Ch. 26 What Lies Beneath
Once Anne calmed down and everybody else settled down, it was time to move on. They all looked down the hole from the trap door.
It seemed to go on forever.
"It's so dark and scary!" cried Laura. She then looked at Jennifer and asked, "Do we have to go down there?"
"I guess we don't have a choice." said Jennifer with a straight face still looking down the hole.
Anne stared at the hole and it made her heart rate excel. "Oh God I'm getting dizzy by just looking at it!"
Joshua looked at it and saw a ladder. "Hey look! There's a ladder!"
The girls didn't realize it until he said something.
Jennifer gasped. "You're right! It is!"
Joshua walked closer to the hole, bent down and grabbed the ladder.
"Careful Joshua!" cried Laura with her right hand over her heart.
"I got it Laura!" he replied giving her hope.
The girls watched Joshua climb unto the ladder.
"Do you have any idea how far down it goes?" said Jennifer in her worried tone.
"I'm not sure but I know it can't be that far down." Joshua began descending down the ladder.
The girls looked at each other and then followed suit. As everyone climbed down the ladder, there was a little light for them to see. It was also windy down there. When they reached the bottom, they realized where they were. It seemed to be a giant cave.
"There's a cave in this mansion?" asked Laura looking around in total shock.
"That's so odd! What could possibly be down here?" said Anne frowning.
"It could be Mrs. Mary 'biggest' secret!" said Jennifer with a little sarcasm.
"Yeah! 'Big' is right!" said Joshua being sarcastic as well.
There was only one path and they followed it. The gang walked along the dark and windy path into the unknown.
What could be lurking around in such a huge cave? And why would there be a cave under a mansion?
Mrs. Mary was one, psychotic woman.
The gang walked for about a quarter mile and then saw a corridor. That was the only one and of course they went through it. From there, there were two routes. What should they do?
"Uh, which way should we go?" asked Laura looking at everyone.
"I think we should keep straight." stated Joshua looking forward.
"We might need to split up." said Jennifer looking at the gang.
"Split up? Are you crazy?" scolded Anne giving Jennifer her mean look.
"Jennifer!" whined Laura.
"Guys listen! There's four of us and two routes! Two of us can keep straight while the others go the other way! I'm pretty sure both routes lead the same way!" Jennifer explained.
Joshua sighed with frustration. "Jenny you're making this complicated! We need to just stick together. Don't we have a better chance of surviving if we stay together?"
"Come on Jennifer! You're not like this!" said Laura with a sad look.
Anne folded her arms and gave Jennifer a hard look.
Anne and Jennifer made eye contact.
It was awkward for Jennifer because now she felt like the enemy.
Now everyone was staring at her.
Was she going crazy? Was she becoming like Anne? What was Jennifer thinking, "splitting up"? When Jennifer realized she was outnumbered, she apologized and agreed with the gang. She felt like an idiot for having to do so as well, especially in front of Joshua . "Alright guys…..let's stay together." Jennifer had the gang stick together and continued straight.
Jennifer and the gang followed the rocky path. They climbed onto a plateau, walked across and then climbed back down.
Laura was getting nervous. She had a feeling something had to be down there besides the cave.
Mrs. Mary had to be keeping something in the cave, otherwise why else would the cave even exist?
As the group walked together, the wind blew harder more often.
It was as if the cave was warning them of something. Something big! Something near! Something they won't expect!
Finally they reached the end and saw what looked like an enormous stage. Everyone was stunned to see it. They witnessed a big, red curtain. It made everybody wonder and use their imagination to the max. 'What's behind the curtain?' That thought played into each of their minds.
'I wonder what's behind there.' Jennifer thought to herself. But then she suddenly remembered. 'The cradle under the star' Mr. Barrows told her. "So this is it."
"What! What is it Jenny?" asked Joshua looking at her.
"It's the cradle under the star." She replied without looking at him but at the curtain.
"The cradle under the star?" asked Laura looking confused.
"You mean the pentagram?" chimed in Anne.
"Yeah…I remember Mr. Barrows told me that." said Jennifer still amazed at the stage.
"So…..do we wanna know what's behind the curtain?" asked Joshua looking at her.
That question irritated Jennifer but she didn't wanna hurt his feelings. So kindly Jennifer looked at him with a smile and said, "Yes Josh we wanna know what's behind the curtain."
"Um, I don't think so Jennifer!" cried Laura with her worried look.
"Yeah me too!" agreed Anne cringing.
Jennifer and Joshua looked at the two and then at each other.
"Well Jenny?" said Joshua looking her in the eye.
Jennifer looked at the girls. "Ok girls, you stay here. Josh and I will check it out."
With a sad look on her face, Laura nodded and replied, "Ok."
"Be careful." said Anne feeling a little indifferent since Jennifer and Joshua were about to walk off together.
Jennifer looked at Joshua and said, "Well Josh! Let's do this!"
"Roger!" he agreed.