Cave of Terror

by Amber Dawn Bell

"Who do you think gave your cell number to him? Hello.” She did the V-8 bonk on the head gesture.

  "You gave him my number?” I asked, dumbfounded.

  "Well, Ryan asked Brad and Brad called me, so in an indirect way, yes, I gave him your number."

  "I see."

  "Oh, don't even act like you didn't want me to. Paaalease. Well, are you going to tell me what happened or what?” She tapped her fingers on the middle section of the steering wheel.

  "I don't know. Maybe I won't.” I smiled, knowing she was foaming at the mouth to get the details.

  "You are really asking to get hurt. Spill it."

  I busted out laughing. “We went out."

  "Omigod! You went out? Where? What happened? Did you have a good time? Did he kiss you? Ah! He did, didn't he?” She shot questions at me so quick it made my head dizzy.

  "Yes. Chili's. We had dessert. Yes. Almost. No,” I answered in order.

  "Huh? Almost? What do you mean almost? You're killing me here."

  "My parents interrupted, but I think he was about to kiss me."

  "No way. Oh, my God, how embarrassing. What did you do? I would've died."

  "Yeah, but the most embarrassing part happened when I knocked him in the chin right as he bent down to kiss me. Or I think that was his intention.” Her eyes widened and I moved my head to confirm what I said was in fact the truth.

  "How did that happen? I swear you're a mess, Cheyenne."

  "He bent down right when my parents did their little laser light show rendition. You know, the flicking on and off of the porch lights?"

  "Oh no they didn't."

  "Oh yes they did. It startled me and I threw my arms up and busted him right in the chin."

  Mandy laughed so hard tears ran down her face. I thought she'd have to pull over to collect herself.

  "Glad you're finding such humor in my total humiliation."

  She wiped the tears from her eyes. “Oh, Cheyenne, you have to admit it's pretty freakin’ funny. I mean, the poor guy is hoping to get a little kiss action and ... “—she started laughing all over again—"and you chop him in the chin. His parents better increase the insurance coverage on him if he plans on dating you. You're a liability."

  "Ha. Ha. Very funny."

  "Yeah, it really is."

  As we pulled into the parking lot of Inner Space, Mandy continued to laugh every time she made eye contact with me. Hope she kept her bizarre sense of humor while in the cave. Something told me we'd need it. We pulled around to the back as directed to hide the cars from view. Four cars were already parked and several people gathered in a group.

  "Hey, isn't that Val's car?” Mandy pointed to the metallic lime VW bug. “What's that bitch doing here? And who is she hanging on?” Mandy squinted to get a better look.

  I didn't need to squint. “It's Ryan."

  Anger surged through me in pulses, torching every nerve. She had some gall. My hands shook and my teeth threatened to crack under the pressure of my clamped jaws. I panted, my breaths coming in short strong puffs. My vision blurred as I attempted to burn a hole through Val's heart. A strange heat crept up my spine, and my bones cracked and shifted—muscle seeming to tear from bone. My eye teeth extended with no warning whatsoever. I sucked in a breath and attempted to calm myself. Fury drove me into uncharted territory. Something was happening to me I didn't understand, but I sensed a change of some kind. One I didn't want anyone else to witness.

  "Oh, my God. It is Ryan. Why is he allowing her to hang on him? And after he went out with you last night.” Mandy reached out and grabbed my arm.

  The contact startled me back to reality. My teeth retracted and the burn and cracking abruptly stopped. I guess temper and vampires don't mix well.

  "Are you going to be okay with this?” Mandy asked.

  "Sure. At least now I don't have any doubts. Obviously, last night meant nothing to him. I know the truth now.” The truth happened to be that fury simmered just below the surface and if it ever did show itself it would be ugly. And ugly was about to get all over a certain cheerleader.

  Maybe Ryan didn't realize he was my guy, but he would soon.

  Wow, where did that come from?

  Brad ran to the car and pulled open Mandy's door. “Hey! I wasn't sure you'd show."

  Mandy got out and leaned against the car. “I told you I'd be here. What? You thought I'd chicken out?"

  "Yeah, something like that.” Brad chuckled.

  I took a few deep breaths to make sure I had calmed down enough, then opened my door and got out.

  "Hey, Cheyenne,” Brad greeted. “Y'all ready? I think everyone's here now."

  I glanced over at Val and Ryan and clenched my jaws, then slowly nodded yes. Val topped my shit list for sure. After what she had done to me yesterday—ratting me out over drugs I never possessed—and then having the nerve to come on to Ryan and rub it in my face, I was fit to be tied. Apparently, my implied threat last night had no affect on her. She played with fire, and she was about to get burned.

  I'd have to be careful not to allow my temper to get the best of me since I had no idea what the repercussions of losing control might be. Something had almost happened in the car and it had scared me enough to alert me it wasn't normal. I'd have to stay chilled and get through the night. Outing myself in front of Val would really not be a good thing.

  We joined the rest of the group consisting of Ryan, some guy I didn't know, Val and several of her goonies—Kimee, Rachel, and Whitney. I carefully avoided Ryan and his little girlfriend.

  "This is my friend, Nick. He works at the cave,” Brad said.

  I nodded toward Nick. Ah, the unknown guy.

  "Hey, Nick,” Mandy said.

  Nick led us to the outer entrance. He went in ahead of us and unlocked the gate. We didn't use the cable car, but walked down the steep incline leading down into the cave. Nick had a pile of flashlights waiting for us. I grabbed one for myself. If something happened, I wanted to be in control of at least one light.

  Ryan came up from behind me, brushed my hair aside, and whispered, “Hey, you going to keep ignoring me?"

  I shivered and pulled away from him, goose bumps popping up over my skin. Something familiar and disturbing about my hair being pulled away from my neck slammed into me, reminding me of the last two times I had been assaulted by Constantine. I whipped my head around and stared at Ryan. No, as angry as I was with him, I couldn't believe he had anything to do with the attacks.

  "Better get back to your girlfriend before she starts hissing and spitting,” I ground out.

  "Girlfriend? Val? She's not my girlfriend."

  Yeah, and who was? Apparently, not me.

  Val picked the perfect time to slink up and wrap her arms around Ryan.

  I hitched my thumb in her direction. “Somebody better let her in on it.” I turned and walked away to join Brad and Mandy. Val wouldn't get the best of me. Allowing my emotions to surface would be dangerous for me and the clice.

  "Let me in on what?” Val whined.

  So ticked, I had all but forgotten about the danger that could very well be hidden in the cave until the horrid buzzing ricocheted in my ears as we entered the Introductory Room.

  I said you would be back.

  I jerked my head around and glanced at everyone. No one else seemed to hear the words but me—just like on the fieldtrip.

  Here we go. I'd held out hope that Constantine and the stupid bats had packed their bags and left the area. No such luck. Unconsciously, I reached up and wrapped my fingers around my pendant, took a deep breath, and steeled myself for the coming confrontations. The pendant vibrated in my palm, reassuring me everything would be okay. I took comfort in the thought.

  Mmmmmm. Fresh meat. I love when dinner is delivered. And I was getting mighty hungry.

  I narrowed my eyes and glared around the room. “Don't you dare touch any of them,” I threatened, my voice nothing more than a whisper.

  And here I thought you would welcome a traged
y befalling the worthless blonde attached to the guy you obviously have feelings for. Tsk. Tsk. Just remember ... you belong to me.

  "Just remember I know what you are."

  "Know what who is?” Mandy asked.

  And I know what you are. The proof is right above your pretty little Vanator mark which is right above your pretty little—

  "Stop,” I ground out between my teeth.

  "Stop what?” Mandy put her hand on her hip.

  "Huh? Oh nothing. I was just talking to myself."

  "You are starting to really freak me out.” Mandy shook her head side to side.

  "Hey, I never said I was normal. Besides, normal is highly—"

  "Overrated,” she finished.

  Mandy knew me too well. I couldn't believe she hadn't sniffed out my big mystery yet. And I had come awfully close to blurting out what had happened to me at Starbuck's last night. I had to be careful and keep my anger in check, or she wouldn't be the only one figuring out my secret.

  It's nice to have such close friends, yes?

  Not caring for the way Constantine emphasized ‘close,’ I glared around the room once more. Was that a threat? Or a warning? Either way, the cold hand of dread grabbed my spine and inched its way around to my heart and squeezed, causing a sharp pain to radiate in my chest.

  "Hey, since y'all have been here before, where do y'all wanna go?” Nick asked.

  "Oh, I want to go to that one place where it looks like there's a lake,” Val said, her cheer buddies nodding in agreement.

  "That sounds great to me.” He smiled at Val and looked her up and down. “This way.” He motioned for us to follow.

  He didn't even bother to find out where the rest of us wanted to go. Another one under the Val ‘ho’ spell. What was it about her that had so many boys falling at her feet? Her personality made her ugly. But, I guess boys will overlook such faults when a hot body contains that personality.

  Mandy looked at me and shrugged. Since the Lake of the Moon happened to be my favorite part of the cave, I let it slide and didn't say anything. Getting through the Crap Room without incident would be the challenge, not Val and her domineering ways.

  Ryan hung back and waited for me to catch up. When Val glanced back and noticed he no longer followed her like a love struck puppy dog, she turned and headed straight for him, grabbed his arm, and tugged him along.

  "Come on, Ryan,” she insisted, then turned her head making sure to flash her snarky smile in my direction.

  Ryan looked at me as if in apology. Whatever. If he wanted to allow her to lead him around like a dog, then more power to him.

  Blood heated in my veins like magma ready to explode out of a volcano. Who was I kidding? No way would I allow Val to have free rein over Ryan. She sorely tested my patience.

  Mandy reached out and grabbed me by the arm as I whizzed by on my way to snatch the hair off Val's head.

  "Whoa ... where ya goin'?” Mandy asked.

  "Did you see what she did?” I huffed.

  "Yes, but she's counting on you reacting exactly like this. Don't you dare give her the satisfaction. Ryan likes you, not her. I can tell by the way he looks at you. He doesn't look at her that way. Besides, he asked you out last night. He's just being nice by not making a scene in front of everyone else. So just chill. Let Val play her stupid games."

  I inhaled a deep breath and calmed myself. Maybe Mandy had it right. After all, he wasn't the one making the moves. Val hung on him. But, he sure didn't seem to mind it too much. Just like last night when he didn't tell Val to move when I had returned from the bathroom. I guess that's what bothered me the most. Why didn't he just tell her to back off? How hard could it be? But then again, maybe Ryan didn't have it in him to be aggressive.

  Footsteps padded back toward us. Brad stopped and put his hands up in front of him, palms up. “Hey, what are y'all waiting on? Want to get left behind in the dark? Nick doesn't want to leave all the lights on. He's waiting to turn this section off, so come on."

  Mandy followed Brad out of the room, but I stayed back to collect myself. Still plenty pissed, I didn't want to take any chances.

  Just say the word and blondie won't be bothering you anymore. I'm having a hard time controlling some of the lustier Liliacs as it is. They would be happy to take care of your problem.

  "No! Leave us alone.” I sprinted after Mandy and Brad, not wanting to be left in the dark with the evil freak of nature.

  You know you want something bad to happen to her. You're no different than me. It's just hidden behind years of repression, but it's there. You can feel it pulling at your very soul. Don't deny it, embrace it. It's quite liberating.

  "I'm nothing like you,” I muttered under my breath.

  Menacing laughter swirled around me as I entered the tight tunnel, Mandy and Brad just in sight ahead of me.

  Suddenly, my vision fuzzed and the tunnel walls seemed to squeeze in around me. I desperately gasped for breaths as my lungs sucked together like vacuum sealed bags. Air the consistency of marshmallows now filled the space around me.

  Oh, God, not now!

  Beads of perspiration covered my entire body, leaving me clammy. My stomach clenched and roiled. I spasmodically swallowed, but no saliva remained in my mouth. A painful twinge started at the base of my spine, my muscles burning and twisting.

  The lights went out.

  Complete blackness enveloped every inch of the area. Even my enhanced senses made no difference. I grabbed at the flashlight in my back pocket. It made a clunking noise as it fell onto the cave floor, rolling away from my grasping fingers.

  Unable to catch my breath, I couldn't scream for help. I shuffled sideways, trying to locate the wall. My hands shook as I reached out and touched the rough surface. Using the wall as a guide, I felt my way along the path. The ends of my fingers throbbed and a scraping sound replaced the soft brushing of my hand against the uneven surface. I drew my hand back. My fingernails had grown long and sharp.

  No, not nails—claws.

  A light dusting of fur popped up along the surface of my skin. My fangs dropped without warning, cutting into my bottom lip. But, they seemed longer and sharper. A rumble started deep in my chest and rippled up, bursting from my lips in a sickening feral scream.

  "What was that noise? Cheyenne? Where are you?” Mandy yelled. “Nick, turn on the lights. I can't find Cheyenne. She's not behind us. And what was that noise? I swear if this is a joke, I'm hurting someone. It's not funny."

  I had to get a grip on myself and fast before Nick flicked the lights back on. Dragging in deep breaths, I focused on my breathing.

  This is quite entertaining. Will she be caught with her pants down and reveal the real Cheyenne? Or will she revert back in time to be the perfect little human? Oh, the anticipation is too much. It's rather delicious. He chuckled and a noise much like the friction of hands rubbing together sounded near me.

  I flinched, expecting to be assaulted in some way.

  The lights flipped on, leaving me standing there in full view staring straight into Mandy's horror stricken eyes.

  I twirled around and hunched down on the ground. Fur no longer sprouted from my skin and the claws seemed to have disappeared. My lips didn't sting from the pressure of my fangs. Maybe Mandy didn't see anything. But her eyes...

  Too scared to turn around and face my best friend to find out what she had seen, I stayed huddled on the floor of the cave like a frightened child.

  "Oh, my God! She's had an attack. Someone help! She's claustrophobic.” The patter of feet closed in on me. “Cheyenne, are you okay?” Mandy squatted next to me and placed her hands on my shoulders.

  Ryan materialized without any warning and knelt down opposite Mandy. “Can I do anything?” Concern softened his tone. He slid his hand up and down my back in a comforting gesture.

  More footsteps sounded. “What's wrong?” Nick asked.

  "You turned out the light and she's claustrophobic, you stupid ass,” Mandy bit out.

>   I raised my hand to stop Mandy's soon-to-be-tirade. “I'm okay. I just got dizzy when I walked into this part of the cave before the lights ever went out. No big deal."

  Ryan and Mandy helped me up. And of course, Val and her buddies stared at me with smirks on their faces. Nice to see they had such concern for my welfare.

  Val turned to Kimee. “Kind of ironic a bat girl can't handle being in a tight place, especially a cave.” They all giggled in the silly teenage girl way I had always hated and took great pains not to imitate the ridiculous behavior.

  Mandy narrowed her eyes on Val. “You can be such a bitch, Val."

  Val turned her nose up in the air. “Whatever."

  "I'll take you home,” Mandy stated in a tone I knew meant there'd be no arguing.

  "I can take her home,” Ryan said.

  Not sure I could deal with Ryan at the moment, I hoped Mandy kept with her usual stubborn nature and refused to allow it.

  Mandy shook her head no. “That's okay. I'll take her."

  "Just let Mandy take her, Ryan. We can all go somewhere else and hang out,” Val said. She glanced at Ryan and smiled, then turned and sneered at me.

  If I hadn't been shaking so bad from the strange experience, I would've smacked the sneer right off her face.

  "Let's go.” Mandy hooked her arm through mine and tugged me out toward the entrance.

  I looked back. Ryan stared after me, yet he made no attempt to follow. And there you have it. He didn't even bother to fight harder to be the one to take me home. Not that I'd have accepted his help, but it would have been nice if he'd pushed more, especially in front of Val. I guess her offer to go somewhere else appealed to him more than being with me.

  My heart sank deep into my chest.

  "I'll call you later,” Brad called out to Mandy. “Hope you feel better, Cheyenne."

  Bye, Cheyenne. I'll be looking forward to your next visit.

  I didn't bother to acknowledge Constantine.

  Once we reached Mandy's car, I crawled into the passenger side, slumping in the seat. Between the strange shifting of my body, the claustrophobic attack, and Ryan's lack of attention toward me, the excursion into the cave had been a real bummer.

  How ironic—the very thing I had feared ended up being the least of my worries. Sure, Constantine had taunted me, but he didn't do anything else. Maybe I should've let his vile crew have at Val.