Under New Jersey

Gray's Shortcut

"I think this is it." I said sounding hopeful. I might just be able to sneak back in the window and there, problem solved. I walked behind the third willow tree and there was a dark creepy cave opening behind it.

Bailey walked ahead of me laughing, "C'mon Alice stop being such a big baby!" She was most likely drunk still.

"Are you sure this is even a shortcut? I'd rather be in trouble for coming home past curfew than to go in this cave!" My voice trembled. I was so sure I wanted to do this and be a "bad girl," but now I just didn't know.

"Yes, I'm sure. Gray would never lie to me. You're my BEST friend, so he definitely wouldn't lie to you. So, are you coming or what?" Bailey asked impatiently.

I thought about it over and decided NOT to go in the cave, but when I heard Bailey's voice echo off the cave walls saying, "Fine, stay out here in the woods I guess-by yourself." I ran into the cave without a single thought about what I was doing.

"Look, I found the opening. I see the park! Our homes are just a few blocks down. Hurry Alice!"

It was dark and scary in the cave and I was feeling on the rigid rock walls to see, or feel in this case, where I was going. "Bailey where are you? Bailey? Bail-." My heart suddenly stopped. I couldn't believe my eyes. I was now standing in front of two paths, identical to each other. "Which path did you take to get over there?"

"What path? Gray never mentioned a path...maybe I unknowingly walked into one. Take the one on your right. Hurry before our parents find out where we were!"

I rolled my eyes and about six steps into the path, I fell into a hole. "Help! Bailey!"

"ALICE!" Bailey shrieked as she sensed something was wrong.

In my mind I thought I was going to die. Why was I still falling? I was screaming my lungs out. Was this a bottomless pit? My questions were answered when the hole ended and I was now falling out of the ceiling of The Underground. Just when I thought I lost my voice, I fell into a cool body of water.

I must've blacked out because I didn't remember anything after that. I coughed out the left-over water that was left in my body and sat up. I viewed my surroundings and saw a huge nest in front of me. It was made out of rocks of different shapes and sizes. I heard a low breathing noise coming from behind me, making my stomach feel uneasy. I slowly turned around to see what the noise was. My eyes widened in terror as I realized what had saved me. He was dark, all black, and you could see his spine through his thin skin. He had green eyes and had no ears or nose-a humanoid. He walked on all fours.

He came up to me and started circling around me, hissing and showing his sharp white teeth. He ran to the front of the nest and made a sharp screeching sound. Two other humanoids came from behind the nest. They were both identical to the first.

I must be hallucinating. Nothing like this lived underneath my feet. I thought I heard a faint weeping sound...of a girl. It seemed to be coming from the room entrance behind the nest. I shook my head and pinched myself. I MUST be dreaming.

As the humanoids inched closer I backed away. I did this until I couldn't back away any longer. I was now against a huge rock. Why did I have to die like this? I closed my eyes and just as I thought I was going to die someone saved me. By shooting them with bows. They screeched in pain as they began to experience a very slow and painful death.

My savior used a bow and arrow to save me. Since the arrows came from my left, I turned my head to see who this special someone was. He was tall, a boy, about 17 maybe? He had tan skin and a curly light brown afro with hazel eyes. He seemed to be of a Spanish decent.

He walked over to me and said, "Everything's going to be alright." He was breathing heavily. "What's your name?"

"Alice," I replied.

He smiled and held out his hand. "My name's Avery."