The Chest of the Lost

Chapter 5: The Prophecy

 I woke up what felt like days later, but could have just been a few hours. I was lying on a cold stone floor, and my back still hurt where the dart had hit it. I sat up and rubbed my eyes, glancing around at my surroundings. 

The room was dark and I could only see a few meters around me. I glanced to my right and noticed someone lying on the floor a few feet away from me, unconscious. Curious, I moved carefully toward the motionless figure and peered down at their still face. In horror, I realized that it was Griffin. He lay perfectly still and his face looked pale and lifeless, though I noticed traces of pain still evident in his expression. I reached out and tapped his arm, but he lay still and motionless, no signs of life other than his unsteady breathing. I drew out a sigh of relief, glad he wasn't dead, though I didn't know what was going to happen to us after he awoke.

Suddenly, a door opened from the opposite end of the long room, admitting a small amount of light into the darkness. I cautiously moved back against the wall and ducked down, pressing my cheek against the cold ground.

"I think they're still out," a voice said from the other end of the room. Hints of annoyance and anger lingered in the man's low, gruff voice.

"Well they should be waking up soon, and when they do, we'll get what we need," another man replied.

Griffin shifted from a few feet away and moaned, rolling over to his side.

"It shouldn't be long now." The man laughed, and the other joined him. I hoped Griffin wouldn't wake up before the guys left, but to my dismay, a few seconds later, he opened his eyes.

"What-?" he started.

I quickly shushed him, but the men had already heard and were slowly approaching us. Griffin pulled himself up, still groggy from sleep.

"So you are awake?" The men stopped walking about six feet in front of us. Griffin must have realized where he was- though I didn't have a clue- because his eyes widened and he scooted back against the wall.

"So, you gonna give us what we want? Or are we going to have to get it the hard way?" one of the men asked. Griffin groaned in reply, then shook his head.

"He will, don't worry," the other promised in a threatening tone. Then they turned to leave, shutting every hint of light out of the dark room.

There was a moment of silence before Griffin said weakly, "Cyndi."

I was still paralyzed with fear and didn't respond. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him sit up against the wall.

"Cyndi, what are you doing here?" he tried again.

"I could ask you the same question," I said, looking over at him. I was still terrified, though Griffin seemed to have gotten over it.

"I went out to chop wood, then they found me. I was grateful you hadn't been with me, though I guess now it doesn't matter." He coughed and I looked at him, not knowing what to say. He was still lying on the ground, but his back was arched so that his neck and head were leaning against the wall. He still looked dazed and I wondered how many darts they had hit him with to make him this disoriented.

After a while I said, "I led them to your Crystal. I'm so sorry."

"What do you mean? I buried it. I don't even know where it is."

"Birch found it," I said. I remembered his pet and realized I had no idea what had happened to him after I was taken.

"He did? Wait, where is he?" He looked around, as if checking to make sure the animal wasn't in there with us, then his gaze returned to me.