by Chris Smith
***
Up until this point James’ quick progress had surprised the dark figure, he’d expected James to take much longer to get this far. The grit and determination the boy had shown in confronting the dangers of the shadow underworld impressed him. After the boy’s ordeal with the scorpion bees, the dark figure had doubted that James would still have the guts to face Pete head on and break away from the trap that the pack of spiteful warriors had him caught in. The light had helped him work out how to find quiet amid the clamouring maggots by shutting out their bleating with the helmet. It had also shown him the link between his thoughts and the colour of the seed, ultimately helping him to connect with the idea of the power of his thoughts and their potential to attract. Each revelation had made the boy more resilient, enabling him to find the strength to face the next challenge. And when he had found the courage to run the gauntlet, James had also discovered how to be calm without the help of the helmet, and how to control his thoughts without the aid of the seed. By putting these newly found skills into practice, James had been able to confront Pete without fear. And it was all his own doing. The boy was getting stronger, although his outward appearance suggested otherwise: dishevelled, bruised and battered, the journey was taking its toll on James.
James paced around the cell, inspecting the prison in an attempt to find its weakness. The dark figure wondered if James had noticed the increase in temperature. Beads of perspiration trickled down the boy’s face but he appeared oblivious and continued his search for an escape. The dark figure saw the boy stumble over a single tile lying on the floor. That was unfortunate; he’d been expecting the boy to take much longer before he saw the light in the eye carved into the mountain rock. But James had discovered the cell’s entrance and walked into the belly of the mountain before he’d had chance to complete his current task. That last tile, once placed, would have made the secret exit undetectable. The boy bent down and touched it, letting his figures run over its surface. The dark figure wondered if James realised the tile was actually a giant reptile’s scale. He didn’t seem concerned, so clearly not. He’s looking at the guiding light; it won’t help you this time, unless I let it. He must be noticing the heat by now. James was sweating profusely. Doesn’t he realise he’s going to melt if he just stands there?