Endless Summer

No Escape

You and your friends have climbed into the hatch leading to the La Huerta Observatory, your best hope at calling for rescue.

Grace looks around in astonishment. "Oh my goodness, we're in the central chamber of Mount Atropo!"

"Look, on the other side." Sean points. "I see windows! I think that's the observatory lab!"

Zahra's eyes widen. "You're gonna go across these rickety-ass catwalks? You seriously trust them to hold?"

"I don't see any other way in." You say.

Grace trembles. "Okay, but I mentioned my debilitating fear of heights, right? Because I have a debilitating fear of heights."

"Heights, I'm fine with." Jake adds. "Pools of bubbling magma? Not so much."

Craig looks at the metal poles that hand from the rock walls. "I mean, someone put these catwalks here, that means they're probably safe, right?"

"Yeah, but how long ago was that? Who knows if they're still safe?" Michelle says skeptically.

Sean looks to everyone. "Guys, we've come too far to turn back now. Let's just do this."

"You first." Zahra folds her arms.

"Actually," Craig points. "Her first!"

You all turn to the catwalks. While you were talking, Estela took off and is already halfway across. She glanced over her shoulder. "There's still time to turn back. If you're too scared, that is."

One by one, the whole group sets out across the catwalk. It sways and buckles a little under your weight, but holds firm.

Craig grins. "This isn't so bad."

The ground beneath you rumbles, and the whole room shakes. The magma pool sizzles and seethes, huge bubbles scorching up towards you.

Zahra throws a glare at Craig. "Just had to open your big mouth, didn't you, Craig?"

One of the bubbles bursts, sending sizzling rivulets of magma flying your way.

"Run!" Sean shouts.

You all take off in a sprint towards the end of the catwalk. It shakes and rattles. A massive geyser of magma erupts, burning through the catwalk. Behind you, Michelle trips and falls onto her knees. An enormous bubble forms beneath her, growing bigger and bigger.

You turn around and sprint back to Michelle, grabbing her and helping her back up to her feet. Right as you do, the bubble below you bursts, shooting a jet of magma right up at you. Instinctively you dive, pulling Michelle with you. The magma blasts up, right where you'd been standing. You land on your back a few feet away, and Michelle lands on top of you.

"You saved my life." She says wide eyed.

"Thank me later. Right now, we gotta go!"

You and Michelle pull yourselves up and sprint
towards the end of the catwalk, where everyone else is waiting. They all shout and wave to you to hurry. You just barely make it to the platform just as the ground rumbles again, and the magma below you seethes and rises.

Zahra points. "Quick! Through the door!"

You all dive through the steel door at the end of the platform, into a dark room. It slams shut with an industrial hiss as you and your friends tumble onto the floor.

"That was way too close!" Craig shouts.

"But we all made it, right? We're all okay?" Sean asks.