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"You ready for this one, brother?!" I grinned at Sam, but his expression remained less enthused the closer we came to the caves.I turned the camera on him; but it didn't seem to snap him out of the nerves."Sam?" I asked again; lowering the camera but not shutting it off.
Sometimes I knew our audience liked the serious moments, and for some reason I felt one coming.
"I...I'm okay," Sam replied cheekily, looking less than okay.
"Just...just the underground shit, bro...I don't know..." He looked at the camera in my hand ungratefully so I kept it lowered and out of his face."I don't know if I can handle this one, Colby!""Think of the views, man!" I tried encouraging him gently. "We wanted to try less haunted stuff, more adventuring...this is it!" I gestured to the mouth of the cave we were headed to explore next.
"I know, I know..." Sam whispered again with a heavy sigh. "Okay...okay yeah, I think I'm ready!"I smiled back proudly at him, turning the camera back on me as we hiked closer."You guys don't realize this maybe about Sam," I wanted the viewers to know how proud I was of him facing his fear.
"One of his biggest fears is claustrophobia...the fear of tight spaces...and that's exactly what we're walking into now!" I panned the camera into the small cave entrance before us.
"But Sam here is doing it anyway...for you!""So like and fucking subscribe!" Sam gave a half hearted thumbs up with a nervous laugh. "I'm doing this for you guys!" He echoed as if he was giving himself a pep talk.
"I'm doing this for them..."I smiled.
"The legend has it a city is located somewhere underground and we have no idea about it...only that there's an ancient relic inside that could be worth something big...if we find it!"
"Oh we're finding it!" Sam teased then more like his old self. "I'm not going in there for nothing!"I laughed genuinely in amusement at the sarcasm.
"You guys could be the witness to something awesome then!" I panted heavily still narrating our lives into the camera.
"We're finding this thing...mark my words, guys!" I vowed as adrenaline coursed through me excitedly.
I loved our new format; and the audience was too. It was what Sam and I bonded over as friends the most.
Exploring the unknown.
"Sam and Colby are back!" I laughed triumphantly after our return from a long break had been well received.
"We're back and we're finding this ancient, underground city and come back fucking, stinking rich!"
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
"That was a hell of an intro, huh?" Sam laughed as we kept going.
"Too much?" I laughed back as we took a water break halfway into the entrance of the cave.
"Nah," Sam smiled, shaking his head. "Just reminds me of old times, you know?" He looked more at ease I thought in relief as he took a swig of water.
"Oh I know!" I smiled back eagerly. "I miss this too, Sam...just us!" I added. "Guests are fun, but I miss this, man!"Sam ducked sheepishly."Me too," He agreed more quietly. "I just wish this wasn't well, so under ground..." He groaned as he grew more anxious."You'll get used to it!" I promised; hoping it was true. "We can always trash this idea too Sam, you know?" I added more seriously to help him out.I knew he wouldn't cave.
"No! No...we can keep going!" Sam refuted the out I gave like I knew my friend would.
"I think you're right...if we keep moving, I'll be distracted...where to next?"
He asked more eagerly.
"That's the spirit!" I patted his shoulders eagerly. "We'll be okay dude!"
I promised in addition.
"Yeah...okay, start filming again!" Sam nodded as we started figuring out directions. "Where to first?"I looked down, flashing the one flashlight we brought between us down the long cave entrance.It only offered a single way down, but we heard dripping sounds come off the rocks somewhere.
"Only one way down, brother!" I nodded to him. "You first?" I offered as I took the camera from him again.
I decided he had enough on his mind to worry about filming."I uh, yeah...yeah okay..." Sam stammered uncomfortably. "Do I just slink down that dip down there?" He pointed to where part of the rocky ground under us dipped down into darkness.
"I think that's your best bet!" I agreed, looking back behind us at the sunlight one last time. "Going night vision from here guys, sorry!" I added to our audience with a scoff.
"It's DARK down here!"Sam took the camera from me.
I was able to hand it off to him from the drop off, so it wasn't too terribly far down but still dark.
Our one flashlight was barely cutting it."I can't believe all this would be down here...in VEGAS no less...and no one knows about it still?!" Sam let his mind wander as I shimmied down the slippery rocks awkwardly until my feet hit the bottom.
"I know right?" I huffed, shaking my hands as they ached from the rough climb.
"We should be able to go straight from here through...yeah! That's the entrance the website talked about!" I pointed down the tallest entrance of the cave system.We turned, seeing a whole wall of random cave entrances spread before us. However; the website to the legend was clear:
Pick the tunnel with the tall and narrow entrance.
It was obvious and stuck out like a sore thumb so we continued through it.We fell silent in awe as it opened up to a huge system of stilagmites that were breathtaking. We stood there a moment, baffled at the massive chamber we just entered.
"Okay..." Sam breathed out in shock with a laugh."Now THIS is sick, bro!" He grinned back at me; his eyes wide in excitement.
"THAT'S the Sam we love, right guys?" I laughed, my voice echoing through the chamber.
"He's right though...I don't know how much you guys can tell...but this place is MASSIVE!" I tried including them on the adventure more as we wandered the best we could on the flat, open surface.
It was pretty flat round us; the only weird thing was a column like stone structure sticking sorely out of the middle like a sore thumb.
Something shiny caught the flashlight; making Sam and I both turn to it.
"What was that?" Sam asked eagerly. "Surely...surely it wouldn't be THIS easy, Colby?""Nah," I shook my head. "The site warned about traps...Sam! Hey, stop!"
I groaned as my warning came too late.Sam was already picking something up off the stone.
"It's not that bad," Sam shrugged to me with a smirk.
"What's the big....WOAH!"
The ground under us began to shake the second he took the blueish stone off the pedastol.
"RUN!" I yelled as the ceiling even began tumbling rocks and dust around us.
"WHERE?!" Sam yelled. "The entrance is too far up!"I panned the flashlight around quickly, seeing a series of three tunnel entrances a few yards behind him."PICK ONE!" I called after him, jogging around to them myself. "We can't stay here!"
One side of stalagmite crumbled, sending us in a cloud of dust and rock to the point of making it hard to breathe.I coughed, surprised my lungs felt like constricting so quickly at the event.
I took off in a panic, needing some kind of air so I picked a tunnel for us.
Sam followed.
Until he could.
I got ahead of him in my panic, enough to have a few feet between us but that was enough.It was enough to be cut off from him as the cave in shattered around us.
Right in between us in the very end.
But that wasn't the worst part.The worst part was hearing his scream on the other side.Sam's blood curdling scream in pain."SAM!" I yelled back between coughing fits once everything settled.
My eyes adjusted again, searching for any kind of way to him but it was useless. A huge wall of rocks now spaced between us.We were separated; and he was hurt, I already knew."SAM!" I yelled again once the air finally cleared and the dust settled.
"SAM?!""Here," A weaker voice croaked. "Fuck, my leg...""Is it broken?!" I scrambled to pull at rocks to see if I could make it budge; but it was useless. The stones were too big and too wedges together to make it go.
"Don't know for sure..." Came Sam's reply. "Hurts like hell...God, it hurts...""Hang in there Sam!" I scrambled to pull more useless rocks that weren't budging.
"Fuck...FUCK I can't get to you!" I wailed, throwing one stone down the passageway behind me in frustration.
"No..." Sam coughed before breaking off into a groan. "No, you won't be able to with this, Colby!"
"Can you call for help?" I asked to suggest next. "We could direct them here somehow!" I knew it would be tricky, but we needed more help than us trying to remove the rockslide.I realized I was in danger too; being stuck on the other side of the cave system while Sam was stuck near the entrance more.
"I can't get...can't get a signal..." Sam
panted, sounding like he was holding his breath between episodes of pain.
"I can't get a signal, Colby!" He yelled more anxiously.
"Calm down," I knew panic wasn't going to help us, even though it was a natural reaction. "It'll be okay brother, I...I can't get signal either...""Maybe find a way out on your end?" Sam suggested between gasps. "Fuck, my leg..." He groaned.
"It's REALLY trapped under the rock pile, Colby...I...I don't know, what the fuck do we do?! What do we actually do?!" He gasped in a full blown panic attack.
"Sam, we can't panic..." I tried to steady him the best I could,
although I felt the same way. I hated the feeling of helplessness, hearing him in pain was killing me while I couldn't help him.
"You had a good idea, I'll...I'll try finding a way out to get help through this way, okay? It's a huge system...it's got to go somewhere!""You have the...supply bag, right?" Sam asked after letting out a huge sigh.
"Yeah!" I realized it was still hanging off my back, the panic completely blinding me to any other feeling momentarily before I could shake it off. "Yeah, I think I can use the lighter to get out, right?""Right..." Sam grunted. "Fuck...I can't feel it...Colby...I can't feel my God dang leg!" His voice echoed in panic.
I closed my eyes, sharing his panic in the moment and used it to propel me forward.
"I'm sorry Sam, I can't...I can't help you!" I finally wailed how I felt in exasperation.
"Oh, Colby I know...I know..." Sam panted heavily between words. "Just...find us a way out, okay? We can do this...we can..." He encouraged me to go weakly.
"Hang in there Sam," I took a shaky breath in return. "I will, okay? I promise..."
I turned, swallowing hard as the dark caves opened up again behind me.
I realized I was promising something I really couldn't, but the false hope was necessary to keep us going.
"I promise I'll find our way out of here!"
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
I was alone.Completely alone as I headed into darkness.I couldn't even hear Sam's gasps of pain anymore.I decided mentally, for me, that was a good thing.I couldn't bare not being able to help him.
I pressed on."This is crazy, guys..." I spoke to the audience again; using the only source of comfort I had, unsure if we were even going to use this footage."I wonder how Sam is..." I panted as I held the lighter up in the air more."I've been using this, seeing if I can follow the wind...I feel like a God dang survivalist..." I commented with a scoff.
"Guess that year in boyscouts never left me guys, we have a gust!" I watched the flame flicker with hope.
I walked straight then; taking the one path I had been on straight.
Then the whispers came.I stopped; hearing them right in my ear.
"Sorry guys...I uh, might have been stuck in the cave too long...thought I heard...something...""YOU DID" The voice came clearer in my left ear now; making me turn in alarm.
I widened my eyes, but couldn't see any better.
The only light I had was the flame from the lighter. Sam had the flashlight.
I clenched my eyes in fear; deciding it was simply my mind processing what was going on.
Until it called to me again.
"Uh...something's going on here, guys..." I rubbed my neck tensely.
"I don't know...I don't know if it's cause I'm going crazy in the dark alone, or...or what...what IS that?!" I whispered, flicking my ear and brushing it as I felt a breath almost like it was taunting me.
"Help..." The voice told me. "I want to help!""Can YOU guys hear that?!" I wondered; feeling like I was losing my mind.
I stopped traveling, even picking a stone jutting out from the left side of the cave tunnel I was exploring to get out.
"They can't...just you!" The voice replied to me.I narrowed my eyes in interest then; my curiosity spinning out of control.
I sat the camera on the stone next to me for a break.
"Okay," I breathed out; my experience in ghost hunting coming back to me naturally as I knew something was seeking me out.
"Okay...I'm-I'm listening, you got my attention..." I nodded to the dark cave in front of me.
"Who is this?""My name is Elara," The spirit turned more feminine in tone. "You found me...you found my kingdom..."I stared, seeing a blue speck of light forming in a sphere. I watched as it grew, making me feel even more like I was losing my mind.Sam was never going to believe me; nobody would.
So I did the one thing that came naturally to me as I experienced the impossible.I kept filming; placing the camera casually on my knee.
"You...you're kidding me..." I gasped out. "THE lost city?! It actually exists?!""Used to," Elara sighed sadly. "The chamber a few feet ahead of you leads through it...the halls..." She explained with a sad sigh.
"Elara," I shook my head in disbelief. "I'm...I'm having a hard time here...can...can you help us? My friend, he's hurt...and stuck..." I added more urgently.
"If I free him," Elara came into full manifestation in front of my own eyes.I only hoped we caught it on camera."Will you come back for us?" She asked me."Uh..." I stammered; not wanting to promise anything I couldn't truly help. "F...For what? You...you know you are spirits, right?""Of course, fool!" Elara teased me gently. Her voice sounding young in her amusement. "We have been waiting for you...waiting for our rescuer to come... I always knew you would!""M-Me?" I stammered out loud. "You...you just mean anyone, right?""No Colby..." She whispered more earnestly. "YOU...the man will come with images over him..." She quoted like she truly knew what I looked like before coming. "Dark hair and images on his arms...he will come, and he will set us free!"I was stunned; not knowing what to say.
My mind flickered back to Sam; reminding me he was in pain first and foremost. As awesome as this experience was turning out to be...Sam came first.
Sam would ALWAYS come first."You'll help us out?" I asked my main reason for being down there in the first place.
I couldn't wrap my mind around some ancient prophecy supposedly out there about me.
Not now.
"We will guide you," Elara agreed warmly. "But how do I know you will come back for us?" She asked in paranoia.I shook my head in bewilderment; running my hand through my hair as I realized what I was getting into.It was serious;
I knew better in my years of ghost hunting to make deals with spirits and break them.
"If you've been waiting for ME," I scoffed at the notion in disbelief. "Then you'll know, Elara...you'll know I don't go back on my word!"
I knew it wouldn't be enough for her; by the sound of her reluctant sigh answering me.
I knew then...my time here, in this cave system specifically...was far from over.
"Look," I went on in compromise. "I promise, when...when Sam gets the help he needs...I...I'll come back,
in fact..." I couldn't believe what I was about to promise under the circumstances.
"I...I won't even leave with him, okay?" I felt a surge of passion out of nowhere suddenly; like I couldn't let it go.
When I barley knew anything about these people.
"A friend will come, who will not abandon us..." She answered in a sing-song like tone. "He will come to save us, the man with dark images on his arms will take us in his...he will set us free!"
I was taken aback; stunned.
She really believed I sent to help their people.
The weirdest thing was...I wanted nothing more.
The even weirder part was...I believed I could.
"I'll stay," I promised her after zoning off in disbelief. "I...I want to Elara, I promise...I don't know...I don't know why, or how...but I will, okay?" I promised more earnestly as my mind couldn't wrap around anything anymore.
All I wanted to do was save them."I won't leave, I promise!""I believe you, young hero..." Elara sighed in utter relief. "Thank you...your help for the friend of the light will come...you will know it when it happens!""Oh...uh, okay, thank you!" I realized it was going to be a game of trust between the both of us then as I hopped off the stone.
"Do I just go back then?" i wondered; needing to see the miracle with my own eyes."Yes, you may return..." Elara allowed me. "As long as you remember your promise to save your people!""MY people?" I echoed with a long laugh then. "Elara, I...I really don't understand!""You will, in time!" Elara laughed at me. "I trust in you, Cole Brock..." She spoke my full, given name so knowingly I couldn't shake the feeling of doubt any longer.
"Finally...you have come!"I couldn't deny it any longer; feeling all her faith in me be true at that moment.
I was meant to find to this place.I was going to save them all!
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
I marveled when I came back.The rock slide had been fixed.
There was a side of it completely cleared even; just enough for me to walk through.
"SAM?" I called for him, wondering if by some miracle he had gotten out on his own enough.
"SAM?!" I couldn't wait to tell him what happened.
"Still...here!" Sam croaked tiredly. "Colby? What's....going on?" He groaned. "Where have you been?!"I rushed around to the left; finding him in a miserable looking heap.
His right leg was bent at an odd angle, but freed near the larger stone I saw now split in two.
Confused; I glanced at him."Was that broken before?" I asked with a knowing smile.
"No..." Sam scoffed while rubbing his right thigh. "Dude you missed the whole thing!"
I grinned; knowing exactly what had happened.
It was Elara's promise.
Now it was my turn to keep mine.
"Can you walk?" I wondered, realizing I had to deliver on my end.
"Not exactly well," Sam blinked at me in confusing. "What's going on man, what's with you? You're basically glowing!"I laughed.
"Elara was right!" I pumped a fist eagerly in the air.
"Elara?" Sam blinked. "That...that was who the man's voice said sent him...Colby..." He looked horrified, I realized, instead of sharing the excitement I found over it all.
"What the actual hell just happened to us?!"
I told him everything.
It was like we collectively for-goed his injury and since the pain didn't seem to bother him I moved on excitedly in a rush of inspiration."Sam, it was amazing...she was fully formed, everything...right there in front of me!""A prophecy...down here? About us?" Sam shook his head.
"Well, sounds more like for YOU, anyway..." There was a hint of jealousy in Sam's voice, he looked down dejectedly at his leg.
"I wish I could help more..." He sighed. "Tristan didn't exactly fix everything...""Tristan?" I echoed curiously.
"The man who came to me," Sam nodded with a scoff.
"I thought I was going crazy, Colby..." He described a similar experience to me with just a few things missing.
"Only...I never saw him, but I was in and out of it," Sam grimaced. "God, this still hurts..." He groaned, his leg flinching up when he tried moving more normally.
I could tell then...it was broken; definitely broken."Okay, okay..." I shook my head, the gravity
of the situation we were still in now.Elara would have to wait.
"I'm gonna get us out of here, okay?" I glanced at Sam earnestly after kneeling down to him.
Sam looked back at me strangely.
"You seem different bro," He smiled groggily through a sweaty and grimy expression. "I swear, you're glowing too!"I laughed. "Maybe we ARE just going crazy, Sam..." I suggested with a head shake. "Listen, we've gotta get you back to the car at least, okay?""Yeah, yeah okay..." Sam took a brave breath. "I'm ready!" He nodded trustingly to me as I carefully struggled to carry him between my arms.I got him to the car, looking back at the small mouth of the cave as guilt gripped me.
I was leaving; going back on my word.But Sam needed me.
His cries of pain on the way to the car were enough to tell me I wasn't going to be able to leave him to care for himself.
"I'll be back Elara!" I promised as I stood before driving us to the nearest hospital.
"I'm sorry I can't help you now...but I will, okay?" I felt a great unease grow inside me, like she was watching me leave with a hot look of betrayal.
"I promise I'll come back!"
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
The welcome home party for Sam raged on inside.
I went for some air; feeling like I was seeing her everywhere I turned until the room went spinning and I couldn't breathe.It wasn't long before Sam hobbled out to me in his new crutches and cast signed with about twenty or so of our best friends and co workers who came to greet us.
Turns out; we were missing a lot longer than we realized in the caves.Almost the better half of a whole week.Even missing a date to collab with Kris and Celina that we completely forgot about.
"You okay man?" Sam asked me in concern. "You look pale...paler than usual!" He teased me with a grin."I-I don't know, Sam!" I rubbed my eyes, seeing Elara's blue orb start to wander around our backyard.
"I don't feel so great..." I admitted too, feeling sick to my stomach as my eyes remained fixed on her light.
"Sam?" Celina's voice came behind me, but I barely acknowledged her. "I saw him rush out...everything uh, okay?""Not sure," Sam huffed, remaining focused on me.
"Does this have to do with Tristan and Elara, brother?" He asked gently.I couldn't answer, to transfixed at her in stress as it grew bolder.
As it grew, I felt sicker, even gagging in our bushes after sprinting to them feeling it come on.
"Sam! Do we need to get HIM back to the hospital?" Celina scoffed gently in sarcasm."No," Sam waved her back protectively. "No Celina, we uh...we had a lot happen at this place...but well maybe a cleansing could be useful?" Sam offered.I thought about it, but shook my head miserably as I wiped my mouth with a sleeve."No...no, don't send her away!" I didn't want that.
I knew what I had to do to fix it.
"Go back...have to go back, Sam!" I groaned, taking his hand to get to the patio couch on the back patio."Dude, I think you might just be hungover here..." Sam suggested with a sigh.
I sensed his losing faith; but seeing Elara's orb still floating around our backyard, I couldn't deny it.
Celina followed my gaze as she observed us carefully."Colby," She asked me gently while Sam limped off to get some water. "Does this have to do with this blue orb?" She asked quietly while we were alone.Trusting her after all our experiences together; I knew she had the gift to see more than we could.
More than Sam could.
I looked up at her eagerly as I slinked upright more, nodding."You see her?!" I asked eagerly. "Sam can't see them..." I looked away dejectedly.Celina stared at me with great interest, I could tell.
"I see the orb," She explained. "I know it's a female, I can hear her...that's all, though...Colby what happened? I might be able to help!" She offered.Since she had been part of our spiritual advising team in the past; I told her everything.
SHE
didn't even know what to say.
"Do you believe her, Colby?" Celina finally asked, sitting cross legged with me on the couch.
"I think I do, Celina..." I replied honestly with a groan as my stomach turned, taking a soda from Sam gratefully as it settled my stomach more.
"I think this is from her...I really do!" I looked at Sam; hoping he would believe me more.
Sam frowned, looking about as excited at the idea as he did in the cave.
"You want to go back, don't you?" He frowned deeper; if possible."I think we have to, Sam!" I insisted. "I'm not hungover, I didn't even drink!" I added to back up my case.
"It's true Sam," Celina eyed him curiously. "You don't believe him?""We were stuck in the cave for a week, and it felt like a day to us..." Sam replied as he hobbled to the patio chair to sit awkwardly with his casted leg sticking out.
"I was in so much damn pain Colby, and...and you were lost in there along for hours..." He looked down. "I think it messed with us more than we realize!""Then why can I see her, Sam?" Celina stood up for me loyally. I gazed at her gratefully; feeling like I was crazy again.
Sam looked at her in surprise.
"Shit..." He sighed heavily, looking like he really didn't want to go.
I realized that was the heart of the reason.
"I didn't uh, didn't know..." He looked down at his leg.
I knew then I was right.Sam was just too scared to go back at all."Sam, listen..." I sighed."I know getting hurt back there didn't exactly help your biggest fear..."
I smirked miserably as my stomach did another turn, almost in turn as Elara moved closer to us.
"But she's not going to leave me alone, brother!" I warned him. "I know I sound absolutely crazy, but there's something more to this case! Something that even has some kind of prophecy about me involved!""I don't know..." Sam's scowl remained.
"I don't think I can..." He confessed more honestly as he shifted uncomfortably under the hot seat.I looked back at him in surprise; always expecting his support above anyone over all.
Especially after sharing the same experience.
"You...you understand I HAVE to do this?" I made sure he knew. "She saved us...I have to save them!""Uh huh...okay..." Sam looked at me briefly before flashing a concerned look quickly.
Does he really not believe me? I wondered miserably, the idea my own best friend didn't follow me disturbing me.
My stomach flipped again, making me flinch as her voice sounded in my ear again."You broke your promise!" Elara hissed angrily in my ear. "You're nothing but a liar!"I closed my eyes, clenching my hands to my temples in shock.
I didn't want to disappoint her.
I wanted to help."Sam...LOOK at him!" Celina defended me. "This isn't Colby, at all..." She placed a hand comfortingly on my shoulder.
"Something's reaching out to him...and we need to be there to help whatever this is!"Sam stared back at her coldly.
"You want to HELP this?" He gestured to me wildly. "You want to help the very entities that might have lured us in there to begin with?!"I looked up at him angrily; not getting that impression from this spirit at all.
"They wanted ME, Sam...and for something bigger!" I narrowed my eyes more angrily at him. "You're just jealous, that's all!" I snapped angrily.
Sam widened his eyes in surprise at me.
Celina looked like she didn't know what to do in the midst of a very heated moment between us. Sam glanced at her.
"Listen," Sam shook his head. "I can't go either way with this leg...it's broken, if you remember!" He narrowed his eyes back at me.
"Like I can forget?" I narrowed my eyes right back at him.
"Colby...Sam, listen..." Celina intervened then, hearing the tone in my voice take a nasty turn.
I heard it too; but it didn't stop.
I felt Elara's impatience grow in me.
"You have about a dozen friends or more in there, ready to help with anything, you realize?" Celina pointed out, gesturing to herself. "Myself included..."
I realized where she was going; that Sam WASN'T going.
I looked down sadly at the idea.
Sam couldn't even look back up at me.
"So that's it then, brother?" I murmured dejectedly. "That's it? You're not going to come with me?""Not unless she can wait six weeks, man..." Sam lifted his stone like casted leg. "And no offense, but I really don't
see the point in going back!""Because she needs me!" I looked at him sadly. "And...I...I need you, Sam!"Sam looked more annoyed than usual at the comment I meant to be meaningful.
It only made me feel more annoyed right back at him."Thank you for getting me out, and safe..." Sam shook his head, taking his crutches. I knew it meant he was done talking about it all.
"I just can't, Colby..." He looked at me earnestly.
"I'm sorry..."
He did add the apology at the end more genuinely. I could tell the fear wrecked him.
"But this is going to have to be an adventure you finish on your own!"
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
"Colby...this place is COOL!" Kris ducked in behind us as I lead Celina to the half of the rock slide still there near the entrance to the chamber.
I grinned back at her with a half hearted nod.
I knew they were over compensating.Over compensating because Sam wasn't coming.
"Was that where Sam got trapped?" Celina found the rock split in two; the move Tristan I realized must have done to free him.
"Yep," I sighed. "Nearly five minutes in, we're almost at the chamber too, and uh...I wouldn't touch anything if I were you!" I warned them. "That's how we started the trap in the first place!""You mean that?" Kris pointed to the blueish stone placed on the pedastol."Yeah, that!" I shook my head at her.
"Don't touch ANYTHING, Kris!""Alright, alright, you're the boss!" Kris rose both hands more comedically in the air.I smiled; appreciating her positivity more than ever but the place gave me the creeps now.
I was grateful for their company instead of coming alone.
She gazed at me warmly return; looking more serious in interest."Where to next, sir?" She asked me with a smirk.I rolled my eyes at her pretend formalities."This way," I waved a hand for them to follow me down the center tunnel I remembered running through to save my own life.
Thankfully; the ground was stable this time.
"I ran out this way when Elara showed up!""Pretty name," Kris commented as she gripped the straps on her bookbag as we fell in line. Celina took the rear as I lead us through the darker side.
"E, l-air-a..." She echoed it more drawn out in thought, making me smirk again.
"Sounds like an older name, doesn't it Colby?""Yeah," I smiled at her appreciation towards the people I found.
"Tristan did too!""Colby," Celina asked me next curiously as we continued down. I was waiting to stop at the boulder I took
a break before to show them.
"Do you have any kind of lost ancestry that would validate this prophecy she told you?""Not that I know of," I replied with a shrug. "She said a man with pictures on his arms though..." I held up both of my arms showing my tattoos. "Can't get much more obvious than that?"
"No," Celina scoffed in agreement.
"It's just crazy, Colby...I mean uh, interesting!" She corrected herself quickly.
"You think she'll come with us here?""I hope," I admitted I wasn't sure. "She came to me there!" I pointed to the boulder coming into view with my flashlight beam.
Kris looked back; I realized she was exchanging a look with Celina.She saw I caught it, taking me aside gently while Celina stood near the back in a moment alone."Colby, we're just worried about you," Kris told me gently. "You realize how this all uh, sounds, don't you?"I suppressed an eye roll; nodding.
"Just give me a chance here, Kris...I can prove-" I flinched back as she jolted, suddenly jumping nearly into my arms mid speech."Hey!" Kris yelped. "Something just brushed against me!" She scrambled around us in a weird dance.
I heard them then; fluttering sounds.
I froze, realizing a flock of bats nested right in the corner above the boulder.
I swallowed hard."Elara, please..." I called her name softly, so softly even Kris didn't hear me as she and I froze so they wouldn't attack.
Celina stood off in a stunned shock too."Open the doors, I came back...help us, please!"
"This way!" Elara's voice came to me while Kris gripped my arms. "Follow the light, Colby!"I blinked as my eyes adjusted; turning off my flashlight and seeing a blue whisp of an orb lead around to the right corridor.
I followed her blindly.
"This way, Kris, okay?" I whispered, letting her hold onto me as Celina slinked in closer behind us. I looked back to make sure she was good and she nodded.
"We just have to be quiet!"I snuck around the bats; hearing their wings and chittering sounds sent shivers down me as we tried not to disturb them.
Then the stone doors shook; just after I stubbed my foot over a stone sticking out from the floor."Fuck!" I grunted, stumbling with Kris clumsily as the ground shook.The bats swarmed.
"RUN!" I called; pointing towards the more opened chamber before us now.
The ceilings were higher; opening up to all kinds of levels of ridges and cliffs with stalagmites staggered around us.
It was huge.
Still; the bats followed us inside.
I heard a shriek; realizing it was Kris.
"NO!" I watched the bats flood her, while she flailed her arms frantically to shoo them away.
I stiffened, watching her drop to the ground after letting out a shriek."KRIS!" I jumped to get back to her, splashing over slick rocks to get to her while Celina beat me to it.
"Oh God, oh God, Celina I'm sorry! I thought she was following me!""It's okay," Celina looked at me grimly, already kneeled next to her trembling friend.
I could already see dried flecks of blood on Kris's face from scratches."Kris, honey, hey, can you hear me?"Kris made a low whimpering sound."Bit me...bit...bit my hand..." She whimpered before her head slumped into Celina's chest.I widened my eyes in alarm; knowing the types of bats could be dangerous to be bitten by.
"We need to get her out of ..." Celina was cut off, the stone walls closing beside us as if something was watching us to get inside.
Not something.Some ONE."Elara!" I looked at her eagerly. "Hey, my friend needs help, we need out!"Elara looked back at me sternly."It is not safe," She warned me as she came into view for all of us.
Celina even watched her come forward with wide eyes.
"And we still have unfinished business to attend to!"Celina narrowed her eyes at the spirit but I shot her a warning look.
"My friend was attacked," I warned Elara this wasn't a time for bartering. "I came back...and we were attacked again in this God dang cave!" I snapped at her. "Do you want me to help you or not?!"
Elara widened her eyes at my change in tone."I suppose...you did come back...not with the light one?" She tilted her head curiously."Sam isn't here," I didn't have time for the prophecy ramblings. "My friend is hurt, can you help us?""No," Elara replied to my disappointment. "Come with me though, and I will show you to our healer...to our city!"I widened my eyes at the more intriguing offer."Thank you," I turned back to Celina, who was staring at me in bewilderment while holding Kris. "Do you want me to take her?""Everyone may come," Elara invited them with a flash of jealousy I thought I caught in her eyes at Kris."If they are friend of yours!" She added more pointedly to me.I nodded that they were.
"Really good friends," I added warmly. "Thank you, Elara...please..." I looked at Kris in guilt as she moaned in her sleep.
"I promise I won't leave you if you help me again!"
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
"Colby?" Her voice made me break from my trance while we anxiously waited in a cavern closed in for Elara to come back.
"Celina! Where...where are we?" Kris shook weakly as she tried to get up.
"Shit, my arm..." She complained right away as it buckled under herself as she attempted to turn more upright alone."Hey! Easy!" Celina warned her friend protectively.
"Easy Kris, you were bit up really bad!" She
teared up, finally breaking after trying to keep a brave face."Feels...like it..." Kris scoffed fondly at her friend as she woke up groggily; her hair in a tangled mess and in her face.
"Where...where are we?" She found me where I sat in a stubborn silence of shock and anger.
Celina glanced at me bitterly."He hasn't said a word," She murmured. "Not since you went under Kris..."
It was true.My mind went into some state of rage where I could barely think.
It was all too much.Anger just felt easier to feel.
Kris turned her freshly scraped up face towards me more in surprise as Celina helped her up.
"Colby, I'm okay now...I think..." She scoffed bravely. "Just feel kinda strange...loopy?" She blinked away sweat uncomfortably with an even more cut up hand now wrapped in gauze."You have a fever," Celina took over for me.
I felt useless. Useless until someone like Elara came back to tell me what was going on.
So I sat on my rock stump they had methodically placed around the medical cavern and waited.
"Kris just try to relax, okay? I don't know their remedies here!""Where...where IS here?" Kris asked curiously through the fever as she shuddered.
Celina pulled the thick pelt like blanket around Kris's shoulders more for her as she leaned her back against the cave wall more.
"Elara's City..." Celina explained. "And boy is it weird, Kris!" She teased gently.
"We made it?" Kris looked up more excitedly.
"Colby, is it true?" She tried to a rise out of me; I knew.I just sat there in defeat; but nodded.I began to wonder if Sam was right, even...if all of this was a trick.That these weren't kind spirits like I thought at all.The thought was eating me alive."We made it..." Kris murmured. "Barely...damn my head feels funny..." She complained strangely.
I flickered my eyes over at them in worry.
"Because you were bit by the shapeshifter..." Elara's voice came gently, making me turn angrily towards her.
"He was the one, the one who keeps us here!"Kris moaned.
"Don't feel so good..." She whimpered, trembling as the fever took hold.
"The remedy wears off," Elara explained when I shot her an angry look. "It will take time to work fully..."
She warned us.
I watched as she dug though a supply box, like we were watching real people deal with real situations.
I had to remind myself she was just a spirit."Elara," I narrowed my eyes at her. "We need to talk!" I demanded more than ask."Your friend will rest now," Elara nodded after applying the same looking salve to Kris's arm and the scratches on her face.
Kris seemed more at ease after that, to the point where it seemed like it was time.Time for answers.
"It would be okay for us to discuss things!" She agreed with a more pointed glance at me."I'll stay with Kris," Celina glared at me; clearly not appreciating my ice out but my mind was swarming.
It was hard to focus on both things.
"Go Colby, it's okay!"I nodded, slinking up to go with Elara once I knew they were safe.
"Alright, we're alone now..." I stated after walking back out to the main, more open part of the cave. "What the hell is this place, Elara?!" I unleashed my whirlwind of questions.
"Are WE dead?" I asked. "What shapeshifter did you mean? What prophecy?"Elara smiled knowingly, more patiently at me.
"I can answer the first three," She laughed. "This is...WAS...my home..." She explained. "A whole city underground...and no, YOU dear Cole, are NOT dead!" She reassured me.I stared at her using my real name like it was foreign to hear because it truly was strange.
"Colby," I corrected her. "My name is Colby!""Okay," Elara nodded as she lead me down a winding narrow ravine underground.
"Colby I'm taking you to the main hub, to Tristan...you remember the name?""Yeah," I nodded. "He saved Sam!""Right," Elara smiled. "Because he was...IS our leader, king, preferably..." She explained to me finally.I gaped at her."You...you mean to tell me this place used to be a whole functioning city?!""At one glorious point in time, yes...only above the ground!" Elara sighed sadly. "Then came the shapeshifter..." She replied darkly; answering my other question to her before.
"The one that bit Kris?" I frowned. "Is that a spirit?""Yes, an evil one!" Elara warned me.
"The one that has all of our spirits still stuck here...never able to rest in peace!"I frowned at the unfairness.
I always hated bully spirits.
This one seemed different though; intense.
And somehow connected more directly to ME, personally.
"Did you live here then as people...like uh, in humanity?" I asked, shivering as the temperature felt like it dropped around us."Yes, above ground here...in a castle more so, actually..." Elara's eyes misted over sadly.
"So literally...a kingdom..." I felt my mind reel again. "I...I was part of a kingdom?" I wondered, in excitement more.Elara smiled back at me.
"How much do you know of your family heritage?"
"Not much," I replied with a shrug. "Besides you know, direct lines...""They likely do not know this line..." Elara gazed at me almost more sheepishly. She lead me to an area of the ravine that opened up more; to where there was another cave entrance up ahead like the one where we stayed in shelter.
"Everyone has a past, Cole...Colby..." Elara corrected herself more respectfully at me as she pointed to the cave entrance for me to go."Are you ready?" She gazed at me hopefully."Are you ready to find out YOURS?"
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
I entered the cave.It opened up into far more elaborate accommodations.
There was a full sized bed in the corner, even a fire pit in the middle.
All of which looked like they had been unoccupied for years, but still, it was far nicer than the medical wing we had.
"Tristan's coming," Elara warned me. "Speak when spoken to, and respectfully... he is our king!""Okaaay...." I followed her gesture to sit down cross legged on one of the mats near the fire pit.I zoned off after awhile, nearly falling asleep as it still somehow all felt...natural to be here.
Like I never left.
"Is this him?" A deep voice stirred me back.I had completely fallen asleep.
I didn't notice until I jolted awake.
"Yes Tristan! He came! Just like it says!" Elara beamed excitedly.
"That's enough," Tristan scoffed at her. "Does he know?""Barely," Elara murmured. "I think he fell asleep!""I'm awake!" I smirked in the darkness, seeing a darker spirit enter, in the form of a more muscular man near Elara.
"Tristan, right?" I glanced at him anxiously.Tristan nodded.
"So...we finally meet..." He smirked in interest, sitting cross legged in front of me.
He was huge.I imagined him like any character from medieval times; any king, really.Tall, muscular. Draped in furs as old time clothing and wearing a sword holster for a belt.
He even came with a dark beard to match his scraggly dark hair that covered scrapes and scars creasing and old, wrinkly face.This dude had definitely been around for centuries.
"The nephew finally returns..." Tristan's eyes glowed almost in the darkness.
A fire between us in the fire pit began.
He settled more comfortably while Elara went around and went through old barrels and some supplies near the other corner that was too dark for me to see.
"Nephew?" I blinked curiously. "I-I'm a nephew of someone here?""You really don't know, do you?" Tristan's green eyes reflected at me curiously.
"No sir," I shook my head, entirely confused all over again.
I thought I had a good idea where I came from, but clearly...I was taught otherwise.
"I know my family...how is it I have an entirely new one?!"Tristan grinned."Clearly, your family doesn't even know, then!" He snickered. "Congratulations boy, you come from us...from royalty!" He punched his chest with a loud laugh. "If only we could reign properly, your life would be incredibly different!"I didn't know what to say; going into a stunned silence."I...I don't understand..." I shook my head in disbelief. "I...I don't even HAVE an uncle! Not blood related!""That you knew of..." Tristan smiled. "The Brock family, correct?""Yeah..." I didn't think our family went generations back at all. My parents never had brothers. At least; known that I knew about.
They were all married in.
"It's a lot to take in," Tristan gazed at me patiently. "But nonetheless true...and, apart from that, you still have a debt to pay us, I believe!" He looked around curiously. "Where is the light one? Your friend?"I looked down dejectedly.
"He uh, couldn't come..." I fibbed, knowing Sam wouldn't have even entered the cave with me again.
"I see," Tristan stroked his beard as Elara came and began cooking some form of meat on the fire pit in a pot.
"That's unfortunate, because we need him too!"I rose my eyes curiously, glancing at Elara in confusion."I didn't know!" I frowned, wanting to settle my end of the debt.Especially if it meant helping family.
"We cannot proceed without him!" Tristan declared with a head shake, taking a bowl of stew from Elara."I tried to tell him Colby," She explained. "He was very out of it though, you know? He might have even forgotten!"I groaned, realizing it meant another confrontation with Sam later."Something the matter?" Tristan asked as I took a bowl too."Sam's uh...having a rough time with this," I confessed. "My friend uh, doesn't do well underground at all, then he got hurt, and, well...""He needs convincing..." Tristan followed my problem easily with a stroke of his beard. "Well, tell me, how much does he care for these friends of yours in the medical wing?""Oh, uh, a lot, sir!" I grimaced as I realized I got completely swept away in the drama.
"What are you thinking?" I narrowed my eyes protectively over my friends who got hurt just for helping us.They had been through enough already."They pose another problem," Tristan warned me.
"Kris, especially, the one that was bit, right?" He asked knowingly."What about her?" I glared at him more protectively.
Tristan's mouth twitched into a smirk."Girlfriend?" He guessed with raised eyes in interest and amusement."No!" I answered sharper than I meant to. "No...uh, not like that..." I felt my cheeks flush in embarrassment.
"She's...just a great friend, and she's hurt...because of me..." I hung my head guiltily.
"Not just hurt now, my boy...I'm sorry..." Tristan narrowed his eyes grimly at me, all humor dying from his eyes. "Hurt...hurt would be easy, no..." He sighed."She was attacked by the shapeshifter...cursed, Cole..." He warned me."That means she has been cursed!"
I felt my heart sink.
My mind reeled as I saw how it was all connecting.
I let out a long, worried sigh.
"You want me to tell Sam this, don't you?" I figured. "To get him here?"Tristan nodded."I will not tell you the rest until he's with you!" He declared then decisively. "It does not make sense to...nor will it work at all to rid this curse without BOTH of you here!"I closed my eyes painfully as I knew it was going to be easier said than done.
"I'll have to go back home," I told him. "Sam's there...but it means going back...and leaving them..." I realized more worriedly about Celina and Kris.
"I am aware," Tristan nodded. "That's what makes you special, Cole..." He explained with a knowing smirk.
"You can see both parts of this world...yours...AND ours!" He gazed at me admiringly."Will you do this for us? Come back, and help your friend now under the same curse since she was marked?""Of course I will!" I glared back at him fiercely, getting up already to haul Sam back kicking and screaming if I had to."Sam will come...whether he wants to or not!"Tristan snickered."Very well," He nodded. "You may go back..." He allowed me."But you must bring your friend back too!"
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
I jerked awake; feeling a pinching sensation in my arm.I scrambled to attack, my instinct telling me it wasn't normal."Sir...sir! I need you to calm down, please!" A stranger's voice insisted sternly. "Sam, can you help?""He's awake! Finally, oh thank God!" Sam's voice came nearby so I opened an eye cautiously around.Hospital? I wondered in confusion.I was in the hospital!"Sam?" I croaked, flinching as the stinging sensation came again.
"Sam..." I sputtered out in confusion. "What...what happened?"I blinked; feeling the groggy pull of some kind of effect in an instant after the nurse left."This will help calm his nerves," The nurse explained. "If he's tired, let him rest, but you may visit for awhile, Sam!""Thank you ma'am," Sam replied like he knew more. "Thank you..." He sighed more in utter relief; making me wonder what had happened even more.
"Sam?" I asked him again. "What happened...I-I don't...don't remember getting here...""You passed out cold at the party," Sam explained to me in a whimper. "I didn't know what to do...after I left you with Celina, she came to find me...when I came back, you were slumped over, Colby!"I stared at him in awe; not remembering a thing.All I remembered was needing to get him to Elara and Tristan's kingdom.MY kingdom.I started to get up, gripping the rail to get ready to leave.
"Woah, hey!" Sam pushed my hand back with the end of a crutch.
"Where do you think you're going?!" He stared at me sternly. "You were in a God dang coma, brother!" Sam's eyes welled with tears.
I realized it was true; feeling my body more as I came around. It had been hooked up to monitors everywhere it felt like.Clearly I had been there awhile."Sam...have to...have to go back..." I cleared my throat in annoyance, feeling it scratchy from disuse.Sam poured some water in a plastic cup, helping me hold onto it as I gained some feeling back slowly.
"Have to go back?" Sam stared at me in confusion. "Where? Home?" He sighed. "Colby, eventually okay? But not until they tell you to!"I groaned in frustration; shaking my head against the pillows stacked behind me."No, no..." I grumbled groggily, fighting to keep my eyes open."Elara's...the kingdom...underground..." I trailed off
as the room grew dizzy around me.I felt Sam's hand grip mine once I closed my eyes."Rest, Colby...please..." He pleaded me. "I...I thought I lost you, brother...I can't..." He whispered fearfully. "I can't ever go through that again!"I squeezed his hand back comfortingly; surprised and confused more than before.
Did I really experience it all? I wondered...Or was this some kind of tripped out coma induced experience?"Yeah...yeah, okay Sam...okay..." I swallowed raggedly as the sedative kicked in again.
"Really tired...hey, are...are the girls here?" I wondered then curiously.
"They come to visit you," Sam scoffed fondly at them. "On and off, when I can't be..." He sighed. "Thank God you woke up...Colby, I didn't know if you ever would!" He exclaimed with a sob."Sam..." I asked after awhile. "H-how long was I...out?" I wondered how long it had been, feeling like only a day to me."Three...three WEEKS, Colby!" Sam choked back another sob.
"You've been in the coma for three weeks!"
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
They finally discharged me the next weekend.
Three weeks of my life drained away in a hospital.And I still couldn't figure it out.
I didn't know what was real or not.
There had been no moments of activity of Elara or Tristan again.
Not since I had been discharged.Even Kris met us for lunch now, greeting me with a huge hug and tears with Celina next in line.
I smiled back; relieved to see her out of pain but it confused me.
I wasn't sure if the curse remained or not.
"You're okay?" I asked, holding onto her hug a little longer. "You weren't hurt?" I blinked in confusion as I held onto her before I knew for sure.Sam exchanged an amused glance with her."He uh, still gets a little confused..." He murmured like I couldn't hear."I'M fine, Colby!" Kris hugged me again anyway. "Better now that you woke up!" She added with a sigh. "Sam told us...you really had an experience, didn't you?" She gazed at me warmly."Yeah..." I rubbed my neck awkwardly. "Yeah, it was...interesting..." I frowned, realizing they had all already came to the same conclusion I wasn't sure was necessarily true.It had all just been a dream.One long, realistic and terrifying coma-induced dream.Celina caught my gaze in interest after I stared off."Sam, why don't you and Kris get us a table?" She suggested before we got in the restaurant.
"On it," Sam nodded with a knowing glance at me. "Take your time...I'm starving though!" He warned us teasingly as he hobbled away with Kris not far behind.
We were finally alone; I remembered confiding in Celina once before at the party.
I hoped I could trust her to confide in her again.
She took the hint right away; pointing to the bench outside."Sit, Colby..." Celina smirked. "I think we need to talk?"I nodded eagerly in relief.
"Please!" I sagged my head in relief as we sat outside.
I told her everything. Every detail.Even ones I held back from Sam at the end; where I knew I had to get him to go with me.
"He...he thinks I'm crazy, Celina but it happened!" I promised earnestly. "I KNOW it did!""Okay honey, okay..." Celina nodded to me thoughtfully. "I believe you, I believe you had this experience..." She drew a hand over her face."But why is it me and Kris are okay? If we were cursed, or she was?""I don't know..." I confessed that part was strange to me, too. "Maybe they let you come back too?" I shook my head in bewilderment."Maybe," Celina let out a long sigh. "Colby, there...there still IS the other side of this...that...that it WAS coma induced..." She reminded me gently. "You hear stories about it happening all the time!"I shook my head knowingly at her."This was more than that, Celina...I KNOW it was!" I narrowed my eyes. "We have to go back...it's my family, they won't like it if I don't go back!"Celina studied me carefully."You really believe this happened, don't you?" She murmured in confusion.
I nodded back stubbornly.
I knew what I experienced.It was far too real."You two ready?" Sam came back to us. "Our table's ready!""Sam..." Celina nodded to him. "Listen, I...I think it's time..." She told him sternly.
Sam's smile faded."What do you mean?" He frowned between us. "You...you BELIEVE him?!""I saw her before, Sam!" Celina nodded. "Some things don't add up...but when do all things add up for the paranormal?!"I scoffed in agreement; but Sam looked crushed before looking back at me."You won't let this go, will you brother?" He asked me with a small smirk.I shook my head stubbornly."It wasn't just a dream, Sam!" I insisted earnestly.Sam let out a long sigh, swaying on his crutches."Okay, okay..." He limped around like he was trying to pace and think things out.
"Listen...I get this thing off in a week," Sam gestured with his bum leg. "I have to go with you, you said?"
I looked over at him brightly, nodding eagerly at him as my hopes soared."If it means giving you some peace of mind again, okay..." Sam finally complied with me.
"I'll go, alright?"I rushed him with a bear hug, holding him tightly to help keep him upright."Thank you, brother!" I buried my face into his shoulder. "Thank you!"
I didn't realize I needed his submission and support this much, but it was true.
I needed him.I just needed him to believe me.
Sam scoffed fondly at me, patting my shoulders with an arm after readjusting on his crutches."Whatever it takes, Colby, okay?" Sam gazed at me worriedly. "You haven't been yourself since you woke up...I'm worried about you brother, you know?" He frowned seriously. "If getting you back means going with you, then I will!" Sam nodded his submission."Whatever it takes to get our lives back to normal, okay?"I narrowed my eyes at the strange acceptance but still decided it was better than him refusing the task again."I can't promise it will after this, Sam...after this..." I warned him with a knowing smirk, feeling a rush of excitement at the thought of going back.
"After this, I don't think our lives will ever be the same again!"