The Last Emerald

Chapter Four:

One hissed at me, pushing her face up to the bars.

“W-Who are you?” I stammered, frozen on the spot.

“Get out of here girl!” A man called out.

“Hurry, before he comes back!” Another chimed in. My eyes widened.

“Why are you down here?” I asked, taking a count of how many people there were.

Ten people in ten different cells.

“We figured out the secret.” The man said sadly.

“What secret?” I asked, my heart now beating loudly in my chest.

“We can’t tell you. Or else you’ll end up here.” Someone called out.

“Just save yourself, don’t tell anyone about this place. Eli told us all about your little group; he knows everything about you and your families. You need to get out of this place as soon as possible.” The man said. I nodded, my hands getting clammy.

“O-Ok.” I replied. And with that I stiffly turned around and walked up the stairs. Who were all of those people? And why were they being kept in cells?

I was met by Odessa at the doorway. “Is there anything down there?” She asked. I looked down behind me.

“Nope.”

“Let’s go then.”

We both walked back into the living room and into the kitchen. I glanced at the picture of the emerald and this time I shuddered. As my hand drifted to the handle on the screen door a distinct voice came from the living room.

“I swear dad, I didn’t eat your last piece of chocolate.” Easton declared loudly. A guilty look passed over Odessa’s face and I almost laughed.

Silently I opened the screen door and Odessa and I tiptoed out. We were almost victorious, until I remembered Clara.

I sent Odessa a panicked expression and I pointed up, hoping she’d understand. She nodded slightly and knelt behind the grill. I peeked inside and sprang back in, swiftly climbing the wooden stairs.

Adrenaline poured through my veins at the thought of Eli finding us. Would he lock us up with the others?

I came face to face with three directions to choose from. Taking my chances I went straight and I ran down the carpeted hallway. As I turned the corner I smashed into someone.

 And thank god, that someone was Clara.

“They’re home!” I hissed softly into her ear. Then, to our complete horror, we both heard footsteps climbing up the staircase.

“Dad? Something smells weird up here…” Easton trailed off.

Clara’s eyes widened and I grabbed her forearm, pulling her up. Clara took the lead from there, grabbing my hand and navigating us to another large living room that was to the side of the house. She opened a window slowly and motioned for me to go out.

“Jump?” I mouthed. She nodded. I peered out the window and saw a vine that trailed down the house. I carefully put my legs through the window and intertwined them with the vine as I slowly lowered myself to the ground.

Clara came down in a rush after me. I pulled her over to the deck quietly and I motioned for Odessa to come. We ran across the yard and back into the woods.

“Let’s go!” Odessa hissed as we ran to the road. The branches and leaves crunched underneath our feet and it made me paranoid that we were going to be heard.