Chapter 5 - The Cave

“Wyatt!” we all shouted, rushing in the direction of the scream.

The screams kept coming, cutting into the stale air and echoing throughout the cave. The bloodstains definitely did not help to make it any less terrifying. And the fact that the screams were echoing, so we didn’t know exactly where they were coming form, also didn’t help us.

Neither did the fact that the cave split into five different tunnels.

Savannah’s head snapped up and she stared intently down the tunnel in between the left and the middle. It looked like she was having a staring contest with the stone. “That way,” she said, nodding confidently. “I heard a knife. Also, the scent of the blood is strongest from there. We should go that way. Follow me.” Savannah forged her way past cobwebs and spilled supplies, then angled herself so that she was able to army crawl through. “Oh, and watch your head. You don’t wanna accidentally get a concussion.” Once she finished giving us instructions, she began to crawl, cursing whenever she ran into something in the darkness.

“Language,” Carter muttered, positioning himself so that he could also army crawl his way through.

“Right, because right now language is everyone’s biggest concern,” Lotus told him sarcastically, rolling her eyes. “Now hurry up. There’re people in line behind you, y’know.”

Another bloodcurdling scream cut through the cave, echoing ominously and rattling my skull. “Lotus is right,” I said anxiously. “Carter, hurry. Things don’t sound like they’re going all that well for Wyatt.” I just hope we can help him in time, I thought in a panic. Stupid quests. Always getting people hurt or killed.

I blamed the gods. The goddesses, too. Oh, and the Fates.

“Okay, okay, okay,” Carter said, “I’m trying to hurry, but if the rocks don’t let me, it’s on them.”

“Or you could just hurry up already and move around the rocks, dummy,” Savannah’s voice called from the gloom. “Honestly, if you guys could just get a move on already, that would be great, thanks. Carter.” The sound of a something small whizzing through and bouncing off the walls filled the air for a few seconds, and then a tiny rock flew by, hitting Carter in the head. “Did I get him?” asked Savannah.

Throwing rocks at Carter was kind of a thing. We did it a lot.

“Oh, yeah, you got him,” Taylor said, frowning. “But why did you throw it? That was mean.”

Okay, throwing rocks at Carter was a thing that Taylor didn’t know about. So what? It wasn’t like we expected Taylor to throw rocks at the guy he obviously liked. Who would do that?

Fine. I’d do it. So would Lotus and Savannah. But that wasn’t an important detail, so whatever.

“Uh… long story that we don’t have time for,” Savannah said, saving us from explaining the joke behind it. “Anyway, let’s just get going already and help out Wyatt. Carter, move. If you’re not coming, let somebody else come down.”

Thank the gods, I thought when Carter moved aside. Once he was fully out of the way, I slid into the tunnel and twisted around so I didn’t hit the rocks. I got into army crawling position and started making my way toward Savannah. Her battle axe reflected the tiniest sliver of light, which made it easier for me to find my way over. “Hey,” I whispered.

“Hey. Nice speed. That’s what I’m looking for,” she whispered back. Then she raised her voice and called, “All right, who’s next? Whoever it is, go with the same speed as Vic. That was good.”

“I’m next!” Lotus replied. The sound of her stepping into the cave and sliding down the path, the smaller stones slipping from where they were before, filled the tunnel. Suddenly, she crashed into me, which sent me crashing into Savannah. “Oops,” she said, trying to suppress a laugh.

“Well, you definitely had some speed there,” Carter called from above.

“I’m staying up here, guys, so don’t wait. Have fun beating people up!” Taylor told us. The sound of him opening his pack and testing his hunting bow came down to us, and he added, “I’m gonna try finding something to eat.”

“Boys,” Savannah muttered bitterly. Then, shaking herself, she said, “All right, well, let’s go help out Wyatt. Then we’re gonna annoy the heck out of them and make them clean up the entire camp. Every. Single. Day. All in favor of that plan, say ‘aye.’”

“Aye,” Lotus and I replied in unison.

Another scream sounded.

“Well, glad we’re in agreement. Now let’s go beat up whoever this is,” Savannah told us, grabbing her axe. She crawled forward and we followed suit until we found the exit. Savannah leapt out and lunged at the ring of people surrounding Wyatt.

Lotus and I tumbled out after her, gripping our weapons.

“Who are you?” I asked the ring of people, getting my throwing knives ready. “And why are you here?”