Orion's Rise: From Zero to Hero in Two Worlds

Chapter 8

“You’re seriously telling me there’s a secret underground tunnel in the middle of Brno.”

Ben’s voice echoed slightly. Bouncing off the damp walls of the tunnel as we walked.

His flashlight flickered in and out. Casting dim light on the narrow path ahead.

I could faintly hear water dripping in the distance.

“Not a tunnel.” I corrected. Stepping over a broken tile. “A catacomb.”

He snorted. “Yeah. Because that makes it so much better.”

I couldn't resist smiling. “You’re the one who wanted to come along.”

“Yeah. I wanted to see if you were losing it. Not. Y’know. *Actually* go dungeon crawling.”

“If you want to turn back.”

“I’m not turning back.” He cut in. Sounding defensive. 

“I just. I don’t get how you even found this place. A catacomb. In Brno. Since when.”

I stopped walking for a second. Shining my light on a section of the wall.

Old, weathered bricks stared back at me. Covered in scratches and faded symbols.

“Since always, apparently. People just don’t talk about it.”

Ben came up beside me. Squinting at the markings.

“What are those supposed to be. Some kind of ancient graffiti.”

“Maybe.” I traced one of the symbols with my finger. 

It was rough to the touch. Like it had been carved a long time ago.

“Or something else.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Something else like what.”

I didn’t answer. Mostly because I didn’t have an answer. Not one that would make sense, anyway.

The truth was. I didn’t know *how* I found this place. It was more like. I’d been drawn to it.

Something had been pulling me here. Ever since I’d started feeling the power inside me.

“Look.” Ben broke the silence.

“I know you’ve been acting all weird since the whole Jared thing. But this. This is next level, man. You’re talking about ancient catacombs and symbols and.”

“Just trust me, okay.” I interrupted.

“I need to see what’s down here.”

Sigh.

He crossed his arms.

“Why?"

I..

I hesitated to share the dreams with him. 

About the voice in the back of my mind. That had been whispering to me for days now.

Guiding me to this place. He already thought I was crazy enough as it was.

Instead. I just shrugged.

“Call it a hunch.”

“A hunch.” Ben repeated. His tone flat.

“Right. Sure.”

I shot him a look.

"No need for you to stay here. You know that. Right?"

He sighed again. Shaking his head.

“Yeah. Well. Somebody’s gotta make sure you don’t get yourself killed.”

“Appreciate it.” I turned back to the path. “Let’s keep moving.”

***

The deeper we went. The colder it got.

I could see my breath now. Little puffs of fog in the air.  

The walls were closer too. Narrower. Like the tunnel was closing in on us.

I could feel the weight of the earth above us. Pressing down. Making the air thick and heavy.

Ben was quiet for a while. Which was unusual for him.

I knew he was nervous. Hell. I was nervous.

But he wasn’t complaining anymore. And that was something.

“You feel that?” I asked after a few minutes.

He looked at me. Frowning.

“Feel what?"

I stopped walking. Holding up a hand.

There it was again. That faint hum. That energy. 

It was the same feeling I got when I used my powers. 

But. Different. 

Stronger. Like there was something down here. Something *alive*.

“I don’t like this.” Ben shifted from foot to foot. 

“Seriously, man. This is giving me major horror movie vibes.”

I didn’t respond. I was too focused on the energy. 

It was pulling me forward now. Stronger with every step.

A magnet. I didn’t have a choice anymore.

“Orion?” Ben's voice more urgent now. "What is happening?"

I looked at him. My mouth dry.

“I think we’re close.”

“Close to what?"

I was unsure of how to describe it. Hell. I couldn’t comprehend it even by my own self. 

But I *knew*. I could feel it. 

Whatever was down here. Whatever had been calling to me. It was just ahead.

“Come on.” My voice was steadier than I felt. “This way.”

***

The tunnel opened up into a larger chamber.

And the second we stepped inside. I knew this was it. This was what I’d been looking for.

The room was massive.

With high ceilings and walls lined with more of those strange symbols.

In the center of the room stood an archway. No. Not just an archway. A portal.

It was tall. Towering over us. Made of stone that seemed to shimmer in the dim light.

And in the middle of the arch. Where there should’ve been empty space. There was. Something.

A swirling. Shimmering surface that looked like liquid and air all at once.

Ben swore under his breath.

“What. What is that?"

I didn’t answer. I was too busy staring at the portal.

My heart pounding in my chest. This was it.

This was what had been calling to me. What had been pulling me down here.

“I think it’s a portal.” I said quietly. Stepping closer.

“A portal to *what?”

I shook my head. My eyes were fixed on the swirling surface.

“Who knows?"

Ben grabbed my arm. Pulling me back.

"Whoa, hold on a minute. Hold up. Are you really considering going through *that*?”

“I believe I am left with no options.”

He gave me a crazy look.

“Orion. Listen to yourself. You have no idea what that is. It could be dangerous. It could be,”

“It’s connected to my power.” I interrupted. Pulling my arm free.

“I can feel it. This. This is why I’ve been feeling so weird. Why I’ve been having those dreams. This portal. It’s,”

“Dreams.” Ben cut in. His eyes wide.

“What dreams? You didn’t say anything about dreams.”

I hesitated. Running a hand through my hair.

“It’s hard to explain. I’ve been having these. Visions. Of this place. Of the symbols. And this portal.”

Ben stared at me like I’d grown a second head.

"You didn't consider mentioning that *prior to* our descent here."

“I didn’t know if it was real.” My voice defensive.

“I thought I was just.. I don’t know. Losing it.”

“Well. Now we know you’re not losing it.” Ben said. His voice tight. 

"But maybe next time. Give me a heads-up before dragging me into a freaky underground portal situation.”

I cracked a small smile.

“Noted.”

He shook his head. Clearly not amused.

“Seriously, man. You can’t go through that thing. We don’t even know where it leads.”

“I have to.” I said quietly.

My eyes were still locked on the portal.

“This is connected to me. To my powers. If I don’t figure out what it is. I’ll never know how to control them.”

Ben groaned. Rubbing his face with both hands.

“This is such a bad idea.”

“Maybe.” I took a step closer to the portal.

"But I can’t walk away from this. Not now.”

For a long moment, he remained silent. Then. Finally.

“You really think this is the answer? That this.. portal thing is gonna help you figure out your powers?"

I nodded. My throat tight.

“Yeah. I do.”

He let out a long breath. Shaking his head.

“You’re insane. You know that.”

“Probably.”

He was quiet for a second. Then he sighed.

“Alright. Fine."

"But I’m not letting you go through that thing alone.”

I blinked. Surprised.

“You’re serious?”

He shot me a look.

“Do I look like I’m joking?"

I grinned. Feeling a rush of gratitude.

“Thanks.”

“Yeah, yeah.” He stepped up beside me.

"But if we die. I’m haunting your ass.”

“Deal.”

We stood there for a moment. Side by side.

Staring at the shimmering surface of the portal.

My heart was racing. My palms sweaty.

This was it. This was the moment everything changed.

“Ready?” I asked.

“Hell no.” Ben said. But he nodded anyway.

I took a deep breath. Feeling the energy pulse through me.

Then. Without another word. I stepped forward.

The portal shimmered. The air crackling with electricity as I moved closer.

I could feel it now. The pull. The connection. This was it. This was what I’d been waiting for.

And then. Just as I reached out to touch the swirling surface.

It opened.