The moon shone brightly in the sky with its borrowed light, and with the aid of the stars, Seven, Cordis, and Miguel could see their path through the woods as they approached the prison.
Searching lights waved around, caressing the floor, the hoots of the owl and the chirps of the cricket added to the ominous atmosphere, persistently reminding them of the huge risk ahead.
Regardless of how silent they wished to make their steps, twigs cracked under their feet disturbing the night.
Their labored breathing betrayed their unease.
"The prison is just a few miles from here; if there's a plan to get through the police, this is the right time to start talking," Miguel proposed to the lonely street that ended their path, signifying their proximity to the station.
Their ride here was silent, nothing was discussed. He was getting quite perplexed.
He trusted Seven not to be reckless. This was a prison break for crying out loud!
He really hoped he had a plan.
Coming out on the lonely road with sparse light from the faulty streetlights, he stared at Seven, his eyes widening a bit in silent question:
In response, Seven stared at Cordis, who, in return, reached in for the small bag she had with her.
And it with utmost care, brought out an object wrapped carefully in a red cloth.
Everyone stared at her and instinctively retreated back a few steps.
Her fingers trembled as they untied the red cloth revealing a silver handbell with no clapper hanging on its chain.
She let out a deep breath, her muscles tensing as she fought to stand still.
Seven and Miguel, who were now a few distances away from her, felt overwhelming peace wash over them.
It was so refreshing; they were compelled to lie there on the road and bask and see the moonlight with no care in the world.
However, they could already tell that they were under the influence of something higher than them. They stared at the object, their eyes squinting in curiosity...
Without waiting for them to ask, Cordis explained,
"It's the Cradle bell of Saint Lorette. A requiem holy relic that belongs to Master. Its silent ring serves as a spiritual...lullaby to malevolent spirits and demons. It was a gift to him, he had said, found in Saint Lorette's grave with no recollection of it being buried with her."
"You stole it?"
"Borrowed it!" She corrected, pressing her lips in a thin line. "It must be getting on your nerves, too, how silent he's been concerning this case. Like you said, playing by the rules doesn't pay. We'll just use it and return it back to his cabinet before he notices it's gone."
"What if things go south?" Miguel questioned his voice softly with concern.
"Why would he mind? Desperate times right?"
Surprised, "Hmm! So How will this—"
"It works well with my clairsentient ability making it possible for it to extend its powers not just to demons and malevolent spirits but humans as well. I'm planning to take the guards down with this..." Shutting her eyes, she took deep breaths; her eyes were weak and rolling backward.
Seven rushed towards her to help but she stood her ground and carefully placed the relic on his hand instead.
Gasping, she sprinted away from Seven and dragged Miguel away with her, leaving Seven with a confused expression...
With a low shout, "But?" Seven screamed, rooted to the ground.
"I can't wield it any longer, it takes a lot from me. With it exposed like that I couldn't risk holding it anymore, else I wouldn't be able to use it once we got to the prison." She explained, regaining her composure.
"Prolonged direct contact renders one unconscious..." Looking downwards, she added inaudibly.
"How long? I don't know..."
A second turned two as Seven exchanged glances between his partners and the Relic. A subtle yet obvious feeling of drowsiness could already be felt.
"This is crazy. Why did you unveil it when you could have just explained this to us." Seven said, frowning a bit at the need to ask for every explanation.
"What it does with my powers, it does with yours too. And I thought you two might need some peace..."
"..." Dumbfounded, Seven kissed his tooth and carefully wrapped the red cloth over the relic once more. Taking a step, Cordis took another, maintaining the same distance with him.
Getting annoyed, he spread his hands wide.
"Now the relic is unveiled, it will take a while for its effect to run off. So before that happens, it's only safe for us to stay away—at least 10 feet."
"What?!"
"Don't worry, you'll take turns with Miguel..."
"Me?"
"Here's a pendant. Saint Anthony's shield. It's sacramental and will slow down the effect a little. You guys have to be quick with finding Simon, or the drowsiness will get to you too, okay?"
Looking at their startled faces, she nodded and moved forward.
"It's late, we should get going..."
---
With the towering building in front of them, the relic was gently placed in Cordis's hands. And with a reassuring nod, they made their way into the building.
According to Cordis, they were to wait for another five minutes for the charm to work.
Waiting, Seven's eyes lingered on the prison as cold shivers ran down his spine.
"Seven! Don't! It's too risky." Miguel called out, noticing as his eyes darkened.
"...you can't activate any of your abilities here. It's a prison! Do you have any idea the amount of dark energies and remnant memories hovering around here? Unless you want to lose it, never pry into the secrets of a dark place like this."
Miguel warned, trembling and close to tears at the knowledge he had just allowed to surpass his defenses a few seconds earlier.
Staring ahead as Seven fought to maintain composure, a noticeable decrease in noise was detected indicating the reduction in activities within the huge building.
Miguel stared at Seven and shook his head, a hint of fear crawling up to his face.
"I don't think Cordis can handle this for a long time. Seven, her ability is active, which means..."
"She can feel all the dark and ugly emotions exuding from this hell. I know. That's why we should move quicker, and I'm presuming you already know."
Nodding, Miguel affirmed that his Claircognizance picked up the high-end security protocols put in place. Even with everyone asleep in the building, it was close to impossible for them to even bypass the _ unit.
"The tunnel it is then..." Seven asked, establishing mutual understanding. His fists tightened as he moved, Miguel following behind after hesitating a little.
Making sure to walk upright only when they are not within the CCTV's coverage area, they snuck to the back and stopping at a small entrance that was partially buried below the ground, they swiftly dug with their hands.
Discarding the cover that obstructed the entrance, a dark pathway that led underground met their faces.
"Seven..."
Before he could finish, Seven glided down in one swift motion, racing against time as the encroaching darkness hungrily enveloped his figure.
Towering over, Miguel whispered with a shaky voice, "Why did I agree to this?!"
Sneaking into a prison to meet a criminal was one. But through a tunnel dug once by a prisoner who tried escaping in the past was nothing like he bargained.
As sounds from Seven became fainter, he steeled his heart and followed after.
"God if I die in a prison, then I didn't die a good death. Protect me..."
He prayed.
---
In a secluded area, away from the entrance of the prison.
Sweat beads appeared on her forehead and the top of her nose as she fought against the mental and physical fatigue that hit like a train.
She sizzled behind the mask, her leather outfit drenched in her sweat.
The bell hovered a little distance above her open palms, and her eyes were tightly shut as she bit down on her lips.
"Cordis, you can't fail your friends." She forced out, taking a stance. Her knees are inches away from the ground.
She felt herself draining rapidly, her core a few seconds away from running dry. Her joints ached as the essence running through her veins strained. She ached all over but she couldn't give in.
Her friends were in there, risking more. As her thoughts ran through all that could be lost, she suppressed a scream and groaned instead.
And then, with one statement from the cursed ring that dangled on her left ear, her struggle and resolve were rendered to a waste.
"Verbum sanctum est, audiatur a sacrum imperium..."
---
Peeking his head through the vent, Seven yanked the cage off and pulled himself upwards.
Turning to help Miguel up, too, they stood up, dusting away the dust from their clothes.
Turning around to survey their surroundings, they found themselves in an open space.
The prison yard. Checking for CCTV cameras, there were a few which could be avoided found situated near the wall.
Rushing inside, they stopped for a few seconds to locate Simon's prison. With Miguel's heightened Claircognizance and sixth sense, it was relatively quick.
Leading the way, their ways well adjusted to the darkness, they cut a corner only to be met with a bright Torchlight which they impulsively raised their hands to block the glow.
With their hand a few distance away from jumping through their throat, the Torchlight flickered off, showing a nearly unconscious officer.
As they both looked at each other simultaneously, their fingers placed firmly on their lips to inform to other to avoid making a a noise. They both took a step but sadly...
All of a sudden a wave of energy hit them, invigorating yet overwhelming. A sense of relief, like a burden being lifted, coupled with a sudden rush of adrenaline down their spine washed over them.
The knees buckled and their face reddened with panic. Their lips parted as they stared at each other...
'She's down...' clearly written on their face as their words failed, stuck in their throat, unwilling to pass the depressing message.
Shift...
A muffled sound came from below as their eyes collectively traced the sound downwards.
Their breaths hitched...
"The officer was waking up!"