“In reality my dear, that tunnel was never any more hazardous than the others. There were additional reasons for keeping people clear of it,” said Mayge with gravity.
“What reasons?”
“Until the groundshake that caved in tunnel eight, we weren’t sure which tunnel Obadiah had been using. When he called every miner to clear that tunnel, he was revealing his absolute desperation,” said Tess as the others nodded.
“But, what’s so important about that tunnel that it needs to be cleared so badly, if it’s not to rescue his son?” Ulenna pressed.
“Because dear,” said Mayge softly, “tunnel eight is the way out.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
It took a while for the teens to get a rhythm down as they left the small cave and advanced across the sandy lakeside beach. Heading away from where they’d found Gideon, sticking close to the edge of the cliffside as they pushed forward, they followed the curve of the beach to the east of the grand cavern.
“I don’t see a slope on this side,” Ranelle observed as they carried the stretcher forward.
“Mmm,” Lara agreed as she squinted ahead.
Beyond the high cliffside that the group had descended earlier, the beach stretched on further before disappearing into the darkness. Eventually, their lantern light fell upon an obstacle, illuminating several massive rocks, casting large domed shadows onto the cavern wall in the far distance.
“More rocks…” Lara sighed.
“Yeah, but look,” said Charlie, holding out the lantern so the girls could see what he saw.
Halting their advancement, they squintied into the distance. Ahead of them, a thin sanded pathway weaved between the large stones, disappearing as it curved out of sight.
“Wait, is that a path?” Lara asked, peering at the ground before them.
“I think so!” Ranelle exclaimed, feeling an overwhelming sense of relief that they’d found a way off the beach. If they were lucky, perhaps it would lead them along the water’s edge toward the far side of the lake.
“How hard is that to push?” asked Charlie, looking down at the stretcher as the girls rested for a moment.
“Actually, it’s pretty easy with all of the sand,” said Lara, glancing down at the beach floor.
“Yeah, it helps the stretcher glide around better,” Ranelle added, looking back over her shoulder. She could see the strange marks they were leaving as they dragged the odd-shaped contraption through the sand.
“Perfect,” Charlie declared, turning his attention onto the path ahead. He called back over his shoulder, “let me know when one of you gets tired, and we can rotate.”
“I guess we’re going this way,” Lara mused. She pursed her lips as she and Ranelle quickly lifted the stretcher back into position while Charlie eagerly advanced without them.
Once the group neared the cluster of rocks, Ranelle quickly realized their view of the lake would be obstructed from the path due to the large boulders and slabs of rock that abutted the water’s edge. Feeling uneasy, the girls continued forward, navigating as best they could, dragging the stretcher awkwardly down the narrow pathway.
“Good thing none of us are claustrophobic,” Charlie called from up ahead.
The girls merely grunted, unamused as sweat began to bead on their foreheads from the effort of pulling Gideon’s mass. The trail ahead was only a tad wider than the stretcher and wove back and forth, making it difficult to navigate without stopping every few feet to readjust the stretcher. Along the edge of the pathway stood a wide boundary made of rocks of varying sizes and shapes.
“Hopefully the sand continues, or this will get much harder,” said Ranelle, hoping for the best.
Lara grunted in agreement as they awkwardly weaved around the boulders, following Charlie’s lead. After some time, and a lot zigzagging back and forth, the girls continued to perspire from their efforts.
“Your turn,” Lara panted to Charlie’s backside as she and Ranelle stopped to set the stretcher down.
Charlie reluctantly handed the lantern to Lara as she gratefully accepted it and the supply satchels in exchange for a break from stretcher duty.
Continuing on, the three teenagers moved ahead once again, pushing forward until the pathway eventually began to straighten, forming an easier route, much to the relief of the group.
“How’re you holding up, Ranelle?” Lara called back as she noticed the change in the trail.
“Good, but we should take a decent break; get out some rations and check Gideon’s bandages.”
“I agree,” grunted Charlie, already exhausted from his brief shift of stretcher duty.
Eager for rest as well, Ranelle glanced around for a suitable place to set Gideon. Finding an appropriate slab for the job, Ranelle and Charlie set the head of the stretcher down upon a large, flat stone, which thankfully kept Gideon inclined and off of the sandy cavern floor. They then stretched and shook their hands and arms, rotating their wrists to relieve the strain.
“He’s heavier than he looks,” Charlie noted as he rubbed his sore muscles.
“Maybe these are smaller than you thought,” Lara joked as she pinched Charlie’s upper arm muscle, watching his face fall.
“Hey, I know I could be stronger, but I don’t know how a guy could get to his size eating the crap they feed us every day,” Charlie commented defensively.
Lara smirked, setting the lantern down so that they each could circle it to keep warm as they ate. Charlie and Ranelle continued to stretch while Lara laid out three small piles of rations. Each ration contained a few pieces of dried mushrooms, fish, and kava root from the supplies they’d acquired from station two.
“Thanks,” said Charlie gratefully as he dropped onto the sandy ground and began to eat, obviously famished.
“I think Lara’s right, you need to build up those muscles of yours,” joked Ranelle as she watched Charlie eat, her eyebrow raised.
“Huh?” he asked obliviously, shoving a piece of fish into his mouth.
Lara snorted, almost choking on her food.
“You tire too easily–you need more muscles, kid,” said Ranelle with a grin.
“Well, perhaps I could build some more if I had as much food to eat as he obviously does,” Charlie argued, gesturing toward Gideon with a frown.
“That’s probably true,” said Lara thoughtfully, “although now isn’t the time to gorge…we need to make these rations last. Who knows when we might find more?”
Ranelle nodded as she plopped a piece of dried mushroom into her mouth and savored the flavor. There was a noticeable difference in the quality of the food at the food hall in Ashbourne versus the food rations from the supply station. How the latter could taste so much more flavorful, she couldn’t figure.
“How far do you think we’ve gone?” asked Charlie, glancing up at the rock formations that blocked their view of the lake.
“Not sure, but hopefully these rocks get sparser at some point,” Lara replied, “I don’t like being unable to see what’s ahead or behind for that matter.”
“I agree,” Ranelle commented, “it’s unsettling.”
Charlie nodded, throwing the last of his snack into this mouth as he looked down at his empty lap with a growing look of disappointment.
When Ranelle had also finished her food, she rose to check on Gideon. Aside from his pale complexion, he appeared well as his gash was beginning to heal nicely, and all the swelling around the injury was gone. She traced her fingers over the pink line of stitches where the scalp had been brought back together to heal. In a few weeks, his mop of long black curls would cover the scar neatly.
It might not even be noticeable. Only the part that crept down below Gideon’s hairline would be visible.
Ranelle paused, running her fingers thru his mop of curly hair, pulling apart the knots gently. She noticed that his curls needed a wash, making a mental note to complete the chore whenever they found a new source of water. She hadn’t been able to properly wash his hair since
sewing up the gash from fear of infection. It had been vital that the poultice stay put on the injury, rather than worrying about the state of his locks.
“How’s he doing?” Lara called over to her, watching as her friend lingered at Gideon’s side.
“Good, better than I expected actually,” Ranelle reported as she once again got to her feet.
“I would’ve thought he’d have woken by now,” said Charlie, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. At the same time, Lara rolled her eyes and jabbed him in the ribs, giving him a look that plainly said, you’re being insensitive.
Ranelle thought before responding, “Me too, but we don’t know what damage was done inside, and the head’s a tricky thing. I assume when the all trauma heals–he will finally awaken. All we can do is carry him along for now and hope for the best.”
Lara gave her an encouraging nod, followed by a red-faced Charlie who was now trying his best to make up for his careless choice of words.
“Are you both rested?” asked Ranelle as she stood, slipping her bags over her shoulder as she approached Gideon’s stretcher to get moving again.
“It’s your turn to carry the lantern,” reminded Lara as she approached her with their only source of light. She passed it over, as well as the small bladder full of their remaining pyrus.
Charlie blanched at the thought of another shift at stretcher duty, but when he saw Lara’s harsh expression, his thought to complain melted away. He quietly took up his spot on the opposite side of the handle without argument.
“You sure you guys are good for this stretch?” asked Ranelle, glancing between them.
“Absolutely!” said Lara with a bit more gusto than was needed–effectively keeping Charlie silent.
Ranelle smiled, taking her place as the lead. She watched as Lara and Charlie slowly raised the head of the stretcher, adjusting their grips until they could move forward comfortably with the added weight.
“Lead on,” the small boy grunted.
Ranelle obliged, holding the lantern out broadly before her so the others could see the path ahead. Their trek continued forward along the lakeside for a while, their sandy route continuing along much straighter than it had before they’d rested. Tall boulders still obscured their view of the lake; as a result, they had only their physical effort as a clue to how far they’d traveled.
After a turn of carrying the stretcher, an exhausted Charlie was just about to ask for a reprieve. Before he could, the path abruptly flattened, and the rocks to the side of the trail appeared to thin out.
“This looks promising,” grunted Lara as she paused to catch her breath, “at least it isn’t as steep as it was before.”
“Why don’t you two take a break for a few minutes, I’m going to scout up ahead where the rocks space out and see what’s there,” Ranelle suggested.
“Then, maybe I can carry the lantern for the next leg?” Charlie panted as he doubled over, putting his palms on his knees, trying to catch his breath.
Lara rolled her eyes at him. “It’s not like miners aren’t used to hard work,” she said playfully.
“He’s–really heavy,” said the boy as if that was the only excuse he needed.
“Then you rest…mind if I take the lantern?” Ranelle asked as her companions sat to stretch their legs out.
“Sure,” Charlie replied, looking over at Lara for her agreement, “I’m just going to sit back and rest my eyes for a bit.”
“Same here,” Lara concurred as she rotated her wrists and set her back up against a large rock behind her.
Ranelle smiled. She waited until the others had settled, then lifted the lantern, holding it out as explored. She sauntered ahead, watching as the tightly bunched boulders that had separated the path from the looming cavern wall, began to space out. She stood on her tiptoes, trying to see the lake on the other side, but the formations of stone still loomed over her.
She focused her attention, instead, on the right side of the path, watching as the spaces between the stones grew. As she came upon a large gap between the rocks, she approached, holding the lantern out in front of her. She expected to see the immense cavern wall stretching upward, and yet, the rock formations had surprisingly hidden the presence of a steep cliff that ran just along the path’s edge. If she hadn’t been paying attention, she could have walked right off the side, plummeting down into the chasm below.
Her heartbeat quickened, and she swallowed hard. Walking the edge of the path, she wondered how far down it went. Feeling braver than she probably should have, she stepped tentatively ahead, inching her way closer to the edge. She peered down into the darkness, lantern held out firmly before her. Despite the brightness of the light she carried, she was still unable to view the bottom of the trench.
“Find anything interesting?” Ranelle heard a familiar voice call out from behind.
“There’s a drop-off on the other side of the boulders,” Ranelle called back, “I’m not sure how far down it goes.”
“Well, let’s not find out,” Lara called back to her with a laugh.
Ranelle smiled, leaning forward as she teetered on the edge of the drop, trying again to see the chasm floor. Abruptly, she spied something curious just below her on the cliff-face. The object was gray or perhaps white, poking up out of the dirt a few feet away. Becoming distracted by the item, Ranelle knelt, setting the lantern onto the ground beside her so that she had two free hands to investigate with.
Afraid of losing her grip and sliding down the side of the cliff, she decided to lay down on her belly, scooting over the edge slightly so that she could more easily retrieve the object. As her fingertips brushed its surface, it felt hard and smooth. As she tugged, she realized most of the object was buried beneath the dirt and only a small patch of it was visible.
Ranelle started pushing the dirt away, and the object slowly began to grow. As more white was visible, the lantern light glinted off the object’s pitted surface. Eventually, she was able to hook a finger under an edge, and she began to tug on the item harder, slowly freeing it from its earthy prison. As she held the soil covered thing her hands, she scooted back, coming onto her butt to inspect the treasure. As she turned the object over and more earth fell off, she suddenly realized what it was.
Shrieking, she immediately dropped it, the object falling with a small thud onto the dirt. Ranelle pushed herself away in horror, as the empty eye sockets of a skull stared back at her.
“What’s wrong?” Lara called out with concern.
“I found something,” she cried, unable to steady her shaking voice, “…it’s–it’s a skull.”
“A skull?” Charlie called nervously from the darkness, “what does it belong to?”
“Not what–who,” Ranelle clarified as she stared down at it, realizing it was undoubtedly the skull of a small child. It was too little to be an adult, but there was no mistaking what kind of being it had come from.
Feeling like she might lose her composure, Ranelle picked the lantern up off the edge of the pathway and hurriedly got to her feet. However, before she could retreat, the lamp illuminated several more objects that were littered across the cliffside. Hesitating, Ranelle held a shaking hand out, casting the lantern light out broadly over the cliffside, slowly sweeping the light back and forth before her. Her mouth hung agape as she suddenly realized that the entire cliffside was littered with the bones of many bodies–possibly hundreds. Feeling the bile rise in her throat, Ranelle slowly backed away from the edge, her eyes bulging in horror, her heart sprinting within her chest.
Legs shaking as she slowly turned, she yearned to return to the safety of the others. Before she’d made it on to the pathway, however, she heard a small click-clack resound from deep within the trench below. Ranelle froze and waited as her heart thumped. Then came the sound again. Click-clack.
It was closer this time, much closer.
“What’s that sound?” Lara’s voice echoed through the darkness.
Ranelle didn’t answer. Instead, she slow
ly turned back toward the chasm, feeling the weight of the lantern in her shaking hand.
For a third time she heard the sound, but this time it echoed on.
Click-claaaack, click-claaaack.
“Something’s coming…” Ranelle called out, her voice quivered as her body trembled uncontrollably.
The sound came again, even closer this time. Click-clack, click-clack, click-clack.
Ranelle had an overwhelming urge to run back to the others–back to Gideon.
`Before she could take a step, she watched as the earth from the cliffside began to tremble then fall away as dirt, sand, and rocks showered down into the chasm.
Another groundshake?
It took Ranelle only a moment to realize how mistaken she was as the entire cliffside suddenly gave way. Through the debris, a spiny black leg burst forth, reaching up from the chasm and over the side of the cliff, followed by several more. Ranelle stared in horror as a gigantic creature dragged its’ spiny body over the side of the ledge, its luminous multifaceted eyes falling on her, pincers moving wildly.
Click-clack.
Her heart leaped in her chest as she recognized the creature; she’d seen one before, albeit it had been dead at the time. An image of the black-boned skeleton they’d found up in the tunnels flashed through her mind.
They weren’t bones, and it wasn’t glass we stepped on.
Ranelle suddenly realized it was the decayed remains of the giant creature’s exoskeleton.
Sensing her proximity, the mammoth beetle reared toward Ranelle, its pincers clicking madly as it advanced on her. Nearly tripping over her own feet, Ranelle turned and ran, the lantern grasped firmly in her hand as she held it out, lighting her way.
“It’s a skincrawler!” she screamed into the darkness as she raced forward, hearing the click-clack of the creature advancing shortly behind.
There were sounds of movement from up ahead, as Lara and Charlie rushed to their feet, pulling daggers from their satchels.
Alysium Page 24