When a Young Heart Loves (The Secret of Moonacre Fanfiction)

Unanswered Questions, A Never-ending Search

The ground stopped trembling. Then silence. Robin felt a chill pierce his heart with dread.

"Maria!" He heard Jane's scream from somewhere ahead. He ran with all his strength, using Jane's cries to find his way. His torch's light struggled to illuminate the path, flickering as he ran, but Robin hardly noticed. His eyes had long ago accommodated to the dark. Behind him followed the rest of the boys, their steps echoed through the stone walls.

They came around a bend and saw the De Noir guards scrambling onto their feet. Their Lamps and torches were scattered about the path, illuminating the area with broken patches of light.
Lizzy was supporting Cat on her shoulder, Cat looked about ready to faint. Jane stood farther ahead, gawking down at the sinkhole before her. The hole was large and took out much of the path. It was too wide to jump across.

Maria was nowhere to be seen.

"Where is she?" Robin called, running towards them.

Cat hiccupped as she tried to answer. "The Mon-monster, it caused the earth to shake. Then the ground crumbled. She f-fell through!"

"What do you mean?" Robin rushed to the edge of the hole. The pit was dark and deep. Then he heard it, water. The hole led to an underground river.

"Wh-what happened?" Asked William.

"We came to find Albert and Maria. Wrolf was with us too. We took the tunnels from Maria's room, that's how we found Dulac and the rest of guards. They were hurt... But we kept searching. Those who still could, joined us." Lizzy paused, before continuing, choosing her words carefully. "I think it was expecting us. I think the monster was waiting for us. When Maria tried to attack it, the monster cast a spell to make the ground fall. Almost as if it were a trap. She and Wrolf were the only ones to fall."

"Then the monster went after her. I think it flew in..." Jane's voice trailed away as she added to Lizzy's explanation.

Robin crouched low to the pit's edge. His torch's light wavered off the flowing stream down below. It was still too dark to make out any figure or form. Even if there was enough light though, Robin was sure the current was strong enough to have dragged her away. Maria was still not the best swimmer, he needed to get to her as soon as possible! He leaned, ready to jump in after her, but Dulac and Henry lunged after him. They grabbed him by his arms and pulled him back.

"What are you thinking? You don't know what's down there!" Henry snapped dragging him away from the hole. "It could be a trap! They could all be waiting for you!"

"I have to get to her!" Robin yelled struggling against Henry's hold. "She can't swim!"

"What in the devil are you talking about!" Dulac reprimanded him.

"The pit falls into a river! Maria could drown!" He shouted.

"Robin, stop!" Henry yelled back. "Even so she won't be down there! She and Wrolf must have been carried far now. Trust that Wrolf's taking care of her!"

"The monster was alone," Jane said, drawing their attention. Jane was pale, and her bun had come loose. She walked to the edge and picked up a dusty brown cap, it was Maria's. "I think it's taking her to the thieves-"

"It's Charles," Robin interrupted, shrugging off Henry's hold. "Charles and his friends are the thieves."

Dulac cursed, though some of the guards shifted their eyes.

"How long have they been working together?" Asked Jane.

"Likely since the day we met at the port," Richard answered. "Reckon that's where the gash on John's face came from."