Fates Fickle Ways

Chapter One

I was already on my way to Duskwood the second I got the text. If I went he would let Hannah and Richy go. Jake definitely didn't like the idea, actually no one but Thomas did. I didn't blame him for asking me to go. I think if I were in his shoes I would ask the same. Like I said, they don't know me anymore than I know them. It's easier, I think, to ask a stranger to give their life rather than lose someone who means the world to you.

None of them know I'm on the way, they don't know my plans. Once Jake said he would go I didn't see the need to tell them. I can't let Jake go in there alone. He wants to protect me, but I don't think I'm the one who needs protecting. He told me of a museum that has an entrance to the mine. It's not used anymore, but maybe I can barter my way in there. I don't know where the ladders that Jake used are, and I cannot risk using the manhole cover. All I know is that Jake is down there, I won't let anything happen to him.

I had to break a window to get into the museum, I was expecting an alarm but one never went off. Searching the tunnels for Jake I learned that Hannah is safe and out of the mine, but Richy is nowhere to be found. Alan had to go back up to take Hannah to the paramedics, maybe Jake and I can get Richy out of here together. Jake said this mine has a 60 mile tunnel system. I'm going in blind here with no map and no idea where Jake or Richy are at. I don't have a choice, I won't let anything weaken my resolve to find them both. I pull my phone out and shoot Jake a quick message.

Ella: Jake, where are you?

Naturally he didn't reply. He probably doesn't have any cell service. I'm already down to one bar, it won't be too much longer before I lose service as well. I decide to keep going, I'll have to find them the old fashioned way. It's eerily quiet. The darkness, apart from the light off my flashlight, could swallow you whole. Dead end after dead end, the tunnels have collapsed in on themselves in many different places. There's something up ahead, ladders. The ladders that Jake came down! That means he still has to be close. There's three different tunnels from here, now I understand how he quickly became lost without an updated map. I choose to go down the middle, this must be where he came across Michael Hansons evidence. There's a table set up with a bunch of papers. It's tempting to go through and figure out more about what happened and why he's doing this. I scanned over them in curiosity, when I found a paper with my name scribbled on it. Ella. I pick it up and wonder how I'm supposed to fit into any of this. How did my name reach the kidnapper and what does he want with me? A sense of dread washed over me as I tucked the paper into my pocket. I'm not sure why I took it with me, but I have to keep moving.

The realization that I may be walking into a delicately laid trap hits me. I already knew it was a possibility but it's different when you are walking into it. I just have to get Jake and Richy out. I kept repeating my goal to myself so I wouldn't stray from the task. If it is a trap, it could just as easily hit Jake. I can keep that from happening. I'm walking into an empty room with chairs and a camera set up when I get a call on my phone. It's Richy.