"Indeed." She gazed at the seven passages in the stone walls. She walked over to one with her stallion reluctantly in tow and inspected a tunnel shaped like an upside down "V". The tip of her tagged hat nearly brushed the ceiling of the stone corridor.
"Shall we try that way?" Phillip asked.
"We've nothing better to do, have we?" She muttered, then ventured into the dark tunnel. "Lumos." The light appeared at the tip of her wand again, making her horse swish his tail uneasily. They all followed, with Cole and Shauntel bringing up the rear. He glanced back at the cavern. He still had a chilling feeling of being watched. Invisible eyes watched him lead his horse down the passage.
The group left the faint moonlight behind and again walked cautiously down the dark corridor. A faint roar of thunder was the only sign of life outside the underground network, and yet even that was tuned out as they continued. Liana leaned her head into Aquilla's white mane while Phillip gripped Traveler's reins, everyone trying to push away nervousness. They felt as if they were wandering a forbidden tomb, and that cold memories from the tunnels' past were glaring at them.
It was a while later when Phillip muttered. "I'm tired of all this creeping around. We need to talk about something. Or sing. Anything." He looked at Matilda ahead of him. "Hey, Matilda! Can you remember any of the songs you sang the other day when you were hallucinating?"
"Of course not." She snapped.
"You sure? I think one went like this; 'Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts, teach us something please--!"
Matilda froze, then whipped around and hissed. "Don't sing that song!!"
He rolled his eyes. "OK, OK, sheesh!"
They were turning a corner when Matilda froze and stared at something on the ground. She appeared frozen.
"Matilda?" Phillip glanced past her, then paled. "Ancestors above...!"
"Guys?" Cole asked, suddenly concerned. "What's up?" Tugging Shauntel along, he pushed his way past Aquilla and up to Matilda and Phillip, whom where staring at something on the ground straight ahead of them. Blinking in the blue magic light, Cole followed their gaze, then gasped. He felt the blood drain from his face.
Just several feet ahead of them lay a human skeleton, lying in a twisted heap on the sand before them. The bones were bleached to a dry, dusty brown. Ragged, torn clothing hung limply from the bones, slowly disintegrating into dust. Thin locks of dark hair were half buried in the sand.
Cole felt bile rise in his throat, and he struggled to not toss his cookies. He gripped the reins tightly, and stared in horror. There was a moment of stunned silence. Then Matilda let go of the reins of her horse and stepped over to the skeleton. Holding out her bright wand, she knelt by the body and inspected it. Phillip leaned over to Liana and whispered something to her, probably telling her about what they're looking at.
Matilda paused, then stood up. "This man died terrified." She turned and gazed at the teenagers. "Something scared him very badly."
The three teens stared at her, daring not to say anything.
Matilda's jaw clenched. "We should never have come here."
There was a terrible, chilling silence.
"Is it raining?" Matilda muttered to herself. Cole stared at her, wondering why she was worried about rain.
"Matilda," Liana asked. "How did that person smash?"
"Guys?" Cole asked, suddenly concerned. "What's up?" Tugging Shauntel along, he pushed his way past Aquilla and up to Matilda and Phillip, whom where staring at something on the ground straight ahead of them. Blinking in the blue magic light, Cole followed their gaze, then gasped. He felt the blood drain from his face.
Just several feet ahead of them lay a human skeleton, lying in a twisted heap on the sand before them. The bones were bleached to a dry, dusty brown. Ragged, torn clothing hung limply from the bones, slowly disintegrating into dust. Thin locks of dark hair were half buried in the sand.
Cole felt bile rise in his throat, and he struggled to not toss his cookies. He gripped the reins tightly, and stared in horror. There was a moment of stunned silence. Then Matilda let go of the reins of her horse and stepped over to the skeleton. Holding out her bright wand, she knelt by the body and inspected it. Phillip leaned over to Liana and whispered something to her, probably telling her about what they're looking at.
Matilda paused, then stood up. "This man died terrified." She turned and gazed at the teenagers. "Something scared him very badly."
The three teens stared at her, daring not to say anything.
Matilda's jaw clenched. "We should never have come here."
There was a terrible, chilling silence.
"Is it raining?" Matilda muttered to herself. Cole stared at her, wondering why she was worried about rain.
"Matilda," Liana asked. "How did that person smash?"
There was a grim pause.
Totally creepy and cool! Hmm...what about the rain? I wonder how the person smashed...
Liana put her hand over her mouth while Phillip and Cole's eyes bugged out.
Cole rasped. "Are you telling me that something in these tunnels found this guy and--?!"
"Sh!" Matilda hissed, glancing warily about the stone corridor.
"No, no, I want to know about what excatly is in here!" Phillip's tone was hard with fear. "Matilda, what excatly--?"
"Shh! Be quiet! Do you hear that?" The witch stood still, the light from her wand casting dark shadows across her face.
The group stood stock-still and held their breath. At first they heard nothing, save for the deadly stillness of the underground passages. After several seconds of listening, though, Cole realized there was a new sound reverberating faintly through the tunnels.
Water.
The sound sent a cold chill down their spines and a sinking feeling in their stomachs.
"It's raining." Matilda muttered to herself. "Not good. Corpus bones!" She cursed. "We need to get out of here!" Holding her wand out, she tugged her horse further down the winding tunnel. After hesitating the others followed, leaving the twisted body behind.
The witch broke into a swift stride, all the while glaring into the shadows ahead of them and encouraging her horse to follow. All the horses seemed to realize the danger they were in, and began to snort fearfully and flick their tails constantly. Shauntel tried to yank his head from Cole's grasp several times and side-stepped him, eyes rolling so one could see the whites.
Cole felt panic clawing at his throat, and tried to stay calm, feeling as if invisible eyes were watching him from the walls, seeing through him and following. He could see the others felt the same.
There was a very long, tortuous two miniuets of following Matilda down the stone corridor before Cole realized that the sound of rushing water wasn't getting further away, it was getting closer.
"Matilda--?"
"I know, I know!" She snapped. "Merlin's beard, let me think, kid!"
Liana put her hand over her mouth while Phillip and Cole's eyes bugged out.
Cole rasped. "Are you telling me that something in these tunnels found this guy and--?!"
"Sh!" Matilda hissed, glancing warily about the stone corridor.
"No, no, I want to know about what excatly is in here!" Phillip's tone was hard with fear. "Matilda, what excatly--?"
"Shh! Be quiet! Do you hear that?" The witch stood still, the light from her wand casting dark shadows across her face.
The group stood stock-still and held their breath. At first they heard nothing, save for the deadly stillness of the underground passages. After several seconds of listening, though, Cole realized there was a new sound reverberating faintly through the tunnels.
Water.
The sound sent a cold chill down their spines and a sinking feeling in their stomachs.
"It's raining." Matilda muttered to herself. "Not good. Corpus bones!" She cursed. "We need to get out of here!" Holding her wand out, she tugged her horse further down the winding tunnel. After hesitating the others followed, leaving the twisted body behind.
The witch broke into a swift stride, all the while glaring into the shadows ahead of them and encouraging her horse to follow. All the horses seemed to realize the danger they were in, and began to snort fearfully and flick their tails constantly. Shauntel tried to yank his head from Cole's grasp several times and side-stepped him, eyes rolling so one could see the whites.
Cole felt panic clawing at his throat, and tried to stay calm, feeling as if invisible eyes were watching him from the walls, seeing through him and following. He could see the others felt the same.
There was a very long, tortuous two miniuets of following Matilda down the stone corridor before Cole realized that the sound of rushing water wasn't getting further away, it was getting closer.
"Matilda--?"
"I know, I know!" She snapped. "Merlin's beard, let me think, kid!"
What? Oh-no, we're doomed!
Rain? No! Now the caves will flood!
Oh brother, now we either drown or get eaten. Lovely.
Ok I'm panicking! WHY are we at Tigress's mercy in a flooding cave!? Noooooooooo!!!!!!!!
*closes book* Oh, yeah, I'm not one of her characters. None of that stuff is going to happen to me. I forgot. *laughs* Ah-ha-ha, no, I didn't think I was stuck in the flooding caves with the travelers and monster! That's silly! Ok fine I might have...
Liana put her hand over her mouth while Phillip and Cole's eyes bugged out.
Cole rasped. "Are you telling me that something in these tunnels found this guy and--?!"
"Sh!" Matilda hissed, glancing warily about the stone corridor.
"No, no, I want to know about what excatly is in here!" Phillip's tone was hard with fear. "Matilda, what excatly--?"
"Shh! Be quiet! Do you hear that?" The witch stood still, the light from her wand casting dark shadows across her face.
The group stood stock-still and held their breath. At first they heard nothing, save for the deadly stillness of the underground passages. After several seconds of listening, though, Cole realized there was a new sound reverberating faintly through the tunnels.
Water.
The sound sent a cold chill down their spines and a sinking feeling in their stomachs.
"It's raining." Matilda muttered to herself. "Not good. Corpus bones!" She cursed. "We need to get out of here!" Holding her wand out, she tugged her horse further down the winding tunnel. After hesitating the others followed, leaving the twisted body behind.
The witch broke into a swift stride, all the while glaring into the shadows ahead of them and encouraging her horse to follow. All the horses seemed to realize the danger they were in, and began to snort fearfully and flick their tails constantly. Shauntel tried to yank his head from Cole's grasp several times and side-stepped him, eyes rolling so one could see the whites.
Cole felt panic clawing at his throat, and tried to stay calm, feeling as if invisible eyes were watching him from the walls, seeing through him and following. He could see the others felt the same.
There was a very long, tortuous two miniuets of following Matilda down the stone corridor before Cole realized that the sound of rushing water wasn't getting further away, it was getting closer.
"Matilda--?"
"I know, I know!" She snapped. "Merlin's beard, let me think, kid!"
What? Oh-no, we're doomed!
Rain? No! Now the caves will flood!
Oh brother, now we either drown or get eaten. Lovely.
Ok I'm panicking! WHY are we at Tigress's mercy in a flooding cave!? Noooooooooo!!!!!!!!
*closes book* Oh, yeah, I'm not one of her characters. None of that stuff is going to happen to me. I forgot. *laughs* Ah-ha-ha, no, I didn't think I was stuck in the flooding caves with the travelers and monster! That's silly! Ok fine I might have...
Very nce, I can't wait to see what happens next!
I've sucked you into the story alongside the other characters. . . now there is no escape. . .
Oh brother, now we either drown or get eaten. Lovely.
Ok I'm panicking! WHY are we at Tigress's mercy in a flooding cave!? Noooooooooo!!!!!!!!
*closes book* Oh, yeah, I'm not one of her characters. None of that stuff is going to happen to me. I forgot. *laughs* Ah-ha-ha, no, I didn't think I was stuck in the flooding caves with the travelers and monster! That's silly! Ok fine I might have...
Very nce, I can't wait to see what happens next!
I've sucked you into the story alongside the other characters. . . now there is no escape. . .
Thanks!
HELP no you've captured me! *runs for nearest exit of any kind* OH NO there's no way out!
They were still walking fast, hearing the horrible sound of water drawing nearer and nearer. They turned a sharp corner, and Cole suddenly heard a splash up ahead. Phillip cried out. "Matilda!"
"Hsst, Corpus bones!" Cole leaned forward and saw the woman floundering wildly in a pool of black water, splashing everyone around her as she attempted to stand up. The pool itself didn't look very deep, but it had caught her by surprise and she had tripped into the churning water.
Phillip held out a hand, but Matilda waved it away impatiently, hissing. "I'm fine, I'm fine, leave me alone!" She stumbled out of the pool, the bottom half of her dress and dark robes soaking wet and dripping onto the stone. Shadows danced crazily as she shook water off her shining wand. "We need to turn around, this way's no good!"
"Where's the water coming from?" Liana called out over the loud gurgle of the water.
"From the rain, I'm assuming! These tunnels must flood every time it rains, and anyone or anything trapped inside have no chance of escaping!"
"What, like us?!" Phillip shrieked. "We can't be stuck down here!! We need to retrace our steps!"
"I know, I know, OK?! I thought there might be a way out this way. Let's go." Setting her jaw grimly, Matilda steered her horse around and trotted past the group, with the others close behind. A wave crashed against the walls and sprayed cold on the travelers and their horses, like a wet hand urging them to get out of there as soon as possible.
They all broke into a swift trot, the horses snorting and shaking their manes. There was a horrible sense of urgency now, the tunnel seemed to want to swallow them all in darkness. Water lapped at Cole's heels, and he realized the tide was rising very, very fast. His heart pounded harder in his chest.
They came to where the tunnel split in two, each mouth seeming as dark and menacing as the other.
Was it just him, or did something move down there? The light from Matilda was fading fast as the others walked away, unaware of Cole and his horse standing at the mouth of the other tunnel. He gripped the reins as he scrutinized the deep shadows of the cold tunnel, searching for another sign of movement.
Just as he was about to walk away, a hiss broke from the interior of the passage, sending a cold chill down his spine. "My....precious..." It hissed. Something stirred. "Nasty little ninjases!"
The passage was still. Stifling a shudder, Cole led his horse away from the entrance and caught up with the others. He decided he was only letting his imagination get the best of him, and tried to ignore a tremor of fear. Invisible eyes seemed to be watching him, seeing through him. He couldn't shake off the feeling that he was being watched.
They walked quietly down the passage for a long time. The sound of hoofbeats and footsteps scrunching on the damp, cold sand began to drone on in his head, becoming a ceaseless, regular pattern. Matilda's back was rigid straight, always alert for danger. There was a tense, cold atmosphere among the travelers...until Shauntel broke wind and the sound echoed throughout the tunnel like an explosion. Phillip, Liana, and Cole fell into muffled giggles while Matilda glared at them. Shauntel looked slightly indignant.
Still, there was a deathly silence in the air, making the teens sober quickly from their chuckles. It seemed wrong to laugh in such a dark, haunting place, as if you smiled at a funeral. Cole felt very, very cold, and attempted to wrap his jacket closer around his shoulders, as if that would make him warmer.
It seemed to be hours later after ceaseless walking when Liana stopped and hissed. "Wait." At the sound of her voice everyone paused and looked at her. Her head was tilted to the side, looking as if she heard something. A lock of silver-blond hair fell across her face.
They were still walking fast, hearing the horrible sound of water drawing nearer and nearer. They turned a sharp corner, and Cole suddenly heard a splash up ahead. Phillip cried out. "Matilda!"
"Hsst, Corpus bones!" Cole leaned forward and saw the woman floundering wildly in a pool of black water, splashing everyone around her as she attempted to stand up. The pool itself didn't look very deep, but it had caught her by surprise and she had tripped into the churning water.
Phillip held out a hand, but Matilda waved it away impatiently, hissing. "I'm fine, I'm fine, leave me alone!" She stumbled out of the pool, the bottom half of her dress and dark robes soaking wet and dripping onto the stone. Shadows danced crazily as she shook water off her shining wand. "We need to turn around, this way's no good!"
"Where's the water coming from?" Liana called out over the loud gurgle of the water.
"From the rain, I'm assuming! These tunnels must flood every time it rains, and anyone or anything trapped inside have no chance of escaping!"
"What, like us?!" Phillip shrieked. "We can't be stuck down here!! We need to retrace our steps!"
"I know, I know, OK?! I thought there might be a way out this way. Let's go." Setting her jaw grimly, Matilda steered her horse around and trotted past the group, with the others close behind. A wave crashed against the walls and sprayed cold on the travelers and their horses, like a wet hand urging them to get out of there as soon as possible.
They all broke into a swift trot, the horses snorting and shaking their manes. There was a horrible sense of urgency now, the tunnel seemed to want to swallow them all in darkness. Water lapped at Cole's heels, and he realized the tide was rising very, very fast. His heart pounded harder in his chest.
They came to where the tunnel split in two, each mouth seeming as dark and menacing as the other.
![[uni]](http://storage.proboards.com/6672327/images/mPKcREJAtrpeAXSOgaOH.png)
( even though he's bad at it. 
)
)
![[lenny]](http://storage.proboards.com/6672327/images/7elNEqtPK2hcSAiIMFNh.png)
