Chapter 290: Not An Illusion

Karl looked up the mountain. "There aren't many patrols, so let's keep going, with Remi's blizzard covering for us, it will be difficult to tell when we came through. Speed is our friend until we reach the caldera." 

They kept moving, using the blowing snow as cover, both for their tracks, and to keep them from being noticed. It seemed to be working well enough, and they made it most of the way up the mountain without being intercepted again, but the closer they got to the top, the stronger the feeling that there was something seriously wrong grew.

[Rae, is there any sign that we're being tricked by an illusion?] Karl asked.

[No, it all looks good, not like that strange situation underground. This place just feels wrong, like something bad is about to happen to us, but I can't see anything that could cause us problems.] She insisted.

Then she paused. [Whatever is wrong, it is here.]