“Eevie, back up slowly. We have a better chance fighting it in the open space.”
The monkey jumped from the stone to the ground. It began moving toward them more rapidly, its claws digging into the rocky soil. Tommy threw a rock as hard as he could. The monkey was fast, but the jagged rock hit the monkey in the chest. The monkey screamed out in pain, as Tommy grasped another rock, daring the monkey to come closer.
The monkey scampered up to the ceiling above their heads, making it very difficult to throw a rock at it with any precision. It clawed at the rock above their heads, and stone and dirt fell into their eyes.
Suddenly, the monkey jumped from the ceiling onto Eevie’s back. She screamed as its claws dug into her shoulders. Tommy grabbed two stones and smashed them together on both of the monkey’s temples. The monkey dropped to the ground. Screaming in pain, it grabbed Eevie’s leg and bit, driving its canines into her calf.
Eevie screamed and fell to the ground. Tommy kicked the monkey, driving it off Eevie and into the water. Eevie lay on the ground, writhing in pain, grabbing her leg.
“Eevie, hang on—I’m gonna get you out of here.” The monkey began to crawl out of the water. “Oh no you don’t,” growled Tommy.
“Tommy...so much hatred, so much anger,” said a strained, whispering voice inside his head.
“Who said that?” screamed Tommy, whipping his head side to side.
“Deathhhh.” The voice gurgled and bubbled in his brain. It sounded like someone drowning.
A huge creature appeared. Tommy couldn’t figure out if it was floating or standing. It had black and gray tattered clothes that seemed to swirl and move around its body. Its face was long and skull-like; loose flesh hung as if melted by a candle. Black, meaty eye sockets were empty, and its mouth was a flesh circle filled with rows of spiky teeth that went all the way around. Black drool spilled down the creature’s mouth onto its chest. Each breath made a disgusting, airy, gurgling sound.
The monkey, battered and bloody, dragged itself over to him.
“Whatttt have youuuu donnnnne, you foooooools?” From the swirling fabric, a bony hand appeared. The creature rested its hand on the monkey. “Emaculo,” he whispered.
The monkey’s injuries healed before their eyes. Magic, thought Eevie to herself. He’s using magic. Tommy turned back to Eevie. She had dragged herself to his backpack. A dark red streak of blood marked her path. She was desperately digging inside for something. She dumped the contents onto the ground.
“Eevie, what are you doing?!” screamed Tommy.
“Inprecor—Invoko Presamis Ignis Potionem!” she screamed. “Inprecor—Invoko Presamis Ignis Potionem!”
Nothing happened.
“Inprecor—Invoko Presamis Ignis Potionem, Inprecor—Invoko Presamis Ignis Potionem!”
The creature laughed, spraying black spittle. “Foolish girl! Do you think that you are a chosen one? That you can just speak the words of an ancient spell and they will work for you?”
Eevie looked down at the water bottle. It was hidden from view behind the backpack, but something was happening inside the bottle. It had turned red and it was bubbling. She touched the bottle; the plastic was now melting.
The creature laughed and pointed at Tommy. “Kill him!”
I Know You Can Hear Me...
Tommy threw a rock at the monkey, but it missed and struck the creature. Tommy backpedaled and grasped another rock.
“Tommy,” screamed Eevie, “move!” He looked up just in time to see Eevie hurl a red, glowing object at the monkey. The water bottle landed at the monkey’s feet and exploded, sending red liquid over its body. The monkey screamed, and then right before their eyes, it melted into nothingness.
“Whoa!” yelled Tommy, jumping back.
“Fooool!” screamed the creature. Black spittle sprayed from his mouth, running in rivulets down his chest.
“Disgusting!” Tommy rushed to Eevie’s side. “Can you stand?”
The creature, which seemed to be unable to see them, stretched out its thin, bony hands.
“Don’t worry about your friend,” he hissed. “You killed Lumous. Now your friend will be my prisoner; her eyes will become my eyes.”
Tommy watched in horror as the creature opened its mouth. Black liquid spewed out onto the ground and began racing toward Eevie.
Eevie screamed, and in a fraction of a second her feet were covered with the shiny black liquid. Eevie’s body began to convulse as the liquid began to go into her skin, into her veins. Her head began thrashing back and forth and tears streamed from her eyes.
Tommy reached down and tried pulling her away, but she seemed to be cemented in place. Reaching in his pocket he grabbed a large, jagged rock and hurled it at the monster. Thud! The rock hit the creature’s forehead, and black blood flowed down its face from the gash.
The monster staggered backwards. He can’t see! The monkey was his eyes. That’s what he meant by using Eevie’s eyes!
“Eevie,” screamed Tommy, “I’m going to get you out of here! Keep fighting!”
In her mind, she told Tommy OK. But her body, her face, her lips were paralyzed. All Tommy could see were her eyes staring up at him.
The creature recovered quickly, too quickly. Like a nightmare, he slowly moved toward them. Tommy felt like he was moving in slow motion.
He pulled on Eevie with every ounce of strength within him. He grimaced and bared his teeth in anger. He felt helpless as he watched the black liquid oozing through her veins to her neck. That black liquid is his connection to her. It’s like he is pouring his soul into her!
The monster’s shadow descended upon Tommy like a misty black fog. The monster laughed; he was inches away from Eevie’s feet. Suddenly, Eevie’s head whipped to the side, her eyes wide open.
“There you are,” whispered the monster.
Eevie willed with everything inside of her to close her eyes, but she was losing herself. Her mind was becoming numb, and a voice was now whispering inside of her. “Wake up, Eevie,” it whispered. “Wake up.”
“Why are you doing this?!” screamed Tommy. “What do you want from us?”
“I want your soul, and then I want to eat everything that’s left.”
Tommy grabbed Eevie’s wrist and tried pulling again. He noticed something in Eevie’s fist. He pried open her fingers. It’s the page with the spells! In desperation, he took a step back and screamed the second curse.
“Veneficium Tango Autem Mors Entantus Mortiforum! Agh!!!!”
Lightning rushed through Tommy’s veins to his hands; his fingertips turned to fire.
“Agh!” screamed Tommy in pain. His veins felt as if they were filled with molten lava.
“The poison touch!” He ran to the creature and thrust both of his hands into the monster’s chest. It let out a bellowing howl. Tommy felt the creature’s hands around his wrist, and the black liquid began to pour from the monster’s hands into Tommy’s arms.
“No!” screamed Tommy, his knees buckling. Fiery tears burned channels into his flesh, blistering his lips. “Your friend is dying, boy. Are you going to let your anger for me kill her?”
“LIAR!” screamed Tommy. He slammed his hands onto the monster’s head and squeezed. “LIAR!” Fire rushed out of the empty sockets of the monster’s eyes, out of his mouth. The monster’s chest began to glow red through its pale, translucent skin.
Tommy’s arms shook as he squeezed his hands together with all his might. An ungodly scream erupted from the monster. The monster collapsed to the ground at Tommy’s feet. He choked on the black acrid smoke rising from its body.
Tommy took a step back and threw up. A trembling bony finger moved from within its sleeve and touched the ground. A thin black liquid line slowly made its way to the creek. The monster stopped breathing. He was dead.
Tommy rushed over to Eevie. Her body was returning to normal. The black liquid pooled from her body and then started moving toward the
creek. Her natural color was returning to her face and lips.
“What, what happened?” Eevie whispered, taking Tommy’s hand in hers.
“He’s dead, Eevie. He’s dead.”
Eevie lay her head back to the ground and stared up at the top of the cave. Her eyes met his.
“Tommy what happened to you, your face?” Tommy knew it was bad. He had felt the acid tears searing into his flesh. He had felt the blisters on his lips.
“Is it bad?”
Eevie’s eyes filled with tears. “It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” she said, touching his face with her hand. “It’ll add character to our wedding photos.” She smiled, winking at him.
Even though Eevie had been his best friend since childhood, he felt himself blushing.
Eevie shook her head. “All of this because of one boy’s report about a tree that tried to swallow him.” She looked at Tommy and smiled. “At least there will be no more names added to that wall.”
Tommy nodded. “Are you OK to move? I think we should be able to follow this stream; hopefully it leads us out of here.”
Eevie nodded. “That sounds like a plan. The monkey bite hurts like you wouldn’t believe.”
Using the wall and with Tommy’s help, Eevie slowly got to her feet. She winced as she tried to put weight onto her leg.
“First my knee, and now my calf,” she said. “Good thing I still have my looks.”
Tommy pretended to gag. He began grabbing everything and putting it back into the backpack. He groaned as he bent over. Every single muscle ached.
Suddenly there was a rumble. Then everything went wrong. The black liquid had reached the water. They watched in horror as the liquid made its way into the stream and, as the current carried it, the water began to solidify into spiky rocks. The entire cave began to shake, cracks like bolts of lightning formed across the ceiling, and the floor began to disintegrate beneath their feet.
“Run!” screamed Tommy.
Eevie ran as fast as she could, even though the pain in her leg was excruciating. A huge rock fell from the ceiling, striking Tommy on the shoulder. He shook his head. Stars danced in his vision. Another huge rock fell and shattered at his feet.
Eevie grabbed him by the arm. “Tommy, go!”
Behind them, the cave was collapsing; beside them, the stream was quickly becoming a solid sheet of spiky rock. They raced around a corner and slammed into a huge stone wall. “Tommy!” screamed Eevie. “There’s no way out!”
Spinning around, they watched as their world collapsed around them.
Tommy looked at the water.
“Eevie, the water is our only way out!” Eevie didn’t hesitate and with her next step, she dove into the water.
Tommy looked over his shoulder as they swam. The monster’s inky black magic flowed through the water, turning everything it touched to stone. Beneath them, they watched the ground rip apart as if two giant hands were shredding a piece of cloth. Jagged rocks thrust upward just below Tommy and Eevie.
The ceiling rained rocks and debris down on them as they swam. Dust filled the air, making it impossible to see and breathe.
They dove deeper to avoid being crushed as the ceiling collapsed. Suddenly, they found themselves in a very narrow tunnel; they barely had room to swim side by side.
Tommy looked at Eevie, his lungs burning. She motioned to her mouth. I know, Eevie, I’m almost out of air too.
Just then, they saw light. Eevie looked at him and nodded.
Tommy shook his head; he was out of air. He crashed up through the water’s surface. Dazzling sunlight hit his eyes. Eevie’s head exploded upwards as she gasped for air. The light was incredibly intense. For a few moments, they floated and tried to catch their breath.
When they could finally see, they realized where they were: Whitman’s Lake, in Black Hallow Park.
“We made it!” screamed Eevie. “We made it!” Tears streamed down her face as she grabbed Tommy’s shoulder.
They both looked skyward as the October sunlight cut ribbons through the clouds. Eevie closed her eyes and breathed in deeply—she was finally home.
Tommy and Eevie swam to the water’s edge. Wet and numb, they dragged themselves to the shore. They could hear the thumping rotors of an approaching helicopter. They turned and looked at each other, knowing that it was searching for them.
Eevie stared at Tommy. His face was covered with scrapes and cuts, and his hoodie was soaking wet and shredded. His hands and arms were a crisscross of cuts and bruises. Her own pants were torn, and fresh new blood from the monkey’s bite began to bleed through her pant leg.
“We are so dead,” said Eevie, shaking her head. The stabbing pain in her calf made her grimace with each step.
Tommy reached out and grabbed Eevie’s hand in his. “We made it, though.” He gave Eevie’s hand a squeeze.
The helicopter was now circling above them. In the distance, they could see people running their way. Eevie’s dad broke from the pack, racing toward them. Emotion welled up inside of Eevie and tears flooded her face. She began to run toward her dad.
Police, rescue workers, friends, and family surrounded them. The world seemed to be spinning in slow motion, and in the midst of it all, they both heard a voice inside their heads.
“I know where you’ve been.... I know you can hear me.”
Tommy and Eevie’s eyes locked in chilling bewilderment.
Through the chaos, one lone figure stood staring at them. He smiled and crossed his arms. His serpent ring glistened in the sunlight. The entirety of his eyes turned black. The ranger casually put on his sunglasses and once again whispered inside their heads.
“I’m coming for you.”
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Copyright
Copyright © 2016 by Twisted Key Publishing, LLC
All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means - electronic, mechanical, photo copy, recording, scanning, digitally, or other - except for brief quotations and critical reviews or articles, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
First Printing: 2016
Quest Chasers is a trademark of Twisted Key Publishing, LLC
ISBN 978-1-365-67386-3
Twisted Key Publishing, LLC
405 Waltham Street Suite 116
Lexington, MA 02421
www.twistedkeypublishing.com
For more information, contact Twisted Key Publishing, LLC by email at [email protected].
Dedication
“Keep writing, one day I'll be reading your mysteries.” Mr. Ownby, my 5th grade English teacher, you will never know how powerful and exciting those words were to a hyperactive over creative young man. You instilled in me a work ethic at an early age and encouraged me daily to write and improve. Thank you.
Thomas Lockhaven
Stephen, this book wouldn't exist if it weren't for you. I'm very grateful for all your support, for helping me in every way you could. You have brought me lots of joy and showed me to always be happy and have fun. I'm eternally thankful and always think of you when I reread this story.
Grace Lockhaven
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank David Aretha, our editor, for his patience and excellent guidance. His guidance was invaluable.
Special thanks to Jelev for his artistic imagination.
Grace and Thomas Lockhaven
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Quest Chasers: The Deadly Cavern (A Magic Fantasy Adventure Book Series) Page 9