The Heart Thief

Chapter Eight

I feel really guilty. Just a short chap. I'm having a writer's block (_ __") I'll update once I get my inspiration back.

Chase knew when he heard the roar that the beast was after them. His assumptions were confirmed to be correct and he wasn’t so happy about it.
            Along the tunnel, he ran carrying Zuma on his back as he planned out carefully what to do. The creature stood on four legs and he guessed it has speed. It also has razor sharp teeth which makes him carnivorous and has heightened senses due to the lack of sight. It might have a keen sense of smell or an accurate sense of hearing and to overpower its assets, it also possessed long claws.
            Chase’s net can’t contain it.
            As he kept running, he arrived at the end of the tunnel which was another oasis. And, like the other, has different tunnels connecting to different chambers. To escape the creature, Chase has to pick one… but which one?
            Zuma got down from Chase’s back and observed all the tunnels. He chose the one with the blinking glow stones in spite of his instinct.
            “What makes you so sure?” Chase frantically asked. He was losing himself all of the sudden when he thinks of that hideous creature. But for now, argument is invalid. Anything would do.
            Without waiting for Zuma’s answer, they both ran to the tunnel. Before they could enter, they heard the second roar – a mix of high pitched and low pitched voices yelling together. It was gravely mortifying to hear.
            Chase’s pace got faster but he never left Zuma behind. He wanted to carry him on his back but Zuma refused as he didn’t want to burden Chase. They kept running until they arrived at the tunnel.
            A long whisper traveled throughout. It was the same whisper Chase heard from before – the whisper that warned him of the creature’s presence.
            “We gotta follow that voice,” Chase said as quiet as he could, “It’ll save us from whatever that thing is.”
            Zuma nodded and ran with Chase. The tunnel they were travelling at was longer than the previous one and it seemed eerie assuming there’s no other escape when the creature catches up to them.
            Afraid of that morbid assumption, Chase fired his net, blocking the tunnel. It won’t last long but it will slow the creature down. Any length of time that can prolong their escape would do. Chances are indefinite and the outcome is altered for every action executed.
            As they ran, Chase heard the rapid sprint of the creature. Its claws that scratched the ground of the tunnel told him it was catching up. He doesn’t know if Zuma can hear as fine as him but at all cost, he chose not to tell Zuma as he doesn’t want him to panic.
            Zuma’s expression turned hopeless but he kept on running. Chase knew that Zuma heard the fast nearing of the beast. He came to a stop and Chase stopped as well.
            With his expression speaking for him, he told Chase that they couldn’t run from the beast. It’s impossible from what they can hear. Chase walked over to him and they both leaned their backs against the wall while closely huddling to each other. They closed their eyes and waited for the creature to catch them. They accepted death together.
            They heard the creature just upon them and it stopped. Chase opened one of his eyes and got a better view at the hideous beast. It was doglike… wolfish but morbidly terrifying.
            He observed it for a while as it stood like a statue in front of them. Since it doesn’t have any eyes, it was blind obviously and since it couldn’t detect them, then the only heightened sense it possessed was a keen sense of sound.
            The glowing stones above them blinked and the whispers Chase heard traveled past them. The creature reacted and followed the sound, leaving them unscathed.
            Zuma opened his eyes with a curious yet relieved face. Just about when he was going to ask what happened, Chase silenced him and gestured they go back to where they came from. Now that they know that a beast like that lurks within the caves of the oasis, they couldn’t let their guard down.

            In a stroke of luck, they arrived to where they first came. The crumbled flooring of the cave above had a few materials attached to it. A sharp pick, metal stakes and a rope. Thank heavens, Chase thought. No other than Ryder would be there and who knows? He’s probably searching for them right now.
            Zuma walked a few steps ahead in front of Chase while closely observing the rope. He traced the movement of whoever went down by looking at the wall and a few prints on the sand.
            “He’s here…” he mumbled but the sound echoed all over the place.
            They waited for any response at all and it kept them alert for a few minutes until Ryder finally showed himself.
            He walked wearily from one side of the tree and he looked oddly different. Maybe it was because they haven’t seen him in a while that made him look new.
            Without a moment’s hesitation, Chase sprinted to Ryder and jumped to his embrace. He dug his face on Ryder’s clothing as he slightly cried for what Ryder did.
            “Why did you abandon us during the storm?” Chase asked in a crying manner. He couldn’t get ahold of himself and he couldn’t restrain his emotions to act well disciplined. He already forgot about their argument.
            Ryder caressed Chase’s back slowly without saying anything. It was awfully quiet and Zuma stared suspiciously from where he sat. He observed how Ryder acted. Why is he like that? Zuma felt like there was something off about Ryder and he couldn’t accurately point it out.
            “Ah!” Zuma moaned.
            Chase diverted his attention to Zuma and eyed him curiously.
            With another faked moan, Zuma made it louder until Chase came near him.
            Zuma stared at Chase with his expression of omen and warning. He curt nodded his head and they both sprinted to a random tunnel away from Ryder.
            “Whatever you do, don’t look back,” Zuma panted as he ran with Chase to another tunnel. Everything in the oasis is not in their scope of knowledge and understanding.
            Chase nodded his head as they ran. “How did you know?” Chase asked.
            The moment he jumped on Ryder, he already knew it wasn’t the Ryder because of the scent he picked up. It seemed critical to make a quick run so he thought of playing dumb for whatever copied Ryder’s appearance.
            “I noticed…” Zuma panted faster.
            When they reached the end of the tunnel, the exit closed to a loud shut and they were safe from whatever’s after them for now.