Chapter Ten: Caught
Inside the caverns, 12:15, p.m. November 13
It was darker than ever now. At winter time, night time was darker and colder.
"Which way is it?"
I pulled out my flashlight to see where I was going.
I haven't encountered the alien for nearly two hours now. It might be tending to its wounds or something, I took a few minutes to do the same for myself. Thank God I brought medical supplies in my backpack.
"Where are they?"
It took a long time, but I finally made it to the caverns.
"Yes. There you are."
I was at the mouth of the opening of the cave. It was very large and has stalactites hanging down looking like a beast with fangs ready to eat you.
"God, this thing is scary."
This was one of the two only openings into the caverns. One wrong move and you could end up lost forever or die.
"Here goes nothing."
I heard an all too familiar purring sound and ran into the caverns.
"Oh no."
The walls of the caverns were smooth to the touch but overhead, the ceiling hung long, large stalactites. Stalagmites grew underneath on each side allowing some passage through the caverns. One wrong step and you would be impaled. I walked for only about five minutes before a beam of blue light passed by me and hit a nearby stalagmite.
"WOAH!"
Before I knew it, a giant clawed fist swung over my head and smashed a large hole in the rock wall. Dust came out as it pulled out its fist. It continued to try to punch me, but I dodged every punch.
"DON'T YOU EVER GIVE UP?"
It was about to shoot its ray gun again. I picked up a large rock and chucked it at its masked face. The rock knocked its head back causing multiple beams to hit the cavern ceiling. Dozens of stalactites began to fall along with the ceiling itself.
"AH GREAT!"
Both the alien and I were trying to avoid being crushed to death and ran as fast as we could farther into the caverns, dodging one falling rock after another.
"FUCK!"
One giant chunk of rock ceiling fell on top of the alien knocking it out. Rocks and stalactite covered its body burying it. Another stalactite tripped me and I collapsed on the ground.
I was almost impaled by another falling stalactite, but I managed to roll away, but the stalactite managed to lodge itself into my opened coat only missing my heart. It pinned me to the ground trapping me on my back. I couldn't get up or take off my coat, I was stuck. The stalactite managed to graze the left side of my ribcage. I screamed in pain. It didn't break any bones or hit any organs, but it managed to slice my skin like a knife and I was heavily bleeding pretty badly
The rock shower finally ended after a few seconds. The rock shower created a large cave in. The only way out now was to go farther into the cavern.
"Ah, ow, fuck. Ow."
I tried to pull the stalactite out of my coat, but it was too deep. I was in so much pain, clasping at my side trying to stop the bleeding and flinching from the terrible stinging whenever I touched it.
Suddenly, I heard a loud roar that echoed through the vastness of the caverns.
"No"
The alien survived the rock pounding.
"ARE YOU FUCKING SERIOUS!"
It pushed the large rocks away like small toys and walked over to me. It picked me up by the collar of my coat and which caused my coat to get ripped at the part that was stuck in the stalactite.
"NO!"
It has me by the collar of my coat, holding me up with only its muscular right arm over its huge muscular form. I held on with both hands just to keep myself from choking to death but I couldn't pry his giant hand 's so tall and it's too strong, I can't even touch the ground anymore. I'm so scared, but I refuse to scream. I'm a descendant of great Comanche warriors and military heroes. I'll go down fighting if I have to. I can't give in to fear. I'm ready for whatever this monster has in store for me. After a minute of waiting for my death to come at its hands, it just stared up at me. I couldn't see the expressions of its face since it was covered with a metal mask, but it tilted its head to the right side as if wondering about something; maybe why I didn't scream. After a while, I began to get more irritated than scared and just wanted this nightmare to be over with.
"What are you waiting for you ugly motherfucker, just do it already!"
After I said that, it pulled me into its face. I was so close to its face, I was almost touching its metal mask and could see mechanics and tubes going through it. The alien raised its other arm up. Its other hand had wolverine like claws strapped to it, preparing to impale me.
Oh no, this is it.
Oh God no, no, no. . .
"If you kill me, you kill yourself!"
I was screaming in its face. Its blades lowered as I said that. I had an idea just then that would give me more time.
"I'm the only person on this planet who knows these caverns and I know them well. I know the way out alive."
I huffed as I said that.
"If you kill me, you'll end up either lost down the wrong way or dead, you need me."
It lowered me to my feet but kept its grip on me still.
"You do understand me, don't you?"
I asked it in a raspy voice because I still could barely breathe.
"I understand perfectly ooman."
It talked!
"HUH!"
I couldn't help but gasp at this realization.
Do not be so surprised female. I know hundreds more languages than you would ever know even in your short lifetime."
It sounded like a growl and a toads croak, but it was perfectly understandable.
"Do not lead me into any traps. If you do, then I will finish you off. Understand ooman girl?"
I could only nod my head in agreement.
"Good."
it said. He grabbed me by my right arm.
"Show me the way out and I give you my oath that no harm will come to you now or after we leave this place."
I was taken aback by his proper tone and his noble like oath. You don't hear things like that anymore except in old fashioned movies and such. I still didn't trust him. Huh, now I'm calling him "Him" now instead of "It". He's obviously male by the looks of his large . . . you know. All the more reason why I didn't trust him.
"Why should I trust you, mister macho?"
I asked mockingly. He stared at me, even though I couldn't see his face I could tell he was staring me right in the eyes.
"I will let you keep the rest of your weapons to defend yourself with and allow you to freely walk without bondage, but only close to me so you won't escape"
He pulled out a strange metal orb from one of his pockets on his waist. It glowed bright white and shined throughout the cavern more brightly than my flashlight.
"I swear a blood oath to you ooman as an honorable hunter."
Raising his right hand high in the air. His words amazed me. I thought he was not capable of even talking, but he was capable of that and more. He understood honor of a warrior apparently, a concept I lived everyday since birth. This wasn't a mindless beast, it was a sentient, moral being. I looked at him with wide eyes, at this point I had to trust him to get out alive. As an honorable warrior and hunter myself, I held the same value of a blood oath.
"Then I swear with a blood oath to not to betray you, I'll get you out safe"
Raising my hand high as well.
"We have a deal, then."
He held out his right arm with an opened hand, he wanted me to take it with my own. I held out my right hand and grasped his wrist tightly while holding my wounded side with the left. He tightly grasped his right hand shook it roughly; almost breaking my fingers.
"Damn, this guy is strong."
"Now's not the time for that, Artemis."
After a few seconds, we let go.
"Stay by my left side ooman."
he told me this as we walked
"I'm not ooman or whatever you just called me, I'm Artemis, Artemis Canmore."
I said with an annoyed tone. He sounded rude by the name he called me sounded.
"Arch-Teh-Mizz?"
he repeated with his best pronunciation.
"Good enough." I said with a small annoyance.
"For now, at least"
We continued to walk down the caverns. What was I doing?