Waiting, biding my time in a cave within the underbelly of the volcano. It's hot as the devil, but I used what minimal of my power as I can to keep cool. I hate waiting around for the right time, but I have to be smart about this. With no clues to curing a Ghost and no leads to Arc's whereabouts, I couldn't take too many chances.
To pass time, I picked up random rocks and tossed them against the jagged walls, watching them ricochet and ultimately land in a stream of molten magma, sizzling out of existence. I don't know why I chose a cave with lava in it, but then again being in the underbelly of a massive volcano it couldn't be helped.
Leaning back against my hands, I sighed deeply and thought out my plan. The Toa certainly would know I was gone and come looking for me. That made escape all the harder. And then again there were the sentries on the gate I had to worry about. Slipping out unnoticed certainly wouldn't be an easy task – but I never backed out of a challenge before. My best bet was to wait until nightfall, once everyone was asleep. From there I could sneak past the guards, prod the gate for a lever or switch that would allow an easy exit, and then rush out without anyone knowing where I've gone.
It sounded simple, but there were so many holes in it that it could pass for Swiss cheese. What if these people didn't sleep at night, or at all? What if the guards were on rotations, keeping watch 24/7 without pause? What if I couldn't find a switch to get out? The doubt festered in my mind like a rabid disease and I almost considered going back, swallowing my pride and apologizing for my irrational outburst.
Almost.
If I went back I would never be able to cure Arc and return home. I would be forced to a be a slave to a life I didn't want, doing only the duties the people of Ko-Wahi bid of me. Perhaps if Kopaka had kept his secrets about Arc then he would have successfully duped me into taking on that role. I smirked. Too bad for him.
To keep track of the position of the suns, I carved a small hole in the walls of the cave with a piece of sharpened stone. It took a while, (seeing as how the walls were several inches thick), but my efforts yielded in a clever peephole of which no one noticed. Also, I could see the activities of the Matoran winding down, getting ready for a night of rest after their daily toil.
I sighed when none seemed to be panicked over my absence. Perhaps Kopaka thought I just needed to blow off some steam and would be back promptly. Sooner or later he would get wise and realize I wasn't going to return. Then the search party would really pick up. I planned to be gone before that happened.
For the next several minutes I watched and waited for the right time to sneak out. A couple times, when there was no activity in front of the peephole, I thought about going out, but something in my gut told me to wait and sure enough a Matoran passed by just as I was about to make my move. I despised this waiting game. Just lingering made me anxious about someone stumbling upon the cave and blowing my cover. I was tempted to simply dash out and let the chips fall where they may, but it was too big a risk. I had no choice but to stay and wait for the right opportunity.
X Nightfall. Pull myself out of my sleeping stupor. Everything outside the hole was dark save for the soft glow of the lava. Now was my chance, no going back. Rising up, I carefully crept up through the cave and stopped at the mouth, poking my head out to take a look around. No one. I smiled; this was going to be a piece of cake.
I tiptoed out of the cave, taking heavy steps so as not to make too much noise. My eyes were peeled and my heart pound in my throat. Slowly I emerged into the open, keeping close to the shadows as I picked my way towards the main gate.
Movement caught my eye and I froze, dropping like a stone to the warm ground, curling into as small a ball as possible. Footsteps echoed closer and I held my breath. I kept imagining someone finding me and my cover blown, Kopaka keeping me under strict lockdown and never having the opportunity to look for Arc. The person came closer and a pit formed in my stomach. I was finished. Slowly, I uncurled myself and began to stand.
A hand suddenly slammed over my mouth, forcing me back down again. My screams were muffled as I fought with the person.
"Shh, it's me," Matt whispered harshly. He removed his hand. "Calm down."
Sighing, I placed a hand over my face, going slack against the wall. "What's the big idea, scaring me like that?" I growled back. "You could have blown my cover." Caning my neck, I glanced down the avenue. All was quiet.
Sitting on his knees, Matt replied, "I think after you knocked me out you deserved it." He frowned. "You lied to me." Seeing my raised brow he continued, "You said you were going to go back and forget this wild goose chase. Not to mention you boldly attacked me."
"I did what I had to," I replied, voice hushed. "If you squealed to the Toa while I was still here then I wouldn't have had a chance." I shrugged. "So I knocked you out to buy time."
"And obviously that worked well," Matt sighed, gesturing around us. He shook his head. "Seriously, Cheryl, don't you think anything through?"
An angry blush crossed my face, any retort dying on my tongue. I looked away. "It's not like I planned to stay here this long," I hissed. "I had to pick a time when there wouldn't be many people." I blinked, a thought suddenly dawning. "Wait, why am I explaining myself to you? You probably squealed on me!" My eyes flicked all over. "Where are they? Where's the Toa?"
Sighing deeply, Matt placed his hand over my mouth again. "Will you be quiet for one second? First off, it was your choice to answer my questions or not so don't blame me. Second, I didn't squeal so you can relax." He removed his hand. "No one's coming after you."
Rubbing my lips, I frowned. "Stop doing that. What do you mean no one's coming after me? Why didn't you tell?" I wanted to believe he was lying, but the fact that neither Tahu nor Kopaka had come to collect me made me wonder.
Matt paused, massaging the back of his neck. " . . . To be honest I don't know. I think you're complete fool for wanting to turn your back on your purpose, but . . . I don't know. Every time I opened my mouth to say something, I hesitated. It was like the words wouldn't come out. I felt like I would somehow be a traitor if I didn't help you get your brother back."
I blinked. That was decent of him, but then at the same time it was weird. He didn't owe me anything. "But then what did you tell them?" I paused. " . . . What do you mean 'help me get my brother back'? You're not coming."
Matt shrugged. "Just made up some bogus story. And I didn't completely lie; I had no idea where you were hiding. All I said was you disappeared and Kopaka kind of rushed off after that. He looked worried, told Tahu and Vakama to keep an eye out for you in case you popped up again." Matt's expression became stern and I shied under his gaze, feeling hollow and low. "You scared him, Cheryl. He's worried that what happened to Arc is what will happen to you."
The pit returned to my stomach and I frowned tightly, biting the inside of my cheek. It wasn't really my intention to hurt Kopaka, but in a way I was almost glad. Now he understood the pain he caused me. " . . . Wouldn't have happened if Kopaka didn't take Arc in the first place," I replied weakly.
"That's another thing," Matt continued to chide, "stop using that against him. It was a mistake. You saw how he was when he was telling the story; he's still beating himself up for what he's done. There's nothing either of you can do about it now, except move forward."
I nodded. "Yeah, move forward and right Kopaka's wrong," I replied hotly. Rising to my feet I gave him a nod. "Well it was nice talking to you and not blowing my cover, but I think it's time I get going. See you around, Matt."
Matt grasped my arm, holding me in place. "You're not going anywhere," he stated firmly. "Not without me."
I sighed. "Thanks for the offer, but I'd rather go it alone." Tugging at my arm, I tried to break his grip, but to no avail. It was like iron.
The boy shook his head. "No. After seeing what Arc became, I'm not letting the same thing happen to you. Like it or not, Cheryl, we're Apprentices, which means we're a team."
"I don't need to be on a team!" I fought back. "There are such things as rogue Toa, you know." Coiling my fingers around his hand, I tried to pull it off my arm. "I know you think I'm just a helpless girl, but I don't need protecting."
The anger flared on Matt's face and the boy reached out, placing his foot behind my ankle and tripping me. I fell back hard on the ground, Matt standing over me, a smug smirk on his face. "Yes you do." Sighing deeply, Matt knelt down in front of me. "I'm not giving you a choice in this. If I can take you down that easily, you're not going to survive out there alone." His expression softened, reaching out a hand. "Let me help you."
"I don't need your -!"
"What's going on out there?!" Multiple lights flicked on throughout the Koro, Matoran stirring in their homes. The blood chilled in my veins and I paled, jumping up to glance at Matt.
"Now look what you did!" we cried, pointing at each other.
Torchlight flooded down the avenue, the muttering and voices of the Matoran becoming louder. Very faintly we could hear Tahu and Vakama in the distance. In no time they would be upon us. There was no time to waste.
"Alright if you want to tag along, fine," I hissed, grasping Matt's shirt collar. Shoving him off to the side, I scrambled after him, urging the boy ahead. "Go! Run!"
Swift as shadows we raced down the block, eyes peeled for the front gate. Bypassing Matoran caught brief glimpses of us, shouting for Tahu. We pushed our panic aside, focused only on our goal of escape. Rounding a turn, we stopped in the central square, glancing around.
"Do you see it?" I panted. Shadows flickered in the light of the fires.
"There!" Matt pointed straight ahead to the looming gates. The sentries posted atop the wall scurried about, shouting orders to those on the ground. They crossed to a control panel of sorts and pulled a lever. A grumbling erupted beneath our feet and I grasped Matt's arm to keep from falling over. The large obsidian bridge shuddered and the slabs disappeared one by one into the lava, cutting off the way out.
"Go!" I bellowed, racing towards the sentries at the control panel.
Said guards whirled on us as soon as we approached, brandishing their short swords. Reaching out with my hand, I tapped the tips of the blades and watched as a thick layer of ice dulled the sharpened points. Stunned by the trick, I quickly knocked them aside. The Matoran crashed together, bumping heads, and falling in a heap. I winced as they lay there, almost motionless. I didn't mean to hurt anybody . . . but I didn't have a choice. Shaking my head, I joined Matt at the control panel.
"What's going on?" I demanded. Matt had his hands wrapped tightly around the lever, using all his strength to reverse the switch and bring the bridge back to life.
"It's jammed!" Matt cried. He pushed harder, whole body straining. "Help me!"
Securing my hands around his, I tensed and pushed, digging my feet into the lava rock. Even with our combined strength the lever was unyielding. At our backs, torchlight and voices flared. We were running out of time. My stomach sank.
"Move; I have an idea!" Ushering Matt out of the way, I took a step back, tensing the muscles in my right leg. Raising it, I slammed my foot down upon the lever hard. The metal thing gave way and my spirits soared as the bridge began to reform.
Rushing from the control panel, Matt and I dashed through the gate and across the bridge . . . only to stop three-quarters of the way. I didn't hit the lever hard enough and the bridge failed to fully form. Between freedom and us was ten feet of fast-flowing lava.
"I bet we can make that," I panted, adrenaline pumping through my body.
In the near distance, Tahu and the Matoran were fast approaching. Matt tensed, taking a step closer to the edge.
"Ten dollars says we can't!" he cried, eyes betraying his fear. I grasped his arm, pulling him back.
"You're on!"
With the speed of jackrabbits we raced headlong towards the edge of the last slab, timing the jump perfectly. Our powerful muscles carried us up into the air, flinging across the lava. Beneath us the heat growled and hissed, softening the rubber of our soles and eagerly waiting to claim us. The lava passed so quickly I thought we might actually make it . . . but it wasn't meant to be. Slowly, we began to descend, missing a good three feet offshore. The molten fire roared, bubbling with glee, ready to intercept us welcome us into its fold. I acted on mere whim, not even thinking. Holding out both my hands, twin jets of solid sleet slammed into the lava, creating a small glacier in a matter of seconds. The frigid platform was just the boost we needed to clear the last few feet to land. We landed heavily upon the ashen trail, watching the glacier crack and disappear into the molten flow.
Matt and I glanced at one another. "You lose," I said.
Matt blinked for a moment before shaking his head and laughing. Digging into his pocket, he fished out ten dollars and dropped it in my hands. "Good luck buying something with that here!"
Matching his smile, I pocketed the bill. "You never know what a bill is good for."
From across the way, the Matoran and Turaga called out to us, beckoning for us to return. It was disheartening but it was too late to take it back. We had begun our journey, and we had to finish it.
"We're going to be in so much trouble when we get back," Matt pointed out. He brushed ash from his pants, heading down the road but taking wary glances to the lava.
"Speak for yourself," I replied, following after him. "When Kopaka finds out he's going to blow a gasket!" A cartoon image of his robotic eye exploding in a puff of smoke popped into my head and I snickered.
"Yeah," Matt agreed. "How do you think I'll feel when Tahu finds me? If you think he's hot-tempered now . . ." He whistled.
A sudden explosion of lava and fire rocked the volcano from behind, the tremor and heat forcing Matt and I upon our knees. Tahu, bathed in a blaze of red-hot fury, scaled the molten flow on a surfboard of sorts. However the fierce look in his orange-red eyes left little room for awe.
The color drained from both our faces.
"OH CRAP!"
We scrambled into the darkness as fast as our legs could carry us.