Between this and the meeting of the Elders, the soldiers would be stretched thin. We wouldn’t get a better chance. Making sure that the soldiers that had just left their posts were really gone, Tristian and I each grabbed one of the girls’ arms and ran. Terror gave me speed, pulling a slow Tina behind me who kept looking over her shoulder. Finally reaching the small door next to the large metal gates of the cavern, we pushed it open, rushing inside. Total blackness engulfed us as our labored breath echoed in the darkness. I could hear Tristian as he fumbled with his bag, searching for a light. The girls had just started to whimper when a light began to glow from his hand. The small light made no dent in the darkness, just allowed us to see one another’s terrified faces. Keeping a hand on Tina, I groped through the air until I found Josie’s, causing her to jump.
Dragging them behind me, I moved forward until I was flush with Tristian. Nudging my chin straight ahead, he turned to see what I saw. A sliver of light so thin you would think you imagined it winked at us from the distance. Nodding that he understood, he turned to the girls, raising his finger to his lips for silence before turning toward the phantom light and beginning our journey through the Cavern of Death. Fear is a living thing; I know because if I had gave myself to it, it would have strangled me. Focusing on the light that grew as we journeyed farther in, I blocked everything else from my mind, tightening my grips on the girls to silence the sounds they were making. I don’t know how long it took to reach the source of the light, but in inky blackness it had seemed like hours. Every step we took I expected a hand to reach out and pull me in, trapping me in this wretched place. Relief coursed through me when I saw the light was coming from under a door, there was a way out, and we wouldn’t be trapped here wandering aimlessly in the dark forever.
As Tristian opened the well-oiled door, light rushed in, blinding us. Quickly, he closed it, partially to give our eyes time to adjust and to hide us from passing eyes. Waiting until he received nods from everyone, he pulled it open enough to check for people. Seeing no one, he motioned for us to follow. Keeping the girls behind me, we joined him on the grated walkway the door opened to. Machines and vats filled the huge space, but that wasn’t what caught and held our gazes. What held our horrified gazes were the bodies hanging on hooks high in the air, level to us, swinging in the air from the large fans that blew on them before being released into the bin below.
The moans ripped my attention away from the scene in front of me. Leaping toward their retreating forms, I grabbed Josie, covering her mouth with my hand, Tristian doing the same with Tina as they wildly fought us. Terrified of being heard, I brought my lips as close to her ear as I could and whispered, “Is that how you want to die up on that hook? If they hear so much as a small whimper that will be your fate.” Harsh, I know, but now wasn’t the time to comfort her. Only strength would see us through this. After a few moments, my words seemed to sink in as she stopped struggling. Looking into her eyes, I waited to see what I needed before releasing her. I removed my hand slowly to make sure that she was under control. Satisfied, I went to help Tristian who was trying to hold Tina down, saying the same to her that I told Josie. I watched as her need for self-preservation kicked in and she went completely still.
The sound of approaching footsteps froze us in place, breaking the trance. We dove back into the darkness that we just came from. Holding my hands over the girl’s mouths, not daring to breath, we waited to be discovered. Tristian, a knife tight in his grip, crouched at the side of the door ready to attack if they entered the room. After a tense moment, the footsteps passed us and faded into the distance, causing a shudder to pass through my body in relief. Quietly, we waited, letting as much time as we dared pass before venturing back onto the walkway. Keeping our eyes averted from the bodies, we moved with as much speed as we dared, searching for the entrance into the Loyalist cavern.
We had almost lost Tina twice because she kept stopping and looking behind her. Annoyed, I pushed her in front of me and kept her there. Behind vats and walls, we hid whenever we heard so much as a creek, terrified of being discovered, until finally we saw what we were searching for. High up in the air, accessed by a walkway, was the door we needed. Two workers in white coats lounged by the stairs that we needed to take. Looking around for a distraction, I grabbed a small metal object near me and threw it. It worked––when they heard the sound they went running and so did we. Dashing up the stairs to the door, we skidded to a halt before opening it. Opening the door a crack, we listened for sound, and not hearing anything we took a chance and opened it enough for Tristian to peek his head out. Shooting out his hand, he waved it for us to follow and I got my first view of the Loyalist Cavern.
Chapter 7
It wasn’t what I expected––while it was infinitely better than our homes, it appeared run-down, abandoned. Ignoring the thought, I kept a sharp gaze out for anyone as we quickly removed our cloaks, keeping them over our arms to hide our bags. Moving at a quick pace, we headed for a group of buildings about five hundred feet away. Getting there, we dodged deep into an alley and huddled together as we tried to catch our breath and listen for sounds of pursuit. As we listened and heard no cry of alarm, my mind began to turn to something else I wasn’t hearing, people. The harder I listened, the less I heard––no footsteps, no buzz of electricity from the homes, nothing. Easing back from the group, I softly made my way down the alley until I reached the back of the house. A slightly open glass door caught my attention. Quietly, I made my way to it, my eyes darting to the other houses looking for signs for life. Carefully I eased the door open and looked within, freezing at what I saw.
The hand that came around and covered my mouth caused me to jump in surprise. Relaxing into Tristian so he would know I knew it was him, he released me. Indicating for him to grab the girls, I started forward only getting to raise my foot before his arm shot out to stop me. Turning to see his face I mouthed “Trust me” and a second later he released me, going around the corner to grab the girls. Moving forward, I walked into the bare room, not a piece of furniture present. A stale smell filled the air as if it had been vacant for a very long time.
Hearing them enter behind me, I asked, “What do you think Tristian?” wanting to know if he felt it, too.
“I don’t know, but something isn’t right. It’s as if the area has been abandoned,” he said, moving to look through the door to the rest of the house.
Yes, but why was it abandoned? That’s the question. Placing my bag on the floor, I motioned for the girls to sit. “Stay there, don’t explore, don’t speak above a whisper, and stay away from the windows,” I told them as I sat down and pulled out the map.
Sitting down next to me and studying the map, Tristian said, “We have to figure out how far we’re inside the entrance––it’s the only way we’ll be able to find the fissure.”
“What do you mean we have to find the fissure? I thought we were going through the shaft, the easy way,” Tina interrupted.
Not bothering to look up, I said, “Do you see anyone in this home? Anyone in the streets? Do you hear the sounds of people? No, you don’t, which means there is no one for us to blend in with. If we tried to go through to another cave, they’d know we don’t belong,” I finished, unable to keep the exasperation out of my voice at her density in the situation.
“That doesn’t mean anything. We have to go to the next cavern,” she argued, making no sense.
Raising my eyes from the map to look at her, I asked, “Why do we have to go to the next cavern, Tina?” wondering why it mattered to her.
Turning her head to look out the window, she stuttered, “It’s just that Josie and I can’t climb as well as you two,” her face flushing.
“I it will be OK. Tristian and I will be there to help you two, there’s nothing to worry about,” I explained, hoping that this would allay her fears.
But instead of acknowledging my words, her face turned stubborn and her lips into a thin line.
Shaking my he
ad, I gave my attention to Tristian. “We have to get moving, we can’t risk someone realizing we’re missing. I think the entrance to our cave is in this direction, but I’m not sure how far we are into the Loyalist Cavern. Let’s move in this direction and see if we can get a better sense of the distance.”
Slowly nodding his head, he countered, “I think you’re right, that’s the best plan of action, but I think we should go farther over to this side, where the fissure is located. That way we’re close enough to access it quickly, especially if we’re seen.”
“It sounds like a plan,” I agreed, wanting to get as far from here as we could. There was something very wrong about this place and I had a bad feeling.
Putting the map back in my bag, I motioned for the girls to rise as Tristian went to check the way before we left, and after a moment he signaled for us to follow. Keeping the girls between us, we made our way through the twists and turns of the houses, never hearing a sound until about four hours later. We had stopped at another abandoned house to check the map, going to the top floor to get a better view. We could see the entrance to our cavern in the distance, the fissure was closer to it than we realized. Wanting to give the girls a rest before moving on was the only thing that kept us from getting caught.
We had been just about to put the water away when we heard the voices. “I don’t understand why we have to patrol the streets. There’s no way they’d be this far toward us. They’re headed in the other direction,” the voice whined.
“The informer said that there was an exit in this cavern. Once they realized they couldn’t hide among the population here, they would make for it,” the answering voice growled.
“That impossible, we’d know if there was a way to the surface through here,” the first voice scoffed.
“It’s an unexplored exit on an old map, who knows where it really leads to, but the informer told the commander that the girl said it was there. So we will search until they are found,” the second voice said, fading as it moved past us down the street.
Who could have told them? We had been so careful of everything, only the three of us had known, and Crowley would have died rather than betray us. As I looked around at the others, it was Tina my gaze caught and held. The look on her face before she could hide it told me everything––it was the look of guilt. There were only three of us who had known up until two hours before our departure. Focusing more sharply on Tina, I wondered why had she kept stopping, looking behind her as if she was waiting for someone? “Why” I whispered, knowing that it was her, but needing to hear her say it.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she answered, with defiance in her voice.
I think it was her defiant tone that made me snap. She used it whenever she had been caught in a lie. I couldn’t help what I did next; maybe if she had been apologetic or fearful I could had controlled myself, but to see her defiantly siting there as if she hadn’t just murdered someone. It was too much. I had never laid a hand on her before, no matter what she had done, so she was unprepared when I launched myself across the room and backhanded her before pinning her to the ground and wrapping me hands around her throat.
I truly think I would have killed her if Tristian hadn’t been there. Josie had grabbed my arm, trying to pull it from Tina’s neck, but she didn’t have the strength to battle the strength my anger gave me. It wasn’t an insane anger, but a controlled one. As I stared into Tina’s eyes, I saw absolute terror as she realized she had pushed me too far, family or no family. She clawed at my hands in desperation, scoring deep marks that I ignored, using the focus on my task so completely that I was able to block all feelings, pain, love––I felt none of it.
Another moment and I think she would have been dead if not for Tristian. Grabbing me, he pulled me from her body, taking me to the other side of the room. I didn’t fight him or struggle, but just watched her with disinterest as she gasped for breath. Josie rushed to her side, gathering her now weeping form into her arms as she gazed at me with fear and guilt. Had she known what Tina had done? Of course she had, they share the same room. She had rushed to the room after Tina to calm her. Was Tina still there when she got there or already gone? Did it matter either way? She hadn’t warned us and was just as guilty as Tina. Just as much a traitor, but I needed her to say it. “Do you foolish children realize what you have done?” I calmly asked. From the expressions on their faces, the quietness of my voice terrified them more than screams would have. Not waiting for them to answer, I told them, “Do you realize that you have murdered Crowley. That you have murdered Tristian’s father.” Seeing that they were about to deny it, I continued before they could speak. “Yes, you have, as sure as if you had stabbed him through the heart, you have killed him. The two of you have most likely killed the whole cavern if he cannot convince the soldiers and government that no one else knows about the truth about the Cavern of Death,” I asserted, as they shook their heads in horror, wanting to deny my words.
“Enough, Misty,” Tristian interrupted.
Turning in his arms to look at him, I saw the pain in his face that no words could comfort before a hardness came over his face. Acknowledging his request with my eyes, I rose from his arms and went to the side of the window, needing to check if we had been heard. When I was sure that there was no one about, I stepped back from the sight of the widow and looked down at my sisters. My hand prints stood out sharply against Tina’s pale skin, almost looking like a necklace with the complete circle they formed. Tears fell down both their faces as they huddled together and silently cried. Walking over to them, I knelt down until I was even with them .“Stop your tears now and pull yourselves together. Both of you look at me now,” I ordered, having no sympathy for their pain. “We have to leave soon or we will be as good as dead.” Moving to stand, I was stopped by Josie’s words.
“You’re still taking us with you?” she timidly asked, always having more courage than Tina. It was her quietness that made people believe that she was the weaker sister.
“What’s been done cannot be undone. Rose gave her life to make sure that you would have one. She unselfishly gave her life for her family and no matter how angry I am at you, you are my family and I can give no less than she has,” I explained, as if dealing with infants who had not yet learned about honor or family loyalty. Taking a deep breath, I hardened my voice so that they would understand what I said next I meant with everything in me. “But should you ever betray us again, I will slit your throats without a thought. Family or no family, I will protect Tristian––I owe his father this. I owe his father his son’s life for the sacrifice that he was forced to make because of you two.” Standing without another word, I went to collect my things.
I could hear the shuffling behind me as they gathered their things, their sniffling stopped at my words. “Do you have an idea where the fissure is now?” I asked Tristian.
“Yes, I have a general idea. If we keep moving south we should find the entrance,” he replied, before turning to Tina. “What exactly did you tell Weston about the fissure?” he asked in a bland voice.
“I only told him that there was a spot that may lead to the surface in this cavern, but we weren’t going to take it unless we had to because you weren’t sure where it lead to or if it was clear. I told him to meet us at the Cavern of Death so we could travel together because we were going to head into the next cavern past the Loyalist Cavern,” she hoarsely answered.
“So they’ll be searching the whole city, that’s good. We’ll have a better chance if they’re not concentrated in one area,” he concluded, picking up his pack.
“Tristian I’m…” Tina began.
“As your sister said, what’s done is done. Let’s not speak of it again,” Tristian tersely said, cutting her off and moving to the door.
Waving the girls in front of me, I brought up the rear as we made our way out of our hiding place and cautiously back into the street. At least we knew that they were looking for us––this way we co
uld be more vigilant. Making our way quietly south, we dodged two patrols easily, hearing them long before we saw them. By the time we had finally made our way to the south wall, we were all exhausted, physically and mentally. Finding a defendable house ,Tristian lead us in to rest and eat while he pulled out the map to see if there was anything on it he had missed that could tell him where our exit was hiding.
Leaving them in the room, I made my way to the house’s kitchen and checked to see if there was still water. Turning the handle on the sink, I smiled when water started to pour from it. Leaving it to run, I searched the room looking for anything that we might use to carry extra water. Hitting the jackpot, I found two jugs with lids and quickly filled them before cupping my hands and drinking my fill. Taking the two jugs back to our little hideaway, I went around and collected everyone’s water containers, urging them to drink them dry before taking them to get refiled. Bringing the girls their water, I whispered for them to “close their eyes and rest” before finding a wall and doing the same. Whispering to Tristian to “wake me in twenty minutes” so he could rest while I stood guard, I closed my eyes for a quick nap.
Fear shot through me when I opened my eyes, a hand covering my mouth. Seeing Tristian’s face in front of mine, I calmed enough to hold in my scream. Voices could be heard clearly outside the house. Nodding to the girls, we made our way to them, placing our hands above their mouths before waking them. Terror shot through their eyes when they opened them and stayed there when they heard the crude laughs coming from outside. When we were sure they wouldn’t scream, we removed our hands, motioning for them to be silent. Crawling toward the window to hear them better, I sat very still and listened.
In The Shadows of the Cavern of Death (Shadows of Death Book 1) Page 6