Devil's Attic

Chapter Five

"Okay, we need to keep moving," Jonathan declared, standing up with determination. "There has to be another way out of here. We can't just sit here and wait for our death."

Henry's voice dripped with anger as he retorted, "Jo, we're in a goddamn cave in the middle of fucking nowhere. There's only one way out of here, and it's the same fucking way we came in."

"We can't just give up. We have to keep trying. We owe it to ourselves and to our fallen friends to keep fighting. I'm not giving up." Jonathan grabbed a flashlight and walked toward the far end of the cave, away from where he had found the skeletons the day before. He let the beam of light wander up and down, but he saw only the bare rock, cold, clammy, and impenetrable.

Just as he scratched his foot in frustration, Henry stood next to him and smiled, "No Rutherford has died in a cave yet," he said, shining his flashlight a little ahead. "So we'd better make sure it stays that way."

They made slow progress through the cave, the ground littered with loose rocks, and the wall too slippery to find support. However, at the western end of the cave, they stumbled upon something that gave them a glimmer of hope. Hidden behind a large ledge was a crack, big enough for a human being. The two friends exchanged a nervous glance, both nodding in silent agreement before Jonathan took a deep breath and squeezed himself into it, holding the flashlight in front of him.

He was never the kind of person who was afraid of confinement, but the feeling of being surrounded on both sides by tons of rock made him reconsider his decision. After several turns, the narrow path opened into another cave. Jonathan's flashlight illuminated the vastness of the cave, which was far larger than the one they were trapped in. He quickly turned around and made his way back through the narrow path to inform Henry of his discovery.

His friend was initially doubtful and shook his head, but when Jonathan asked him if there was another solution, he had to admit that there wasn't. With renewed determination, they returned to the others and shared the news of the small gap and the possibility of a way out.

However, Kayla immediately shook her head and expressed her fear of getting lost. Jonathan sat down next to his girlfriend amidst the confusion, seeking her opinion. Eden expressed her desire to see the crack, and Jonathan accompanied her, taking the opportunity to share what he had observed in the cave behind it. With a concerned expression, she glanced back at her friends before turning her attention to Jonathan. Softly, she voiced her worry, asking, "What if there's no way out?"

"We have no choice, Eden," Jonathan whispered as he caressed her cheek. "The entrance is locked, and the only option we have is to find another way out." Despite his words, Eden hesitated, prompting Jonathan to pull her close and plant a gentle kiss on her forehead. "We've got to get out of here, Baby," he murmured. "I want to marry you."

Eden looked up at him and attempted a smile. "Is that so, Jo? I would have expected a more romantic proposal, but... I'll take it as it is. My answer is yes."

Jonathan chuckled softly and held Eden tightly in his embrace. "I love you, Eden Bridgerton. And don't worry, you'll get a proper proposal once we're back in the daylight."

After rejoining the others, the group quickly devised a plan. They gathered their belongings and packed them into their backpacks, preparing for the journey ahead. Recognizing the uncertainty of how long it would take to find another way out, Eden suggested conserving their light sources. However, she soon realized that the limited illumination from their flashlights would be insufficient in the deep darkness of the cave.

Searching through her backpack, Eden eventually found what she was looking for - a long rope. With determination in her voice, she laid out the plan. They would proceed one by one, each person holding onto the rope without tying themselves to it. If anyone were to let go of the rope, they would shout loudly, and everyone would immediately stop. Jonathan and Eden would lead the way, followed by Paul and Henry at the end, with Kayla and Kevin in the middle.