Chapter 34: Get To Her

                                    

                                          
The autumn winds blew colder at the Fine Nexus, as Liam and Levi searched tediously for where the entrance to the new Scathian camp was. With each failed attempt, the breezes blew even colder. 
Liam searching frantically for a single sight of the entrance. He prayed harder than he had since he began praying to the Source. His eyes were glazed with worried tears, and his searching became panicked. 
He ran his finger through his bangs, as he muttered his worst fear. "I can't get to her." His voice nearly broke. His green eyes pooled tears and the water streamed down cheeks. "I can't help her."
Levi paused his search and walked towards Liam. "No, we just need to keep looking."
Liam's lips trembled, "We can't find it! I should've been there helping her, I could've prevented her kidnapping. Because of that, she's gone. It's hopeless. It's my fault." 
Levi cut in, "Listen to me, we have not lost her. It is not hopeless. We'll find her-" 
"-When? And even if we do, will we find her corpse? She's gone! We can't find the entrance so we can't find her." Liam put both hands in his hair. "I don't know how else we could find her. D-Do you see her? No! She's gone. We have lost her. Face it! She's-"
Levi stopped him, by hugging him. Liam was panicked, scared, and worried. He was tired and sad. He needed to get it out. Levi said nothing, but stood embracing him in comforting silence, while Liam cried his worries out.
After what felt like hours, Liam opened his eyes and saw a protruding branch at the base of a willow tree. It was way too straight and cleanly smoothed down. Liam moved to get a better look at it. He had Levi release him and he walked over to it. 
Levi looked down at his own shirt at the quite noticeable stain Liam's tears and likely snot had left on it. He ignored it and asked, "What is it?"
Liam wiped his face and felt the branch. "This. This has been smoothed down. Notice how it doesn't have any odd angles every branch has."
Levi lifted a brown eyebrow, "Branches come in all shapes and sizes, Prince."
Liam shook his head, "No, no, I know, but this has been shaped." He picked up a twig and showed Levi the comparison. "Look this twig. It's got angles and protruding other twigs, this 'branch' is too smooth and there are no branches growing out of it. All branches sprout from branches that sprout from the trunk. This doesn't appear to do either." He moved the several dead leaves, and yanked at the branch. 
Instantaneously, the branch moved cleanly to the opposite side like a switch. The ground to the branch's left opened wide. Liam stood and moved out of the way. He chuckled, "It uses the same mechanical process as the watermill." He walked into the opened staircase. "You coming?" He whispered.
Levi nodded and followed.
And just like that, they sneaked in.
It had been 3 days since Isla’s kidnapping. In those three days, Liam had taught Levi the plan in sign language, as well as through verbal language to ensure quiet communication.
Now that they were here, Liam re-explained the second phase of the plan to remind Levi, and Levi nodded in understanding, signing what he knew, accurately
He remained hidden near the entrance so that when Liam found Isla, they would have an open path out. However, it didn’t take long before Levi was discovered. He managed to distract them for a short while, before resulting to violence. So their Plan B was put into action.
Liam sneaked invisibly around from division to division anxiously looking for Isla. 3 Days. 3 days time, it took to get here and 3 days could’ve been 2 days longer than the Scaths needed her alive. At any point in the time, they could’ve killed her.