God, it took me a while to write this because I want this to be perfect for you guys! So I hope I did a good job. Really, this story is just heatin up ;)
I waited at the bottom with everyone while Zach repelled slowly from the top. It had been his job to disconnect the cord and place it on the inside of the chute so anyone passing by couldn't use it to easily join us down here. As I stood there Bex was whispering reassurances in my ear.
"She's okay Cam, your mom is one of the best spies the CIA has ever seen. Plus, she's with Solomon, Abby, and my parents. She'll be fine."
I appreciated it but I didn't want reassurances, I wanted to keep my mind clear and focused on the mission at hand. At last Zach landed with a soft 'thud' and disconnected himself from the cord. He made a move as if he was going to hug me, but he must have seen the warning in my eyes so he settled for holding my hand.
"You all know the plan," he said, his voice strong, "If anything happens let us know over comm's as soon as possible." His voice had turned steely and his face emotionless. We all knew the stakes here, we all knew what could and most likely would happen. So it was with tear blurred vision that I released Zach's hand and hugged Macey, Bex and Liz goodbye. I saw Zach and the boys doing that awkward man hug guys did. Then came the most painful goodbye I have ever said. Zach and I walked towards each other, eyes locked. We had completed this journey together so far, but now we'd go our separate ways, literally.
"I love you Cameron Ann Morgan," he said.
"I love you Zachary 'still won't tell me his middle name' Goode," I choked out. He cracked a smile and whispered in my ear, "Francias."
"I love you Zachary Francias Goode," I repeated. He leaned down and kissed me. It was soft and sweet but with a bitter edge; I knew he wanted to leave me about as much as I wanted to.
"Be careful, be alert, be safe," I said. And with that we all went down through a different door. From scans that Liz had done using the spy satellites we knew there was a room with exactly ten doors. The grown-ups were supposed to cover the other passages, but they weren't here. I started down my tunnel, it sloped quickly down. That was why Liz couldn't map the city for us, it was too far underground after the little room we just left. I took out my copy of the map. What we believed was that the one tunnel on the map was the only way into the city, the other would lead us to, well we weren't exactly sure about that one. So that's why we each went down our separate tunnels, going into the dark unknown, alone.
I had been walking ten minutes according to my internal clock when I hear a faint voice crackle to life in my comms.
"I don't know…if anyone can hear me… dead end. Tunnel three… Backtracking. Tunnel eight next."
So Macey was safe, good. I walked for a long time before I reached a fork in the tunnel. I knew I had to choose carefully. I looked at my map with my flashlight. The map showed a sharp curve left so, since it was my only clue, I went left. This tunnel had many more holes in the ground, more cracks in the walls. I walked faster, a feeling that someone was close by fell over me, and I didn't like it one bit. All of a sudden I heard footsteps and I froze.
Could the people who ambushed my mother have gotten down here this fast?
I flicked off my flashlight and pushed myself against the black wall, hoping whoever it was wouldn't be able to see me. I saw the beam of a flashlight grow brighter and I grew tenser. I couldn't see who it was in the dark, but I saw the outline of his body. It was definitely a man; he was tall and muscled with short hair. The beam of the flashlight grew brighter and I readied myself to fight.
Just as I was about to pounce on the guy his flashlight hit me.
"Cammie," asked a familiar voice.
"Grant? Oh thank god," I rushed forward and hugged him.
"Um nice to see you too," he said shifting uncomfortably.
"I'm sorry, I haven't heard anything from anyone for at least forty-five minutes. I've been worried out of my mind."
At that he hugged me back, "I haven't heard anything since we entered the tunnels."
I let go of him, "We have to keep going, see if we can reach the city."
He nodded and we started down the tunnel, completely silent.
"Cammie," I heard Grant say after twenty minutes.
"yeah," I said softly.
"Does Bex, um, Bex. Does Bex ever, I don't know, talk about me?"
I couldn't help but crack a smile at that.
"Sorry, you don't have the clearance to access that information."
"C'mon," he pleaded.
"Maybe," I said, taunting him.
"You aren't going to tell me are you?"
"Nope," I said giggling. He muttered something under his breath then went silent. After a half hour I began to think that we were just going to hit a dead end as we reached the base of a giant hill. When we climbed to the top I noticed that the flat ground had turned into stairs going down. I trained my flashlight straight ahead and saw a door.
"Grant," I began but he was already following my lead. We stared at the door opened mouthed for a moment then we took off down the stairs, not caring how much noise we made. When we reached the door I noticed there was writing on the handle.
I nudged Grant and pointed to it. We both leaned down.
"Before you enter the city of desire, take heed for there is no way to return if you are overcome by greed."
"Cammie, I think we found it," said Grant hypnotized.
"Hello," I said into my comm's unit, "Guys we found it. Tunnel five."
"There won't be any answer," said a voice I prayed never to hear again. I turned around to see the face that haunted my dreams.
"Hello Cameron darling, long time no see," she sneered at me.
I was too shocked to respond. "They won't answer because they are already here."
On the last word eleven men walked out, each holding a limp figure. It took me a moment to realize that they were all my friends; my roommates, my mom, my aunt, the Baxter's, Joe and Zach.
Grant stepping in front of me, "You're going to have to go through me."
"Not a problem," she said with a laugh. I heard a pop and Grant crumpled to the ground.
"So Cammie," she said, let's have a chat.
OH MY MY MY! I bet that wasn't too suprising. So I know some might be mad for not making it Zach see ran into but I have big plans for Grant and this was my little introduction to him.
REVIEWWWWWW PLEASE! Pretty please? With cherries and sprinkles? I need some inspiration to write ;)