IN VERSION

"As a result of the Otherworldly energy that radiated from the 'Rip', individuals suddenly began to awaken special abilities. This was so sudden and while it brought a revolution to the walk of mankind, it also brought with it unforeseen dangers to come...."

YEAR:2161

LOCATION: Lagos, Nigeria

After Darey told him about his past, or rather, his future, he then decided to show Tenny 'something' in accordance with his story. However, Tenny still didn't know what was he going to meet, or even what to expect as Darey evaded his questions. Darey, however, made two things clear... that the choice to come along was Tenny's responsibility and his alone.

"I was intending on leaving for that place anyway, so whether you choose to come or not is solely your choice. It won't stop me though." Darey had said.

The second reason was what made Tenny more nervous. Earlier in the day when Darey had revealed the expedition he had said "Did you forget what I said? Everyone has an ability, and now it's time we awakened yours."

Tenny had tried asking Darey how he would go about it and how it was related to their expedition, but Darey refused to answer "You'll know soon enough" he had said.

Tenny still felt uncomfortable with the newly changed Darey, returner from the future who was entirely different from the brother he knew just yesterday. After his confrontation with Darey in the morning, he had spent all day trying to wrap his head around all that had occurred, and what would eventually come to be.

He looked ahead and noticed Darey had already started moving, and was already a bit farther ahead than he.

"Hey, wait up!" He said, as he also followed Darey's lead, unsure of their destination.

"I wanna go home" kept ringing in his head, and he couldn't deny he honestly felt that way, however that was only a part of him. He would see for himself all that would transpire this night, and come to his conclusion as to what to make of all he had heard and what he would do about it all.

He looked ahead and saw Darey's shadowy figure. He looked more menacing in the dark, however he reasoned that that was just as a result of his new perception of him. Tenny believed what he had said, at least for the most part, but that didn't mean he trusted him, not yet.

As Tenny was still deep in thought while being mostly unaware of his surroundings, a voice suddenly startled him

"We're here!"

He yelped and then flushed with embarrassment once again kept mute. He had been so engrossed in the world of his thoughts that he had not noticed Darey had stopped, and they had gotten to their destination. There they were, at the front of the most deserted place on their street, The Dump!

"We're here?" he managed to say.

They had left the loft at a bit after 11 pm in the night and had walked for not even up to five minutes. They lived at Adele street, a place at the edge of Lagos island, adjacent to the 3rd Mainland Bridge. It was a good place as they had their rooms, and the house belonged to them, unlike the case of most who lived in the area. The only issue was the smell. Adele street generated a strange smell which came and went as it pleased.

Nobody knew the source, and it was said that the smell only got stronger and stronger as time went by. When they had moved the house 9 years ago, the smell was hardly noticeable, but over the years it began to get worse and worse. Like rotting tomatoes, spoilt eggs and sour milk, with a tinge of locust beans. They had wanted to relocate several times, and had even begged their mom for it, but she insisted they stayed, for no other reason except

"Because I said so!"

And so they had long given up on that venture.

The Dump, where everyone's refuse, waste products and used stationeries were kept, until the Waste Disposal Corps would arrive in their massive vehicle to take them away. They usually arrived very early in the morning every day, or sometimes in a some cases with an interval of a day, or more in rare cases.... this was their destination?

"Did you expect some grand adventure or something? It's too soon for that. This should suffice" Darey retorted.

The Waste Disposal men had not come in two days and so The Dump reeked and was even more repulsive than normal.

"Why here of all places?" He thought to himself.

Suddenly, Darey started looking around the area, pulling away garbage cans and polythene bags filled with trash. It was disgusting , to say the least, but Tenny just stood there still confused as to what their purpose there was. After an unbearable few seconds of curiosity he finally spoke up.

"What are you looking for? How are we supposed to find answers here that would possibly satiate my questions?" Tenny asked, asperated.

Darey stopped and looked to his oblivious brother, smiled and said "You'll see."

He pulled away a final piece of trash and saw the bare floor, less than fifty centimeters in length and twelve in breadth. Garbage cans and bags surrounded the space of ground, which seemed to be the target of Darey. He then moved his hands and pressed hard against the floor until the ground started trembling, and suddenly it seemed to be caving in and right before Tenny's eyes they started moving underground, they and the entire dump!

It was like something out of the movies as the effects resembled that of a secret hideout.

"Don't just stand around gawking, our destination is just right ahead" Darey said as he left the platform which belonged on the surface and started moving in the darkness, venturing into the unknown.

"But, The Dump... if we leave it like this everyone will see an open space where it's supposed to be. If they move closer, they'll see the chasm made by the sinking of this area" Tenny protested.

"Don't worry about that. As soon as you leave the dump platform, it'll automatically rise back up. Now let's go." Darey spoke as he started walking ahead.

Tenny quickened his steps, left the platform and hurriedly chased after him. He heard the sound of the ground shaking and inferred that the ground had started moving back up. He had no time to look back and confirm as Darey was already quite a distant from him.

"Wait up! Don't you ever slow down?" Tenny said as he was running, hoping not to be left behind in the dark underground.

They spent the next few hours walking through the underground world. As there was absence of natural light, they had resorted to using Diamantite, a recently discovered mineral that emitted light equal to a 60 watt bulb as long as it had absorbed sufficient sunlight. It only ever shone in sufficient darkness though. The mineral was not a rare resource, and so it was made available at reasonable prices to the people.

The most crucial feature that made it unique was that it was not electrically based, and so it was used in lots of really dark areas, especially tunnels and underground areas to avoid overuse of electricity. It however could not replace electrically powered bulb because of the condition for its use... perpetual darkness. They seemed to be walking forever, for hours and hours but Tenny did not even feel weary to his surprise. Darey finally stopped at a spot, and Tenny following his lead also stopped.

Suddenly, Tenny started hearing a low humming sound, followed by a loud warbling tone. Suddenly the ground started vibrating and shook both of them. Darey seemed perfectly calm, as if expecting the exact reaction, however Tenny was shaking and the tremors echoed throughout his body and even pounded his bones. It didn't hurt, however he felt strange. He felt sensations running through his brain. He winced and closed his eyes, as the tremors continued. As suddenly as it started however, the tremors stopped.

Heaving a sigh of relief and now even more puzzled than he had been previously, he asked "What the hell jus...." His question was cut short by what he saw in front of him as he opened his eyes.

A portal stood less than five feet from him, it was dark purple mixed with plenty shades of black, with a glowing ambience and it generated a humming sound. It felt as though he was getting drowsy, his head started pounding.

He started gasping for air and seemed to be choking on his own breath. Was he going to die? Questions such as this started entering his brain once again. He was blacking out, and just before he collapsed he looked to Darey, who was still looking at the portal with a dark smile on his face, half expecting an explanation and also looking in unbelief.

"So, you .....were trying to..... ki...kill me.... afterrrr alll...." He managed to mutter before slumping and falling on the ground.

As he drifted into unconsciousness he saw one last image of Darey finally staring at him looking as cold as ever, with the voice echoing through his head

"So it's effects have already started kicking in eh? Well..... the real thing begins soon."

Tenny passed out, feeling tinges of regret and betrayal... and DEATH!

TO BE CONTINUED...