Hell Reverse - Part 2

12, First April

It was almost 4 am on the lunar clock when the warning bells rang out, rousing Reyna from only a couple hours of sleep. Bed springs groaned as she rolled off the warm, plush bedding and reluctantly to her feet. The Djinn ran a hand through greasy hair, snagging on short tangles before giving up, grabbed her bag and rushed for her shoes.

The warning bells were never good. Living as close as she had for so long, it was second nature. Something was trying to breach the Gates of Hell- from the wrong side.

Her Human Studies class had drawn parallels between these sirens and the ones for hurricanes, but as far as Reyna knew, hurricanes left far less damage in their wake. Already, the ground beneath her feet was quaking with a vengeance. Reyna pressed on, her own half-laced boots thundering down the outer stairs of the building. The cave ceiling above the Hell Districts- normally visible at this hour- was blotted out by tall flumes of smoke. The fires had begun.

There was an incessant buzzing around her as bodies pushed against each other. Somewhere, a being was crying out for their child in a hailing wail- not unlike grief itself. Before her, lovers reunited in the madness, before the sea of beings broke them a part again. The tide pushed in a single direction: as far from the Gates as possible.

Reyna turned the corner, flitting around minors grouping up for safety. She paused for a moment, warring with herself. 'They're only children' eventually won out, and she turned back around.

"You shouldn't stay here. It's not safe."

"B-but Adan's not here yet." A bushy-haired dwarfling responded quickly. Reyna almost didn't hear the child over the surrounding noise. The air had begun to get heavier as various magicks and protective wards collided.

"Go now. Get across the bridge." She rushed them in the direction of the closest bridge, not caring to which Sector it was. "There's High Council relief teams at the end. Check in with them- they'll help you find your friend." Reyna sounded confident, but in all reality she wasn't sure. She knew better than anyone that it depended on which team was doing the receiving. It was always hit or miss.