The Witch Cave

by Sara Clancy

  Hold on, she commanded herself while her body trembled. Someone else found a foothold. They must have. I couldn’t hold them all. Just hold on until they get their footing. She repeated her thoughts like a mantra. Screaming it over the pain of her trembling muscles, the icy push against her spine, the pain in her gut, and the way the walls closed in around her. Most importantly, it fortified her against the approaching laughter. Hold on. Hold on!

  Water bombarded the glowstick coiled around her hand, making its light scatter and dance. By its glow, she saw the pale face peek over the top of the fissure she had wedged herself into. The Mahaha’s eyes shone with mirth as it scurried around the rim. A new fear tore into her soul. It’s going to cut the rope! Images of the others falling to their deaths slammed to the forefront of her mind. A surge of water startled her from her frozen state. She slid a few inches before she could lock her elbows against the walls. Her scrambling feet found a small ledge to brace against, and she pushed back, fighting the deluge to hold her position. The Mahaha’s face tipped to the side. Its smile grew wider, and its laughter took on a sharper edge.

  Deliberately, making sure it had her full attention, it turned its face once more toward the rope. Frothing water covered most of her torso, hiding the knot from sight. Still, the creature found it easily and reached one long talon into the waves. No! She tried to kick at it, almost losing her footing in the effort. The Mahaha cackled with delight. Keep its attention, Mina told herself. Don’t let it cut the rope. They need more time.

  She felt the tug when it hooked its nail around the slender cord. An insignificant little pull that made Mina’s heart stammer. How much more can Basheba’s rope take? It was a miracle it hadn’t broken already. Mina decided that the rest was up to them. Driving her elbows out until the rocks cut through her jacket, she braced one foot, took aim, and kicked with every ounce of strength she could summon.

  Her heel caught the Mahaha’s jaw but didn’t dislodge it as she had hoped. The monster barely reacted to the blow at all, except to refocus its attention upon her. Wide eyes studied her as she desperately tried to regain her position. Hold on. Hold on! Its shoulders rattled with demonic giggles as it crawled over the rim. There was barely enough room in the fissure to accommodate them both. It loomed over her, blocking the light. Water struck them both, frothing and churning, the crush almost covering the delicate click of its talons upon the rocks. Hold on.

  It seemed to swallow up the air as it leaned toward her. Close enough that she could feel its laughter vibrating within her chest. Hold on. With spider-like ease, the Mahaha found its footing, allowing it to lift one hand. It trailed the needle-thin points of its nails across her face. One tip followed the curve of her lower eyelid. Hold on! She hurled the desperate thought against the flood of memories surging toward the front of her mind. There was no stopping them. Images of Cadwyn removing Basheba’s eye filled her head, dragging her toward blind panic. Mina clenched her jaw. She did that for me. I can do this for her.

  “Mina!” Cadwyn called.

  She trembled, unable to answer. Barely willing to breathe in case the motion made the blade sink in. The Mahaha cackled gleefully.

  “Mina, stay where you are! We’ve almost got it!”

  There was some delight that came with knowing she had been right. Hold on, and they’ll live. Trembles rattled her body, from the fear and the cold and the strain of muscles pushed to their limits. Fire ignited in her cheek as the Mahaha pushed its nail in. Laughter merged with Mina’s scream as the nail sunk deeper, methodically pulled down, severing her flesh. Blood rushed into her mouth. The tip of the nail clicked against her teeth.

  “Mina?” Cadwyn bellowed, his voice taking on a strained edge.

  She tried to silence herself and failed miserably. The nail continued its trail through her flesh. Agony exploded within her. The sight of her screaming and choking on her own blood made the creature giggle in amusement. Hold on. Just a little longer. Hold on.

  “Now!”

  Instantly, her body reacted to Cadwyn’s command. She dropped her feet, flattened herself against the stone, and let the deluge take her. The back of the Mahaha’s talon brushed against the side of her face as she slid out from under it. The fissure’s rim scraped the length of her spine, and then there was nothing. No water, no stone, no monster gouging at her skin. Just open air and a sudden, gut-wrenching drop. Arms latched around her waist, bringing her to a bone-jarring stop, and she was abruptly sent into a new direction. Cradled against Cadwyn’s chest, they skidded down at a sharp angle. Small bits of stone came out at random to smack against them. Each one cracked apart under the force of their descent, barely slowing them down. In the darkness, she couldn’t see the tight turn or the last sudden drop. Cadwyn coiled around her to steal most of the impact. It took a moment for her brain and innards to catch up with what had happened.

  “Guys!” Ozzie’s panicked voice broke through her stunned daze. “Guys?”

  “We’re coming to you,” Cadwyn grunted.

  Gentle but persistent hands pushed at Mina’s shoulders. Her skin felt too loose. It allowed her bones to rattle around as she forced herself back onto her feet. The severed end of the rope tangled around her legs, ensuring that her first step sent her slamming into the far-too-close wall.

  Blinding pain pulsated from her cheek. She was only half-aware of the hot blood that gushed down her neck and face, countering the Arctic chill that had ravaged her skin. She was only vaguely conscious of the thin tunnel before her or the light at the end. Cadwyn knelt beside her. She caught a glimpse of Basheba’s hunting knife and, after a jerk, the rope fell away. He still had to loop an arm under her shoulders to get her moving.

  There wasn’t enough room for them to run side-by-side. They crammed tightly together and lumbered on. Laughter followed, swelling in the air, drawing closer.

  “Hurry-hurry-hurry!” Ozzie chanted.

  Mina could hear him smacking the rocks, but she couldn’t catch sight of him, of anyone. Between one blink and the next, the walls fell away and Mina found herself in a circular space. Small holes speckled the cave ceiling far above her head. They allowed just enough light for her to catch the shadows and shapes of things. The ground was an unstable mix of sand and stone. She barely got a few steps before she tripped on the uneven terrain. Cadwyn took her weight, tucking her under his arm and carrying her to the center of the cave.

  The Mahaha’s laughter filled her skin. Her head swirled, and her limited vision blurred. Hard strikes against stone made her lift her head. Only then did she realize she had fallen flat against the sand at some point. Ozzie and Jeremiah stood on a ridge just above the tunnel opening. Ozzie struck ferociously at a cluster of boulders, trying to jar them loose. The resulting landslide would seal the tunnel shut and separate them from the giggling monster. Malicious laughter rolled into the circular room like waves. Mina choked on her scream as she saw a pale figure emerge from the tunnel’s shadows.

  “Jeremiah!” Ozzie yelled, still striking the stones.

  Jeremiah hesitated.

  “Hurry!” Ozzie pressed.

  Still, her brother remained motionless. Mina saw him stagger abruptly to the side. She was just about to lunge up when she spotted Basheba behind him. The blonde took Jeremiah’s place and, together with Ozzie, they worked against the piled rubble. The Mahaha broke into a run. Mina scurried back over the sand before Cadwyn’s body blocked her view, his shoulders braced for a fight.

  Thunder crashed overhead. The ground trembled as the pile of stones gave way. They toppled against each other, making the world rumble and kick up a choking cloud of dust. By the time Cadwyn slunk back to her side, a wall of boulders filled the tunnel’s entrance, thick enough to smother the Mahaha’s laughter.

  “What the hell is wrong with you?” Ozzie roared. Fury dripped from his voice as he whirled on Jeremiah. “We had a plan!”

  “I was thinking!” Jeremiah protested.

  “Of what? We almost had that thing in h
ere with us!”

  “And now we’re trapped.” Jeremiah stumbled down from the ridge only to have Ozzie stalk after him. “Everyone keeps telling me how deadly Basheba is. And she’s proven that she’s not above murder. Surely it would have been a better idea to simply let her and Buck handle it.”

  “Are you kidding me?” Ozzie screamed. “She’s one person. She’s injured! We decided—”

  “And your ideas have been brilliant so far.”

  While his fists balled, his voice calmed. “We don’t survive this by ourselves, we work as a team.”

  “So you say.”

  Ozzie’s mouth opened but nothing come out for a good long while. “Ever since I learned I was a Sewall, I’ve hated how useless I am. I’m not as smart as Mina, or as competent as Cadwyn, or as fearless as Basheba. Even Buck does more than I do.” He took the last step separating them and jabbed his hand against Jeremiah’s chest. “I might be useless, but at least I’m not a jackass.”

  “How dare you—” Jeremiah’s sentence stalled as Mina called for him.

  Pain and blood distorted his name until it was little more than a gargle. Cadwyn rolled her onto her side, the position both letting the blood drain from her lips and giving him a better view of the wound. He pulled back, turning his face away to try and suck in a deep, sobering breath. When he turned back, he had retreated into a purely professional demeanor. She barely noticed any of it. Pain radiated through her body. A searing agony that made her jolt and whimper.

  “You girls need to remember that my painkillers are a finite resource.”

  The warmth in his words eroded her fear. The steady weight of his hand on her shoulder helped more than she thought it could. Neither thing diminished the pain but, somehow, they made it endurable. Jeremiah suddenly filled her tear-blurred vision. His glowstick swung wildly as he dropped onto his knees before her and snatched up her hand.

  “Are you okay? What happened? What did it do to you?”

  Basheba rested her forearm on the top of Jeremiah’s head, pushing up on her toes to peer down at Mina.

  “Yeah, I don’t think she’s going to be answering you any time soon.”

  “Get off of me!” Jeremiah snarled and thrashed like a wounded beast.

  “This isn’t helping Mina.” Cadwyn’s voice drifted from somewhere out of sight. “Keep her calm for me, Jerry.”

  Jeremiah slid down beside his sister, positioning himself so they were face to face, clasping her hands between his.

  “I’m sorry,” he whispered, choking on a sob. “I’m so sorry, Mina.”

  She tried to shush him but the world lurched around her. The sand between them darkened. That’s a lot of blood. The thought slowly slid across Mina’s brain, unconnected to anything else, and left the niggling suspicion that it was somehow important.

  Jeremiah tightened his grip on her fingers. “I’m supposed to take care of you. You’re supposed to be able to lean on me. But, Mina…” He lowered his voice to a private whisper. “I don’t know to do.”

  She rubbed his knuckles with her thumb, hoping it conveyed all she couldn’t say. It’s okay. You’re here. That means the world to me. Don’t cry. It didn’t work, and he broke down into a series of body-rattling sobs. He curled closer, kissing the back of her hand as if it could wipe away everything else. His confession came on a whimper.

  “I’m so scared, Mina. God, I’m so scared.”

  The sharp point of the needle was barely felt amongst the agony ravaging her body. Its effects worked swiftly, however, leaving her only seconds before she felt unconsciousness looming over her. Unable to speak, she squeezed her brother’s hand, willing him to understand. It’s okay. You’re here. Just hold on a little longer.

  Chapter 14

  Apparently, Buck had put their earlier misunderstanding far behind them and was content with Cadwyn’s company again. At least enough to use the man’s thigh as a pillow and demand ear rubs. Drool kept a patch of his scuffed-up biker pants uncomfortably damp while the rest of him dried.

  Basheba had lit a few of her stolen chafer fuel tins. Since they were designed to keep food warm, their steady blue flames didn’t give off much light. They were surprisingly warm, though, and Cadwyn warmed his hands over the nearest one every so often.

  Azure light danced upon the walls and welled in pools upon the sandy floor. Mina hadn’t regained consciousness and, since she was the only one who knew where they were going, they decided to rest awhile. After sharing a few granola bars from Mina’s pack, they had settled in.

  Ozzie and Jeremiah moved as a pair, circling the limits of the room and generally trying to find some common ground. Basheba decided to jerk all responsibility and curl up with Buck’s stomach as her pillow. No one begrudged her it. Although Cadwyn did feel a familiar pang of jealousy. She had the remarkable talent of falling asleep on demand. It didn’t matter where they were or what was trying to kill them. The moment she decided she wanted to sleep, she was out, leaving him to stare at the walls and listen to her and Buck snore. The bandages covering his palm snagged his hair as he slicked his bangs back. This whole situation shouldn’t have a sense of déjà vu.

  With Buck nuzzling at his left hand for attention, and Mina curling against his right side in search of his body heat, Cadwyn hadn’t been able to move for a while. He suspected it had been a few hours, given how uncomfortably numb his legs were. Although, it could simply have seemed longer since Ozzie and Jeremiah refused to sit still. Side-by-side, the boys circled him again on yet another loop of the room. At least it’s easy to keep an eye on both of them at once, he thought as he squirmed, seeking a more comfortable position while stretching for Basheba’s bag. She always had snacks.

  Mina grunted, her bandaged fingers grasping at his knee. He stilled, which let her settle but left Buck rather disgruntled about being squished. Basheba, whom Cadwyn had personally witnessed sleep through a cup of water to the face, stirred at the dog’s first grumble.

  “What’s wrong, handsome?” she slurred against Buck’s fur.

  “Just a bit hungry,” Cadwyn replied.

  Basheba jerked up only to stare blankly down at her pet.

  “Basheba,” Cadwyn slowly asked. “Did you think Buck spontaneously learned how to talk?”

  “No,” she scoffed, settling back down against her dog’s side. “But how cool would it be if he did? I’d have an interesting conversation for once.”

  “I’m not insulted. In case you were wondering.”

  “I wasn’t.”

  Buck mirrored Basheba’s yawn. That, of course, earned the dog a few minutes of praise, which Cadwyn spent once more reaching for her backpack.

  “How long have I been asleep?” Basheba abruptly asked.

  He lifted his wristwatch. “It broke somewhere along the way.”

  Basheba kissed the top of Buck’s head before rolling onto her back. Far above, through the small gaps in the cave roof, she studied the patchwork of the night sky. She stuck one hand up and looked down the length of her arm, using her thumb as a gage. For what, he had no idea, but it all seemed conclusive enough for her.

  “It’s between ten and midnight.”

  “How?” he asked.

  Studying the cave ceiling again didn’t help to clear anything up. He was ninety percent sure that she was messing with him.

  “Do I question your encyclopedic knowledge of narcotics?” she huffed.

  “Fair enough.”

  He settled a hand on her forehead.

  “What ya doing?”

  “Checking for signs of fever.”

  Her skin was clammy and warmer than it should have been, especially given the chill of the space. He used the back of his free hand to compare their temperatures.

  “Ninety-eight,” he mumbled.

  “Not bad,” she smiled with pride.

  “If we ignore your blood loss. And the unsanitary conditions—”

  “It’s not that bad in here.”

  “Mildew-infested caves a
ren’t recommended for people with open wounds, Basheba.”

  “Oh, right. That. But you stitched them. So, they’re not open anymore.”

  “And, given our swim in near-freezing water and the ambient temperature, we should all be running a few degrees lower than normal at the moment.” He traced his fingertips along her forehead and cheek, searching for any trace of fever sweating. “If you knock up one more degree, I’m giving you antibiotics.”

  “See how I’m accepting that without questioning your competence? Like a good friend.”

  He let that go with little more than a weary sigh. “How are you feeling?”

  “Fine. Apart from the turmoil of my existential crisis.”

  He smirked despite himself. “Any chance of a serious answer?”

  “What? I could be having one.”

  “You want me to believe that you’d ever doubt your life has meaning?”

  Her brow furrowed under his fingertips. “That’s what that means?”

  “What did you think—”

  “Yeah, never mind. I don’t have time for that kind of nonsense.”

  Cadwyn closed his eyes, gripping the last threads of his patience. I’m way too tired for this.

  “I ache all over, my hand is on fire, and I’m working on one hell of a headache,” Basheba smiled. “I guess that means the painkillers have worn off, huh?”

  “I can give you a little more.”

  “I don’t want to deplete your stash.”

  He brushed her hair back before reaching for his med kit. “I learned a long time ago to always have more than you need.”

  By the small, steady flame, he saw a strange expression flicker across her face. She hid it quickly, and he didn’t comment on it. His last months with Abraham had been educational. While he was willing to share the knowledge, he never discussed the actual lessons. He flinched as decrepit walls and empty hallways pushed at the corners of his mind. That place holds a lot of secrets.