Adventures of the Deps: Book 1

Chapter Fifteen

As they arrived at the base, Lea felt a jolt of anxiety looking at the building that seemed to loom over her. She swallowed a lump in her throat and before she continued, Ron stopped her.

"You don't have to go inside. I know it's probably reminding you of- things."

"I'm tired of running from my fears. I mean-" Lea laughed shockingly, "I got in Jessie's car today! And I was terrified but- it felt good."

"You- what?" Ron laughed with her.

"I mean- I guess the fear of something greater will kick that adrenaline into you. Ben."

"That's still amazing. I'm so proud of you."

"Thanks." Lea smiled and gestured for him to continue walking with Jessie waiting for them to continue walking with her.

When they opened the door, they could smell wood in the air, and the water leaking from the roof- proof that it had rained recently.

"Did you ever see where Ben went?" Jessie asked looking around. She had never been in here but it still made her uncomfortable knowing the events that have occurred here.

Lea looked around seeing the door to the dungeon- and seeing the support beam she once hid behind...and finally laying eyes on the thing that's been torturing Mason.

"Oh-" Lea stopped in her tracks and stared at it for a long moment sucking in a breath.

The screams, she could still hear them. The overwhelming guilt she felt when she left Mason here to fend for himself when she told him he wasn't alone anymore.

All the times she left him behind, and left him here with Ben- if she had just gotten over her fears, then maybe they'd all be safe. This was all her fault-

"Lea-?" Jessie placed a hand on her shoulder, and it made Lea flinch. She noticed there was a small tear on her face and wiped it away quickly.

"Let's just-" Lea put on a mask of a smile, "I think I know where he went."

Jessie grasped Lea's shoulder before she could leave and gave her a sympathetic look. Lea kept her smile on her face, nodded slightly, and got out of Jessie's grip.

"Over here!" she called walking towards an opening behind a wall, but when she turned behind the wall, there was just a brick wall. No doors, no windows, and no way in.

Lea felt all around the wall as others followed behind her, watching her chaotically scramble at the wall. She started to believe that maybe none of it was true. Ben just hid around the corner.

"No. No, no no!" she banged on the wall, "There has to be something here-"

"Lea-" Ron tried to reach for her, but she pulled away.

This isn't happening. A literal dead end! There had to be a way past this wall. This is where Ben went she is sure of it. This can't be it. If she doesn't get it, Mason could-

"No!" Lea tried to take deep breaths, "This wasn't supposed to happen..."

"Lea- listen!" Ron reached for her once more, this time she let him grab her shoulders gently, and she choked back a sob.

"I can't just let him die..." Lea whispered. That was the first time she allowed herself to admit that Mason could die. Not just that he was in danger, but- that she'd be left in a world without him. It made her feel nauseous.

"We won't. We'll find a way- I promise."

"How!?" Lea cried, "How can you promise? The only person who'd know how to get past this wall- or know where the antidote is located- is killing Mason right now."