MLIV C1, P4- "Hand On The Trigger"

"Hand On The Trigger" is the fourth Part of "Miracula Luxia IV" 's first Chapter.
It was released on 08.05.2022.
== Plot ==
Blasphemy!
Although our heroes decided to help out their friend in need, it turns out that it was a trap that was intended to help capture both them and Derek, organized by Michael McGuire and, of course, the treacherous Ana Prado who was so friendly and warm to them when they first arrived in town.
Now, trapped in a dark and cold mine and stripped of their powers, they have to make their way out, slaying villains and taking their revenge on the one who was foolish enough to challenge them.
Perhaps Darkthrop's servants were involved in this mess, too. Or perhaps they were the main cause that led to it. If so, the truth will be revealed soon enough.
== Story ==
As the bandits lead Adam and his allies away, the young hero glares at one of them and shakes his head.
"Your leader is taking you toward a certain doom."- He says- "Do you really trust him that much?"
The man chuckles.
"And you expect us to abandon him, after everything that he's done for us?"- He asks him- "Fat chance, kid. Now zip your mouth and be quiet, unless you want me to do it for ya."
Akira leans closer to Adam.
"Well, I'm out of ideas."- She whispers to him- "Do you have anything in mind?"
Adam sighs and nods.
"I hate to say it, but this situation is too dire to use simple diplomacy."- He whispers to her- "When the right time comes, I will devise our escape plan. Should it work, we will make sure that this does not happen again."
Akira nods.
"I trust your decision, little brother."- She whispers- "Just... try to be careful. Whoever those people may be, they seem to be very dangerous."
Adam sighs.
"Rest assured that I am already aware of that."
With that, the four of them are taken to the bottom of a mine and abandoned by the bandits.
"Hey!"- Jon yells- "Where do you think you're going?!"
One of the bandits smiles.
"To witness the grand sceme, of course!"- One of them says- "Now that we've got you trapped in here, we can start the next phase of our plan. In the end, none of you will be alive to see the darkness that envelops this pathetic planet!"
Derek clenches his fists.
"You can't just leave us here, you know?"- He says- "Can you at least tell us why you're hunting all of us down in the first place?"
The bandits laugh.
"Don't bother to ask!"- One of them says- "You'll find out soon enough!"
Having said that, the group of bandits leaves their victims behind, to perish in the mines and never see the light again.
"What a bunch of kind and friendly citizens!"- Akira says sarcastically- "If only every person in this godforsaken town was as good as them... "
Derek laughs dryly.
"That's the kind of treatment that I've been receiving for months, to be honest."- He admits- "It's nothing new. This is what they do to everyone they deem unworthy."
Adam looks at him.
"Have you ever been in this place?"- He asks him- "It sounds like you know a lot about it."
Derek shakes his head.
"It's my first time so far."- He says- "However, I've heard rumors about how they torture their victims in a matter unlike the villains elsewhere. Slip of a tongue, I would guess. And yet, it felt like they talked about it around me on purpose, knowing that I would be aware of what would happen to me. And, by an unfortunate coincidence, the three of you."
Adam nods.
"We did not collect enough information to sue them, so I have to ask you to clarify it for us."- He says- "Is there anything of interest that you learned during your time here? Anything that would help us uncover the mystery and make those villains pay for their crimes?"
Derek nods.
"As a matter of fact, yes. I do."- He says- "I know a few things about Mike McGuire- the leader's dear brother who always gets himself in trouble."
Adam, Akira and Jon listen with great interest. They know that the information will be crucial for their survival and do not want to miss even a single word from it.
"You see, Michael McGuire presents himself as a vigilante. A person who is always seen as the hero here. And yet, it feels like he is the one who leads this town, not his meek and confused brother."- He says- "Much of the time, he likes to stay away from the real authorities, those that operate in the outside world. And yet, his actions tell me that he isn't just a desperate coward, aiming for attention. He captures powerful warriors, in the hope of recruiting them on the side of his so-called "dark master" or, should he be unable to extract any information or convince them to betray their people, he kills them on the spot. This makes me think that there's a sinister power out there that is forcing him to make the innocent people's lives a living nightmare, in return for modest payment and a decent place in the dark hierarchy. Of course that leaves a lot of questions that we have to figure out ourselves. Is he truly working alone, in dark times when only the evil ones can withstand the pain of the new world? Are those really his true intentions? And, most importantly, is he related to the chaotic empire of evil that ravaged the known lands for so long, yet was defeated by us, the common heroes? Unfortunately, we have yet to find those answers ourselves."
He smiles.
"Still, we are in quite the predicament."- He says- "And if we don't escape, well, I'm sure that you know how bad it'll be."
Adam nods.
"If this person is truly loyal to Darkthrop and his henchmen, then I will not stop until he is forced to atone for his sins. As the harbringer of hope, it is my destiny to stop the dark one from being reawakened."- He says- "Until then, we are forced to make amends with what we used to be and escape before our time in this world runs out."
Akira raises her eyebrow.
"Wait a second."- She says- "Darkthrop still hasn't returned?"
Jon nods.
"This is the only clue that tells us that we aren't completely doomed."- He says- "Should that evil wizard return, everything that we love may be... incinerated. To ashes."
Akira nods.
"Then what are we waiting for?"- She says- "Let's stop that madman and his people! I'm tired of hearing his name anymore!"
She tries to unbind the ropes around her arms, but soon realizes that it is impossible.
One of the guards notices this and tries to shoot her down, but stopped by another guard, who tells him not to worry about it.
"Those bandits are everywhere!"- Akira yells- "Can't we just get rid of them already?"
Adam sighs.
"It is not that easy, Akira."- He says- "First, we must think of a way to trick them."
He points at the rails above them.
"Do you see the minecarts over there?"- He says, pointing out the vehicles that are used to transport ores and precious gemstones- "Every once in a while, one of them is empty. If we manage to make it fall down, we may be able to free ourselves without attracting unwanted attention. It is quite risky, but we must try it out."
He smiles.
"So."- He says- "Are you ready?"
Akira nods.
"Count me in."- She says- "I can't wait to get out of this place and blow that villain's head off his shoulders."
Jon nods.
"I promised to stay by your side. And you know what? I think that this is the perfect time for us to stay together. To be united against the darkness that is rising against us."- He says- "Once we are done with those people, we will make sure that the law returns to this desolate wasteland. So, let's do this."
Derek looks around and sighs.
"I just want to see my brother. One last time."- He says- "If this is what will make it happen, then I'll be happy to help you out."
Adam smiles.
"Then, the matter is settled."- He says- "Let us finish what we started!"
The four of them try to find something they can throw at the minecarts. However, they soon realize that the guards are watching them. Thus, they devise a plan to distract them instead.
After a minute of deep thoughts, Adam realizes that Derek's voice is close to that of Michael McGuire- leader of the bandits in this region.
"What if we convinced them to go upstairs instead?"- He suggests- "It could buy us some time to bring our plan to life."
Akira smiles.
"Derek knows Michael better than any of us."- She says- "If so, then his voice might be convincing enough to make them unsure in who to believe."
Derek nods.
"You know what? I think that this might actually work."- He says- "Impersonating another person has never been my specialty, but I guess that it wouldn't hurt to give it a try. So, let's make it happen."
Derek raises his voice, but not too much, in case he accidentally causes a cavequake instead.
"Hello, my friends. It is I, your supreme leader and savior."- He says- "I know that I told you to stay here and guard the prisoners, but there's another matter that needs to be settled. It's quite urgent, so I want you to go upstairs. Now."
One of the guards takes the bait, but is still confused by this sudden "change of plan".
"But sir. Those prisoners are too important to leave alone!"- He says- "Can't we just leave a few of our people here and join you?"
Derek shakes his head.
"Do you truly believe that I, your leader, am unable to handle a petty gang like them?!"- He yells and slightly raises his voice- "I already told you that they're powerless. They can't even hurt a fly. So, why do you pretend to care about them?"
The guards shake their heads.
"Of course we trust you, O great savior of mankind!"- One of them exclaims- "It's just that it may not be worth it. What if someone helps them out while we're gone?"
Derek clenches his fist.
"Liars! Non-believers! Fools! Is this really how you want it to be?!"- He yells- "Get up here before I tell my brother everything about what you've done!"
His sudden change in speech is sufficient enough to convince the bandits into abandoning their current location. They grab their weapons and nods.
"As you wish, sir!"
Then, in less than a minute, all of the bandit guards leave the scene, leaving our heroes alone in the crumbling mine.
"This is our chance."- Adam says- "Find something that will knock the minecarts down. And, please, hurry. If the bandits find out that this was just a ruse, they will come back with an even greater force."
Akira scans the horizon, carefully analyzing the objects all around her. Unfortunately, there is almost nothing left behind. It seems like the miners stopped the process of excavating resources long before our heroes were placed here... or maybe the tools were taken away, in case the prisoners refuse to cooperate and try to escape instead.
And yet, this is not enough to stop her from trying. She continues to survey her surroundings, until she sees a medium-sized rock to the left of her.
"Aha!"- She says and points at it- "This should do the job!"
Adam nods.
"But how are we going to reach it?"- He asks her- "Those shackles prevent us from using our magic. We are nearly powerless."
Akira smiles.
"Not if I can help it!"
Having said that, she whacks a nearby board with her foot, sending th rock flying toward her. Then, without thinking twice, she succesfully frees one of her hands and catches it in mid-air.
"There we go!"- She exclaims- "This is our key to victory!"
Then, she takes a good look at the passing minecarts. Judging them by their contents, she finally discovers one that is still completely empty.
She throws the rock at it.
In a few moments, the minecart is taken off the tracks, falling down on top of Adam and his allies.
Fortunately, it is wide enough to allow our allies to breathe underneath it.
"Now that we managed to hide ourselves, we must find a way to weaken those shackles."- He says- "My best guess would be to use a combination of strength and cunning, but it may not be enough."
Derek shakes his head.
"There's no need to worry about that."- He replies- "I've still got some power left, so I'll take us away from here."
Having said that, he closes his eyes and concentrates some of his magical energy on the ropes that hold him in place. The magical shackles around his wrists attempt to stop this sudden outburst, but they are too weak for what is already inevitable.
Soon, the ropes melt, burned to a crisp by the magical fire within Derek's soul.
Adam is surprised that Derek was able to do such a thing, especially when the shackles have already drained much of his magic.
"Incredible! I have to say that I am impressed!"- He says- "I do not know how you did it, but you just restored my hope."
Derek smiles.
"Those bandits think that they can prevent us from using our magic. And yet, they must be aware that they can't take all of it away."- He says- "My inner warmth is always there. No matter how hard they try to strip me from it, the force that keeps me going is always there. And it will signify the beginning of their downfall. Period."
Suddenly, the shackles around Derek's wrists begin to vibrate. They send waves of energy at the area nearby, but are unable to draw any power from their surroundings. With no other choice than to disable themselves, they finally go off, but not before causing an explosion and destroying the rest of the shackles as well.
While the ropes and shackles are crushed into pieces, our heroes remain relatively unharmed. This gives them the chance to lift the minecart and escape the holding area.
Just as they go outside, they meet two bandits, who seemingly returned for more orders.
"It's the prisoners!"- One of them yells- "We must tell the-- "
Suddenly, Derek lunges forward, grabs a pickaxe and violently slams it into the villain's skull, ending his life before he could even finish his sentence.
The other bandit, seeing that the former prisoners are armed and dangerous, attempts to flee, only to be struck in the back of the head with a sharp rock by Adam.
"I think that the coast is clear."- Derek says to his allies- "The arrival of those vagabonds was just an unlucky coincidence, so we should be fine to run before they call in their reinforcements."
Adam nods.
"I think that all of us can agree to that."- He says- "The entrance to the next room is over there. Let us make our way past this chaos and escape for good."
As the four of them enter the next room, they see a pair of elevators, leading to the other side. However, it seems like they stopped working a while ago, forcing our heroes to find another way across the shaft.
However, their visit did not remain unnoticed for long. As soon as they prepare to search their surroundings, a small group of bandits arrives and starts shooting at them.
"The ropes!"- Adam yells- "Take them! Now!"
The four of them collect a few long ropes left behind by the miners.
"But what can we do with them?"- Jon says- "We can't just build some kind of a bridge! It's too dangerous!"
Adam notices a few hooks on the ceiling above and points at them.
"On the contrary. There is a way!"- He says- "Now, get moving, unless you want to end up being re-captured by the bandits... or worse!"
Without thinking twice, our heroes follow Adam's lead as he quickly wraps the rope around one of the hooks. While he tries to build a way across the shaft, the three of them provide cover for him, using picks and rocks to stop the bandits that are trying to kill them.
Finally, all of the ropes are in place. Adam looks back at his allies, who are still fighting the incoming bandits.
"We are almost there!"- He yells- "Come on! Get moving!"
As Adam crosses the shaft using the ropes he placed, his allies do the same, jumping from rope to rope as the bandits continue to shoot at them.
Although Jon and Derek successfully make it on the other side, Akira is too weak to continue. She tries to stumble her way across, but is unable to swing toward the ground below.
At the same time, one of the bandits gets closer to her. He tries to shoot her down, to no avail, but it is clear that he will succeed soon.
"Wretched outlaws!"- She yells at them- "Go find another maiden to torture!"
As the incoming danger is imminent and she has no way to protect herself, she is forced to jump across the shaft and on the ground. However, there is a small chance that she will fail and plumet into the chasm below.
Regardless of her fate, Akira decides to give it a try. She closes her eyes and leaps from the rope just as the bandit grabs her arm.
Fortunately, Adam catches her just in time, preventing her from falling into the chasm.
Seeing that the bandit is still latching onto her leg, he kicks him in the face. However, he still refuses to let go.
Finally, Derek finds a hatchet nearby and uses it to cut the bandit's arm off, watching coldly as he screams in pain and falls down instead of Akira.
"That was brutal, Derek."- Adam chastises him- "And yet, I realize that it had to be done."
He pats him on the shoulder.
"Thank you for saving my sister."
Derek nods and notices that more bandits are climbing their makeshift bridge.
"Over there!"- He yells- "We must do something!"
Adam grabs a nearby rock and throws it at an approaching bandit's face, forcing him to let go of the rope that he is holding onto and fall down into the chasm.
"Follow my lead if you want to survive!"- He yells- "Leave no survivors!"
The others grabs rocks from nearby and do the same.
Soon, a large amount of the bandits are taken out safely, without alerting the others around them.
Unfortunately, they still haven't taken care of the rest of them.
As soon as Adam and his allies let their guard down slightly, a pair of bandits jumps down and grabs Akira.
"Agh! Not again!"- She yells- "Adam! Help!"
Adam looks around,hoping that he could find something, but realizes that they are out of rocks.
Thinking fast, the young hero grabs a deck of cards from a nearby table and glares at his enemies.
The bandits laugh.
"Oh, really?"- One of them says- "How's that going to help you? Are you perhaps trying to... outplay us?"
Adam smiles.
"Be careful what you wish for."
Having said that, he throws one of the cards at the bandit, piercing him in the neck. He falls to the ground and bleeds out in a matter of seconds.
As the second bandit draws his weapon, Adam throws a second card. This time, it pierces the bandit's forehead, ending his life on the spot.
Seeing that both of their enemies are dead, Adam approaches them and kicks their lifeless corpses into the chasm below.
"Another pack of fools has been defeated."- He mutters and turns to his allies- "I have the good feeling that we are getting closer. So, it is on our best interest to hurry, before it is too late."
He looks at the door ahead.
"Are you ready to finish the job?"
His allies nod.
"Then let us avenge the innocent people who lost their lives in this mine."
As the four of them enter the room, everything becomes darker for them.
Unable to see almost anything, Akira stumbles forward and nearly pierces her chest into a loose rebar. However, Adam pulls her away before she could hurt herself.
"Easy there, Aki."- He says to her- "You were a few steps away from death."
Akira sighs.
"Isn't that always the case with me?"- She says- "There's no surprise. I always get in trouble, wherever I go."
Adam shakes his head and turns to Jon.
"Find a candle and light it."- He tells him- "We need to see what is blocking our way."
Jon nods and rummages through the contents of a nearby crate. Soon, he finds an unlit candle, but realizes that there's nothing that can help him light it.
"Leave it to me."- Derek says- "I've still got some magic left to finish the job."
Jon hands him the candle and watches as Derek uses his inner warmth to light it.
Soon, the surrounding area is basked in a brilliant, yellow light, illuminating the path ahead of them.
Our heroes soon realize that another chasm is preventing them from getting further. However, there is also a railway, allowing them to escape from the mess
And yet, there is one problem that still remains. Even though there is a railway, there are no minecarts left to take them to the other side.
At the same time, another group of bandits has managed to spot them. They are closing in for the kill.
"Oh, for the love of god! This is not good!"- Jon exclaims- "How can we ever make it out in time?"
Derek looks around, curiously inspecting his surroundings.
Soon, he finds a seemingly intact minecart and turns it around, only to realize that its wheels are broken.
"Everyone. I think that I found something."- He says- "Well... sort of."
Adam nods.
"I think that it should suffice."- He says- "Is there any way to make it work again?"
Derek nods.
"Maybe I can make it happen. I have the skills to repair broken objects of this caliber."- He says- "However, I need a few materials to make it happen. And time. A lot of time."
Akira nods.
"You got it, friend!"- She says and turns to Jon- "Come on! To the door!"
The two of them slam the door shut just as the first bandits attempt to break their way through, slamming their heads as hard as they can and forcing them to fall on the ground.
A few of them try to do the same, but Akira grabs a pickaxe and bashes them to death.
"Get moving!"- She yells at Derek- "I don't think we've got much longer until they bring the rest of their people!"
Derek nods.
"I'll do my best."- He says- "Rest assured of that."
While Akira and Jon keep the door shut, Adam and Derek work on the broken minecart. While Adam brings materials to craft a new wheel, Derek works on fabricating it as soon as possible.
The two of them know that time is against them. And, if they do not hurry, they might fall victim to a force beyond their imagination.
"I know that these won't be as good as the last ones, but I have some faith in our order."- He says- "I must keep trying, for the sake of our freedom."
He turns to Adam.
"Adam, I... I know that we've known each other for a while. Even so, I still see you as my brother-in-arms."- He says- "I'm sorry for making go through this, just to save this broken shell of a man. I don't feel worthy of standing by your side."
Adam smiles and shakes his head.
"Do not be sorry. I am aware of what happened out there. You acted against the law only because you wanted to keep your brother safe. You wanted to take your people to a better place, safe from madmen like Darkthrop and his henchmen."- He says- "If anyone should be sorry about something, then that should be me."
Derek sighs.
"I just want you to promise something."- He says- "Make it happen before I go."
Adam looks at him, surprised.
"Please do not tell me that you have given up."- He mutters.
Derek blinks a few times and looks at the door ahead.
"If this is the end of myself as I know it, I want you to go out there and keep fighting for the true world that we deserve."- He says- "Once it's done, tell my brother that I love him. I know that it's very unorthodox of me to beg you for such a thing, but please. Hear this man's final cry for help and answer it. It will make me feel much better, knowing that the future's in your capable hands."
Adam shakes his head.
"Look, Derek. I know that you doubt yourself, but I am certain that you can prove me otherwise. There is no secret. You are strong enough to outlast most bandit leaders who came before you."- He says- "In fact, your superior intelligence is what helped you survive in this cruel world. Unlike those fools, you saw the consequences of your own mistakes and decided to redeem yourself, knowing that you will not be seen the same way anymore. It is what makes you so special to every single one of us."
He looks at him.
"So, do me a favor and keep on living."- He says- "The world would appreciate it."
Derek looks down at the half-finished wheel and sighs.
"I guess that this is my destiny now."- He says- "If you still think that you trust me, then I won't betray you. I'm here to stay."
Having said that, he continues to work on the wheels while his allies keep the room secure.
Moments later, the gap opens and a single bandit emerges. He tries to attack Jon, but Adam pushes him away before he could harm him. Slamming him into a nearby wall, he takes a small knife from nearby and stabs him in the temple as he tries to free himself.
"Our time is running out!"- He yells- "If you want to make a true difference, then this is the perfect time!"
Derek nods. 
Finishing the first wheel just in time, he works on the second one, but soon realizes that their defenses are going to breach at any moment.
"Alright, Derek. Keep it steady."- He says to himself- "As long as those people still trust you, there's no way you can lose it like you did before. You'll make it. You'll see your little bro. Just keep on rolling. It'll be fine."
As he continues to work, something in the door's lock breaks. Things become much harder for just Akira and Jon to handle, so Adam pushes a broken minecart in the way instead.
Then, he lifts a wheelless minecart and places it on top of the one he placed just a moment ago.
"That should slow them down."- He says- "Now that we are together again, we can work together to finish the job."
The three of them help Derek gather the rest of the materials and, at the same time, throw rocks at the bandits that peek their way through the semi-open door.
"Almost there, folks."- Derek says- "One more step and we'll be fine."
Unfortunately, as soon as he says that, the bandits manage to blow their way past their defenses.
A few of them attempt to apprehend them, but Adam and Akira manage to beat them to death.
"There is no time left!"- Adam yells- "Throw the minecart on the tracks and get it moving. We will handle the rest."
As Derek lifts the minecart and places it in its rightful place, Adam picks up a few blocks of wood and throws them at the approaching bandits, killing them before they can even get close.
Just as the four of them get into the vehicle, the bandit draw their weapons and shoot at them. Some of them are foolish enough to perform a leap of faith and attempt to grab onto the moving minecart, but plumet to their deaths soon after.
As it is, they are unable to prevent them from going further, so they glare at them as they leave them behind.
On the other side, Derek realizes that one of the wheels has broken. This means that they have nowhere else to go, but foward. However, it is also a clear sign that the bandits that tried to kill them have no other means to get on the other side.
Meanwhile, Adam and his allies find another obstacle in their way- a steel door.
Worst of all, it is locked tight.
"Looks like our journey ends here."- Akira says and shakes her head- "It's impossible to get past this door without our abilities. We're doomed."
Derek shakes his head, He looks at Adam and points at a pile of wood nearby.
"Give me one of those."- He says- "I'll make it work."
Adam gives him a piece of wood and watches with awe as he quickly fashions it into a small wooden key.
"Are you sure if that will work?"- Akira asks Derek- "Those ten seconds of work may not be worth it."
Derek smiles.
"Is that so?"- He asks her- "Well, I advise you to watch closely. You may learn something new while you're at it."
Having said that, he puts the flimsy-looking key into the steel lock and turns it.
Everyone watches, amazed, as a faint clicking sound, followed by the creaking of the door, opens their only way out.
"Once again, you have proven your worth to the world, my friend."- Adam says- "I do not know how you did it, but I can see that your intentions are clear."
Derek smiles.
"It's amazing what a few lessons from your father are able to do."- He says- "Now. Are you ready to make that fool pay for his crimes?"
Adam nods.
"Of course we are."- He says- "Once we are done with him, we can also force him to reveal what he knows about Darkthrop. Such a rare opportunity must not be put to waste, you know?"
Derek nods.
"Of course."- He says- "It's time to make our move."
The four of them emerge from the mines and approach the exit that separates them from the outside world. Thinking that they are finally going to flee from this nightmare, they speed up, unaware that there is one more obstacle waiting for them in the shadows.
Once they get close enough, however, they manage to see their enemy emerge from the shadows. Adam and Jon are able to escape from her, but Akira is not so lucky.
The villain, revealing herself to be Ana Prado, grabs her by the neck and aims a gun at her temple.
"That's far enough, you freaks!"- She yells- "One more step and I'll make sure you're all gone!"
Adam shakes his head.
"We do not want to fight you, Ana."- He says to her- "Let us go and I promise that we will make everything better."
Ana shakes her head.
"This is what they all say!"- She yells- "And yet, they always fail to do anything! And then, more try to do the same! And more. And more. They all think the same way, until they see the truth right in front of them!"
Adam blinks a few times and looks down.
"When I met you for the first time, I thought that you were a friend of ours. An ally in a time of need."- He says- "Why did you give up like this? Why did you let the darkness consume you?"
Ana smiles.
"It's what I do, sweetie."- She says playfully- "I've been doing it for years.
Still holding onto Akira, she takes a few steps toward Adam and touches his cheek.
"People see me as the seductress. I flirt with them when they arrive, make them think that they're all safe."- She says- "I'm a solace in this time of despair, at least for those who are foolish enough to believe it. Which is pretty much everyone around here."
Suddenly, she whips out a small dagger and points it at his chest, to prove her point.
"And then, when they least expect it, I take their petty lives away."- She says- "It's fun if you don't think too much of it. Saves all of the pain and suffering."
Adam looks down and shakes his head.
"You are a monster."- He mutters- "What you did to those people... is unforgivable."
Ana smiles and takes a few steps back.
"Now, now. Don't be angry at me for doing the right thing."- She says- "Just because you think that you're better doesn't mean that you can stop me."
Jon sighs.
"You're being delusional, miss."- He says to her- "Helping people who are planning to destroy the world will get you nowhere and I am sure that you know it well. So, why don't you simply give up and try to make amends with your past instead?"
Ana glares at him.
"And why should I do that, prince?"- She asks him- "I have a golden future ahead of me. My loving husband will take me toward the glory that I deserve. And you think that you, out of all people, can stop me?!"
Akira shakes her head.
"Please. Listen to the voice of reason and quit your treachery."- She says to her- "Nobody wants to hurt you. If you think that you deserve a better future, why don't you join us instead. We fight for a brighter future and I think that your people would agree with us. So, let go of your hatred and... "
Ana shakes her head and punches her in the face.
"Silence, maiden!"- She yells at her- "Your opinion is unimportant to me!"
Once again, she aims the gun at her temple.
"If you go back to your cells quietly and embrace the inevitable end, I might let you live. For another day."- She says to Adam- "But if you dare to even think about escaping from us, then I'll make sure that the rest of your pathetic lives are more than just a simple nightmare."
Adam shakes his head.
"Whatever your plan may be, rest assured that you will not succeed."- He says- "Even if you manage to trap us in here for good, our people will be looking for us. Once they realize what you have done, you will not live to see the light of the day again. You will be incarcerated, stripped of all information that you know about the dark one and left behind to rot. We may not succeed in stopping you, but those people will take their revenge. There is no escape from the inevitable."
Ana's eyes widen. She prepares to fire a bullet into Akira's head.
"Don't test me, kid!"- She screams- "You're all dead! Trying to be all diplomatic with me will only prolong the inevitable!"
Akira shakes her head.
"No, no."- She mutters- "I don't want to die. Not like this."
Adam gasps.
"Akira!"
He runs forward to stop Ana, only to realize that it is too late. She is one moment away from murdering her.
"Farewell, princess of Avernum."
Just as she laughs and prepares to take a shot, she suddenly feels a pain in her back.
Letting Akira go, she falls on her knees and notices a drop of blood on her lips. She wipes it, only to realize that there's more of it coming out of her mouth.
"How... how is this possible?"- She asks- "My plan! It was... flawless!"
She turns around. Shocked, she realizes who her killer is.
"Derek Selmae... "
Derek shakes his head.
"Didn't you understand what they said, Ana? If so, I'll make it simple for you."- He says- "Your people are doomed. I came to save you all, but you tried to bite my hand off. And look at how it ends now. Separated from each other, bereft of any help. Everyone who promised to help you are miles away."
As blood seeps from her wound, he approaches her and gently touches her cheek.
"Believe me, I wanted it to be otherwise. I tried to warn you, yet you refused to listen."- He says- "Well, Ann. It seems like I had no other choice."
Ana shakes her head.
"You can't just shoot me and let me die!"- She yells- "At least don't let me... turn. I don't want to hurt my people."
Derek sighs.
"Tell me, Ana. What did you say when your victims pleaded you for the same thing? Did you give them what they deserve?"- He says to her- "No. You killed them and let them turn. Brought all of those people into oblivion, just because they refused to comply. And you still think that you truly deserve mercy?!"
Ana shakes her head in disbelief.
"I didn't want it, Derek!"- She yells- "Michael made me do it! I didn't have a choice!"
Derek sighs.
"And yet, you still decide to stay loyal to that old madman, even when he's at his worst."- He says- "You had every chance to switch sides and pick a better love of your life. To make a better future. But you believed in your futile plan, up until the very end."
A few drops of blood appear on Ana's lips. Derek wipes them away.
"Sorry, Ann. I hate to say this, but you're going to help us escape, alive or not."- He says- "Pretend all you want, but there's no other way. No matter how far you go, you will always reach the light instead."
He smiles.
"Trust me. I tried to escape myself. I distanced myself from those who love me. Who truly care about me."- He adds- "But what's the point, living your life like this? Always on the run, low on food and losing your mind? This is not a fulfilling existence as we know it. I was wrong to trust people like you, so I became a good guy."
Ana shakes her head.
"Mikey will make you pay, all of you."- She mutters- "Once he learns what you've done, you'll face his wrath. And you won't get away. Mark my words."
Derek smiles and shakes his head.
"That fool is too far gone."- He says- "Without his people, he is nothing more than a broken villain with delusions of grandeur."
Having said that, he leans closer, kisses her on the lips and fires a single shot into her chest, killing her almost instantly.
"Goodbye, Maiden Of The Dark."
Once the deed is done, he gently lays her lifeless corpse on the ground below, watching as her skin slowly turns pale.
He looks at Adam.
"We need to hurry."- He says to him- "McGuire's men know where we are. If we don't run soon, they'll be onto us."
Adam and his allies nod. They flee the room before Ana could turn.
Once Derek makes sure that they are all outside, he watches as Ana's lifeless corpse opens her eyes. He sighs.
"Alright, muerto. It's time for you to redeem yourself."- He says as the undead growls at him- "Come with me and you'll see your beloved."
Then, as he leaves the room, the undead Ana crawls out as well.
Adam and his allies manage to find their way outside. Once there, they see a band of innocent civilians that is under attack. And their enemies are none other than Michael's bandits.
Adam and Jon fire a few guns from the mines and toss them to their allies.
"We need to save them!"- Adam yells- "Now, come on! Get going!"
As our heroes execute the bandits one after the other, the undead Ana emerges from the mines as well. She heads for the bandits and manages to claw one of the survivors to death.
Adam aims his gun at her head, but Derek stops her.
"Leave her alone."- He mutters and shakes his head- "It's best if we let her help us instead."
Adam shakes his head.
"This is not how you are supposed to help someone!"- He says- "Let her go! She is already gone, and you are only making it worse!"
Derek aims his gun at her as well. However, fueled by guilt, he sighs and backs away.
"Just... trust me. I know what I'm doing."- He says- "Help the townsfolk. I'll handle the rest."
As Adam reluctantly joins his allies, Derek looks at the newly-reanimated Ana and touches her cheek, pulling his hand away before she can bite his fingers off.
"Easy now, girl."- He says- "We only want to help you. Nothing more."
He looks at Adam and sighs.
"Though there are very few who actually believe in the afterlife, I still see some hope left."- He adds- "Perhaps they will see the truth soon enough."
Akira notices that Derek is looking at the undead woman. She approaches him and shakes her head.
"So, you still consider her a living being?"- She says to him- "Get over it, Derek. When someone's life ends, that's it. Their soul is taken away and all that's left is the shell of one's former self. There's no afterlife ahead of us. Believe it and move on. Believing in something that is futile will only cause you harm."
Derek sighs.
"Believe me, Akira. I don't want this either. I know that there's nothing left, yet I still try to reach for a spark of hope."- He says- "Just... go ahead and do your job. I'll be fine."
Akira looks back at her brother. She sighs.
"Alright. But I'll be back."- She says- "And then, I'll make you believe it."
As Akira runs back to her allies, Adam introduces her to the towsfolk that they just saved.
"Akira, I think that you are probably not aware of this, but those people are tasked with protecting the city. Like us."- Jon says- "What we just did for them was a miracle. And they want to help us out."
One of the townsfolk nods.
"McGuire's law is not the only one in this world and we know it."- He says- "We are aware of others who try to make a better future, so we're eager to help them out. You may just be a small part of them, but today, you are more precious to us than anyone else."
He turns to Adam.
"Just like we told you, Darkthrop has a hand in this madness. He manipulated Mr. McGuire into thinking that you're our enemies. And yet, he only used him and his brother as a distraction from the plan that he set into motion."- He says- "And yet, there's no doubt that he left something valuable for our leader's brother. Sometime in the future, he will be back. He will take his most loyal servants back to him. And if you want to defeat him once and for all, you must sap his power by preventing him from drawing it away from those under his command."
Adam nods.
"I understand. The awakening is inevitable. Sooner or later, one of those fools will finish what the rest of them started."- He says- "And yet, it is our duty to stop that evil wizard before our entire world is plunged into chaos. We will defeat Michael and, once the deed is done, we will make sure that the rest of Darkthrop's servant pay for their blind loyalty."
Suddenly, a small group of bandits spots them and aims their guns in their direction.
"Stop! Don't move!"- One of them yells- "Put your hands up! You ain't going anywhere!"
As they start to approach them, Adam and Akira stare at each other.
"It will be futile to fight them together."- She says to him- "Go and find McGuire. We'll take care of those vagabonds."
Adam shakes his head.
"I cannot do this alone."- He says- "Not without your help."
Akira looks at him and sighs.
"Remember what dad taught us before he left? To stay strong in the face of danger, no matter what happens next?"- She asks him- "Yes. This is what I want you to do right now. Go there and blast him back where he belongs. Then, we can speak further."
Adam sighs and nods. Then, he pushes a pistol into her hand.
"I want you to take this."
Akira gasps, realizing that her brother is unarmed now.
"But Adam! This was your only weapon!"- She says- "How can you possibly... "
Adam smiles and shakes his head.
"Shhh. It is alright."- He whispers to her- "Just let me be the hero of those people. I want them to know that there is someone who is ready to fight for them, even without his weapons."
Akira tries to say something else, but her mouth just stays shut. She watchess helplessly as her brother approaches a figure in the distance.
"Heroic, isn't he?"- Jon says and chuckles- "I've always admired him. His detemination will certainly get him very far."
Akira smiles.
"That's my brother to you. He's always ready to do the right thing, even if it means that he has to walk on a burning rope."- She says- "His courage gives me the strength to continue. And I'm glad that he's still here."
Jon smiles.
"Aren't we all?"- He says- "Adam is an idol to many, including us. They see hope inside of him, so who are we to not do the same?"
He turns to the townsfolk.
"Well then. We have a mission to do."- He says- "Let's lead those people out of here."
Akira nods.
"You got it."
As the two teams part ways, Derek and the undead Ana watch them.
"Fate has many twists and turns."- He says, fearlessly holding her hand in his- "But what happened today, it was a whole change of destiny."
He turns to the undead Ana and smiles.
"I hope that you're ready, Ana."- He says- "The world is about to become the mythical scene of a great battle. And we shall be on the front seats, not missing a single bit of it."