None

Chapter 5

The pounding in my head had lessened, only to bring a slight buzzing sound, like when the black and gray screen comes on the TV and practically deafens you, only it's in another room.

I stuck my finger in my ear and shook my head to try to get rid of the sound; it was probably from the water in my ears from being so deep underwater.

Hazel and Claire rowed faster until the canoe was driven up into the sandy shore, and we hopped out. My headache was already subsiding from the cool air, and I was still trying to ignore the buzzing.

The seals all popped through the surface and lifted one dripping fin to kind of wave at us, before turning and swimming away in the same even pattern.

"Well, that was interesting," I said.

We tied the canoe to a small bush, just to make sure it didn't get blown away somehow.

"Dang, I wish we brought flashlights," Claire muttered as she peered into the opening. "It looks like it goes downhill."

"Yeah, should we just come back?" I asked, and then froze. "Wait - did you hear that?"

My three friends stopped and looked at me, straining to hear what I had. "No, what was it?" asked Brooke, inching forward.

"Shh!" I held up my finger and leaned closer to the entrance of the cave.

There it was again... a barking, growling noise, like a dog. And I heard the crunching of gravel in the darkness. I held still, trying to hear or see anything else.

Deep, deep within the tunnel, was a light. I could see it, but not directly; more like how you see stars. You can see them, but not look directly at them. But I could see - or sense - it was there.

"Guys, look. It's a light - can you see that?" I directed for Brooke to come forward.

She stepped up, staring into the dark. "Oh yeah, I see it. And yeah... Is it coming towards us?"

My eyes widened, and I took one step into the darkness, then another. I took a few more steps, and then felt the stumbling, falling, plummeting feeling of putting your foot on empty space.