Secret Tunnel

[The Powers That Be]

This is a fairly short tunnel that leads from the Shambles to the Abandoned Hideout. It wouldn't take more than a few minutes to traverse.

It is hidden behind shrubbery in the mysteriously plantified shambles (no sunlight?) and appears in a now busted wardrobe in the hideout named above.

[Danielle]

::Danielle, having found herself thrust into the tunnel by Andrea, wastes no time in running down the tunnel and scouting out where it goes so she knows it's safe for everybody to head down.::

(Nothing can be worse than what's back there!)

::She doesn't realise that she's crying, the terror of The Source, now behind her, too strong to remain strong before.::

[Paige]

::Paige stumbles into the tunnel alongside Hayley and Leo who's carrying Melinda in a sling. She bends double to cough, her eyes red and streaming, then straightens up and splutters protest.::

"Azu-raI have to go back."

[Luke]

::Luke enters the tunnel, seeing who is ahead of them. He decides to hold back at the entrance until everyone else gets through to ensure that they are able to get inside.::

[Luke]

::Feeling a slight shock from the entry, Luke backs away and stares at the electrical field.::

"He's trapped them inside!"

[Paige]

::This panics Paige all the more.::

"I can't go!"

[Leo]

::Leo grabs onto Paige's upper arm and squeezes it tightly, tight enough to hurt.::

"Paige, you have to. There's nothing you can do here!"

::He starts to force her down the tunnel.::

[Paige]

"No, Leo!"

::Paige rails against the whitelighter, trying to pull free.::

"I can't leave them there!"

[Leo]

::Leo grimaces as he holds her even tighter.::

"Luke, help me! Hayley -- get a move on!"

[Danielle]

::Danielle has already run on ahead, and now comes out into the shambles.::

[Sharon]

::Sharon comes through with Richard, Gabriel and Zack.::

"Quick, get along as far as you can."

[Luke]

::Luke moves as requested to restrain his fellow ex-whitelighter. He is relieved that Sharon and some of the others have managed to escape, which gives him more hope of leaving with their lives.::

[Danielle]

::Danielle comes tearing back up the tunnel, having explored where it goes and found a nasty surprise on the other side.::

"There's a demon! A demon's coming!"

[Paige]

::Paige breaks free and grabs Danielle's shoulders.::

"Calm down. Where?"

[Birmingham]

"Right here."

::Birmingham strolls casually towards our hapless heroes.::

"Why, howdy cowboy. Long time, no see."

::She's smiling at Luke.::

[Luke]

::Luke pivots on his heel to verify the demoness' appearance.::

"Cram it, bitch."

[Paige]

::Paige turns to Luke.::

"Why does she know who you are?"

[Luke]

"Because she's the one who turned me evil in the first place."

[Birmingham]

"Sure am."

::Birmingham twirls her hair. The tunnel isn't well lit, but it's easy enough to see.::

"Lost your way, did ya?"

[Leo]

::Leo hovers back, ready to protect Melinda if needs be.::

(Never seen her before.)