Chapter 5 Part 1
For a split second, when she regained consciousness, Breccia saw the gang's truck jutting from the ceiling. Pencils, clipboards and other accouterments were scattered about.
Vanessa was a ways off, lying in a silent heap near her Koffing. (Who was also unconscious).
"Thank Arceus you're still alive." Morice struggled to his feet, sore from the fall. "I thought I was the only one who pulled through."
Unaware until she stood up, Breccia had fallen into a small, underground pond. Her teeth chattering, she scavenged for a dry coat in the debris but found nothing. When Morice offered her his, she took it without hesitation.
Morice made his way to Vanessa, careful when picking her up. It wasn't until he did so that he noticed the deep gash across her forehead and the odd angle of her arm. "Shit..." He tried to keep his heart rate steady when looking at the blood seeping from the wound on her scalp.
Breaking a clipboard over her knee, Breccia was able to set the bone. She recovered some gauze from the first aid kit (which was tossed about with everything else) and doctored what she could. "How long until headquarters gets suspicious?" She used her teeth to tare the surgical tape before securing the wrap around Nessa's wound.
Morice answered with a shrug. "Caleb told them we'd be out for the better part of the day..." His voice faded. "Caleb...you don't think he's-" He wasn't given a response and didn't have the heart to finish the sentence. "Here." Pulling out his only Pokeball, he called his Spearow forth. "Here girl." Removing his dogtags, he handed them over. "Take these to Riker, he'll know what it means." Aware of the situations' severity, the Pokemon grabbed the chain with her beak and soared through the crack in the ceiling. (She was the only one small enough to fit). "She should have it there within the hour."
"We'll be dead before they get here." Breccia commented, shivering. "If we don't die of pneumonia, we'll run out of air."
"If you have any ideas, I'm all ears." Morice used his empty ball to secure Vanessa's Koffing.
"You have a lighter?"
"Yeah, why?"
"Hand it over." Breccia caught it when it was tossed. Flicking the switch, the flame sputtered, struggling to maintain a burn. Walking about the cave, she noticed the light changing to a raging yellow the more she moved towards the eastern wall. Putting her hand out, she felt a breeze. "There's air coming through these boulders. You have anything we can use to dig our way through?"
"There was a crowbar in the back of the can if you can find it."
Her ribs aching from the fall and her lungs crackling with each inhale, Breccia tried to maintain consciousness as she bent over. When she did so, the wind went from her and, for a moment, the world began to fade. She pulled herself from it after seizing the crowbar.
The first two rocks moved with ease, opening enough for a person to fit through.
"Give me a boost." She slipped the bar in first. "I'll see if I can't move them from the other side." Morice helped to push her through. The movement served as a tight squeeze on her bruised ribs,
It took every ounce of her energy to lodge the curvature of the crowbar between two boulders. Once she attempted to push them free, she found herself unable. "Can you fit?" She asked Morice.
Also sore from the fall, Morice cringed at the thought. "It'll be a tight squeeze, but I should be able to."
"Okay..." Catching her breath, Breccia hugged her coat tighter. "Hand Nessa over." Vanessa made it next with Morice following. As soon as he hit the ground on the other side, another rock slide closed the opening. The crowbar was left lodged between two stones.
"Good thing we made it." Morice tried to ignore the stabbing pains along his spine.
Attempting to breath deep, Breccia was met with a rough, ragged cough. The very act of wheezing for air fatigued her.
Guided by the flicker of the lighter, the group moved through the catacombs at the pace of molasses. Ignoring the drips of water from the pointed crags above them, the only thing they hoped for was making it out alive.
Vanessa never stirred, the large gash swelling and bruising as her friends struggled to traverse the inner working of the underground maze.
"Wait..." Morice's words stopped Breccia in her tracks, "You hear that?"
She glanced up and saw a swarm of silent creatures hanging upside down above their heads. "Zubats." She mouthed, licking her cracked lips.
"Vermin." Morice whispered. "Watch for droppings..." As they continued, more and more creatures appeared. At first they seemed disinterested in the trespassers. It took a few seconds for the group to realize they were standing in the open maw of an expensive cavern. The ceiling was lined with unfriendly, winged faces.
"Do you have any other Pokemon on you?" Breccia asked, receiving a negative frown.
"None I can use."