Edgar scrambled off the cold body of a teenage boy.
Alan Frog laughed. "Bro, that wasn't me."
Edgar tried to calm his racing heart, his breath coming in small pants. "You didn't kill anyone?"
"I managed to grab you during the sunlight hours Ed. I must've banged your head harder than I thought!"
Alan sighed and sauntered around the cave. "I still plan to make my first kill. I've just been busy."
Edgar licked his dry lips. He could feel nervous sweat beading on his forehead. "I can help. I can save your soul from the damnation of hell." He stepped further away from the dead body.
"I've got help – from the other side. David and his side-kicks want me dead, so I couldn't go to them, but I met someone else," Alan said, a slow smile lighting his face.
Edgar shook his head, confused. He glanced at his own watch – it was night. He'd lost the rest of the day to unconsciousness.
"Look, we are close to finding out the location of David's new lair. Then we can kill him and cure you! The other Boys will be next," Edgar appealed.
Alan's laugh echoed around the cavern. "You have no idea..."
A rattle of stones sounded from deep in the cave. "Now you'll see," Alan whispered reverently.
Edgar's frantic eyes searched for a weapon of any sort. He settled on one of the many candlestick holders around the cave, gripping it for dear life behind his back.
A female silhouette slinked into view. The candles cast their flickering light on her as she came closer. Long blonde hair, like spun gold, swayed on her slim shoulders. Emerald eyes sparkled in a pale, angelic face. Edgar gulped as his eyes took in the tiny leather vest and matching leather pants. He caught the twinkle of a naval ring.
He remembered the description he had given to Star: 5'5, with long blonde hair, green eyes, and a fondness for leather.
"Marie?"
~{*}~
Star's car lurched to a stop near the edge of the cliff. She released the steering wheel, the tingling in her fingers letting her know how tightly she had been gripping it. Sam took a deep breath and pushed his door open. Star uttered a silent prayer and followed.
After a few minutes, they stood side by side at the ominous Cave mouth. Sam flicked on his torch. The thin beam cut through the darkness.
"Should we wait for your friend?" Star asked, peering into the entrance.
Sam glanced over his shoulder. "I-I don't know."
"This feels like a trap," Star added.
"I know," Sam agreed bleakly.
"But Edgar's in there, and he needs our help," Star encouraged, checking for the hundredth time that the knife on her thigh was secure under her dress, and that she had holy water and stakes in her jacket.
"It's now or never," Sam agreed with a curt nod. He stepped into the jagged gap, watching his precarious footing.
Star followed close to him, resting a hand on his shoulder. She trusted Sam as he guided her over and around unstable rocks, using the faint light from his torch to shine the way. She was reminded of other times, times when she had actually called the cave 'Home'. She shuddered, not just from the cold, and dug her fingers deeper into Sam's shoulder.
"OK?" Sam whispered, wiping cold sweat from his face.
"Keep going," she replied, even though every fibre of her being was screaming out for them to run away.
The passageway begun to widen and pale light wavered ahead.
"Light at the end of the tunnel," hissed Sam, attempting a joke.
Star stopped him by this shoulder, and turned him towards her. "Be very very careful Sammy. We're going to get Edgar and get out. Ok?" she promised.
Sam nodded. They turned together and crept forward. With frayed nerves, they hugged quickly; a mutual tight squeeze of hope. That was their final act before they heard a crash then descended to the main Cave...
