Chapter 10: The Narrow way (The Horrible Cave)
The long waterfall crashed on the rocks, the birds sang and the breeze created music in the air.
"I am not going in there!" Rhonda pouted as the rest glared the cave.
"But this is the only way" Phoebe said.
"Maybe we can climb" Eugene suggested.
"Move it, I'll give it a try" Sid made his way through the crowd and began to climb. He was high above but the flora shook violently making him slump off.
"It won't let us climb!" Sheena cried.
"There is no other way, we must make our way through the cave" Roberto told everyone. Nobody move, they felt insecure.
"Come on you guys! What's the matter? It's Arnold we are talking about! He needs our help, we must save him!" Gerald shouted "You know what, I don't give a damn, fuck it! I'm going in… come on Phoebe!"
"I'm going in as well, see you later little bitches" Velda entered the penumbra.
The guide took a last glare at the crew, taunting them to follow. The scared class did not have any other choice but to follow, bracing together.
"This place is frightening" Sophia admitted.
"I have to confess it is quite bizarre, but at least it's got flowers covering everything, it smells nice" Violet seemed to like the tunnels.
"Trevor, can you see anything?" Velda asked.
"A little bit" he answered.
The tunnel or cave was endless and they walked together holding each other's hands.
"Keep holding hands" Mr. Simmons yelled "That way we make a long chain and avoid leaving anybody behind"
The hollow road became gloomier and narrow.
"I think I am hearing things, I've got to get outa here" Sid whispered.
"You're paranoid Sid" Harold mocked Sid but as soon as he finished saying that, a trembling sound grunted from a far distance.
The Narrow way II
"Holly shit! What was that?" Rhonda screamed.
"Now, there is no need to overreact, calm down" Simmons said trying to seize control, but no one cared, for another sound crept its way closer and closer.
"Oh my god! What is that?!" Violet screamed in horror.
"What? What?!" Velda twirled.
"That thing crawling over there!"
"Ah!" Sophia moaned.
"Run! Everyone run!" Trevor loudly announced.
The panic filled the tunnels and soon they were all running for their lives, shouting and pushing themselves through "Move it!" "Get out of the way!" "Let me go!"
Someone screamed in agony and scared all who heard it, adrenaline flowed through their shaking bodies.
"Oh fuck!" Harold shouted "I don't want to die" he cried.
"Oh my god! Oh my god! Oh my god!" Sheena galloped faster.
"Help me!" the agonizing voice called out "Help!... Aaah!" and a bone cracked.
The pain and sorrow of the unknown victim filled the cave tunnels making everybody's stomach shrink.
"A glimpse! I see light at the end!" Roberto the guide shouted "Come on! Follow my voice! Come on! This way!"
They ran towards the sound of Roberto's voice and soon, the brave teens made it out to the blinding glare making all fall down hill.
The Narrow way III
"Where are we?" Harold wondered amazed. Everyone got up and contemplated the great view.
"Wow" Phoebe and most of the adventurers gasped.
"What a wonderful place!" Nadine told Rhonda.
"Kids! Kids! Are you alright? Is everyone here? Where is Brainy?" Mr. Simmons asked deadly concerned.
"I'm…. here…" Brainy waved his arm.
"Oh thank god! Is there anyone missing?" Simmons looked at them "I heard a painful scream, Oh no!... What are we going to do?…" he cried.
"Oh would you calm down!" Velda pouted "We're ok"
"Oh no… there is something wrong… something went terribly wrong!" Sheena's eyes saturated with tears.
"What? What happened?" Wartz fidgeted.
"Eugene…" Sheena shed tears as she cried "He didn't make it through!" She began to weep, her sorrow was heard all the way to the lake. The class stood in silence, their speechless hearts shattered as a cold traveled through their spines.
"Well, we got to go back, we must get him back" Mr. Simmons's weak tone of voice tried to incite the rest but no one looked at him, they all stared at the ground. Some cried, others blamed themselves and some moaned "Come on guys, we can't leave him in there" Simmons insisted while a tear ran down his cheek.
"No… there is nothing we can do" Sheena said "I clearly heard him die, something murdered him" and she wept some more.
"Principal Wartz?" Simmons looked at him, waiting for his support.
"Sorry Mr. Simmons, there isn't anything we can do now, I am not going back! It's suicide, it will kill me, kill us all, one by one, we shouldn't have come!" Wartz regretted "I shouldn't have brought you with me… this is so wrong" Principal Wartz guilty feelings brought him to tears.
Simmons let out a sight of failure and finally gave up.
The sun had fallen down, making the twilight time.
"It will be dark soon, we must carry on, or at least camp somewhere" The guide said putting his mind together "Let's camp over there at the lake, we can make a fire and eat. Afterwards we can figure what to do next. Follow me… wait… what the…" He stopped when he saw someone near the lake.
"It's Helga!" Phoebe screamed in joy.
"And she's with Arnold!" Velda said.
They ran towards Helga and Arnold who laid on the tall green grass watching the sunset.
"Helga!" Phoebe called out as she galloped to her. Arnold and Helga stood in their feet in one jump.
"Phoebe!" she cheerfully said while hugging each other as Gerald and Arnold did their hand shake.
"You're ok! I feared you would be in deep trouble" Phoebe told Helga.
"Oh Pheebs, you always worrying too much, you know me! Nothing can stop me!" and they laughed together.
"Arnold, why did you leave us like that man!" Gerald said to Arnold "I was worried! Why didn't you tell me? I missed you man!"
"I'm sorry Gerald, I just… didn't want… you know…to… to put you in danger" Arnold replied running his hand through his hair.
"What happened to your arm?"
"I have no idea, something in that cave attacked me"
In that moment, Trevor interfered the conversation "Well, well, well, if it isn't Mr. Runaway look for me in the wild" he said scornfully.
"Oh here is the little rascal" Wartz said with a heavy look on Arnold.
"Arnold! We came looking for you, we were worried sick!" Mr. Simmons said feeling a little bit better.
"Boy, we ran into many troubles looking for you kiddo" Roberto joined the chat.
"I'm sorry, my intentions weren't to involve you, neither to look for me" Arnold told them.
"Involve us, in what?" the guide asked raising an eye brow "No matter, we have found you, now we can leave tomorrow, this journey is too dangerous for everyone"
"But I…"
"We can't go back that way" the guide muttered watching the distant cave.
"Listen you don't understand!" Arnold raised his voice.
The guide Robert, did not pay attention to Arnold and kept saying to himself touching his forehead "We can go north, maybe pass the lake and search for another route back"
"LISTEN!" Arnold exploded catching everyone's attention "I can't go back! I will keep my search"
"What search? What are you blabbering about Arnold? This is the jungle! Not the school playground!" Wartz yelled to Arnold.
"You don't understand, I can't go" he insisted.
"But why?" Simmons asked trying to keep calm.
"Well… I …. I can't tell you…" Arnold answered.
"You can tell me Arnold, you can trust me"
Wartz made a mad expression and said "Leave him alone, if he doesn't want to tell us who cares, we are leaving this hell anyway"
Arnold took a glimpse at Gerald as he nodded to him "Ok… I'll tell you the reason"
The teens and grownups sat in a circle near the lake while Arnold told them the story of his parents. The fire that was made burned as the classmates listened with pity some even cried when Arnold's tone of voice wept.
"That's why I can't go until I find them… or at least an answer" He barely said that with out his voice cracking low. Silent time flew in the cold air, Arnold sobbed on Helga's shoulder as she hugged him.
Wartz point of view was different after hearing Arnold's story "Well, I'm really sorry to hear that boy, but as sad as it sounds, we can't expose ourselves anymore, it is too risky, we have already lost a life, we can't lose anymore, hell, we shouldn't even have lost any in the first place" Wartz said.
Arnold was surprised to hear that, he didn't know someone had died. He discreetly asked Gerald by giving him a gesture as his lips read E-U-G-E-N-E.
"Oh no… I…I'm terribly sorry… I…" Arnold ducked his head but then raised it and said "But I'm still going, with or without you!"
"What? Have you gone mad?" Wartz glared Arnold.
"I think we should stop this nonsense and go to sleep, tomorrow we'll figure out what to do" The guide stopped a future argue between the two.
"Fine! If he wants to make a suicidal trip, then go ahead" Wartz said crossing his arms.
Arnold just glared Wartz with his arms crossed too.
The night slowly passed and soon they all laid down to sleep while the fire burned out.