Deptheless: Under the Library

by Tiffany Tay

  “Mother, you are immortal! Like father, like me! How could you think you won’t make it?” I jump up, a push her away. With what little effort I had managed to muster, I stand up and curl my hands into tight fists.

  “What are you trying to say?” Suddenly, it was like I couldn’t see her. I couldn’t see her anymore. In my distorted vision, she was already shimmering as I stare down at her. Bright spots graze my vision, clouding my thoughts, but I could only focus on her albeit the thunderous explosions continued to ring out.

  “Alex, I--- I can’t last out much longer! I was destined for this, it is in our family! Please, there is no time, let me---“ She struggles to push herself up into a standing position, her black curls unfolding from her bun, dangling loosely around her shoulders. “Just tell your father that---“

  “That what?” I yelled. “That you love him, that you love us! But you are sorry anyway, because you came up here to get yourself killed willingly? Mother, I don’t know what you are trying to do, but in my eyes, this is suicide--- yes, suicide!” I threw up my hands in absolute frustration.

  How could she just say she was going to leave us behind? Didn’t she just told me that the Library is the only safe place in the world now? Why is she throwing herself up there to get killed off?

  “Alex, you are wasting time! Please--- just, just let me go!” She gripped my fingers. I felt the strong urge to pull away, let her see my absolute displeasure in her actions, make her see sense. But a strange feeling tugged at my heart, whispering little words of confusion in my head.

  The sky kicked up a gigantic fit, and opened up to a torrent of pelting raindrops, sending bolts of electrical madness striking down to the Earth. The sky howls along with the raging emotions tearing me apart.

  “Alex… someday soon you will realize my sacrifice. You will learn to make… some important decisions that only you can justify to. Your father may seem solid to hold onto, but someday you will have to face a day without him in the background. That day is yet to come.” She gasped and flinched as a deafening roar of thunder ricocheted across the sky.

  Hang on… that was no thunder. In the blink of an eye, my mother had hauled me up and away from the opening. Pushing me hard with all her might, she forced me down the tunnel sealing in our home.

  Terror seized my heart, gripping my insides and squeezing my lungs. My body felt on fire. Still, I felt suffocated. Dust rose up all over the place, and the ground rumbles, dislodging hundreds of tiny pebbles.

  “Mother!” I howled, fearfully gripping the walls, holding onto what little reality meant at that moment. A tortured moan echoed out in the darkness, and I let out a scream of pure trepidation.

  “Go home!” She yells. I hear a distant patter of footsteps across the cave, and I poke my head from below the tunnel. What greeted my sight was one of sheer monstrosity.

  Where my mother once stood, there was now nothing but a swirling mass of blinding whiteness, churning, bouncing, as it slowly gathers in one tight body. With an unforeseen burst of acceleration, the swirling pool of sparkling white dust hurled straight out of the entrance, right out into utter chaos.

  A ghastly shriek had just left my lips before I feel a a tugging sensation on my legs. The world dissolved in a blurry mass as I am dragged downwards, deeper and deeper…

  Into the nightmare that was only just beginning to span out into an unfathomable turbulence…

  A/N: Hope you like the story so far! Just curious: what do you guys want to learn more? I mean, what do you all want to read about? It would be so great of you to comment to let me know, I'm just really curious, at this stage, of what is playing through in your mind. Hope I can get a response out of you! :D

  Enjoy, vote. comment, fan! My goal at the moment is to reach 500 votes and 10K reads, think you can help me out? ;)

  Love you awesome people!!! <3 (ps want to guess my age?)

  ~Tiffany :)

  Chapter Thirty// Skye

  Skye’s POV

  “Don’t stop, just keep moving straight on.” Loky’s disembodied voice calls from somewhere in front. I bit back my frustration and force myself to keep pushing ahead. Kind of discouraging to do so in half-darkness, with someone you don’t know whether to trust as your only guide. At this point, I think having a parrot leading the way would be a much safer option. At least the bird could fly towards water source, or an opening out of this hellhole.

  “Where is the place you are taking me?” I demand, panting as I climb over the rocky tunnels. So far, we’d made it through three enormous caves, dimly lit, and not much to look at. There is something eerie in the way the shadows dance around the cave walls, in the light of Loky’s flickering torch. Then again, it could be that or the fact that that very person in discussion happened to be glaring daggers at me the whole time I curled up in a shivering heap.

  “This shelter, where is it?” Having received no answer, I try asking once more. Up ahead, the slim waver of warm light does nothing to drown the icy trail of bitterness Miss Ice Queen is leaving behind. Hmm… wonder if she thinks I’m not cold enough here already for her to intensify the frigidness.

  “Soon.” Was her curt reply. “We’ll stop for refreshments soon.”

  Refreshments. Tiredly, I try to wrap my mind around how good that sounds right now. I imagined myself relaxing under a a beam of warm sunlight, a glass of cranberry juice in my hand. Or maybe she’s taking me to some luxurious underground spa-cave… though judging by her looks, I doubt the people down here are allowed much groom time.

  “So… where do you people get your food stock? Daily items? Clothing? Tech savvy gadgets? Entertainment?” I rattle off in one shot.

  Gingerly, I extend one foot, holding out my right arm over my head to shield myself from the jutting out stalactite, and edge over another stalagmite, careful to not impale myself. Once I made it safely around, I straighten my back and follow the weak beam of torchlight around the bend of the tunnel…

  And into another cave.

  I groan. “Please, spare me from any more of this musty expedition. You obviously don’t care about my physical state…”

  “So what you are weaker than I am?” Came her taunting voice. I feel my muscles tense up. “Who said I’m weaker?” I demand, forcing myself forward.

  “Oh… nothing. If you think you can beat me in strength, why don’t we continue journeying further into the heart of the city the whole night?” Her tone was light, like she was bored of having this conversation.

  “What is up with you? Fine, I get it that you don’t like me, you’re overstating that fact. But you don’t have to---“

  My voice trailed off. Loky had come to a sudden halt, causing me to bump hard into her body.

  “Why are you stopping now?” I sigh, annoyed. “Didn’t you---“

  Her steely hand gripped my shoulder. “Shush! Didn’t you notice?” She whispered fiercely. I was about to respond with a biting remark when I heard.

  Slithery noises from around the bend echoed softly but surely down into the chamber where we stand, sending flares of terror down my spine. Hushed whispers and cruel voices float downwards, and I involuntarily take a step backwards, hitting Loky by mistake.

  Digging her incredibly long fingernails into my arm, she pulled me a little way back up from where we entered, ignoring my grunts of protest.

  Once we’re out of earshot, Loky flung me against the hard wall and pressed herself next to me, motioning me to silence. A dark look had crossed her face, and she now lets go of my arm, and struggles to keep in the shadows.

  The voices grow louder, more prominent, like audible shadows on the prowl. I throw Loky an inquisitive glance, and am taken aback at her actions.

  The brave, bold young woman, who had, just a few minutes earlier, became the bane of my existence with her aggressive comments and taunting remarks, is now hunched dolefully in a heap against the wall. A cold sweat broke out on her forehead, and she starts gawning on her lower lip. Her hands lift, and hand awkwardly
in the air, only to come to a despaired rest at her sides once more, curled up in tight fists.

  “Loky---“ I strained my voice to a whisper. “Who are they?” I edge nervously towards her, her growing agitation continues to leave scratch after scratch on my spirits.

  Her whole body was trembling as I reached her. Watching her, I felt as if I was standing at the very edge of a cliff--- hovering, suspended, like I’m holding onto the very roots of the Earth itself… that’s exactly how treacherous the vibes she is giving off.

  I sigh. Does she need me to hold her hand and say ‘there, there’?

  Just then, scraping noises filled the air, and I felt the ambient temperature drop around twenty degrees. A weird shuffling followed, a low guttural grinding noise… my heart leaped to my throat, and I hold my breath, hardly daring to move for fear of triggering something terrible.

  A drawn out howl wafts from the cave below. At this point, I’m fighting an internal battle, trying to decide upon my next move. I hold my breath and claps my hands together.

  Skye, don’t you even---

  A little too late, I take a couple of quick-paced steps forwards, curiosity beating at my heart. A muffled gasp alerted me of Loky’s presence, but my mind doesn’t seem to register what my body is doing.

  As if in a trance, I had ducked downwards into the damp, musty cave… straight towards the pit of evil-sounding noises…pulling me deeper, closer,... each step I take draws me in towards the source of horror...

  At the entrance, I pause, scanning the dark cave. For a moment, there was an obvious silence, outstretching, creeping around the atmosphere, demanding to be broken...

  And that was when an intimidating screech alerted me to my senses, urging me out of my trance, drowsing me with a layer of invisible ice.

  I'm rooted to the spot, my eyes squeezed so tight it hurt my muscles, as my brain begins to malfunction. Time rolled by, dragging my awareness, tugging my essence along, willing me into a trance so abysmal, I begin to feel my spirit begin to dissipate with every looming second...

  Just as I was about to hit rock ground, a pair of unyielding hands grasped my waist, and I feel myself being lifted off, away from the hollowness that had demanded my very existence...

  A/N: Hi, again! So, would anyone else like to guess my age? Go on, I’m very curious! ;p

  So, finally, a chapter on Skye! What do you think had happened? I’m not so sure myself… :/ But I’ll turn it around… somhow ;)

  Vote, comment, and fan, as always! Have a wonderful week!

  ~Tiffany :)

  Chapter Thrity-One// Skye

  Skye's POV

  Drip… drop… drip… drop…

  Drowsy, barely conscious, I groan softly and shift my head a little to the right. I try to pry my eyes open, but my eye muscles work against my will, and the view from between my eyelids, and long lashes are distorted and inhumane, lurking, darkness, deeper, darker… sucking my very existence…

  Then, suddenly… KER-THOMP!

  “Aaahhh!” I jerked upwards, suddenly very awake. I blink my eyes slowly, like a reptilian animal, unsure of its environment.

  “Whoa, there, girl.” A masculine voice exclaims suddenly. “Take it easy for now.”

  Something cold and squishy pressed against my forehead and eyes, cutting off my sight. I suck in a breath of cool air, sharp, intoxicating and refreshing. Still, my mind moves against me, and I raise my arms to push off the cool pack pressing me down.

  “Wh---what am I doing here?” I wonder, pressing my palms against the softest of sands, marvelling at it’s clear beauty, and push myself up into a sitting position.

  That’s when I’m hit with the breath-taking view of my surroundings.

  Overhead, a thousand and one stalactites, no, I predict they are a crystal of a type of inestimable worth dangles in cylindrical-like structures, spiralling downwards, barely touching the top of my head. Mesmerized, I hold out a hand, and gingerly trace the exquisite patterns of the lavish blue-purple crystal.

  For once in my life, I’m rendered speechless.

  Spellbound, I crawled to my feet, taking a slow breath, just standing there, slowly rotating in the same spot, watching the thousands of blue-purple crystal formations, catching and re-catching my breath, the beauty and allurness of the structures flit lightly through my mind, stopping to tap into my brains nerves and senses, trying to grasp onto any sense of reality, but meeting failure to do so.

  Drawing a long breath, I put one foot out in front of me, sinking and slipping a little as the soft sand dissolves beneath my shoe. Uncertainty marks my mind as I wander around the cave, watching the aura-like glow being thrown off from each crystal onto another, onto the cave walls, illuminating and coating everything in a blue-purple light.

  My keen senses pick up a cool tinkling of water dripping down the sides of the walls, like soft, soothing tunes of the lullaby being played out by the sweet and lively little fairy, drip-dropping down the sides of the cave walls in a little harmonious melody, tranquilizing to the senses.

  The mystical light flecks off from the crystal spiralling from the ceiling, onto the water, illuminating the place in a magical sheen of pure charm that even technology would never be able to refine.

  All of this has put a smile on my face, a wistfulness snatching hold of my heart, the longing to escape, to tear away from the horrible world and dive into one so magical, so alluring and calm, full of restedness, away from all the technology that suddenly seemed insignificant in comparison.

  “Where did you bring me?” Look, Skye has finally found her voice.

  A figure materializes beside me, and it’s like I’m experiencing a whole different kind of attractiveness all over again.

  Tall and defined, his build is slender, almost graceful, but my mind readjusts my thoughts as he carelessly lifts his hand to push off a strand of crystals. He is not just slender, but well built, attractively muscled and, well, to the utmost perfection. I stare unbelieving at him until he comes to a rest in front of me, gazing into his deep blue eyes, two reflecting pools of blue and purple.

  He is not the kind of guy who strikes me as one of those barbaric cave-dwelling types. Though certain aspects of appearance does give off the impression that this guy doesn’t spend much time in the outside world.

  His skin is a rich bronze, a mixture of molten chocolate and creamy milk. He has deep brown hair cut ruggedly down to his ears in front, and covers the back of his neck. It did strike me weird that he has deep blue eyes, but I guess he must have had parents of different races. In short, he was statue-perfect. Only, this one ‘statue’ happens to have escaped it’s exhibition and had wandered into my miserable life instead.

  “Skyler Hill.” He drawls, his voice deep and hoarse. I suppose any other girl would hyperventilate at the sound of this god-like voice, but of course, this girl is the only exception.

  I furrow my brow in distaste and cross my arms across my chest. “How’d you know my name?” I question, suspicious. Only three people in the world know my full name--- my parents, and Nikolay Adams. Thinking about him sent jolts of pain down my spine. What am I doing here, staring at this perfect organic creation, when someone I had loved might be in deep peril?

  I stare fearlessly into his eyes, and note that he is doing the same. A cold shiver wriggles down my spine as I realize that this man does not break his gaze. Looking into his eyes, I feel shallow, broken, and small. It felt like this guy was summing up my entire existence, pondering my most embarrassing moments, musing over my faults and achievements, generally exploiting my inner life.

  I shiver and pull away from his gaze. “You haven’t answered my question.” I pointed out, my voice surprisingly curt.

  “Skyler Hill, so you have come to join our little… cult.” The word was at the edge of his tongue, and he spat it off with an ounce of distaste.

  I raise one eyebrow, careful to conceal my inner feelings. Mostly jumpiness, and impatience. Who is this guy? What could he possibly
want with me?

  And most important: when am I going to leave this horrendous ‘under’world with it’s spine-chilling, bone crunching oddity?

  “Cult?” I roll my eyes, but I couldn’t shake off the little cold hand suddenly seizing my heart in a deadlock. “And you haven’t answered my previous question, mister.” I narrow my eyes at him.

  “If I am to be right, you should not be here. This must be a mistake.” He pondered out loud, lifting a hand to stroke his chin.

  “Right. A mistake.” I grit my teeth. “So, if I am a mistake, can your ‘cult’ send me back now?” I made little quotation marks with my fingers for the word cult. I know, I probably sound huffy and whiny, but in truth, I’m just too tired.

  Tired of constant surprised, tired of this never ending mysteries spiralling down to my head like the authentic crystals forming all around us. Most of all, I just want to leave.

  “Not so fast, Miss Impatience.” He spreads out his hands, making me all the more huffier. “First, there are certain… procedures to carry out to ensure the rightfulness of all of this happenings.”

  “Great, then why don’t you get along with it?” I snap, running my fingers through my short hair, messing it up more than these few days of restlessness had messed me up.

  “Hold it, there are a few ends to tie up. First, there are people like you to deal with.”

  I feel my eyebrows go way up. “Oh, yeah?” I muster a fake yawn.

  “Annoying questions to be answered.” He holds up two fingers.

  “And thirdly… it’s not in my position to send people back up. Alas, if that was anyone’s power, we’d all have jumped on that chance ages ago. As it is…”

  “Wait. Let me get this straight.” I interrupt, holding out my arms in a big time-out. “No one ever leaves.” I drawl, my voice dripping with sarcasm.

  He nods, his face straight mysterious. “ And that, is the most intelligent thing you have said in this entire conversation.”