clearer place. The staircase was right next to them, and there were two walls right there.
"Who the hell designed this floor? It is as if they built this building just to mess with me. I just don't understand, they tried so hard to make sure that someone won't be able to climb up the floors so hard, why the hell is there an elevator here?", Lucas wondered.
"Cause the one on top needs to get down. Obviously.", Raphael said.
"But that is beside the point. This sort of building is only for one purpose. What they are using against us. Either we are not the only ones who have been in this situation, or worse, this building was created just to deter us in preparation for something.", Lucas said.
"It should be the former. This building has to have been here for quite some time. We are in the middle of New York. Nothing here is new. No empty plot would have stayed empty here.", Michael said.
"Then that brings another problem. It is clear that all have failed in the end. What could be so fearsome that no one who came in came out to warn the rest of the world?", Lucas asked.
"You are asking all the questions to the wrong person and at the wrong time. Why don't we just get to the top and ask the marquess herself? Better than wasting time here quibbling about nothing.", Arthur said.
The rest of the council nodded, and Lucas shrugged.
"So I guess I am going to be the scapegoat? I obviously have to go first right?", Lucas said.
"You are the only one who can survive after taking a life threatening attack. Why else would you be here, alive, after taking in that poison?", Michael said.
"Just don't remind me of that. I still can't believe I fell for something like that.", Lucas started grinding his teeth as he started climbing the stairs.
Behind him, everyone followed closely. The atmosphere was tense, and everyone was on edge. They did not know when and where to expect a sneak attack from, so they were all completely alert. Lucas looked straight front. He could see some light come out from the end. It felt a little weird though. It was as if there was something different awaiting him. He just couldn't strike off the feeling that what stood in the fourth floor was more terrifying than what they had faced before.
He stepped into the fourth floor after taking a deep breath. He looked forward. The air was clear, and there was nothing suspicious at first. There was no maze or mist like the prior floors.
"Where is the person who is supposed to face us? There has always been someone who attacked us when we got to the next floor.", Lucas wondered out loud.
"Just take what you get. Be happy that we weren't sneak attacked. And don't ask for it. Saying bad things will only lead to them happening.", Praneeth said as he also walked behind Lucas and into the fourth floor.
Soon, all of the council members were standing side by side. They all surveyed the fourth floor. There seemed to be nothing here. All they could see were cubicles and a path laid out for them. It was as if this was your ordinary office floor in every other building next to this one.
"Did we accidentally get teleported into another building? Where the hell is this?", Lucas wondered.
"Nope. I still can't feel my eye. This is still the same building. Do not lose your caution. Anything could be awaiting us. I don't think that they would give us a breather. That is the worst thing to do, and I am sure that someone like the marquess, who has taken so many measures to keep us within the lower floors, knows this.", Praneeth said.
"We know. This is not our first rodeo.", Lucas said as he started walking around. He stopped in front of a cubicle. He put his hand forward. Nothing unexpected happened. He leaned forward and grabbed the chair inside. Again, nothing happened. He took the chair out of the cubicle and stepped back. He held the chair effortlessly with one hand.
"What are you going to do with that?", Michael asked.
"Check if this place is booby trapped.", Lucas replied. He took the chair and chuckled it forward onto the ground. It screeched on the ground as it flew forward through the pathway that was laid out for them.
Other than the irritating sound that it made, nothing happened.
"Well, we know that it isn't booby trapped. Why not just go instead of waste time? Do not forget, they have been wanting to stall us for a while now, and this might just be another tactic for that? Self doubt can be a more powerful enemy than even a great hero.", Praneeth said.
"That actually makes sense. I will lead the way. You better stay close so that I can take any physical attacks. Michael, stand at the back. You also can heal faster than these fellows. Eva and Praneeth, I will be relying on you to make sure that no spiritual and magical attacks are going to sneak on us.", Lucas said.
Everyone nodded, and they started walking down the corridor in a straight line. Praneeth stood behind Lucas, while Eva stood ahead of Michael. The rest stood in the middle. Raphael was restlessly touching his right pant pocket as if he was afraid something might happen to what was inside.
Lucas walked forward, and the rest followed. Step by step, time trickled on. But something truly odd was happening. No matter how long they walked, they did not seem to be getting anywhere. It was like they were going in a loop.
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