Chapter.9
"Luke, you're still not up!"
Half awake, limbs tangled in the covers. The glow of sleep still lingering. He threw a pillow and flopped back down.
"You see this?"
Considering his eyes were closed, it must've looked highly doubtful.
"Half past five! In the morning! Time to go!" She waved her watch-clad wrist in front of him.
"Hales..."
"Lucas-"
He rolled over, squinted into sudden light from the open doorway.
"It's almost time to leave."
"If you would be so kind to remove this-this-," he dropped his pillow and shrugged hopelessly.
"On time, mature, able to appreciate a sunrise, competent young woman who is, I might add, currently trying to remove one lazy, spoiled, basket ball ex-hero who is sitting on his bed in a room that looks like it was in the middle of a war-zone."
Lucas stared up at her and made a face. "Oh. Really."
"Alright, you two. Lucas, out of bed. Haley, you can help me in the kitchen. I haven't finished packing all of the food yet."
The door shut, noisily. Lucas sighed and began to change. He pulled on some thick socks and stood up, stretching. He went to the window and pushed it open.
Cool, moisture laden wind whipped about his face, catching his clothes and fluttering the curtains. Stars winked in the inky darkness; the tip of a tree rose into the night, a darker silhouette against the sky line.
Clean. The world was pure in the early predawn...it had been washed throughout the night. The earth and sky, wet with dew. People's minds, wiped clear and rested. Hearts at peace...and soon the sun would come up and dry it.
"Luke?"
He started, felt like Haley was able to read his mind. Normally, he was a very candid person...especially for a guy. But times like these were private.
Slowly, methodically he made the bed, straightened a few homework papers.
"Lucas!"
He opened the door so abruptly that Haley nearly fell into his arms. He caught her, smiling. "Yes?"
"Oh, you!"
She pulled away, brushing at her shirt.
"Still doing that Haley?" Karen paused outside, trying not to laugh.
" I wasn't eavesdropping, I just tripped on the carpet."
Lucas stepped forward, took the laundry basket from his mother. "Hey."
"Hey to you." She turned her face as he bent to kiss her on the cheek. "Sleep well?"
"Up until a certain point."
"Well, you have to get an early start if you want to beat the crowds. And remember what I told you."
Haley saw him frown. "I'll try."
"And that's all I ask. Heaven knows, I certainly haven't done that well."[]
"The place is already crawling with individuals who got themselves out of bed this morning." Haley looked sideways at him.
"Okay. I admit, I was sleepy, but I didn't take more then ten minutes to get ready."
"So?" She shrugged. " What's to get ready? We'll have to move fast."
"Or spend eternity chipping away."
"Um-that's your forte." Haley grabbed the knapsack with their lunches and spare clothes as they passed a row of pick axes and smaller tools. Lucas hefted a medium sized axe and nodded.
"You ready for this?"
He sighed. "Might as well."
"You sure you know how to use that thing?"
Lucas raised an eyebrow, glanced at her, at the blade, back at Haley again.
"Lucas Scott!" She took off at a run, braids bouncing as she skipped nimbly over some rocks into the mouth of the cave.[]
The cave wasn't that large; years before, a small landslide had completely blocked off most of it. The small, twisting space left accessible was a favorite for teachers and history buffs alike. Every year, Tree Hill's science students trekked into the local tourist attraction and collected interesting specimens; the most unique find earned a hundred dollar cash prize. Of course, everyone always donated it to one of the school programs; still, it was better than sitting in class.
Stepping into the cave was like entering another world. When Lucas first visited the site, he'd thought, ecstatically, he'd been transported into a scene from Star Wars. It still held that unearthly quality to him. Looked for Haley, midst the shadowy figures, dozen flashlight rays bouncing off the walls. He couldn't find her, but decided she'd show up sooner or later-unless she planned on prying out a specimen with her fingernails.
But then, again, speaking from experience.....most girls probably could.
"Excuse me...excuse us..."
Lucas stepped back as a fresh group of students shouldered their way past. A flashlight beam caught him in the face, and one of the figures halted.
"Well, well, if it isn't the-"
"Nathan, shut up already."
Lucas blinked, tried to duck out of the glare. A light clicked off, they moved into the shadows.
"Are you really busy over there? Because a flashlight just doesn't cut it."
"Haley."
"You look upset." She stepped back, hands clasped behind her in a sympathetic pose. "Something I can help you with?"
"Ah-no." Lucas shook his head, smiled brightly.
"Well, I get the feeling-" she pulled him deeper in to the cave, "that a certain loser is wandering these hallowed walls."
He heard a muffled thud, then Haley's extra cheery tones.
"So sorry about that. Yah. I didn't see you there. Things get all turned around in this place. You know-"
Lucas strained to see into the gloom, but Haley had disappeared.
"Haley?" he cleared his throat, called again. "Hales?"
"Hi, man."
"Hi. You seen Haley James around?"
The basket ball player frowned. "No, not since I came in."
"Okay, thanks." Lucas sighed. "I knew I should've been the one with the flashlight."
"What, did you lose your girlfriend?"
Peyton's voice.
"Hales. Haley. She's been my best friend ever since I can remember."
"Oh. That sort of friend."
"Is something wrong? Because you aren't acting ...."
"Sorry I've disappointed you. But I think I came with another Scott."
Lucas heard her move away, closed his eyes. If fate was really against him today, Brooke should arrive right about now.
A jutting outcrop of rock made a perfect seat. He sank down and waited.
"Did you hear that?"
"What is that noise?"
"Does somebody know what's going on?"
A faint shudder. Lucas's eyes widened and he peered into the dim cavern, listening. There it was again...a muffled, rumbling sound.
"Sounds like an avalanche!" one guy joked, to his obviously scared companion.
"That's not funny. I'm getting out of here."
Lucas strained to make out further disturbances, but the students were too loud. About half ran for the entrance, echoed by jeers and cat calls.
"Maybe it is a landslide..."
Tim.
Lucas dropped his axe and darted through the scattered groups. Haley had to be around here somewhere...
Another shudder. This one large enough to dislodge bits of earth and rock fragments. Lucas fought the urge to run for the small patch of light behind him. Haley was still inside somewhere.
"Hey. Have you seen Nathan?"
Peyton's face was pale. A smudge of dirt on her cheek only added to the tight, panicky look.
"I haven't seen him." Lucas had to raise his voice to be heard above the racket.
"We have to get out of here!"
"Not without Haley." He took her by the elbow and pushed his way toward the entrance. Wild eyed students were screaming, fighting for the narrow opening. The result was pandemonium.
"Get out!" He pushed her as close to the exit as he could, then ran for the back of the cave, retrieving a discarded flashlight off the floor.
"Haley? Haley!"
A narrow tunnel branched off behind the main cave wall. Lucas circled the area that had been blocked off many years ago. It began to slant downhill, becoming tinier as he went. He slipped on the damp stone, caught himself. Called Haley's name.
The walls shook again. The flashlight spun out of Lucas's hand and hit some rocks. He dropped on his hands and knees, felt for it. His fingers brushed it-or, a piece of it.
"Lucas?"
Peyton-he sensed, rather than saw her.
"What are you doing down here?"
"Go back!"
He hadn't realized he was screaming at her.
"The guys said they saw Nathan come this way."
"I have to find Haley!"
Peyton fell against him, clinging until the shudder past.
"Lucas-"
"You have to go outside, Peyton!"
"Haley was with him!"
Her desperate yell swung him around.
"This way? They came this way?," he demanded.
"Yes. Nathan came this way."
A tear rolled down her face, clearing a path through the dusty grime.
"It's going to be okay." He braced his back against the cave, pulled her against him. The trembling was the worst yet. Lucas stared up into the dark, felt the roar approaching. Gathering speed. The shock drove them forward, up against a shallow ledge. They huddled beneath it, coughing. Waiting...expecting the stone to come crashing down at any moment, sealing them in an early grave.[]
"Haley-I'm sure everybody got out."
"No. No, you don't understand. Lucas wouldn't leave until he found me. He-"
"Whoa. Whoa there."
Nathan found her hands, drew them both into his. "He'd get out. I know Peyton and the guys would have. They're safe. It's just you and I that we have to worry about.."
"I don't care, Lucas wouldn't leave me." She ran a dirt stained hand across her face, leaving a large smudge on her nose.
"Take it easy. It's the two of us."
Haley sniffed. "Where are we?"
"In some kind of cavern..."
"It's the baby grand."
"What?"
"Baby grand." She sighed. "The cave has a little cavern on the side, at the end of the tunnel made when the main part collapsed. Basically, it's just a bit of the main cave that wasn't walled off."
"Lucky we found it." He shone his flashlight around, through the patterns of swirling dust. "Is there a way out?"
"No. Not unless the slide made one."
"How can you be so sure? There's got to be a way out. I mean, beside the caved in passage we came down."
"Lucas and I played here all the time. If there was another way out, I'd know about it."
"So you're an expert on the local scenery?"
Haley ignored him. "Yep, and I was featured on National Geographic." She dug into the knapsack Karen had packed, tried to stay calm, take stock of what they had.
The fear in her heart wasn't only for their situation. It was mainly concern for Lucas.
"He wouldn't leave me, " she whispered. "Oh, God, let him be alright."[]
"Luke, you're still not up!"
Half awake, limbs tangled in the covers. The glow of sleep still lingering. He threw a pillow and flopped back down.
"You see this?"
Considering his eyes were closed, it must've looked highly doubtful.
"Half past five! In the morning! Time to go!" She waved her watch-clad wrist in front of him.
"Hales..."
"Lucas-"
He rolled over, squinted into sudden light from the open doorway.
"It's almost time to leave."
"If you would be so kind to remove this-this-," he dropped his pillow and shrugged hopelessly.
"On time, mature, able to appreciate a sunrise, competent young woman who is, I might add, currently trying to remove one lazy, spoiled, basket ball ex-hero who is sitting on his bed in a room that looks like it was in the middle of a war-zone."
Lucas stared up at her and made a face. "Oh. Really."
"Alright, you two. Lucas, out of bed. Haley, you can help me in the kitchen. I haven't finished packing all of the food yet."
The door shut, noisily. Lucas sighed and began to change. He pulled on some thick socks and stood up, stretching. He went to the window and pushed it open.
Cool, moisture laden wind whipped about his face, catching his clothes and fluttering the curtains. Stars winked in the inky darkness; the tip of a tree rose into the night, a darker silhouette against the sky line.
Clean. The world was pure in the early predawn...it had been washed throughout the night. The earth and sky, wet with dew. People's minds, wiped clear and rested. Hearts at peace...and soon the sun would come up and dry it.
"Luke?"
He started, felt like Haley was able to read his mind. Normally, he was a very candid person...especially for a guy. But times like these were private.
Slowly, methodically he made the bed, straightened a few homework papers.
"Lucas!"
He opened the door so abruptly that Haley nearly fell into his arms. He caught her, smiling. "Yes?"
"Oh, you!"
She pulled away, brushing at her shirt.
"Still doing that Haley?" Karen paused outside, trying not to laugh.
" I wasn't eavesdropping, I just tripped on the carpet."
Lucas stepped forward, took the laundry basket from his mother. "Hey."
"Hey to you." She turned her face as he bent to kiss her on the cheek. "Sleep well?"
"Up until a certain point."
"Well, you have to get an early start if you want to beat the crowds. And remember what I told you."
Haley saw him frown. "I'll try."
"And that's all I ask. Heaven knows, I certainly haven't done that well."[]
"The place is already crawling with individuals who got themselves out of bed this morning." Haley looked sideways at him.
"Okay. I admit, I was sleepy, but I didn't take more then ten minutes to get ready."
"So?" She shrugged. " What's to get ready? We'll have to move fast."
"Or spend eternity chipping away."
"Um-that's your forte." Haley grabbed the knapsack with their lunches and spare clothes as they passed a row of pick axes and smaller tools. Lucas hefted a medium sized axe and nodded.
"You ready for this?"
He sighed. "Might as well."
"You sure you know how to use that thing?"
Lucas raised an eyebrow, glanced at her, at the blade, back at Haley again.
"Lucas Scott!" She took off at a run, braids bouncing as she skipped nimbly over some rocks into the mouth of the cave.[]
The cave wasn't that large; years before, a small landslide had completely blocked off most of it. The small, twisting space left accessible was a favorite for teachers and history buffs alike. Every year, Tree Hill's science students trekked into the local tourist attraction and collected interesting specimens; the most unique find earned a hundred dollar cash prize. Of course, everyone always donated it to one of the school programs; still, it was better than sitting in class.
Stepping into the cave was like entering another world. When Lucas first visited the site, he'd thought, ecstatically, he'd been transported into a scene from Star Wars. It still held that unearthly quality to him. Looked for Haley, midst the shadowy figures, dozen flashlight rays bouncing off the walls. He couldn't find her, but decided she'd show up sooner or later-unless she planned on prying out a specimen with her fingernails.
But then, again, speaking from experience.....most girls probably could.
"Excuse me...excuse us..."
Lucas stepped back as a fresh group of students shouldered their way past. A flashlight beam caught him in the face, and one of the figures halted.
"Well, well, if it isn't the-"
"Nathan, shut up already."
Lucas blinked, tried to duck out of the glare. A light clicked off, they moved into the shadows.
"Are you really busy over there? Because a flashlight just doesn't cut it."
"Haley."
"You look upset." She stepped back, hands clasped behind her in a sympathetic pose. "Something I can help you with?"
"Ah-no." Lucas shook his head, smiled brightly.
"Well, I get the feeling-" she pulled him deeper in to the cave, "that a certain loser is wandering these hallowed walls."
He heard a muffled thud, then Haley's extra cheery tones.
"So sorry about that. Yah. I didn't see you there. Things get all turned around in this place. You know-"
Lucas strained to see into the gloom, but Haley had disappeared.
"Haley?" he cleared his throat, called again. "Hales?"
"Hi, man."
"Hi. You seen Haley James around?"
The basket ball player frowned. "No, not since I came in."
"Okay, thanks." Lucas sighed. "I knew I should've been the one with the flashlight."
"What, did you lose your girlfriend?"
Peyton's voice.
"Hales. Haley. She's been my best friend ever since I can remember."
"Oh. That sort of friend."
"Is something wrong? Because you aren't acting ...."
"Sorry I've disappointed you. But I think I came with another Scott."
Lucas heard her move away, closed his eyes. If fate was really against him today, Brooke should arrive right about now.
A jutting outcrop of rock made a perfect seat. He sank down and waited.
"Did you hear that?"
"What is that noise?"
"Does somebody know what's going on?"
A faint shudder. Lucas's eyes widened and he peered into the dim cavern, listening. There it was again...a muffled, rumbling sound.
"Sounds like an avalanche!" one guy joked, to his obviously scared companion.
"That's not funny. I'm getting out of here."
Lucas strained to make out further disturbances, but the students were too loud. About half ran for the entrance, echoed by jeers and cat calls.
"Maybe it is a landslide..."
Tim.
Lucas dropped his axe and darted through the scattered groups. Haley had to be around here somewhere...
Another shudder. This one large enough to dislodge bits of earth and rock fragments. Lucas fought the urge to run for the small patch of light behind him. Haley was still inside somewhere.
"Hey. Have you seen Nathan?"
Peyton's face was pale. A smudge of dirt on her cheek only added to the tight, panicky look.
"I haven't seen him." Lucas had to raise his voice to be heard above the racket.
"We have to get out of here!"
"Not without Haley." He took her by the elbow and pushed his way toward the entrance. Wild eyed students were screaming, fighting for the narrow opening. The result was pandemonium.
"Get out!" He pushed her as close to the exit as he could, then ran for the back of the cave, retrieving a discarded flashlight off the floor.
"Haley? Haley!"
A narrow tunnel branched off behind the main cave wall. Lucas circled the area that had been blocked off many years ago. It began to slant downhill, becoming tinier as he went. He slipped on the damp stone, caught himself. Called Haley's name.
The walls shook again. The flashlight spun out of Lucas's hand and hit some rocks. He dropped on his hands and knees, felt for it. His fingers brushed it-or, a piece of it.
"Lucas?"
Peyton-he sensed, rather than saw her.
"What are you doing down here?"
"Go back!"
He hadn't realized he was screaming at her.
"The guys said they saw Nathan come this way."
"I have to find Haley!"
Peyton fell against him, clinging until the shudder past.
"Lucas-"
"You have to go outside, Peyton!"
"Haley was with him!"
Her desperate yell swung him around.
"This way? They came this way?," he demanded.
"Yes. Nathan came this way."
A tear rolled down her face, clearing a path through the dusty grime.
"It's going to be okay." He braced his back against the cave, pulled her against him. The trembling was the worst yet. Lucas stared up into the dark, felt the roar approaching. Gathering speed. The shock drove them forward, up against a shallow ledge. They huddled beneath it, coughing. Waiting...expecting the stone to come crashing down at any moment, sealing them in an early grave.[]
"Haley-I'm sure everybody got out."
"No. No, you don't understand. Lucas wouldn't leave until he found me. He-"
"Whoa. Whoa there."
Nathan found her hands, drew them both into his. "He'd get out. I know Peyton and the guys would have. They're safe. It's just you and I that we have to worry about.."
"I don't care, Lucas wouldn't leave me." She ran a dirt stained hand across her face, leaving a large smudge on her nose.
"Take it easy. It's the two of us."
Haley sniffed. "Where are we?"
"In some kind of cavern..."
"It's the baby grand."
"What?"
"Baby grand." She sighed. "The cave has a little cavern on the side, at the end of the tunnel made when the main part collapsed. Basically, it's just a bit of the main cave that wasn't walled off."
"Lucky we found it." He shone his flashlight around, through the patterns of swirling dust. "Is there a way out?"
"No. Not unless the slide made one."
"How can you be so sure? There's got to be a way out. I mean, beside the caved in passage we came down."
"Lucas and I played here all the time. If there was another way out, I'd know about it."
"So you're an expert on the local scenery?"
Haley ignored him. "Yep, and I was featured on National Geographic." She dug into the knapsack Karen had packed, tried to stay calm, take stock of what they had.
The fear in her heart wasn't only for their situation. It was mainly concern for Lucas.
"He wouldn't leave me, " she whispered. "Oh, God, let him be alright."[]
