EyeWatch: Hurzin Up

The ground shook as we had landed. Our eyes peered through the darkness surrounding us. We all stepped forward at the same time, Zander and Doaz quickly grabbing onto the handle of the trap door. Thus pulling it upward and raised over their heads, Yang motioned everyone with her claw and pointed to the opening of the trap door before her. Everyone else ran in, disappearing from our views up until I and Yang were the only ones there. She looked at me, I return the gaze and silently nodded as she said nothing in response before entering in followed by me. We all entered the darkened hallway. The walls were pure black, no torches were about. The hallway was narrowed but short. It took a few seconds before we all gathered at the bottom of the halls, finally reaching the first floor of the building. As everyone split off into their respective groups, Yang turned to me and silently grimaced. Her face was pale, her eyes rose while I stepped to her to comfort her and whispered in her ear. “I assure you, you know what to do right?" “This part of the plan is stupid, you know that." Yang pointed out, maintaining her eye contact with me. I just slowly nodded and said nothing else while my pupils turned to Doax, who nodded and pointed to the path behind me. My unit ran after him while I spoke to Yang,

“It does not matter if the part of the plan is stupid or not. Just stop them is all I ask." I summarized and she pouted but nodded. As she departed from me, I turned her back on her and looked towards Doax who remained in sight. Even though he was a few steps ahead of me where the darkness had covered half of his body. We remained silent, I walked forward to him. Doax place his claw upon my shoulder and just nodded in silence and answer the questioning doubt in my mind. I smiled at him before we return to the task at hand. Our mission was to arrest the blizeon who had escaped our and the R7's grasp two weeks ago when we were fighting with our counterpart amongst the streets. Yet, we did not know how the blizeon had escaped. We only knew the aftermath and the clues which the target had left behind. I thought about the dark circle mark upon the floor adjacent to the water fountain. The poster upon the wall. And other things that I could not think of at the top of my head. Regardless, I shook my head and continued following Doax as he led me through the halls towards my unit who was already a few steps ahead of me.

After regrouping with them, Quichie was the first to notice us. A smile return to her face, but I failed to even acknowledge her. For instead, I questioned their findings and Quichie answered quickly. She swiped Lutica's white posture sign and held it up to my face. I lowered my eyes and met with the sign. I blinked curiously as to what it meant. A picture of a zebra was insane a silver cage. Held to the basement on the building we were in as indicated by the pointing arrow towards the ground floor of the tall building that looked like a big rectangular. “Whoever is the artist is very bad at drawing," Lizrow commented which Lutica smirked at her. Doax and Quichie rolled their eyes but answered nothing as Quichie turned to me. “A blizeon was held inside the cage. Bottom floor of the building." I answered to the following silence, Quichie nodded before handing me the poster. For she break off from the group, disappearing while me, Doax, Lutica, and Lizrow stuck around one another.

“Well. At least that is answered," Doax replied, glancing over to me while I nodded. “We do know that the blizeon is captured. How did he get inside the cage anyway?" “Teleportation?" Suggested Lizrow while our eyes turned to her, “I mean he did teleport here. He probably miscalculated somewhere and found himself in jail." “Sure yea… But that conclusion does not explain how. I mean, look at the clues in the previous scenario." Doax argued, pointing at her. “A broken circle which we deemed it at a Q. Pointing southwest which was here. The winds were even calm and blowing from the southwest as well; so that further confirms he is here. No." Doax finished, his eyes swaying to me again as he growled “No. I think, he got captured by someone here within the building and was placed in jail down below." “Then who do you think caged him?" Lutica asked, “We would have to find out eventually." Doax growled and I interrupted their conversation by stepping between Doax and Lutica, coughing while I spoke to both “Then we should split up and meet up in different spots within the building. We will have to keep our enemy and other rivals guessing. We cannot be consistent or else…" The two nodded their heads, then split off from me until I was the only one left.

For I exhaled and closed my eyes, my mind racing with my thoughts and newly acquired information from Doax and Lutica. As I tried to piece together the information, my ears stretched out and heard some familiar footsteps. I opened my eyes and folded my wings, glancing to the front spotting Quichie there who smiled suddenly. I said nothing and stepped to her. Her mouth split opened and responded, “Ling. I found this poster on the next floor below us. Came upstairs to let you take a look at it." “Think you can interpret it?" I requested but she shook her head, “I cannot understand it." She gave me the poster which was rolled, I unfolded it. It revealed two maps. The first floor and basement. Nothing else beyond it like the second or third floors, or the rooftop as of example. Regardless, I stared at the poster before raising my eyes to Quichie and responded to her, “This is a map of the two floors after this. Where did you find such a thing?" “First floor, Ling." Quiche remarked, her eyes lowered to the poster in silence as I looked upon it. I looked back upon the two maps. Silently studying the layout and features of each map and what makes them unique from each other. But after a minute of studying it, I realized then that the two were identical. But something else was also there. On the two maps were four Xs. A pair of black and a pair of red. The red Xs were at the bottom of the map. The black Xs were centered. A line of arrows connects the two red and black Xs. I blinked but made a face. While raising my eyes from the map, I questioned Quichie for a moment. But she was already gone.

I was rather surprised but kept that thought to myself. As I rolled the map again and set it aside, I explored my surroundings. The walls were gray. Doors were white. No light bulbs or flashlights were about. Some doors were opened, others were not. I reached the end of the hall and turned my eyes towards the sides. Seeing only a wall before me, I said nothing but nodded before setting off towards the horizon again. Entering into the staircase that would lead me down the floor below. Thus reaching the first floor, I opened the silver door again and exited. The walls and the doors were the same color. The silence was shattered as I hear voices and footsteps about which I knew were my coworkers. Pondering about them, my thoughts suddenly went to Yang's unit and how embarrassed I felt when ordering our chief about keeping our enemies at bay. Although I shook my head, I turned my attention back to the surroundings and walked leftward, wondering if this was a good starting point. I headed down the hallway, my eyes looking about. I saw the gray walls, some doors, and an extended hallway that was pitch black inside. I stopped upon noticing it and tilted my head while shoving a claw down my pocket, grabbing a flashlight. Pressing the button, I flashed it down the halls illuminating the surroundings while proceeding down. I entered without hesitation and walked deeper in with curiosity in my mind.

I walked deep. Ending up in a small room afterward. I shined my light around and saw nothing there. Just a couple of brown tables and benches. I shrugged and turned around, starting to head back through the halls and return to my research. However, before I did, something sparkled at the edge of my eye that I paused and glanced at. I walked towards the object and leaned forward, I grabbed what seems to be a metal thing rectangular knife. Adjacent to the knife was a large X mark. I tilted my head and frowned before stepping back and turned to the tunnel again. Someone ahead was waiting for me at the other entrance. I stood still, my eyes narrowed while slowly raising my flashlight. It revealed Lizrow and there was something upon her claw. I hollered after her. “What you got there?" “I made four arrows, but it makes two Xs. Both red and black, however." “How do you do that?" I questioned a bit, peering back upon the map I had received from Quichie, Lizrow shrugged as I walked through the hallway and peered to her side. I handed her the map while she looked upon it. Then rose her head facing me before nodding as she departed.

Questions filled up my mind. Thoughts and comments whispered to me mentally as I pondered about the location of where the blizeon was located. I thought back to the map, remembering its layout and the two locations of where the Xs were. 'But how can there be arrows when it's just all Xs?' I pondered to myself as my walkie suddenly came to life. Snapped out of my daydreams, I snatched the walkie from my pocket and rose it high towards my mouth. I pressed the button and reported, “Hello?" “Ling. What is taking you so long?" Yang's high-pitched voice came to my ears as I blinked in surprise, my wings spread out as my face became red and sweaty. “Sorry, Yang!" I muttered, “We do not know if we are any way closer to finding the whereabouts of-" “We know where the blizeon is, Ling." Yang replied, almost growling in frustration. “The R7 had given it to me."  “The… R7?" I reported, a bit speechless as Yang answered, “Yeah. Down in the basement, to the right-hand corner of the first floor. To reach that corner, someone must get to the center first." My mind instantly shot back to the map, remembering the dotted line that was traveling from the black X to the Red X. 'That it!' I mentally exclaimed, smiling like an idiot before that expression faded into the darkness. “But why are you calling now, Yang?" “There is just one thing, I do not understand. The foxes of R7 kept muttering about some code word that only the blizeons know about. They  claimed it would release the blizeon from its cell." “What is the code word then?" I questioned a piped-in interest.

The second pause of silence later, then Yang's voice cut through again responded to me. “The codeword is Dude. Not sure what it is or means. I am sure you probably will figure it out eventually." “Wait. Dude?" I remarked in surprise. But nothing else came from her as silence was my only answer. I frowned in response and lowered my walkie towards my pocket. My eyes remained distant as the words flashed in my head. Repeating the same word over, I pondered what it meant. Regardless, I snapped out of it and brought my walkie up once again. Pressing the black button at the side before reporting to my unit. “Guys! Do not proceed with the current objective, it is updated now." “What? How?" Claimed Lutica while Doax grumbled something underneath his breath. “I have assigned my mate's unit to go follow the R7. However, things took a turn when she had found them muttering insanely as if they were mentally insane or something along those lines. Regardless, she had left us with one important notice. You all must hear this now."

“Well spill it out already, what the code?" Screamed Lutica who was already frustrated about Yang better her to the punch. “The codeword is dude." I stated, “Dude?" Doax frowned, “You… are kidding… right?" He added which I remained in silence. Doax's voice shuttered momentarily as his eyes widened in surprise, “Yang is good at her work…" Lizrow commented, almost whispering to herself “Which is why the original members of Vaster had chosen her to become chief." Quichie commented “No duh." I followed with a smile afterward as Lizrow's voice called out to me, “Alright Ling. It had seem we have gotten the second part of our assignment. What is our objective now that we have solved the map, the Xs, and the cage?" “Figure out what the code meant. I bet my marbles it has to do something with those Xs." I growled, “Looks like we need to gather ourselves in one spot to figure this out then." Suggested Lutica as Lizrow growled in approval. Doax spoke out after her, “Alright… where?" “The attic..?" I shut off my walkie after that.

My thoughts were about the code word. I had pondered what it had meant. There was many meanings behind the word, 'dude' that it was hard to figure out the best definition for it. I had thought about it for many minutes as I had started to walk straight down the halls and turned left. I had wondered if that straight-ahead path was still there, connecting with the red X on the right corner of the first floor. 'Guess it was time to find out eh?' I thought to myself with a grin appearing on my face. With rapid footsteps echoing in my ears, I copied the sound and ran down the halls. Reaching a corridor where the paths met one another, resulting in a form of a plus where three other paths stretched to their horizons. I bypassed the plus and walked a short distance towards another plus. An arrow was pointing towards the left as a thought appeared in my mind. Ignoring the thought, I turned and followed the arrow. Walking calmly into the chosen path and entered into the rapid darkness that filled my eyes. My ears stretched out and listened to the ringing echoing in my ears as I continued moving onward.

Then, reaching the end. There, I spotted a large room. The place was empty. Only an arrow stands at the center of the room, pointing downward towards a hole made adjacent to it. I decided to look around, hoping to find any secrets or anything left behind. But all that was there was a map. Two Xs were adjacent to the map. One was red and the other was black. I stepped towards it in silence, lowering my eyes down glancing at the Xs and the map. The Xs were popped out from their spots and extended. Thus separating the parts that make up the letter resulted in four arrows. Red and black pairs. I grinned in silence, knowing that one of my units was able to solve that as I gathered the arrows and place them upon the map again. My thoughts were still on the word, but an idea popped out. 'Dude' I repeated in my mind as I placed the arrows following the word. 'D' for down, 'u' for up. 'But what about the letter e?' I frowned and rose my claws towards my head, scratching it.

In the pausing silence, I stared down onto the letter 'e' at the end of the word. I thought about what direction would e make. But no other familiar words were there. Nor was up, down, left or right. My eyes narrowed and my tail swished to the side. As I formulated a plan, my claws grabbed the fourth arrow and started moving it in different directions. However, it did not take long for me to solve it, however. As I turned the last arrow to the left, all four arrows glowed brightly. I was startled but grabbed onto the last letter. I tried to turn it like I used to, but all the arrows were stuck in their spot. I could not even pull them out from the map. All the lights flickered suddenly. My attention was shattered when I saw it at the corner of my eye. As my walkie came to life in response to what was happening, I snatched the walkie. Rose high to my feet and made a run for it with scared and frightening thoughts popping in my mind. I was panicking and sweating. My scales became moist while my feet dragged me along. Left, right through the series of halls. Often getting myself into deadends or in unwanting endings. I just growled every time.

I continued running and never stopping. With the determination I had, I managed to reach the door at one side of the floor. I grabbed it quickly and pulled back, rushing through the door and towards the staircase that awaits me. I ran up them towards the second floor above, often slamming my feet upon the mental grounds below me which resulted in loud sounds that echoed the room. I reached the top in no time at all. Up upon the second floor was Quichie waiting for me. Beyond the opened room was Doax, arguing with Lutica and Lizrow as Yang and her unit were blinking perplexedly about the situation that led them to this. I caught up with Quichie, she pushed me through the door. It shut tightly on its own afterward and locked us inside. My breath was heavy, I was puffing and panting as my heart pounded my chest. With my body becoming warm, I turned to my unit and Yang's before whispering at them. “Quiet down! Quiet down!" I demanded with my voice just barely beyond the above whisper. My unit and hers gave me a look but complied with my request. Thus, shutting the lights and sent the room to darkness was when I whispered of my next plan towards them and explained to them the situation we had let ourselves in.

All they could do was nod and watch my fearful expression as I and some others stepped away from the door behind me. A few steps deeper into the darkening room where we concealed ourselves amongst the darkness surrounding us. We 'disappeared'. Yet my heart was beating in my chest, I remained silent and folded my wings while a bright blue light shines from the leftward corner of the door. 'What… what the heck is this?' I heard Zander whispered, Kyro growled quietly and rose his claw to Zander's mouth silencing him. On the other claw, Zander turned angrily to Kyro but remained quiet. His eyes turned daggered against the red dragon whose eyes narrowed at him in response. While Yang and Doax watched the two, the rest of us continued watching the blue light door. It turned to the door; facing us. Squinting and looked deep inside the room. At this time, I growled at Kyro and Zander. Yang muttered something that only us could hear, “Make like a statue. Quick!" She demanded, we remained still. Luckily it did not take long for us to regain mobility as the blue light disappeared elsewhere. We all breathed a sigh of relief, Yang grabbed Doax and pulled him towards the door behind us. He opened it and lights flooded the room, we fled from the dark turning lightroom in a quick and silent movement up until everyone was extracted.

Once outside, Yang and I hugged tightly with one another as Doax exclaimed loudly to us. But right before he could say the words, Zander and Kyro silenced him suddenly and growled threateningly at him while Doax nodded before darting his eyes towards me. I nodded in acknowledgment before spreading my wings and flew out from the building. There were questions and no answers. But one thing that stuck with me was the connection between the blizeon and the blue light that I had seen before. 'Were they friends, enemies? Who was that blue light and where was the blizeon now?' I had wondered as my flight had slowly descended in altitude which was caught by Yang, Doax, and Quichie. As their voices called to me, I turned to them and nodded. Regaining altitude until I was back leveled with them. We flew off Northward and back towards our city in no time at all, where we planned our next attack against the R7 and hopefully arrest the blizeon.