by K. R. Bowman
Callum yelled for Harris to stop.
Two figures stood in the middle of an open field. Callum was running a slight distance in front of me. I slowed as we neared the other two. Harris paced back and forth with his fists clenched at his sides. Raleigh stood near him. She kept scanning the area.
“Guys, we need to use Sloane’s necklace to find her. We won’t have any luck finding her just running through the woods yelling her name.” Callum grabbed Harris’s arm, making him stop. “Are you listening to me?”
Harris glanced at Callum, his jaw tightened. He nodded once. Callum dropped his grip on Harris. His eyes had changed back to their normal green color.
“Sloane.”
I nodded, trying to collect my thoughts and feelings and trying not to panic.
“Okay.”
I picked up my necklace and held it in my hand, “Artemis, we need your help to find Ashlen.”
The needles swung back and forth, then, around and around in a blur. They stopped. The needles pointed to the North West. The Nightlin Mountain sat in the North blocking out part of the sky.
“Let’s head that way.” Callum tightened his bag’s straps around his shoulders and torso then led us through the trees.
Harris fell behind us but kept within a safe distance. Raleigh marched in front of him, only a short distance away. I trudged behind Callum.
“Callum, why would they take Ashlen?”
He glanced back at me, his tone was angry, and he seemed to bite each word off when he spoke, “I’m not sure. We never are sure what their motives are for anything they do. I’m not even sure they can think constructive thoughts.”
We continued moving in silence for a few moments.
When he spoke again, it was so softly I had to strain to hear him, “We will get her back. And if it’s up to me, we will destroy every last one of them.” He turned back to me, “We will get her back. I promise Sloane.”
His eyes bored into mine, daring me to say no.
“I know we will.” I squeezed his arm.
He nodded and kept on.
23
I had to stop several times and ask Artemis for directions. The Nightlins seemed to be trying to lose us; little did they know that wasn’t going to happen. The top of the moon was sliding past the horizon, and the sun was on its way up when we were finally closing in on them. They had to find shelter fast, so we were gaining.
Harris was out in front this time. He charged ahead, slashing through limbs and tall stalks of grass. Raleigh jogged behind him. Somehow, I had fallen to the rear of the group.
“Harris, slow it down. We don’t want them to hear us coming at them.” Callum stated.
Harris looked at Callum briefly. I had never seen him so serious or angry before. He definitely was not the Harris I had come to love as my friend. Raleigh had her sword out, ready to go.
We were in a large open field. Tips of the tall yellow grass brushed the tops of my shoulders. The sky was a light gray, where the sun was coming up, a tinge of orange was painting the sky with tiny brushstrokes. The sun was just about to break over the top of the trees. I knew the Nightlins didn’t have much longer.
We made it to the edge of the woods with no more hints of noises or broken twigs. The large trees loomed over us. What made me the most nervous was how quiet everything had settled. No insects sang in the morning, and birds didn’t flutter from limb to limb, in the midst of catching their morning breakfast. The four of us stood like statues at the edge, waiting and listening. Callum was the first to hear something.
He motioned with his hand to follow him.
Walking at a slow pace, we entered the woods. We were light on our feet, so as not to crunch any leaves or disturb any animals.
Callum picked up his pace. Even his feet barely seemed to touch the ground. We wove in and out of the trees, only using Callum as our guide. He came to an abrupt stop and motioned for us to stay still. He disappeared behind a tree without a sound. We stood for a few minutes, not risking a sound. I could barely breathe. Harris stood rigidly; every muscle in his body was tense and ready to spring into action. Raleigh was bouncing on her toes, getting ready to move. I seemed to be the only one who didn’t want to go into a fight against the Nightlins. I tightened my grip around the hilt of my sword.
Callum reappeared, and air whooshed into my lungs again. He knelt down before us. We gathered around him.
“Here’s the deal. They’re underground. There are two entrances, although one is very small.” He looked at me.
“Small enough for girls to fit through?” I sarcastically asked, knowing the answer.
He nodded grimly.
Raleigh unsheathed her sword and smiled fiercely; her white teeth a stark contrast.
“Tell me where.”
Callum knelt on the ground and drew a rough map of where the hole would be.
“From what I could tell, you’ll have to crawl with your weapons sheathed, then when you get out of the tunnel, you will have enough room to attack. I’m not sure how far in the tunnel goes, so you may very well be at risk of dumping out into their main cavern. I suggest you wait at the end of your tunnel until you hear us come through on the other side, then you can join us.”
I nodded, “Sounds reasonable.” I waited on Raleigh for her acceptance.
She smiled, “Let’s get on with it.”
“We can take ‘em,” Harris replied matter-of-factly.
Callum nodded, “I didn’t see her, but I saw her bag in a pile of things. We can’t just go in there with guns blazing. We need a thought-out plan. I’m not about to risk losing any more of you.”
Harris was tense and ready for action. Raleigh had her war face on ready to go. My eyes met Callum’s, who was watching me. He raised an eyebrow. So?
I took a deep breath, “Give us a few minutes to get around to our position.”
Callum nodded, “Be careful. I’ll make sure to get Ashlen out.”
I nodded, sure of him and his words.
Callum motioned for us to follow. We traveled in line with one another, making sure to be as silent as we possibly could be. He led us through some tightly grown trees; their branches were woven together, making a kind of canopy above us, which blocked out most of the light. I peered around Harris to see a large fallen tree. The roots were spread out in every direction like they were searching for something. Where the roots had previously resided, there was a large gaping black hole in the ground, tall and wide enough for the boys to go through somewhat comfortably.
It was very shaded around the tree. I could see why the Nightlins had chosen it for refuge. I had my sword grasped in both hands, ready to swing just in case the creatures came out.
Callum pointed to the left of the gaping hole, telling us which way Raleigh and I were to take.
I gestured to Raleigh, “Come on, girl.”
She smiled her megawatt smile, and we moved off in the direction Callum had indicated.
We weaved through the trees, traveling maybe a hundred yards or so. We came to two trees that were large at their base, but as the trees grew upwards, the boughs and branches intertwined, making an arch. The ground rose slightly from the roots of the trees, and I could just make out a small darkened hole.
Callum had been right. There was no way we could have our weapons out or even be able to pull them out if the beasts came after us. I looked over at Raleigh, gauging her expression. Her eyes were narrowed, examining the surroundings. She frowned then shrugged at me as if to say, oh well, let’s go.
I whispered, “I’ll go first.”
“Move fast. I want some action.”
I rolled my eyes and moved toward the black hole.
Peering inside, I could see absolutely nothing. I pushed the branches and leaves out of the way. I tightened the straps that kept my weapons in place then placed my arms inside. I carefully inched myself into the blackness, trying to calm my nerves and the part of me that was afraid of the unknown and tight spaces. I took a sha
llow breath and pulled myself in deeper. Raleigh felt the need to push my feet a little, which didn’t sit that well with me, so I kicked back at her. She didn’t try that again.
The hole was so narrow it was hard to get my knees up under me to help with my progression, so I was mostly using my arms, which might harm me later when I was going to have to wield my sword, but I pushed on, vowing to do more arm and shoulder exercises when this was over.
The darkness swallowed me whole, making it hard for any of my senses to function. My nose only smelled musty dirt and old water. My hearing wasn’t as good as Callum’s, so I had to strain to hear anything at all, besides mine and Raleigh’s huffing.
The change in the air is what first made me aware that we were at our destination. The second was the stench of the Nightlin bodies. I couldn’t see them at all, because it was completely dark, but for the moment their smell hit my nose. My Watcher senses took over. My hands wrapped around the edge of the hole, ready to push myself out with as much force as I could muster. I felt Raleigh tense behind me. She had moved up as close as she could beside me.
A few minutes passed of intense, uninterrupted silence.
The first thing to break the blackness was Callum’s wand of light, and then total chaos ensued. I didn’t have to think twice to leap down into the cavern. All hell had broken loose.
Pulling my sword from its scabbard, the white light erupted, nearly blinding me, but it did stun some of the Nightlins that were about to attack us. They reared back, and it gave us the opportunity to slash across their abdomens and lop their heads off. Black liquid sprayed us. A Nightlin ran toward me. His claws were outstretched, ready to slice. I swiftly swung my sword. The creature’s claws fell to the ground. It screamed a piercing wail, and I finished him off, ending his misery. Raleigh and I swung around and met the next onslaught of demons. We hacked and chopped with every bit of energy we had until nothing was left.
My sword hung loosely at my side. We were both breathing heavily, which was hard to do with the stench of the creatures’ death surrounding us.
Black guts and blood anointed the dirt walls and floor. My two men were in the middle of the melee, all but painted black with blood and dirt. They looked haggard and ready to pass out. My sword blazed white casting eerie shadows on the cave walls. As the last Nightlin fell, my sword’s light dimmed, becoming an eerie glow within the depth of the black hole.
Black bodies and limbs covered the cavern floor.
“Spread out. She’s got to be in here somewhere.”
I started lifting some of the dead bodies trying to see if Ashlen might be under them. Callum’s light bobbed through the darkness and swept the cavern. My sword was getting darker and darker by the second. I grew frantic. Harris called out to her. He was in a frenzy, pushing the creatures out of the way or nearly tossing them to the side.
Callum jerked up, saying, “Wait, I hear something. Be quiet.”
Instantly, we stilled. I strained my hearing, trying to hear anything at all except the beat of my own heart.
“Over there!” Callum leapt over the creatures and ran to the farthest corner from me. When I made it to where they were, I could see a body wrapped up in dirty rags.
It was Ashlen. She was lifeless.
What was left of a Nightlin laid beside her, his torso was all that remained of him. It stretched toward her with its claws scraping the dirt floor. Callum raised his sword and finished the beast off. The creature’s head rolled along the cave wall.
Harris pushed Callum out of the way and scooped Ashlen up in his arms. He made his way to the tunnel and walked out. We followed quickly. He gently laid her down on the damp ground outside. I knelt beside her and brushed the dirt and leaves away from her face. Harris tore the rags from her body and wadded them up. He threw the rags back into the cave.
When he turned back to Ashlen, I had never seen someone with so much anguish and heartache on their face. He gently took her hand in both of his, enclosing it between his own. He bowed his head over her and kissed her knuckles.
“Ashlen, wake up. Baby, please wake up for me. Please, I beg you.” Harris whispered over and over.
I looked back at her face. She was so pale. Her pretty skin had scratches along her jaw and cheeks. Her bottom lip had been sliced open. Blood had dried along her chin. I gently rubbed the blood and dirt off. Raleigh sank to the ground beside me. She took Ashlen’s other hand between hers. A sob broke from Harris, and he lifted Ashlen back into his lap and laid her head against his chest. He squeezed her tightly.
“Ughh, you’re hurting me.”
Harris froze, and his eyes roamed over Ashlen’s face. Her eyes fluttered open lazily, and she peered up at him. A huge smile broke across his face, and he hugged her again.
“Hurts.” She feebly pushed him away.
Harris laughed and released her gently to the ground, “I’m sorry. I’m so happy you’re okay.” He laughed again from relief. He took her hand in his and kissed her palm.
She smiled tenderly and patted his head, combing her fingers through his hair. “I’m glad I am too. Thank you for rescuing me.”
She looked at all of us, “You all look horrible like something chewed you up and shat you out.” She shuddered, “Stop staring at me; it’s eerie having those black eyes stare at you, especially your white eyes, Sloane.”
24
“I still can’t believe they took me.” Ashlen kept repeating.
“Do you remember anything at all?” Raleigh asked.
She frowned for a moment, trying to recall, “I honestly don’t. I remember lots of pain and that horrible smell of theirs. They kind of hit me a few times, so I passed out several times.” She glanced at Harris, whose jaw was getting so tight I thought he might crack some teeth.
I lightly squeezed her arm, “I’m so thankful we found you. Without everyone, I’m not sure we would have.”
She gestured to the boys, “Thank you, guys.”
Harris smiled, and Callum grunted in reply.
Raleigh hit my arm, “We would have found her.”
I rubbed my arm, where she had hit me, “I’m sure, but it would have taken us longer.”
Raleigh narrowed her eyes at me but dropped the subject.
We started out at a slow pace, to give Ashlen plenty of time. We would need to find a spot to make camp within the next hour. Birds chirped, and little animals scurried through the treetops or underbrush, as we disturbed their habitats. The girls were quiet while we walked. Harris was the only one that I could really hear, but that wasn’t a surprise. He kept a short distance from Ashlen, making sure he was only a few steps away from her.
Callum and Harris seemed to be in some kind of interesting conversation.
There was no telling what he and Harris were discussing. He looked up quickly when he realized I was speaking to him.
“We probably won’t find it today, will we?” I was watching the ground as I spoke, trying to make sure I didn’t trip over any roots or rocks. I glanced over my shoulder at him.
He shrugged and looked up at the moon, “You’re probably right.”
The moonlight filtered through the trees, lighting up patches of grass and sparkling off the water. A lazy breeze blew, moving the limbs back and forth like the trees were dancing to an unheard tune. The river was quiet as it moved over the sands and rocks. The only sounds I could hear were made from our shoes crunching on twigs, leaves, and pebbles. Harris also seemed to not want to disrupt the quiet. Ashlen had dropped back at some point to be beside him. Callum allowed them a little room and was now a few steps behind them. He seemed lost in thought.
It was at moments like this when all you can do is think, that my thoughts turned to my mother, wondering what she was doing or saying, wondering if she’s okay. Will I see her again? I have to erase that question from my mind.
“What are you thinking about?”
I glanced over at Raleigh. She stared at me with curiosity.
“My mom,” I sm
iled slightly at her.
She nodded, “Yeah, I was thinking about my family too. It’s kind of crazy to think that here we are in this world, while their lives are still going on in another.”
I nodded and stopped so I could climb over a fallen tree. The top had fallen into the water. The roots disappeared through the foliage. It was massive. The circumference was bigger than me by maybe a couple of feet. I used the limbs to help hoist myself up. I threw my legs over the rough bark and pulled and pushed till I was sitting straight. The trees surrounding us seemed to lean toward the fallen mass as if trying to help it up again.
I looked down at the group.
“We probably could have just walked around,” Callum said with way too much pizzazz.
I decided not to give him satisfaction by answering.
I sat on top of the tree trunk, preparing myself to slide off the other side.
“Yeah, I think we should be able to go home at some point. I mean, I don’t see why not.” I pushed off and slid to the ground about seven feet below. I landed on my feet, but my knees and hands hit the ground too. I stood up and brushed the dirt from my hands. A snake slid out from underneath the fallen tree toward me. I did what any other girl would have done, I screamed.
I jumped up and down and ran to the edge of the bank. The snake followed me. I might have screamed again.
Raleigh leapt from the top of the trunk, rolling on the ground and springing up with her sword drawn. Callum somehow leapt right over the whole tree. He landed a few feet from me and grabbed me before I could fall into the river. The snake slipped over the edge of the bank and plopped into the water.
I did a little dance trying to shake off the snake jitters, “Ugh, gross, gross, gross.” Callum laughed at me, while Raleigh stood to the side with her sword still in her hand and a huge smile. Harris had a surprised and confused look on his face. Ashlen was still trying to climb over the tree. Callum couldn’t seem to stop laughing. He was bent over with both hands on his knees.
