Short, I apologize, but my computer time is limited by too many family members all crying 'my turn! get off there!'
Hope this chapter wasn't a let down. I plead for mercy!
Chapter.14
Suspended, waiting...all three surprisingly quiet. The wind, a roaring in their ears. The beauty of the sun, sparkling waves and crests all golden beaded...
Time seemed to stand still. Eyes locked with each other. Dan's...hopeless, straining, terror filled...
Nathan's...wild, lost, beseeching...
Lucas's...open, empty, resigned...
Dark and light, speaking to each other more than words could communicate...
"I can't hold you both..I can't save you..."
"Come on, Dad, don't let go..."
"I'm not the one he wants..."
Part of the cliff side gave way, crumbling dirt and stone...
Time was running out.[]
Sink downward...deep...deep into the caverns...
"Are you hungry?"
"Not anymore." Haley reached for Peyton, took her hand in the dark. "At first I was too scared to think about food. Then I was really hungry because I thought we'd found a way out. And now...I don't care, one way or the other."
"I bet they've found them."
"I hope so..."
"Yeah, they're boys. Don't need help from us."
"Hey, we tried **** hard to get out."
"I really thought it would be a simple trek, send in a rescue team for the guys, and..."
"End of one horribly written adventure story."
"About it."
"Our problem is, the story keeps on going. You know, those books that really don't make any sense, but you have to read them for school, and every time you come to a finish there's like ten more 'parts'?"
"Yeah. Or the boring ones."
"Well, this certainly isn't boring."
"I can't believe we're totally lost."
"Now's the time to carry a compass, Haley James."
"Hey. I think we did pretty well."
Haley cast Peyton a sarcastic look. Peyton shrugged, half smiled. "For a couple of girls?," she tacked on.
"Excuse me?" Haley was indignant.
"It's kind of crappy...being down here..." there was a slight waver to the blond girl's voice.
"More like freaky. If I hadn't gotten over my' fear-of-the-dark-oh-my-gosh-what's-under-the-bed' phase long ago, I'd be in bad shape."
"Like facing yourself."
Haley waited for her to elaborate.
"I mean, they say that are worst fear is inside of us."
"Peyton, you are far too introspective considering we're buried in the middle of the earth-"
"Sort of like Lord of the Rings-"
"Except, no Gollum."
"Oh, yes. I bet Dan Scott's arrived."
Haley laughed in surprise. "I'm Sam. Definitely."
"The guys are probably safe in the arms of an entire town, being plied with food..." Peyton changed the subject, unable to play along.
Haley cut her off. "Lucas is probably worried crazy."
"Would he really dash back in here, the rescuing hero?"
"No, he'd quietly slip away and hunt for us."
"Hunt us down-"
"Yes. And Nathan. He seemed pretty upset about you."
"We're through." Peyton abruptly switched off the light. Luckily, she'd discovered that the miniature pink flashlight on her key-chain actually worked.
During that last tremor, when they thought they really weren't going to make it, Haley had almost fallen down a narrow crevice about a foot above the floor, which, upon exploring, turned out to be a tunnel.
Unfortunately for them, it was not the main tunnel that Dan and the boys traveled down, but a much narrower, slimier one that only led them farther into the heart of the ground. On their return trek to wait for the boys (or go on in, as Haley threatened), the rock had shifted yet again.
It was all unreal. Like some Indian spirit was wandering these empty caverns and maneuvering people like chess pieces. Maybe there was. The thought was far from reassuring. And a bag of half squashed peanut m&m's, some fruit leather and altoid strips really didn't cut it, when their appetites finally did return.
Little did they know the life and death situation the Scott's were facing... simple, even humdrum, their own adventure paled in comparison.[]
Dan felt his fingers cramping. Soon, if he didn't make a decision...
Lucas could tell his father's reserve strength was fast fading...
Nathan yelled something... Dan was slipping...inch by inch, he jerked forward, straining to keep from being drug off the face of the cliff. Lucas could understand the man's desperation. He was the one who had to make a choice. He had to be, or feel, responsible for letting one of them go...for the rest of his life. Or they all died. Heroic and noble as it sounded, Lucas knew it would be a senseless waste. And he also knew, if Dan could decide to let one of them fall, who it would be.
He didn't consider it bravery. Or foolishness. He didn't take the time to think, just acted.
Caught Dan's gaze, held him with his eyes. Nathan, dangling beside him, face flushed with exertion and soundless emotions.
And then, quite simply, he let go of Dan. Pulled his fingers away, caught the shock on his father's face...the fleeting look of respect that Lucas knew the man would fully understand later on.
It was strange, falling...he went limp, knew the impact would be less painful. It took a space of mere seconds, but it seemed hours. Almost peaceful. The water was shimmering beneath, blue and inviting...he flashed by the dark shapes of looming rocks...flying...[]
Nathan and Dan, the weight lessened, froze, their own struggle forgotten as they watched Lucas, tiny against the endless expanse of ocean..
The doll sized figure, sweeping across the sunlight, clothes swept out like the wings of a bird.
They lost sight of him as he disappeared behind the brooding, shadowed boulders.
The sunlight faded, then went out entirely, buried beneath a charging mass of clouds.[]
Hope this chapter wasn't a let down. I plead for mercy!
Chapter.14
Suspended, waiting...all three surprisingly quiet. The wind, a roaring in their ears. The beauty of the sun, sparkling waves and crests all golden beaded...
Time seemed to stand still. Eyes locked with each other. Dan's...hopeless, straining, terror filled...
Nathan's...wild, lost, beseeching...
Lucas's...open, empty, resigned...
Dark and light, speaking to each other more than words could communicate...
"I can't hold you both..I can't save you..."
"Come on, Dad, don't let go..."
"I'm not the one he wants..."
Part of the cliff side gave way, crumbling dirt and stone...
Time was running out.[]
Sink downward...deep...deep into the caverns...
"Are you hungry?"
"Not anymore." Haley reached for Peyton, took her hand in the dark. "At first I was too scared to think about food. Then I was really hungry because I thought we'd found a way out. And now...I don't care, one way or the other."
"I bet they've found them."
"I hope so..."
"Yeah, they're boys. Don't need help from us."
"Hey, we tried **** hard to get out."
"I really thought it would be a simple trek, send in a rescue team for the guys, and..."
"End of one horribly written adventure story."
"About it."
"Our problem is, the story keeps on going. You know, those books that really don't make any sense, but you have to read them for school, and every time you come to a finish there's like ten more 'parts'?"
"Yeah. Or the boring ones."
"Well, this certainly isn't boring."
"I can't believe we're totally lost."
"Now's the time to carry a compass, Haley James."
"Hey. I think we did pretty well."
Haley cast Peyton a sarcastic look. Peyton shrugged, half smiled. "For a couple of girls?," she tacked on.
"Excuse me?" Haley was indignant.
"It's kind of crappy...being down here..." there was a slight waver to the blond girl's voice.
"More like freaky. If I hadn't gotten over my' fear-of-the-dark-oh-my-gosh-what's-under-the-bed' phase long ago, I'd be in bad shape."
"Like facing yourself."
Haley waited for her to elaborate.
"I mean, they say that are worst fear is inside of us."
"Peyton, you are far too introspective considering we're buried in the middle of the earth-"
"Sort of like Lord of the Rings-"
"Except, no Gollum."
"Oh, yes. I bet Dan Scott's arrived."
Haley laughed in surprise. "I'm Sam. Definitely."
"The guys are probably safe in the arms of an entire town, being plied with food..." Peyton changed the subject, unable to play along.
Haley cut her off. "Lucas is probably worried crazy."
"Would he really dash back in here, the rescuing hero?"
"No, he'd quietly slip away and hunt for us."
"Hunt us down-"
"Yes. And Nathan. He seemed pretty upset about you."
"We're through." Peyton abruptly switched off the light. Luckily, she'd discovered that the miniature pink flashlight on her key-chain actually worked.
During that last tremor, when they thought they really weren't going to make it, Haley had almost fallen down a narrow crevice about a foot above the floor, which, upon exploring, turned out to be a tunnel.
Unfortunately for them, it was not the main tunnel that Dan and the boys traveled down, but a much narrower, slimier one that only led them farther into the heart of the ground. On their return trek to wait for the boys (or go on in, as Haley threatened), the rock had shifted yet again.
It was all unreal. Like some Indian spirit was wandering these empty caverns and maneuvering people like chess pieces. Maybe there was. The thought was far from reassuring. And a bag of half squashed peanut m&m's, some fruit leather and altoid strips really didn't cut it, when their appetites finally did return.
Little did they know the life and death situation the Scott's were facing... simple, even humdrum, their own adventure paled in comparison.[]
Dan felt his fingers cramping. Soon, if he didn't make a decision...
Lucas could tell his father's reserve strength was fast fading...
Nathan yelled something... Dan was slipping...inch by inch, he jerked forward, straining to keep from being drug off the face of the cliff. Lucas could understand the man's desperation. He was the one who had to make a choice. He had to be, or feel, responsible for letting one of them go...for the rest of his life. Or they all died. Heroic and noble as it sounded, Lucas knew it would be a senseless waste. And he also knew, if Dan could decide to let one of them fall, who it would be.
He didn't consider it bravery. Or foolishness. He didn't take the time to think, just acted.
Caught Dan's gaze, held him with his eyes. Nathan, dangling beside him, face flushed with exertion and soundless emotions.
And then, quite simply, he let go of Dan. Pulled his fingers away, caught the shock on his father's face...the fleeting look of respect that Lucas knew the man would fully understand later on.
It was strange, falling...he went limp, knew the impact would be less painful. It took a space of mere seconds, but it seemed hours. Almost peaceful. The water was shimmering beneath, blue and inviting...he flashed by the dark shapes of looming rocks...flying...[]
Nathan and Dan, the weight lessened, froze, their own struggle forgotten as they watched Lucas, tiny against the endless expanse of ocean..
The doll sized figure, sweeping across the sunlight, clothes swept out like the wings of a bird.
They lost sight of him as he disappeared behind the brooding, shadowed boulders.
The sunlight faded, then went out entirely, buried beneath a charging mass of clouds.[]
