Dark Prism (The Glass Sky Book 2)

by Alexia Purdy

  “What?” They both blurted out at the same time.

  “But there are other prisoners in that area,” Gideon said.

  “I know,” I said, unfeeling. “Chief Superior Rickton added this today and told me to inform you both of this additional directive.”

  “How many other prisoners are on that level?” Clyde asked, his voice steady, betraying no emotion.

  “There are twelve prisoners in that cavern,” Gideon answered, flicking his eyes up to me. I swallowed. Did my father know there were that many in there? More than likely, he did. They would be collateral damage for the greater good. I hated the fact we’d been tasked with killing them. They had no part in any of this.

  We stood in silence for what felt like forever, contemplating the severity of the new directive. At least I wasn’t alone in what I was feeling. They didn’t look happy with the order.

  “Don’t forget, we each have locators in case we lose sight of one another in the darkness,” Clyde reminded us, clearly eager to think about something else.

  He handed each of us a tiny circular disc which painfully reminded me of the disc which had been placed on my neck at Farlan’s mansion to shock me into submission. I frowned at it.

  “Please say it doesn’t go on the neck area,” I grumbled. It’d been the most uncomfortable thing about being in that demented prison. Getting shocked like a common animal. I wasn’t sure I could even wear it. The presence of it made my breath quicken.

  “No, it goes on the inside of your forearm, several inches above the cuff. Plus, this doesn’t shock us, it only allows us to keep track of one another with the fobs. The tiny screen will illuminate to show a map of the current area. Then, we are the tiny blue dots on the screen.”

  “Oh, okay.” I sighed in relief. The post-traumatic stress it had caused stuck on to me. I still had a small circular scar on the back of my neck from it. Removing it had been an ordeal, but somehow, Gideon had removed it with a device he’d had back in his underground cellblock. Unfortunately, getting it removed had hurt like hell.

  We slapped on our cuffs and tucked the fobs back into their designated pockets in our deep cavern exploration suits. They were made to keep the cold out and our heat in. They also served as wet suits if we had to cross underground rivers. We looked at one another apprehensively as we readjusted our things and then adjusted once more until it was all secured. We were all wearing the same dark clothing and packs.

  “Everyone ready? Let’s get this hot mess on the road,” Gideon huffed, resuming his cold soldier persona. There was the Gideon I’d first met, and it wasn’t one bit friendly. We all nodded, and he gave us an affirmative one back. “Let’s go.”

  Chapter Twenty-nine

  Star

  The tunnels were different than the one Gideon had brought me through when he’d freed me from Farlan’s prison. I couldn’t put a finger on why, but they were definitely more winding and steeper, darker, and far more treacherous. I supposed the incline was more drastic, for I slipped several times on loose gravel. It seemed these tunnels were used more frequently from the way the ground was worn away, or it could have been the amount of wind coming from nowhere that whipped at the stone, carving out its centuries-old aggression.

  I wondered how many workers had once traversed through there to help create the paths for resources for the Glass Sky and to construct the deep cavern prisons. They’d also worked on the supporting structures embedded in the earth to keep the world from falling apart. Occasionally, the tunnels would open up to larger ones or deep ravines where the behemoth beams with their rivets and rust could be seen, old as time but somehow intact and as strong as ever. From the looks of it, there’d been many, many people who’d worked there. But that was a long time ago.

  Now the tunnels were abandoned, for people had migrated to the underground cities or returned topside. I swore I could hear whispers of ghosts echoing through the halls of the ancients, quizzing us on why we had come to arouse them from their slumber. I shivered not from the cold but from the eerie sense that we’d disturbed a malevolent, sleeping giant.

  The only illumination came from our headlamps and two body lamps attached at our shoulders. They served to highlight how dark it was down there, for beyond the edges of the lamps, the endless inky darkness absorbed any light. A crystal protruding from the walls of stone would occasionally reflect the light, flashing like a strobe. Most of the crystals had been cleared from these tunnels, and I could see their broken stumps ground down to the level of the walls. Most of the gravel we slid on was bits of crystal, crushed to dust from the past drilling and traffic.

  I slid a couple feet, grabbing onto the smooth walls to regain my composure.

  “Are you okay?” Gideon’s arm was around my waist from behind; I could feel the heat of his breath on my cheek. He was so close, and my heart sped up with his proximity. I stepped away from him and glanced over my shoulder.

  “I’m fine, thank you,” I answered. Why I didn’t want him to see how much he affected me was a mystery. I wanted to get this insane mission over with, and then I could worry about what was going to happen with Clyde and Gideon. I didn’t want to think about any of that at the moment.

  My breath puffed out in a steamy cloud. I was so thankful for the thermal jacket and pants we were wearing. They kept the frigid chill of the underground from penetrating down to our skin. We were prepared for the journey this time, but I felt there was always some sort of divergence that could happen, and it always did.

  The three of us traveled on silently, no one in the mood to chat. I was relieved, because there was a huge elephant in the room when it came to these two guys. I didn’t want to answer any questions they might have, and I certainly didn’t want to explain myself. It didn’t escape my notice that I sounded like the selfish girl I used to be when attending the coupling balls, which felt like forever ago. This was all my fault, but in reality, I wasn’t the only one responsible for the situation. I wasn’t against accepting some blame, I just didn’t need any of the lectures the boys were most definitely itching to give.

  “There’s a waterfall ahead. Watch your footing, there could be leaks of water all over the tunnel.” Gideon’s voice broke the silence, and I nearly jumped. I threw him an affirmative nod before we continued on. Sure enough, the roar of water grew louder, and the ground became slick with dampness. At least the tiny crystal gravel now helped us gain some grip on the smooth, glass-like floor. I took careful steps, holding out a gloved hand to balance against the side of the cave. Even with my precautions, I slipped, my legs flying up in front of me and sliding right into Clyde.

  “Whoa, gotcha!” He grinned as he held me under my arms and grunted as he helped me back up. I pulled away, dusting off some of the grit that had fallen onto me from the wall of the cave. “You all right?” he inquired.

  “I’m fine. Thanks,” I muttered, straightening and turning to find Gideon watching us with studious eyes. I jutted out my chin and started walking forward again, this time with my knees bent and at a slower pace.

  “The waterfall should be around the next turn.” Gideon pointed ahead, where a glow appeared from the right. He looked at a laminated copy of the map before folding it up and stuffing it into his jacket. Steamy mist curled into the tunnel, shifting and swirling around us as though it were alive. The roar of water nearly drowned out his voice as I strained to hear him. I couldn’t wait to see the waterfall. From the sound of it, the falls were probably huge.

  It didn’t disappoint.

  “Wow!” My voice was barely audible above the noise. “It’s gorgeous!”

  “Sure is!” Gideon smiled for the first time since we’d started the journey. I had missed it and grinned in response. “Look at the water below. It glows from the luminescent crystals.”

  I looked over the ledge, taking in the expanse of the underground river with awe. Crystals glimmered along the sides in random patches as though they found safety in numbers. Some flashed with the bit of light
filtering in from hidden sources high above in the cavern’s ceiling, and some glowed with their own light.

  Where was all this water coming from?

  Then I noticed the mechanisms down at the bottom of the falls. Three gigantic tubes blew out the water, causing it to flow forward in huge, rippling waves. At the top of the waterfall, there was another pooling area, and beneath it, more tubes propelled the water forward.

  “It’s one of the ancient structures created to keep the rivers moving,” Clyde offered, knowing I had noticed the enormous tubes. “Otherwise, the water would remain stagnant and wouldn’t flow through the caverns and then ultimately aboveground.”

  Green moss and algae dangled from the tubes, covering almost all of the surfaces. “How do they work without any maintenance down here?” I asked. “They must be hundreds of years old.”

  “These are still maintained by our people, but they rarely need to come down here. The materials are corrosion proof and don’t need much tending to.” Gideon had spoken this time, glancing at me briefly before pulling off the rope looped around his shoulders.

  Surprised, my mouth dropped open. “We’re going to climb down?” I stared at him.

  “Yep. The tunnels we need to take to the deep prisons are downriver. We have to follow it for about half a mile.” Gideon kept his eyes focused on the rope, unlooping it and dropping it into the abyss below.

  I swallowed. I was used to climbing cliffs; heights didn’t scare me. What I hadn’t done before was descend down a wet, slippery cliff where one false step could send me careening down to my death.

  “I don’t know about this.” I peered down the drenched rocks. How were we supposed to anchor anywhere? The rocks were smooth from erosion, with barely any cracks or places to grip.

  “Don’t worry. We rappel down, just like you do at your cliff. You’ve done it a million times. This is no different.” Gideon’s slight annoyance at my hesitation came through clear as a bell. I glared at him, but he avoided looking at me, instead focusing on preparing the equipment for the climb down.

  He tossed a harness my way. “Put that on.”

  I froze. “I’m not going first! No way.”

  He threw me an incredulous look before exhaling slowly and closing his eyes, gathering his patience. I’d never seen him so short. Okay, so I was pushing his buttons, and I doubted he’d forgiven me yet for finding Clyde and me in a kissing embrace. I got it. I didn’t deserve any kind of preferential treatment, but it stung to see him so unfeeling toward my thoughts. I’d have to be better at hiding my real feelings in front of him. I had to admit, I missed his gentle and loving demeanor. This cold and aloof version of Gideon left an empty hole in my heart. It reminded me of his Insurgent persona. Not something I’d ever liked. I looked away.

  “Forget it,” I said. “Give me the rope. I’m going.” We were heading down there whether I liked it or not, so might as well get it over with. I slipped on the harness, tightening it until it was snug. It was not like mine back home and dug into my flesh as I tightened it. It wouldn’t be the most comfortable ride down, but at least we wouldn’t be going back the same way. Rappelling down a slippery cliff was bad enough. Climbing it would have been a nightmare.

  Gideon tossed me the rope, which I attached, moving the carabiners hanging from the harness and securing everything as best I could. It wasn’t fitted for a tiny girl like me. It would probably fit the guys a lot better. Cursing under my breath, I wished I had been told to bring my own equipment. Clicking it all in place, I tugged to make sure everything was secure. I tried to avoid thinking about the descent even though my heart felt like it was about to jump out of my chest.

  “Ready?” Gideon asked. This time, his dark eyes focused on me for the first time, trying to read my state of mind. I made sure to keep it neutral as I nodded, stepping closer to the edge of the cliff we were standing on. He held out another loop of rope Clyde had been carrying which connected to the rope holding me. He was going to guide me down with it, but I wished he wouldn’t. Having someone tug at me while descending would only serve to knock me off balance.

  “Take this down, and then when you take off the harness, send it up by tugging on this.” Gideon handed it to me and then turned me around, his hands at my hips. I swore I heard Clyde hiss at this gesture.

  “Okay. Just don’t push me off,” I begged. I swallowed, squeezing my eyes shut.

  “I won’t push you off,” he whispered into my ear. His gruff voice sent zings of electricity down my body. “Lower yourself slowly until you’re sitting on the edge of the cliff. I’ll take up the slack, and then you can push off. You’ll dangle freely for a moment, but I’ll stabilize you with the extra rope. Once you stop swinging, you can continue down. Don’t worry, I got you. Okay?”

  I nodded, still feeling the fire of his touch sending sparks through me. It dissipated the fear within as I bent down and dangled my legs over the edge. Anyone could easily slip and fall right onto the smooth, hard rocks below, and no one would be able to retrieve the body. I gulped, whispering tiny prayers to myself as I felt the rope tighten as I turned and let go of the rock. I gripped the ropes, one behind me, one in front. The momentum jolted me, and I focused up at Gideon’s face.

  I gasped. I was floating freely, and swinging back and forth. It was hard to not flail or reach for something to stop the momentum, but I fought it with all my willpower.

  Gideon slowly pulled at the rope with one hand and reached out, steadying me with the other. “Steady, try not to move too much.” He held the rope in his grip, grunting as he momentarily held up my weight.

  The mist constantly pummeling us from the falls soaked my exposed skin immediately, dripping down my face and hair as though I were in a frosty shower. The cold made it hard to not shiver. My lips quivered from it.

  “You’re doing great, Star. Just take it slowly.” His eyes never moved from me as I began lowering myself, feeling more stable as I descended. I took a peek below to check my progress and found the ground growing closer and closer. Relieved I wouldn’t be plummeting to my death, I concentrated on calming my frantic heart. Panicking wasn’t a thing I did much of anymore, but it still happened. I’d been through so much, I didn’t think I could lose my grip on reality anymore, but I didn’t want to test the theory.

  I made it to the bottom without incident and sent the harness and ropes back up, watching Gideon make it down without much help from Clyde. He chucked off the harness and sent it back up to Clyde, who clicked it on and began to rappel down slowly. Without warning, the slick, drenched rope slipped in his hands, and he dropped several feet. Nearly losing his grip, he stopped abruptly as his body slammed against the wall of stone. He hung there, stunned from the hit.

  “Clyde! Are you okay?” I called up to him as he struggled to grip a boot onto the slick rocks. He slipped once more, followed by another ram into the wall. He grunted but recovered more quickly this time. I hoped he wasn’t injured. We’d just begun the journey.

  “I’m fine, just get out of the way!” he yelled out, suddenly sliding down a little too quickly. He caught himself about six feet above us, but the momentum of his weight tugging on the ropes loosened some rock, sending it raining down on us.

  “Watch out!” Gideon yelled as Clyde lost his grip once again and crashed into the ground, tumbling and tangling Gideon in the rope. I scrambled, covering my head to avoid getting hit by the debris. Clyde managed to unclip the rope as it slipped down into the river.

  I turned in time to dodge a large falling rock and screamed, bracing myself to get smashed under more debris. Suddenly, someone slammed into me hard enough for me to lose my breath as we rolled. We thumped against Clyde, who had managed to jump to the side before all three of us fell into the rushing water.

  Gideon grabbed my arm as I bobbed up to the surface, blinking madly. I couldn’t find anyone, but I could feel Gideon’s grip on me as the current pulled at us. He was tangled in the rope, and it was wrapped around his leg. He tried madly
to untangle it, kicking and dipping down to pull at it with his free hand.

  “Clyde!” I looked around madly before being pulled down with Gideon as the bag of equipment full of carabiners and more rope Gideon had on him dropped into the water, filling up quickly as it tossed in the current like a weight. Without warning, it ripped away and tightened, yanking at the rope. I turned to look at Gideon, whose widened eyes swung my way as he fought its pull.

  “Let go, Star. I’m caught in the rope. Find Clyde.”

  “No!” I screamed, shaking my head as I tried and failed to grab him with both arms. “I won’t let you go!”

  Gideon blinked away the water, smiling at me with love in his dark eyes. “It’s okay. I love you, Star. No matter what.”

  He abruptly shoved away, and I screamed as I lost my grip. Sinking under the water, I tried in vain to reach out toward him. I barely caught a glimpse of him being dragged away by the unrelenting current.

  “Gideon!” I cried out until my mouth filled with cold water. I flailed, kicking to the surface and sputtering from the shock of the water slapping my face. Choking, I fought the current, trying to swim with it toward the shore. Over and over, I was pulled under, inhaling far more river water than anyone should. I had to keep my head above the surface, gulping precious air into my lungs. I continued to struggle but was able to keep my head just above the waterline, scanning the waves for Clyde or Gideon.