" Cut them loose." the phone read. A direct order from his mother that, of course, he could not refuse. Ian glanced back at the shocked faces of the Cahills. Alistair shook his head. Dan glared at him with burning hatred in his eyes, and Amy?
Ian turned and his eyes met hers. Amy's face was pale, eyes wide with fear and shock. He felt a tug at his stomach, ignored it, and walked out of the cave with his sister and closed the door.
Natalie's phone sung out the song "Popular" by the Veronicas. She reached for it and walked ahead of Ian, talking to a friend of hers. Ian looked back at the cave, eyes trained on the ground, his fingers traced the side of the cave. Surely they would find a way out?
He did what his mother told him to do! Surely that was right? Blood ran thicker than water!
Than why could he see the look on Amys face in his head?
Ian dug the toe of his Louis Vuitton sneakers in the dirt. Then his fingers caught.
There was a hole, a tiny peephole in the wall! They could get oxygen! Ian let out a sigh of relief. He looked at his sister up ahead and bent down to look into the cave.
They were probably strategizing. Ian looked through the darkness and sure enough, Dan and Alistair were chatting away. Ian could pick up snippets. "Escape, air, fire, alchemy?"
and then he heard it.
No wonder he and his sister werent allowed to cry! This awful noise Amy was making. The soft, heart wrenching sobs, were like kicks to the stomach. What had he done?
Ian fingered the gold coin in his pocket. He wanted to open the door, run to Amy, and hold her. Tell her not to cry, he was so sorry. Forgive him, and forget this.
"Are you coming Ian?" Natalie's voice rang out.
What would he do? Family, or friends? Power, greed, and lies or softness, truth and love? His mother would thank him at most. Amy and Dan might forgive him.
What would he do?
Glancing once more at the cave, he slipped the coin into his pocket and walked away.