Chapter 10: You'll Need Me
Rea walked over to where Top and Jack were getting ready to go scout out an exit.
"I'm going with you guys."
They both looked up at her and Jack shook his head. "No, you stay here with the others."
"Jack, you're gonna need me," Rae stated, putting her hands on her hips. "I'm going."
"Rae, I really don't have time for this," Jack said, exasperated.
"Then just let me go with you." She rubbed her forehead. "Look, I know I'm no longer a member of this team but you both know that I'm still the best rock climber in the world. You may need me and I'll go crazy if I stay here with nothing to do."
"She's got a point, Jack," Top pointed out.
Jack sighed. "Alright, fine, but you stick close to us and don't go wondering off by yourself. Got it?"
Rae nodded and turned to go get her gear. "Got it."
Greer met her half way to where her gear was. "You goin' with them?"
She nodded, grabbing her climbing gear. "Yeah, I'll be alright. I can't just sit round here and do nothing."
"Be careful, Cassie."
"Always."
Then she ran to catch up with Jack and Top.
Greer turned back and walked over to the others.
Charlie watched Rae leave with Top and Jack then she turned to Greer. "She's goin' with them?"
The dark skinned man nodded. "Yeah she is."
"This place is really fuckin' creepy," Rae stated, shinning her flashlight around. "Remind me to volunteer us for a job in a less hostile country next time."
Top chuckled. "Will do, Rae."
Jack sighed heavily and Rae looked over at him. "Sorry Jack."
"We've never lost anyone before guys," Jack stated.
"I don't know something isn't right, Mac," Top agreed.
"No shit bud," Jack said.
Rae shined her flashlight up towards the ceiling. "I'm sorry I got you guys into this."
Both men stopped dead at her statement and turned around to look at her.
"This isn't your fault, Rae," Jack said, frowning at her.
"Yeah, we all knew what we were getting ourselves into," Top put in.
"I got a feelin' that we're in for way more than what we bargained for," she said, shinning her flashlight around the dark, damp cavern. "And if I'm right, we're doubling what we charged them."
Top and Jack were talking about possible exits while Rae was walking a little bit behind them, looking around.
She shined her light into a dark corner when something reflexes off of something that shined in the dark and she froze when she realized they were a pair of eyes.
Rae gulped softly and started to back up slowly. Then it charged at her.
Jack and Top arrived at two separate tunnels. "Door one or door two?" Jack asked his friend.
Top shrugged. "I don't know. What do you think Rae?"
The young woman didn't answer the two men turned around to find her gone. "Rae?"
"Oh fuck, where'd she run off to now?" Top said, shinning his light around. "Yo, Rae?"
"Goddamn it, I'm going to kick her ass," Jack growled. "I told her not to wonder off!"
Jack started off towards in the direction they just came from with Top right behind him when they heard a loud female scream.
"Rae!" they yelled at the same time and started running. "Rae! Rae!"
It was dark and quiet now.
"Rae!" Jack yelled, then he tripped over someone that was laying in the path and landed flat on his stomach.
The lump yelped in surprise.
Top stopped dead and crouched down beside her. "Rae? Are you alright? Are you hurt?"
Rae sat up and shook her head. "I'm alright but I don't think it is." She pointed directly in front of her. "Whatever it is."
Jack sat up and shined his light in the direction she was pointing. There was a creature unlike any thing he had ever seen before in his life. The only way he could describe it was demonic.
"What the fuck is that thing?" Top asked, shining his light where they other two had theirs.
"How the fuck should I know?" Rae demanded, her voice on the edge of hysterics. "It just came outta fuckin' nowhere."
Jack got up and slowly approached it, upon further examination he discovered the blade of Rae's boney knife sticking out of the demon's head. "I think it's dead. Her knife is right between it's eyes."
He straightened up and turned to the other two. He walked up and pulled Rae effortlessly to her feet before checking her for injuries. "Are you sure that you're alright?"
Rae nodded. "No it didn't bite me or anything like that. Thank god."
Before Jack could stop himself he pulled Rae up against his chest, squeezing her tight. "See what I mean about how wondering off could be dangerous."
She nodded against his chest. "Never again."
Rae pulled away from Jack's chest. "I am so ready to go home. I've had just about enough of Romania."