I stumbled further into the tunnel. By the orange light of the lantern, I could observe that the area no longer resembled a tunnel but rather an uncanny, large opening. I could not make out a ceiling or any distinct walls—just a wide, ominous space that was difficult to distinguish. The floor was covered in rocks that shifted when I walked, causing the moving rubble to echo with each step. The air was incredibly foul, but I did not care what was creating the foul smell; only that, as it grew stronger, the muffled sound of voices also became apparent.

  “Lillie! Are you there?” I finally cried out. The vibrations sounded off the unstable area, and I regretted yelling for a moment.

  “Hello?” I heard a weakened voice call out.

  “Yes, hello,” I called out, this time quieter.

  “Is someone there?” the voice called again. I followed its traces, stumbling through the loose stones, and the sound of disrupted rocks overhead became concerning once again.

  No! I’m so close. I can’t be crushed! I can’t die now!

  I followed the putrid scent instead of calling out. As it grew stronger, the ground became more uneven. My foot slipped into a hole, shooting pain up my injured leg, and I scanned the ground, noticing all the darker outlines most likely were other holes.

  Could they be inside a hole?

  “Call to me,” I pleaded, desperate to find the source of the voices.

  “Help!” the weakened voice cried out. “We are stuck down here!” The voice sounded close, but, like I feared, it came from below the uneven ground. I walked carefully, using the light to guide my feet. There was a large hole in front of me, as if the ground had sunk beneath itself. I peered below, but it was too deep to see anything. Yet, it was the foul stench that wafted from the pit that fluttered my heart.

  “Over here!” the voice cried. Without hesitation, I jumped into the hole and glided down. It was not too far, and, when I landed on a jagged surface, my legs bent on impact, but I ignored the pain shooting up my injured leg. My light lit up the area, revealing the dirty faces of Tamarines sitting around, resting against the wall. I stepped closer to see their faces, scanning each one to find the only one I was truly seeking for.

  “A savior!” an older woman cried.

  “They found us!!” one older man stated as he came closer to me.

  “We’re gonna live!” a young boy exclaimed.

  “Sable?”

  My eyes widened as I peered at the young girl sitting against the wall, seeing past the layer of dirt upon her skin or the dustiness of her unusually white hair.

  Lillie.

  “There you are,” I said, and quickly crouched down before her. A sleeping man lay next to her, and the young boy stood by her other side, beaming widely upon my arrival. She tried moving, but her weakened state prevented her from making more than a simple adjustment in her sitting position. I placed my hand on her cheek that was dangerously cold.

  “How?” she weakly uttered, and her green eyes were noticeably faded.

  “Shh,” I said, and I unbuckled the water canteen and brought it to her lips. She gulped while I held her trembling hand.

  I found you. I really found you.

  “I have water for everyone to share,” I said while looking over, and the other two survivors moved closer to me. The older man reached for the canteen, but I held onto it to keep him from drinking too much as he smacked his parched lips a little too greedily. The older woman gladly allowed me to give her water, and the young boy next to Lillie anticipated his turn. Then, I looked down at the man sleeping next to Lillie.

  “I’ll do it,” Lillie said with a weak voice. I handed her the container, and she carefully let water run into his mouth. He seemed lethargic as his eyes flickered while Lillie whispered to him, but he drank enough to cause him to gasp.

  “I also have medical supplies,” I said. “Tell me, what do you all need? I heard there were seven missing workers—I only see five. Where are the others?”

  “David and Mira didn’t survive the fall,” Lillie said as she seemed to regain her senses, and sat more upright. “I think they were instantly crushed after the collapse of the tunnel. I don’t know. I can’t see well, but I’m too afraid to examine their bodies.”

  That was the foul smell—the smell of rotting bodies under piles of rocks.

  “Jamie’s leg is badly damaged,” she said while pointing to the lethargic man. A sense of conflicted relief passed over my mind as I remembered Lara asking me to also find her brother—his injury was problematic, but at least he was alive. I instantly opened the satchel with the medical supplies and found some cloth material. I wrapped Jamie’s leg in the cloth, covering his open wound. It smelled infected and was noticeably broken. Lillie, leaning over him, spoke softly as she stroked his forehead. He winced and took short breaths, but stayed still through the process. His sluggish demeanor and fevering body meant he did not have much time left. Yet, as I lifted my eyes, observing Lillie’s affectionate hand upon the man’s sweaty forehead, a sudden pang of jealousy rose as I remembered Lara speaking about the concern of Jamie being a troublemaker.

  “I’m fine,” said the young boy while crouching next to Lillie, and I shook my untimely thoughts aside.

  “Yes, Peak is fine,” Lillie chuckled. She leaned closer to me and whispered, “I hope Aro and Tim will also be okay, now that they’ve had some water. They haven’t spoken much since the cave-in.”

  “I’m going to get everyone out,” I said, and I handed out small portions of dried meat to the survivors. Everyone ate slowly but eagerly. I could sense hope had returned to the survivors. They moved easier and were antsy to be officially rescued.

  “I will even bring the bodies of the dead for their families to properly bury,” I said heroically. I had not thought about it, but at that moment, I knew I wanted to complete the rescue mission. I found the missing group—and Lillie—and my fear of facing the situation subsided. I felt competent enough to handle the horrific situation now that I knew where the survivors were and how to get out.

  “Oh, Sable,” Lillie quietly whimpered, a tone I had never heard. “I don’t know how you ever came here to begin with. How is this even possible?”

  “It’s a long story,” I said while smiling at her. “One, I will enjoy telling you when we are all in a safer place.” I placed the lantern in the middle of the area. The survivors huddled close to the light, seeking warmth and comfort. Their faces were sunken, covered in layers of dirt, blood, and sweat. Yet they possessed hopeful eyes as they stared at me, anticipating my direction, and I gave everyone one more round of water, but the food had been depleted.

  I sat next to Lillie and held her hand, rubbing her thumb gently with mine. Her skin was rough and sullied, but, for the first time, so was mine. I finally found her and wanted to savor the moment to the best of my ability. My sheer determination to find her led me to this dark hole, deep within the underground world—through the series of monsters. My surroundings were nauseating; the smell of rotting flesh, infections, and excrement filled the air. Sunken faces, depleted of life, sat staring at me. They were waiting for me to be their final act of hope, and they saw me as a savior in their bleak circumstances. Hope had returned to them, but it brought doubts about my own capabilities. I wanted to be Lillie’s hero. Now, I needed to be a savior to others.

  How am I going to bring all these people back?

  I knew that I could go back the way I came, however, my greatest concern was the perilous journey I had just made by myself. These people had been trapped underground for days. They were weak and could possibly not survive the journey. The rock blockade where my twine had broke and where I had cut my leg was most concerning. I could carry them all individually, but at that point, they would need to climb through the small opening. I could try with Lillie first or Peak—he seemed the least affected by the circumstances. That could determine if it was suitable enough for the rest of the survivors. My other option could consist of finding a way out of the ceiling where they first fell. Perhaps there was a way out from straight above. Maybe Taffy and other rescuers could dig away from the collapsed tunnel and make a safe exit.

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  I looked above me. It was pitch black. There were no signs of a ceiling. Then, I remembered Taffy’s map. No—this was the problem in the first place. The original ceiling of the tunnel collapsed, and the floor opened up. There wasn’t a way to enter the collapsed area above the surface. It was too dangerous for further excavation, risking even more weakening of the unstable rocks, possibly causing further obstruction.

  No—my only option was from how I entered and through the stable tunnels and established cavern. I would need to focus on getting everyone through safely. I would take it one step at a time—one body at a time.

  “The way here was long, but manageable,” I said out loud as I stared at the tips of my boots stretched out before me. “There is only a small rock blockade that needs to be climbed. Then another series of tunnels to travel through, eventually a cavern. I will fly each person through.”

  No one spoke—only a cough from Tim and shifting positions as the survivors listened to my words.

  “I will carry each one for as long as necessary,” I said, and gazed at Lillie’s trembling hand in mine. “I’m strong and can help.”

  “Sable,” Lillie said quietly. “You don’t have to do this on your own. You can return to the surface; tell the others where we are.”

  “Yes, but the others can’t help you like I can,” I replied. “That’s why they haven’t come yet. They’ve been looking for you this entire time, but they never could make it far enough to find you.”

  “You’ve done so much already. I don’t know how you can keep this up.”

  “There is no other way. I’m the only one capable.”

  “I know you’re capable, but you may not be strong enough. Bringing us supplies and waiting for more help may be the safer way.”

  “I cannot leave you—any of you—to wait for help.” I turned my head, facing Lillie, and her eyes darted down. “Please let me help in the way I know is best. Let me do it the only way I know that assures your safety.”

  She was scared, obviously, perhaps she had already accepted death. But, if I knew anything about Lillie, it was that she could never allow others to come in harm’s way because of her.

  Perhaps she was feeling guilty of my rescue mission and expected to simply fade away from her disappearance.

  Yeah—I’m not letting that happen.

  “Let me carry you to the surface,” I said and stood up while still holding her hand, and I gently pulled her up into a standing position.

  “No,” she said and removed her hand from mine. “Take Peak first. He is the strongest. I’ll stay here with the others.”

  Of course you’d say that.

  However, I agreed that taking Peak was a good option, and I pushed my fears aside. I looked at Peak who was listening with perked ears, and his blue eyes widened. His golden hair was covered in filth, and his undertones were still visible, although difficult to observe in the low light. He appeared young—too young to be facing death.

  “Peak,” I said as I adjusted my belt. “Ready to return to the surface?”

  “You betcha I am,” he said and pounced to his feet with childish energy.

  “Unfortunately, I need my light,” I said while grabbing the lantern, and I connected it to my belt. “But I will return. Just keep holding onto hope and the knowledge that you will all be safe soon. Be ready for my return.” Lillie moved close to me, and I looked at her face, our eyes meeting. I finally found her, and could hardly believe I was leaving her behind. I hadn’t anticipated her refusing to let me take her first, but, knowing Lillie, she had the determination of a raging storm that no one could control.

  As the young boy stood closer to me and Lillie feigned a smile, I grabbed her waist, and pulled her close to me.

  “I’ll be back,” I whispered in her long, pointed ear, allowing my nose to touch her skin. I allowed the intimate moment to fuel my heart, but internally, I was screaming, especially as her tone of desperation increased.

  “Please,” she uttered. “Return to me.”

  I pressed my lips against her cheek, kissing her gently. Her warmth had begun to return, and there was still a hint of the purple flower emitted from her soiled hair. Yet, the other unpleasant smells wreaked; I was also filthy, and my lips tasted salty and gross. The smell of fresh blood permeated my body, but I held fast to the hope that soon we’d be able to clean up and embrace once again—maybe I’d even get a chance to kiss her lips.

  I grabbed Peak, held him close to my chest, and then, with a powerful jump, I flew out of the hole. He was lightweight, and I easily ascended back into the uncertain cavern ahead. I placed him on the ground as we neared the blockade. The light of the lantern faithfully showed us the path and we carefully walked toward the blockade. I spotted the twine wedged between the rocks above where it had snapped.

  “See, there?” I asked, and I pointed toward the gap between the rock blockade and the ceiling. Peak nodded. “I’m going to fly you up, but you’ll have to climb through.” He nodded again in response, and I grabbed him. I flew up as close to the hole as I could, and landed Peak near the cramped entrance. He clambered through the hole with ease. He was small and agile, even after being trapped in the depths for days.

  “Well done,” I called out, “now, carefully descend; I’m coming through.” I could hear him scaling the rocks, and I climbed through the gap after him. I heard rocks fall on either side, and Peak gave out a small shriek as he slid down the moving rocks.

  “Careful!” I shouted, and I suddenly lost my grip and also slid down the rocks. Peak tried moving out of the way, but I fell on top of him. The clanging noises of rocks hitting the lantern echoed through the area.

  “Are you alright?” I asked while quickly lifting myself off the young boy. He grunted as he dusted off his arms, ignoring my question, but then pointed to the lantern as we both stood up.

  “Light’s gettin’ low,” Peak said. “Do you have oil?”

  “Oh, yes,” I said, and I pulled out the canister of oil Taffy had given me.

  “I’ll do it,” Peak said. He grabbed the canister and filled the lantern with fresh oil, and the light became brighter as he adjusted it. “There, that’s better.”

  “Thanks,” I said while brushing off my tunic, and I saw tears in my sleeves and the bloody cut through my torn trousers. Ignoring my state of filth, I led Peak through the rocks until the tunnel floor became sturdy again. Eventually, it opened up. The twine lay motionless, leading the way down the next tunnel. Peak was capable of walking on his own allowing me to not worry about his ability to move freely. It was obvious that he felt safe with me, perhaps also allocating a new found strength after his time in the underground. We followed the tunnel in silence until we came to the end, where it dropped off into the great cavern.

  “The yellow twine is our path out,” I said after needlessly pointing. It was loosely hanging in the air, running deep within the cavern, disappearing behind the dark shadows lurking below. “Let’s go.”

  Grabbing Peak once again, I glided down to a safe distance where I could fly with ease but also follow the twine. I was grateful for its yellow color, as it reflected the orange, glowing light. With the help of the twine and my previous travels through the cavern, I felt confident enough to fly through. I maneuvered past the stalactites, swaying back and forth as they appeared before me.

  It was my first time carrying someone while flying—too bad it wasn’t Lillie. All my training to strengthen my wings was evidently effective. Peak gripped my arms tightly as we flew through the darkness, but his short legs dangled underneath my figure. As we flew steadily, my eyes darted around, watching out for danger. The twine went through between two large columns, too narrow for me to fly through, so I went around, losing sight of the twine for a few moments.

  “Ah Watch it!” Peak squealed while squirming in my arms. A massive rock formation came into view, and I bolted straight up. Peak bent his legs, barely avoiding the rocks as we passed over. The young boy tensed up, pinching my skin with his fingers as he held me tight, causing me to wince, but I continued until I spotted the twine again, and returned to its guidance.

  That was close. I need a better method to carry people. Peak is shorter than the others, but his legs are still in danger.

  I followed the yellow twine further into the darkness, swaying past the dangerous rocks. Then, finally up ahead, I saw the pulley that held the platform with lanterns. I felt a sense of relief as I realized we had made it back.

  “Time to go up,” I said loudly to Peak and he grunted in response. Regardless of his small stature, my arms began to grow tired. I was exhausted from my rescue search, and I was becoming weary. My wings pushed me towards the surface, bending strongly as we elevated, and Peak’s body shifted parallel to mine as we ascended. The glow of the surface light became clearer as we approached. I heard voices calling out, and blurry figures gathered around the glowing light. I ascended to the surface, exiting the original opening where Taffy and her crew waited. I felt relieved to set Peak down on the ground, away from the gaping hole of the cavern below. He was instantly recovered by the workers standing by. They began to rejoice, cry out for others to see, and congratulate me on a successful rescue. But my heart sank, for I still had more bodies to carry.

  This was far from over.

  “Damn, you brilliant boy,” Taffy chimed as she patted my shoulder. “You made it! And you found Peak.”

  “Please,” I said while heavily breathing. “I need more water and food to give to the other survivors.”

  “Oh, you found the others?” Taffy asked, but turned to inform the others to retrieve my requested items. “Hey, there, Peak!” She slapped his back and he gave a weak smile in response. “Good to see you alive. So, who else is there besides Peak?”

  “David and Mira are gone,” Peak said solemnly.

  “Aw, that’s a shame; they were good people,” Taffy said.

  “But Lillie, Jamie, Aro, Tim, and me’s survived,” Peak said. “And this guy is gonna bring us all out!”

  “Ah, of course he is,” Taffy said. “But, first, let’s get you out of here. You’ve been in the caves long enough.” Taffy ruffled Peak’s dirty blonde hair, casting sediment into the air, and he continued to grin. She beckoned another worker to escort Peak away. He waved at me, then walked away. As Taffy continued to congratulate me, I explained further to Taffy of my journey.

  “They’re barely alive, and they need their strength for the return journey,” I explained.

  “You’re a true hero,” Taffy said to me in a quiet tone. “That little guy just survived hell and he’s smiling like a little trooper.”

  “Well, not everyone is smiling,” I said while pushing the hair out of my face, feeling unnerved of an early celebration.

  “Hey,” she said. “You saved his life, and that matters. Gotta celebrate the small wins, alright? Don’t want you runnin’ out of courage. You’ll get the rest of the folks.”

  I was not ready to celebrate. I knew she spoke with encouragement to keep my motivation strong, but my chest felt ridden with guilt as Lillie was still trapped deep in the belly of the monster.

  “I will. I will not stop until every-body has been brought to the surface.”

  “Yes, but first” —Taffy looked down at my leg— “let’s get that wrapped up.”