Stopping The Merge

Chapter Eleven: Getting The Gem

This chapter is inspired by @KatieJoyF04 's brilliant idea that they commented on the last chapter. 

"It's so dark in here. I don't think just Hope's spell will be enough. Girls, can someone else light it up as well?" Alaric asks. 

"Sure, dad," Josie replies, taking Penelope's hand to siphon from her briefly.

Soon, the cave is lit up. It is much deeper than they expected, and looks to go on for miles. There is something eerily beautiful about the cave, what with it's high ceiling and moss covered walls. 

"Be careful, it's rocky in here," Caroline warns as they begin to walk deeper inside.  

Not a moment after she says that, Lizzie trips on a rock. Using her supernatural speed, Hope easily steadies her. Lizzie smiles at her girlfriend in thanks, and they continue onward in complete silence. Caroline uses her supernatural hearing to keep an ear out for the slightest noise or movement, in case they are not alone, and something lurks within the cave.

The tribrid can't help but admire the way the moss appears to grow in patches, creating a rather odd, but gorgeous affect. She traces it with her fingers, noting the soft texture. Hope, ever the artist, makes a note to paint a picture of the cave once they return to the school. 

 As they continue onward, the cave grows darker and darker, and soon, even Hope and Josie's light spells aren't enough and the group finds it difficult to see. Penelope casts the spell Josie and Hope did earlier, and that helps a little, but they can still only see a few feet in front of them. Lizzie grabs Hope's non-glowing hand and squeezes it to reassure herself that Hope is still there. 

"Okay, we need to be very careful. Even with the light spell, it's rather dark in here. Watch your step," Alaric cautions. 

They do as he advises, which causes their pace to slow down to that of a snail's. Suddenly, a swarm of bats comes flying out, causing Lizzie to shriek and hide behind Hope, who chuckles.

"They's just bats, Lizzie," Penelope sighs.

"I hate bats. They're worse than spiders. Don't tease me, Satan. Josie told me all about the centipede incident," Lizzie quips.

This shuts Penelope right up. About a month or two ago, Penelope called Josie in a panic. Thinking the raven haired witch was hurt, Josie ran into the girl's dorm room, only to find Penelope standing on her bed. The threat? A single centipede, just walking across the wooden floor, minding it's own business. Josie and Lizzie, who was later informed of the incident by a still laughing Josie, still tease her about it to this day: the big bad Penelope Park, afraid of a little centipede. Penelope hates it. 

"Pay attention, girls. I don't want anyone getting hurt," Caroline scolds.

"Sorry, Mom," Lizzie apologizes.

The group continues onward until it starts to get light again. It's rather strange, as no light should be able to reach this deep into the cave. Soon, the light is bright enough so that Josie, Hope, and Penelope are able to stop the spell that was providing them all with light. 

As they continue their trek into the mysterious cave, a rock platform comes into view. On the platform rests a sea green gemstone that appears to be about the size of a person's palm. The light is hitting it just right so that parts of it appear to be darker than others. They have done it. They have found the last piece of the puzzle that they need to stop the merge and save the twins' lives. 

"There it is," Hope exclaims, amazed by it's size and beauty. 

"Yeah, there it is," Penelope replies, reaching out and squeezing her girlfriend's hand.

"I'll go grab it!" Lizzie volunteers, walking quickly towards the gem, wanting to grab it and get the hell out of this cave.

Before Caroline or Alaric can tell her to stop, that they don't know what the light surrounding it does, Lizzie has grabbed the gem in her hand. The light begins to move so that it surrounds the blonde siphoner, who looks around in confusion. Hope's heart drops into her stomach as Lizzie starts to sway, and falls to the cave floor, gem still clutched tightly in her hand. Chaos ensues as Hope rushes to Lizzie's side, kneeling beside her and placing her head into her lap. 

"Help!" Hope screams. 

Everyone watches, frozen with shock. Penelope is the first to unfreeze, and rushes to help Hope. She kneels beside Lizzie and feels for a pulse, sighing in relief when she finds one. Lizzie and her have a complicated relationship, but she is Josie's sister, and Penelope loves Josie with all of her heart, so she has come to think of the blonde as part of her family. 

"She has a pulse and is breathing. We need to get out of here and back to the car," Penelope announces the the group.

"Yeah, okay. I'll carry her," Alaric agrees, approaching the trio and scooping his daughter into his arms.

"Let's hurry back. There has to be something in that book the witch gave us that says why she passed out when she touched it," Caroline says.

The group makes their way back through the cave. It seems to take much longer this time, as they are all worried about Lizzie, who remains unconscious in her father's arms. It seems like days have passed before they finally make it out, but in reality it has only been a few hours.

 Caroline opens the car, and Alaric lays Lizzie carefully on the back seat. Hope sits beside her and once again moves her head into her lap. She removes the gemstone from Lizzie's hand and sets it safely in one of the cup holders. The tribrid strokes blonde hair out of Lizzie's face, hoping that her girlfriend will open those pretty blue eyes of hers once more.

"Okay. Where's the book at?" Josie asks anxiously, glancing at her sister. 

"Here. I got it," Caroline states, grabbing the book from the trunk.

They all gather around it, and read it word for word, page by page, praying that they will find something to help Lizzie. The book's font is fairly large, so it does not take them too long to get through the entire thing. Alaric slams the cover shut, frustrated.

"Nothing. There is absolutely nothing," Alaric huffs, agitated that this book does not hold the answer on how to help his daughter. 

"We have a ton of books back at the school. They may have something. We should head back," Caroline states, placing a calming hand on Alaric's shoulder.

"Yeah, okay. Load up, you two," The man agrees.

Hope sits Lizzie up so that Penelope and Josie can slide into the backseat of the car. Caroline hops into the passenger's side, Alaric the driver's side, and they start the long drive back towards the school, Hope and Josie each clutching one of Lizzie's hands the entire way there.