White Wall Cave

War Cry

              “No wonder other hunters couldn’t find this beast. This thing has a one way ticket to anywhere!” Eli mumbled his flashlight lighting up the large cavern. Giant tunnels connected to where they are standing forming a giant dome. Enya wearily swung he head around, still scanning for the monster. They stood back to back as their flashlights started to flicker.

             "Here he comes."

            “Well it was nice knowing you.” Eli nervously commented. The cavern went dark as the lights died. Muscles tense as they waited in the dark for the blood red beast. Slick skin scratch the rocks as the beast slithered around the rocks. Eyes tried to soak in every ounce of light possible as they franticlay sacnned for movement. Like a bat out of hell a blur of red attacked.

            “Reeeeeeeeeee!” The Mongolian Death Worm charged as the battle screech echoed off the walls. Heading straight for Enya it knocked aside the other hunter. Eli flew backwards as the beast tried to strangle Enya. Her back was pressed flat against the clay floor. It’s mouth gaped open, thousand of sharp teeth just inches away from her face. The bottle clattered away from her hands as she tried to push back the dangerous maw a few centermeaters away from her face. The  Mongolian Death Worm opened its jaws wider struggling to bite down. Enya quickly opened her eyes but the sight of her death so close to her caused her to be paralyzed by fear. The glass of Eli’s bottle shattered against the tough hide of the worm, caused it to rear back. The new target danced away from the beast as the ammonia only irritated it more. The Mongolian Death Worm roared after its’ prey, skin smoking from the liquid’s impact. Enya rolled away just as the worm trampled where she was only a few seconds before. Rolling into a crouch, she watched as Eli taunted the monster then dogged as it charged at him. She frantically looked around the cave using the worm’s glow for a light. Her bottle of ammonia laid abandoned several feet away from where it tumbled out of her hand. She ran over to it, carefully rubbing the glass to feel for cracks. Time is running out as Enya looked up to see Eli trapped between the rock wall and the Mongolian Death Worm’s awaiting teeth. She got up to bolt over to him when she notices something shiny from the corner of her eye; something small and sharp.

                                          _______________________________

            “So, do you want to talk about this?”

            “Rarrrrroooo! Gaaaaaa!”

            “I’m taking that as a ‘no’.” Eli leapt to the side. The Death Worm charged, crashing into the rock wall. Furious, the monster shook its’ head and snapped at Eli barley missing him. The bottom of his plaid shirt became stuck on its’ teeth, shredding the bottom.

            “Dude! That’s my favorite shirt!” Too absorbed in the injury of his red plaid shirt, Eli didn’t see the rock wall looming behind him.

            “Reeeeeeee!” It reared back, excited to finial feast on the human that caused the fiery pain the monster experienced a few minutes ago. It was about to strike when it’s war cry turned into a shriek. Horror and pain erupted from its’ foul smelling mouth. Withering in pain it shriveled into a small ball. As its’ life seeped away, the red glow of the segmented body dimmed. A large wound bleed freely unto the floor. Enya stepped from around the slain monster, empty bottle in one hand and a bloody glass shard in the other. Her shoulders shook from the adrenaline speeding through her body. Looking toward Eli she shyly smiled at the dark haired boy.

            “Well. You could have come sooner.” , he crossed his arms with mock anger on his face.

“If you would have stopped screaming like a little girl…”

            “I didn’t scream! I was busy being worm bait, thank you very much.” , in his defense he pointed at the worm.

            “Come on ‘worm bait’. Let’s get out of here,” Enya dropped the glass shard. She watched it fall then clattered on the packed down earth. Her eyes drift to the slain Mongolian Death Worm.

            Thats for my family, you slimy murder. They would have been stil be alive if you never showed up. I tracked you down all my life and I know what your kind does. Pick one house, kill and feed off the people living inside. Only one problem you filthy slime. You chose to fight the Zanders.

The forgotten flashlights flickered on, shining on the cave floor. “Grab those flash lights,too.” She started to walk toward one of the tunnels.

            “How do you know that is the way out?” Eli shouted picking up the cylinders of light. Enya raised up her hand with a glowing blue thread in her fist.

            “Hansel and Gretel bread crumbs: glow worm style.” She responded without turning around.

              If I told Eli that I knew what we were going up against he would question how I would know. It would be best to leave my old past out of his new future.

He caught up to her and handed back her flashlight. Enya caught herself smiling at the teen.

                I wonder if this is what it would be like if Jordan was still alive. He would be me and I would be Eli.

She shook her head, clearing out the thought.

                  Jordan is dead and Eli would be too if I didn't watch over him. I should keep him around for awhile. Eli is like a brother to me now and we need to watch eachother's back.

The cave’s room became deathly quiet when the two white lights slowly faded away down the tunnel. The once pulsing body now laid still. Ammonia coursed through the stiff veins, cleansing what was once evil.