Book Two: Hollow City (My Remake)

Chapter 8~The Mountain

In the end, we all waded into the lake after Bronwyn, not particularly caring about getting wet seeing as we were already covered from head to toe in mud and moss.

"You seem rather unfazed, Horace," said Millard, "especially considering you're wearing one of your favourite outfits."

"This silk has already gone to hell and back," he replied. "A dip in a lake is practically nothing."

"You let go of things rather quickly," I commented.

Hugh snorted. "Him?" he quipped. "I wouldn't say Horace lets go of things easily."

"Grudges don't count," Horace hissed through barred teeth.

"Yes they do," said Enoch. "And you still owe me ten quid; a payment you would've given by now if you weren't such a sore loser."

Horace threw him a dirty look then proceeded to search the inside of his suit for something. When he found what he was looking for he threw it at Enoch, pelting his face and having it fall into the lake. "There's your ten quid!" he barked. "But that still doesn't mean you're a better card player!"

Enoch smirked as he gathered the coins from the water. "Looks like someone woke up on the wrong side of the mud puddle."

Horace shot another look, then crossed his arms and trotted to the giant stone.

We eventually reached the giant, a massive slab of rock that appeared even larger up close than it had from the shore. One by one, we shuffled onto Cuthbert where Jacob and Emma had disappeared, and Bronwyn was calling into Cuthbert's throat after them. "Hellooooo, I hear you down there! What have you found?"

There was a muffled response.

"What'd she say?"

"There's a loop!" Bronwyn exclaimed. "Emma said to jump in and meet her and Jacob on the other side."

"Say again?" uttered Millard, dumbfounded. "A loop?"

"If I heard her correctly."

"Well what are we waiting for?!" cried Hugh. "Let's go!"

"What are you so excited about?" pestered Enoch.

"Because I was right," he said with a huge grin. "I was bloody right." Then he opened his mouth and seemed to order the bees that buzzed around his head back inside the protection of their home, and after that was done, he lowered his legs down and jumped. For a brief, terrifying moment in which we all thought Hugh had just fallen to his doom, there was a relieving splash that echoed back up to us. We all shuffled to the edge of the hole where Hugh was squinting up at us, his goggles having fallen off his face and now in his hands. "I'm alright!" he called back. "It's just a bit chilly. Come on down!"

"Well if he insists," said Enoch who sat at the edge of the darkness that nipped at his feet. Then he slipped off and was swallowed, our only way of knowing he had made it was by the sound of a splash . . . followed by arguing - of course.

"You nearly fell on top of me!"

"Well then you should have moved out of the way!"