If Kayla trusted Markov to get Vicken where he needed to go, Jaden wouldn’t stand in his way. “We’ll be fine. Even better knowing you’re taking care of Vicken and Sadie.”
Markov read the unspoken request and nodded. “I hear you. Will do. Now, how are we getting Vicken out of here?”
Getting off the mountain was a far simpler process. By the time Kayla spoke with her mother, some other riders had returned with longer ropes., Markov having dispatched them on that errand before he had descended to the cave. Kayla herself tied the ropes to hold her dad as Taz hovered overhead, haranguing Han, who held the other end of the rope in his talons.
Jaden spared a moment to give Han a sympathetic glance. Han only shook his head, holding onto the rope as though his life depended on it. Jaden hid his grimace. Poor guy! Taz will make him suffer if he lets that rope slip even a fraction of an inch.
In under ten minutes, Vicken was off the mountain. Taz glanced at Kayla. “We’ll get your father to the hospital. Then we’ll get back here as soon as we can.” She looked at Jaden. “Don’t do anything foolish while we’re gone.”
Jaden wanted to laugh. Han wouldn’t be the only one paying if something happened to Kayla. “Yes, ma’am.”
Taz sniffed. “Stop with that nonsense. Just . . . be safe.”
Jaden could’ve sworn her eyes and voice softened on those last words. They said all she couldn’t. He’d have to hug her the next time he saw her—if that was even possible. “We will. You be careful too.”
With a final nod, Taz turned, and Han followed, several riders and their gliders trailing them. Jaden and the other seekers remained on the ledge, watching until the posse was out of sight. Then Jaden turned and faced the cave. It was time.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
A few steps into the cave, Jaden’s skin crawled. Like a thousand creepy, squirming millipedes had fallen onto him from the roof of the cave, their millions of spiky legs bristling against his skin as they wriggled. It was a sensation he hated. The one his weird feelings invoked. If they provided direction, it would’ve been bearable. But they never gave answers. Just pricked and pricked at him until he was bleeding. He froze.
“What’s wrong?” Kayla asked.
Jaden held up a finger. But Iri answered. “He’s having one of those feelings of his.”
Jaden really wished she couldn’t tell—or wouldn’t tell—the others when it happened. “Can a guy have some privacy?” Iri looked mortified, and Jaden regretted the barbed comment. “Sorry, Iri, I didn’t mean it like that.”
Although Iri nodded, she remained reserved. Jaden couldn’t take back what he’d said. His irritation rose as the crawling intensified. There was something nagging at the back of Jaden’s mind. He fumbled for what it was. It also had something to do with Iri. Something she said . . . back then when she was talking to Kayla.
Jaden turned to where Iri had stood, as though he could still see her there. He replayed the scene in his mind. Iri had been talking about Kayla’s father. In a flash, it came back to him. Something he had wanted to question when Iri spoke but hadn’t had a chance to. Now, it was imperative he had an answer.
“Kayla, I’m sorry I have to ask, but is your dad usually at the back of the line?”
In the dim light, he saw Kayla’s frown. “No. But Iri said that, didn’t she?” Kayla turned to Iri. “That is what you said, right?”
Iri nodded, her rising uncertainty clear in her voice. “Sorry, should I not have?”
Jaden crossed to Iri, and, taking her hands in his, he gazed into her eyes. He wanted her to hear him—really hear what he had to say. “Don’t you ever doubt your gifts around us. Again, I’m sorry I snapped at your earlier. Forgive me?” Iri nodded, a tentative smile gracing her face. “Thank you. And the reason I say never be scared to voice what you see and smell around us is because your observation could’ve just saved our lives.”
Iri’s eyes widened. Jaden nodded at her before turning and stalking back to the cave entrance. “Markov, can you still hear me?”
“Yeah, dude, what’s up?”
“Hurry back. I have a feeling we’ll need you. Who did you leave in charge?”
“Stovan.”
Hearing his name. Stovan asked, “You need me to escort the group to the hospital instead?”
Jaden glanced at Kayla. She had been the one who had wanted Markov to take her dad to the hospital. Take care of her mom. Kayla stared back, her gaze wavering. Jaden waited. It was her decision.
Kayla sighed. “I trust you have a solid reason—make the switch.”
Jaden’s nod was an answer to both her questions. “Yeah, dude. I need you to take over from Markov. Let me know when it’s done.”
They waited in silence. Minutes later, Markov said, “Stovan just arrived. I’m on my way back.”
Grateful Markov knew him well enough not to ask questions, Jaden waited a few more minutes, all the time wishing he could just move. The longer he stood here, the worse the crawling sensation became. When he felt like he would explode, he tested the distance. “Stovan?” No reply. “Stovan, can you hear me?” Silence.
Markov’s voice came back. “I figured you didn’t want them to hear. I believe they’re out of range. Speak to me.”
Feeling Kayla’s eyes on him, Jaden turned to face her as he answered. “I think there’s more lurking around these mountains than just mist.”
“Why?”
“Let’s just say that whatever happened here in the cave came from outside.” Jaden didn’t want to blab over the comm about the dead men. Although word might’ve already spread to the rest of the riders.
“Any evidence you’re basing that on?” Markov’s question was as oblique. The other riders didn’t know, then.
“Kayla’s dad always leads the group. He was the least effected.”
Jaden didn’t have to say they had been in a line. Markov understood how things worked. He probably didn’t understand how Jaden figured out the specifics, but that was the beauty of their friendship. Not everything had to be explained.
As if reinforcing Jaden’s train of thought, Markov said, “I can work with that. Go, get on with what you have to do. We’ll take care of things out here.”
“Thanks. And Markov?”
“Yeah?”
“Stay alert. Be safe.”
“You too.”
Jaden clicked his comm to mute it. “Do you understand now why I wanted to make the switch?”
Kayla nodded. “Yes. Markov’s the better strategist. If there are . . . things out there, he’s better equipped to deal with them.”
Jaden held her gaze. “And you’re okay with Stovan taking care of your parents?”
“Yes—he has Taz and Han with him too. I don’t doubt my parents are in capable hands.”
Jaden had been worried Kayla’s focus might return to her parents’ safety. He was wrong. She seemed equally eager to finish this. “Time to move on, then?”
Grim nods all around.
“You take the lead and I’ll bring up the rear,” Atu said.
Jaden blinked. Atu wasn’t usually so forthcoming.
Atu rolled his eyes. “Yes, I can make decisions and speak up when I need to.”
Soft laughter rippled from the girls.
“Whatever you say, dude.” With the girls still giggling behind him, Jaden took the lead.
Passing the poor souls lined up along the wall, Jaden prayed none of the voyagers would end up the same way. Then, putting thoughts of everything except what was in front of him out of his mind, Jaden strode toward the back of the cave.
Only when the tunnel showed itself did Jaden wonder why he’d been so sure there was more than a cave. Nothing hinted at a path deeper into the mountain. And yet, somehow he had known he would find it there.
Chalking it up to another thing he couldn’t explain, Jaden flicked on his flashlight. The powerful beam cut through the darkness, its light so bright it carved a path far down the tunnel. Jaden played the l
ight along the walls, floor, and ceiling of the tunnel, not spotting visible dangers. That didn’t mean there weren’t any. “Iri, are you sensing anything in that tunnel?”
“No, I was checking while you were. Nothing to see or smell that would hint anything’s amiss.”
Clink! The sound of the pebble hitting the stone floor was enough to make them all jump. All except Atu. He grinned.
“It worked in the Buried Forest. Thought it was worth a try here.”
Jaden chuckled. “Good man! Rather safe than sorry.” He glanced back at the tunnel. “And it seems there is nothing there. Best we all stock up on a few stones just in case. Doesn’t look like there’ll be too many down there.”
Indeed, the floor of the tunnel looked like someone had swept it with a broom. There wasn’t even dust on its glossy black surface. Jaden stilled. Why is there no dust? He turned from where he’d been selecting stones, peering back into the tunnel. Taking his time, he shone the light around the space again.
“Did you hear something?”
Kayla’s voice next to him made Jaden jump a second time in as many minutes. “You should all wear bells or something,” Jaden muttered.
Kayla studied him. “Someone’s jittery. What’s got you spooked?”
Jaden didn’t miss Iri and Atu padding up to them. “Bells! Bells!”
Iri glanced at Kayla, a smile on her face. “What gives?”
“He thinks we like to slink up behind him and give him frights.” Kayla slapped Jaden on the back. “But it’s his own fault for being too focused on other things to pay attention to his surroundings.”
Jaden scowled. “You’d think your friends would have your back.” When the others laughed, it only enraged him further. “Seriously, I’ll buy bells and put them on all of you. Then you can’t sneak up on me.”
The smile left Kayla’s face. She put a hand on his arm. “Jaden, lighten up. What’s wrong?”
His revelation was too disturbing for Jaden to dwell on making Kayla lose her smile once more. Dang it, if something happens to her, I won’t be able to live with myself!
“Jaden?”
With a start, Jaden realized he hadn’t answered Kayla’s original question. He gestured down the tunnel with his flashlight. “What don’t you see in there?”
Atu was the one who got it. “There’s no dust. It’s like the tunnel’s used often enough for there to not be any.”
Atu’s words settled on the others, a hefty weight squashing the air from them. Jaden nodded. “Kayla, would your dad or his team would’ve cleaned the tunnel like that?”
Kayla shook her head. “No, they try to be as invisible as possible. It’s inadvisable in their line of work to leave anything that could trace back to them.”
“I thought so. The only answer is there’s something alive down there. Something that comes up here often enough to prevent the dust from accumulating. Something large or numerous enough to sweep the entire floor clean.”
If Jaden thought there hadn’t been enough air before, it was a complete vacuum now. He drew his DD. Its light flared, outshining the flashlight, the current running along the blade sizzling into the stillness. “Let’s go face our fears then.”
Jaden smiled when the others drew their blades, ready to follow, steely determination their only expression. All that he had to do was lead the way.
Chapter Forty
Iri paced behind Jaden and Kayla. It was slow going. And quiet. None of them made a sound as they descended into the depths of the mountain. All Iri’s senses scanned for the danger they expected. Ultimately, a sense everyone had heralded . . . something.
The group halted. They all heard it. Claws skittering across stone. Iri tightened her hold on her DD, ready to cleave any approaching enemy. But the sound remained constant. Whatever it was, it scuttled about in the same place, not drawing any closer.
A second later its scent wafted up the tunnel, punching Iri’s nose, the invisible odor enough knock her over. Fetid. Decaying. Like what waited below wasn’t alive. It reminded Iri of how the Gaptors smelled.
“Whatever it is, it’s something Slurpy created,” Iri warned in a whisper.
“What makes you say that?” Jaden breathed, his voice matching hers.
“Same sort of smell, but not like the Gaptors. Rotten. Artificial. Not of this world, that’s for sure.”
Jaden glanced at Kayla and Atu. “The rats or spiders? It doesn’t sound like the snake.”
Iri perked up. They had told her the stories of the horrendous mutant creatures they’d encountered in the desert. None sounded like critters you wanted to cross in a dark tunnel. But Iri wasn’t anybody. And the thought of besting one of Slurpy’s creations only made her savor the fight more. Glancing at the others, Iri decided she probably shouldn’t mention that the monsters lurking below might be something they had encountered before.
Bouncing from foot to foot, Iri waited as Jaden scanned the part of the tunnel they were in. It was as empty as what they’d already traversed. Not a stone or boulder to hide behind. Nothing on the floor. Nothing they could barricade themselves behind. Nothing to close the tunnel off or at least reduce the opening to limit the number of foes attacking them simultaneously.
Sweat trickled down Iri’s brow. Was it her imagination, or did it seem hotter than before? She swiped a hand across her forehead. When another bead of perspiration trickled down not even a second later, Iri knew she wasn’t imagining it.
“Is anyone else feeling the heat?”
“Haha,” Jaden commented sourly. “But not funny.”
“No, I didn’t mean that. I mean real heat. The temperature in the tunnel is higher than it was a few minutes ago.”
The colors swirled around her friends as Iri surveyed them. Jaden’s aura was the first to glow yellow. “You have a plan?” Iri smiled, feeling his grimace. But he didn’t berate her this time.
“Iri, anything indicating any side tunnels up ahead?”
Iri stopped her bouncing and closed her eyes, focusing on the surrounding air. The acrid smell of those aberrations made her gag. Swallowing the bile, she focused on what lay beyond. The brush was so light, so fleeting, she almost didn’t recognize it before it disappeared. Her eyes snapped open.
“Yes, there’s another path. Fresher air coming from another place. Except I can’t tell how close it is to where those . . . things are gathered. And it’s impossible to know if it leads anywhere. It may just be another cave. Also, in case it’s relevant, that’s also where the heat’s coming from.”
Jaden’s sunny hue only intensified. “Alright, then this is what we do.”
Minutes later, Iri grinned maniacally at Kayla, waiting across the cave from her. Racing back up the tunnel to just inside the cave entrance as Jaden ordered hadn’t taken long. They waited, the light coming from the ledge outside muted by the mist. In the cave’s dim interior, Kayla’s face glowed blue from the light of her DD. Between the light, the blade, and Kayla’s stern expression, she looked like an avenging angel.
Kayla lifted her chin at Iri. “What are you smiling about?”
“We get some action.”
Kayla rolled her eyes. “You sound like my dad. Remind me to reintroduce you two when we get back.”
Iri didn’t miss the tangerine tinge touching Kayla when she mentioned her father. “He’ll be alright. He’s a fighter. Like his daughter.”
Kayla’s smile didn’t reach her eyes. “I’m concentrating on crushing one obstacle at a time.”
“The next one’s almost upon us,” Iri said when she heard the commotion coming their way.
Iri spared a quick glance beyond the ledge. All she saw was mist. There was no sign of Aren, who had collected Atu only seconds before and spirited him away. Markov and the others waited just out of sight, above and below the opening. Iri checked the rope around her waist. Secure. Rozie fretted at the other end. Iri could feel her glider’s tension running along the rope back all the way back to her.
“We
’d better be strong enough,” Kayla muttered.
“We don’t have to be—just quick enough.”
Kayla nodded but said nothing as she peered into the darkness of the tunnel. The tangerine glow around Kayla intensified as the clamor of claws clicking on stone grew louder. Then they heard Jaden shouting.
“Almost there!”
A second later, Jaden burst into view, streaking up the tunnel like his life depended on it. When Iri saw what chased him, she realized his life did depend on it. Her arm already raised to prepare for what she had to do, Iri swung the second rope.
At the exact moment Jaden cleared the tunnel, Iri tossed the rope. The loop landed perfectly. Not that she had thought it wouldn’t. Although, if she was honest with herself, the pressure of the situation might have made her miss. Not that she would ever tell the others.
Yanking on the rope to tighten it around Jaden, Iri leaned out of the cave and yelled, “Now!”
With a jerk, the rope around Iri’s own waist tightened, and she was airborne. She glanced back in time to see Jaden and Kayla dragged clear of the snapping jaws and claws chasing them.
As Rozie swung them away, Iri stared at the spiders. Horrid things. How didn’t I hear the electricity running along the hairs coating their bodies—or see the light as they came up the tunnel?
Iri only had another second to glimpse their fire-engine red bodies beneath that sparking current before Markov and the others descended on the spiders. The spiders hadn’t anticipated an enemy outside and were piling up on the ledge.
As Markov’s glider’s claws dug into the first spider, it exploded like a ripe tomato. Iri’s eyes watered when the acidic odor of its blood spiked the air. She glanced at the glider’s talons, expecting them to be smoking as the blood ate into them.
But Markov’s glider’s claws were fine. The same could not be said for the ground beneath them. Where the blood sprayed onto the dark pebbles lining the sides of the mountain, smoke curled up as the stones melted. Melted! Iri’s gaze flew to Markov. But his glider had been smart enough to keep the blood away from his rider. Iri opened her mouth to call a warning to those attacking the spiders, but Markov beat her to it.
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