Chapter 57: Bryan
Under the light of the rising sun, Bryan marched out onto the ledge, looking out into the desert where the two nervous, excited guards pointed.
“The holes were two klicks away,” the first Watcher reiterated, pointing past some spires in the distance.
“You’re sure the kill was recent?”
“Yes,” promised the second Watcher. “The blood wasn’t more than a day old. We think it might be the wolf we saw a few nights ago, but we can’t be certain.”
“Did anyone from the Right Cave see you returning?”
“We came back near the tunnels at the back side of the cliffs,” said the first Watcher. “That’s why it took a while to return. They didn’t see us.”
Bryan nodded. Even if the people of the Right Cave saw them, it didn’t matter. They wouldn’t do anything.
“We found some wolf tracks on the other side of its remains,” explained the second Watcher. “It looked like it weaved in a few directions before the beast caught it, but in the end, it didn’t matter. It died, just like too many others.”
Bryan scanned the empty desert, then the ruins of Red Rock.
He saw no sign of the vicious monster.
Still, he could sense it our there, lurking, waiting.
Fear wormed through his bravery. It was easy to talk about the creature when it was an idea, bandied about it in the cave, but it was a different thing to speak of it when the creature was close. Scanning the magnitude of Red Rock’s destruction reminded him of the creature’s power.
But he had faith in his Watchers and their training, just like he had faith in his Center Cavers.
And he had faith in his newfound plan.
So did Gideon.
Confidence built in his heart. His hard work was coming to fruition. Together, they’d take back their colony and kill the monster.
His most trusted men—Louie, Rodney, Clark, Nicholas, Boyle, and Isaiah—emerged from the Left Cave, taking up next to him.
“Gather our fighters,” he ordered. “It is time we informed them of our plan. Afterward, we’ll meet with everyone and prepare to act.”
Chapter 58: Raj
Raj glanced across the cave, watching Adriana. The way that things were going—if the object worked—Neena might unveil his secret to the rest of the cave soon. Neena was already speaking quietly in a corner with Kai. Who knew who else she would tell? He certainly didn’t trust her.
He needed to talk with Adriana before she heard the news secondhand.
He needed to take credit for his role.
Sweat moistened Raj’s palms as he walked in Adriana’s direction. His stomach turned in knots. He felt as if he were approaching Gideon, or Bryan, instead of a girl he wanted to impress. The nervous part of him wanted to turn away, head back to his bedroll, and give up on a foolish plan. But his heart could no longer stand their separation.
He finally had a good reason to talk with her.
Raj stuck his hands nervously in his pockets, trying to act casual, even though his heart hammered. He cleared his throat.
Noticing him coming, Adriana turned and greeted him.
“Hi.”
Raj’s eyes immediately flew downward. “Hi,” he answered.
Adriana moved from foot to foot. This time, she seemed awkward. She had obviously seen him avoiding her.
A long silence followed. Regret flooded Raj’s stomach. He considered walking away before he made a bigger fool of himself. But he’d crossed half the cave to reach her.
And besides, the same feeling from before had gotten stronger, standing so close to her. He could already smell the scent of her skin, which took him back to those exciting times in the cave. The thought of her soft lips kept him rooted.
“How have you been doing?” he asked.
“Okay,” Adriana said.
Another pause.
“What have you been up to?”
“I’ve just been spending some time with some new friends.” She looked over her shoulder, motioning toward where a few girls talked in a circle—and, to Raj’s dismay, a few boys.
“Oh,” Raj said. The awful silence settled over them again.
What if Adriana had forgotten the times they shared? The idea was silly—it hadn’t been that long, after all—and yet he couldn’t help his crushing doubts.
“I saw you’ve been hanging out with the guards a lot,” Adriana said, pointing toward the entrance.
“You noticed?” Raj’s face brightened.
Slowly, some of his fears melted.
“Of course,” Adriana said, a smile creeping onto her face. “I thought they might’ve given you an official post.”
Raj opened his mouth to clarify, before thinking better of it. “I help them, sometimes.”
“Have you seen anything important out there?” Adriana asked.
“Birds, mostly,” he said, adding, “But I saw a wolf, once.”
Adriana’s eyes widened. “Really? Is it still around?”
“We chased it away.” He looked over his shoulder, making sure no one listened.
“Have you seen the monster?”
“Not yet,” Raj admitted, adding, “Though I might, soon.” Suddenly emboldened, Raj said, “If it is out there, we might have a way to kill it.”
“Kill it? What do you mean?”
Leaning close enough to see the sparkles in her eyes, Raj said, “I told Neena, Darius, and Kai about the object. We think it might be a weapon.”
Disbelief crossed Adriana’s face. “Really?”
Raj waved a hand to where Darius stood, helping Samel with his breakfast. Telling a small lie, he said, “Darius and I spent most of last night working on it, trying to fix it.”
“A weapon!” Adriana was amazed. “What does it do?”
“Our guess is that it throws something, the way a man hurls a spear. But a smaller one. We hope to find out soon.” Raj looked deep into Adriana’s blue eyes. “You can’t tell anyone about it. Do you promise?”
Adriana’s expression was filled with awe. “I promise.”
“You are the only one who knows, outside of our small group.”
The results of Raj’s flattery were written on Adriana’s face. Once again, Raj felt how deeply he had missed her. His boldness grew, and he reached over and took her hand. She squeezed his fingers back. His heart leapt.
“I’m glad you came to talk to me, Raj.”
“Me, too,” Raj said.
They traded a smile.
Looking into her eyes made all those days of silence worthwhile. He was in another moment that he didn’t want to end.
For a second, he considered telling her the rest of his truth, but he’d wait.
Soon, she’d know who his true allies were, and she’d really respect him.
Soon, she’d really think he was a man.
Chapter 59: Bryan
Under the cover of the next evening, Bryan gazed upon the two hundred and fifty men, women, and children gathered before him in the Left Cave. The crowd was thick enough to fill almost every corner of the cave, from wall to wall. The audience stared at him unwaveringly, waiting for his speech. He’d already prepared his fighters.
Now it was time to inspire them.
The same power that coursed through him on the day of Gary’s ceremony reemerged. Only this time, it was stronger, thanks to the time that he and his people had spent working together, their drills, and their common goals.
Looking out among them, Bryan said, “Thank you for coming.”
Dozens of heads nodded, or waited. Most of the women and children had already heard the news. Others awaited confirmation.
“As some of the brave men and women in this chamber have told you, the tim
e to fight has arrived.” Bryan steeled his expression. “The Abomination is here.”
He let the words ring out across the audience, ensuring that everyone felt the impact.
Looking around at all the dirty, watching faces, murmuring their approval, he pulled his strength. Too many days of hunger and fatigue had taught his people a lesson that words never could. They were tired and they were scared, but days of practice had made his fighters restless. They were ready to act and take back their colony. Next to him, Sherry lifted her chin, projecting equal confidence. He wished that she could join him in the battle, but of course, she’d wait here.
His Watchers shifted into a row, holding their spears in formation.
“Louie and my other Watchers have already updated those of you who are coming with us. Each of you is to play the role you are assigned. Those that stay behind will protect our children, and ensure they are taken care of.” He paused. “Those coming with us will fight as heroes, alongside me and my men.”
Confidence swept through the room.
“I have faith in each of you fighters,” Bryan continued, projecting his voice louder. “I know that you will give your best effort to rid Red Rock of this menace. Today we live in dark, dirty caves, as refugees, but tomorrow night, we will sleep in our old hovels as heroes.”
A ripple of excitement rose. Men and women clamped onto their neighbors’ shoulders, displaying their camaraderie.
Louie stepped forward, projecting his courage onto the crowd. “Tonight, you should get as much rest as you can.” He looked around at everyone, pausing before he made his pronouncement. “Tomorrow morning, we will march.”
People hugged their relatives and children as their first strands of hope in a long time solidified.
“Our lives, to protect Red Rock!” Bryan called out.
“Survival at all costs!” came the response.
The words inspired louder murmurs of approval. Faces of fear became hopeful smiles.
Gideon was right.
A new era was here.
Chapter 60: Darius
When darkness had completely fallen, Darius returned to his cove. Sweat poured down his face. His fingers ached. Still, he didn’t stop working. He felt as if he was at the precipice of something great.
With long, practiced strokes, he shaved down the edges of the broken spear, leaving skinny, wooden remnants behind. At certain intervals, he turned it, slimming down the sides to match evenly. A few cracks marred the spear’s surface—mostly toward the back, near the handle. But it was salvageable, for what he needed.
Taking it was a prescient choice.
Four other partially broken spears sat alongside the jutting rock, ready to be carved, if the first test proved effective.
Soon his dedication would pay off.
He hoped.
Finishing with the spear he was modifying, he set it down and observed his handiwork. The new weapon was about the size of an arm, but half as thick—a miniature spear. On each end were pieces of metal; on one side, the normal spear tip; on the other, a new piece of metal he’d attached, after hammering it into a crisscross pattern. It had taken a bit of work to fashion, but not too long, thankfully.
Holding the spear carefully, Darius picked up the device, so that the tube was pointed diagonally over his shoulder. With gingerly movements, he finagled the small, carved spear into the object’s tube and pushed it until he felt a familiar click.
He’d done it!
He’d matched the pattern!
Darius paused, breathing heavily.
Reaching over to his rock, he found the tool he’d shaped to go over the piece of metal on the object’s side, which he’d already tried, ensuring that it’d fit over the metal and make it turn.
The time for preparation was over.
The time for testing was here.
Holding the object at a distance, he looked around his makeshift workshop. The cove was too small for what he intended.
He needed a larger space.
Grabbing a torch, he made his way into the larger tunnel. Darius looked left and right. It was too late for anyone to be wandering around the tunnels. Just in case, he headed in the opposite direction of where the Right Cavers slept. A surge of youthful wonder passed through Darius as he adjusted the bag on his back, and the object in his hand. He felt like he was taking his first trips into the caves, exploring the tunnels with wide, wondrous eyes.
Or the way he’d felt, showing Akron around for the first time.
A sentimental pit took root in Darius’s stomach.
Akron might be dead, but his spirit was alive.
If not for Akron, Darius might not have discovered the carcass of the old beast, approached Neena, or helped her. He might not have led the survivors to the caves. Instead, they might’ve died on that day of the monster’s attack.
Instead, they were here, and Darius was testing a weapon that might change everything.
He reached up, smearing a tear from his weathered cheek.
Perhaps Akron’s death hadn’t been meaningless.
Maybe Akron could see him, wherever he was.
After heading down the tunnel a way, Darius stopped at a protruding section of rock on the wall, lit a second torch, and stuck it in a crevice. Then he returned in the direction from which he’d come.
Fifty feet away, he stopped and studied the wavering flame of his target, and the rocks behind it. Darius couldn’t tell if he was on the verge of a stupendous success or a monumental failure. But he was about to find out.
Sweat moistened his hands.
His heart pounded.
Slowly, he used his fashioned tool to turn the small piece of metal on the side of the object. A long, continuous winding sound echoed off the cave. The noise stopped. Something inside seemed to have locked into place. He set down the tool, held the strange object, and aimed at the flame jutting from the distant rock.
Holding it carefully, he took a breath, before depressing the small, metal piece on the handle.
A nearly deafening crack echoed off the cave walls.
The ensuing recoil nearly knocked him off balance.
Darius grabbed the air, barely saving himself from a fall. He fumbled the object in his hands. Far in the distance, another crack echoed down both ends of the tunnel.
The distant torch flickered and went out, pitching the opposite end of the cave into darkness.
Silence reigned.
Darius found his breath. He looked down at his body, as if he might have sustained some awful injury, but he was intact.
He looked at the object in his hand.
The miniature spear was missing.
Grabbing his cane, Darius thrust it in front of him and rushed down the tunnel with his torch. His body coursed with nerves and excitement. His hands trembled. Still, he gripped the object as if it might fall from his hands, or someone might snatch it. Closing the gap to the spot where he’d aimed, Darius shined own light around, studying the rock wall. All he saw was jagged rock, in an array of sizes and patterns.
And then he saw it.
Just past the extinguished torch, the missing spear sat embedded in the wall, its carved end jutting out. Somehow, it had penetrated the rock. Miraculous!
But that wasn’t it.
Darius looked down.
Sitting on the cave floor was a pile of newly broken rocks.
He looked back and forth, as if someone might be tricking him. But no one was here, except for him and the object.
Darius looked at the object for a long moment, questioning what he knew was real.
Never in his life had he seen something move so fast, or so true.
Never had he seen a spear fly without human effort, and damage stone.
Incredible!
The object was extraordinary.
Reaching down, he tugged the wooden end of the spear until it came out. The spear tip was blunted, chipped.
A strange power filled Darius, as he held up the broken spear and examined it, before looking down at the pile of debris.
His mind returned Akron. If only the young boy were here again, to witness this discovery.
Darius smiled.
“Unbelievable,” he whispered.
He’d head back to his cove, shave down the rest of the spears, and do a few more tests.
In the morning, he’d tell the others.
Chapter 61: Raj
Raj peered out from the shadows where he hid. His heart thudded with excitement. His eyes roamed from the object in Darius’s hands, to the miniature spear he’d retrieved. He knew he wasn’t supposed to be here, but he couldn’t miss Darius’s test.
Raj almost couldn’t believe what he’d witnessed.
The object was even more incredible than Darius had said!
It had pierced stone!
Cloaked in a dark corner of the cave, Raj watched Darius place the carved spear in his bag and head back into his cove. For a moment, nostalgia hit Raj, as he recalled walking next to Darius during those first days in the caves, listening to his incredible stories.
Then he thought of Neena’s protective words, and the way Darius and Kai had shunned him. Not one had listened to him when he’d first tried mentioning the object. Not one of them had treated him like more than a child.
Raj had seen enough.
It was time to report to Bryan.
Chapter 62: Bryan
Bryan’s boots echoed off the walls of the healer’s cove. Gideon looked up, appraising him.
“The time is here,” Bryan said. “We are ready to march and defeat the monster.”
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