The Second Chance (Open Novella Contest)

Chapter 11 - We Run Through a Wall

"So, let me get this straight," Eva asked as I pulled her into a run, "You want to run towards the guy who called us dinner?"

"If you mean the guy who also poured out his heart in front of us, then yes!" I yelled at her.

Eva muttered something I didn't quite catch. "You, Sara, are crazy."

"This coming from the girl who ran towards the deadly traps? I'm flattered."

"That was different! I was trying to save our lives!"

"Well-" I stopped suddenly. Juvo was crumpled on the floor, surrounded by a bright blue light. I stared. The light was so familiar, but hiding at the back of my brain.

"That's the light from the tunnel," Eva realised, "The one that appeared when a key was found."

"Yeah-" I broke off, "Oh, God, Juvo."

He was glowing more intensely by the second, the blue light was pulsing.

"It's okay." He croaked, "I want this. I'll see Aria again. Go. If you stay too long, the light might take you as well." I hesitated. "Go." Juvo repeated more forcefully, "Run."

Eva grabbed my wrist, "Finally," she said pulling the both of us into a run, "Someone had a sensible idea." I was vaguely aware of my feet pounding on the rock, of Eva pulling me left and right as we ran through the tunnels. I guess I was in shock. Eva pulled me straight through a wall, stumbling to a stop. She doubled over, panting and trying to catch her breath.

"We just ran through a wall." I said. "We just ran, through a WALL."

"I know." Eva replied, raising an eyebrow. "That's how we got in there in the first place."

"Juvo-" I started, but I was cut off by the rush of blue light that came from the wall. It didn't hurt, but it didn't really feel all that pleasant either.

"Why did it come out of the wall?" I asked as soon as the light left.

"That's your first question! Not, why didn't it hurt? Or, how can we stop the other blue light from hurting?"

I paused for annoyance. "Nope. That's my first question. Why did the light come out of the wall?"

"I don't know. " Eva's shoulders slumped. "C'mon. Let's go."

I nodded and we wandered on. "Who do ya reckon will find the next key?" I asked thoughtfully.

"Dunno." Eva shrugged, "Us, hopefully."

"Yeah. Because everything always turns out good when we rely on sheer dumb luck."

"Shut up."

I shut up as we trudged on, bored out of my mind. Eva started singing softly under her breath. No words, just a tune.

"Nice voice." I told her.

"Thanks." She muttered. Eva stopped singing abrubtly."What's that?"

"What's what?" I asked, stopping.

"That."

"What's that?" I sighed, "Eva, if this is a joke-"

"No joke." Eva said firmly. "Look."

The girl from earlier came tearing round the corner, feet flying, panting hard. She raced past us, but I grabbed her arm, yanking her back.

"Whoa, whoa. Chill." I soun her so that I could look right into her eyes. "What's wrong?"

She twisted out of my hands, avoiding my gaze. "Where is she?" She turned around until she saw Eva. She grabbed her wrists. "You're the girl he was talking about."

"I-I'm sorry?"

"No,no. I'm sorry. He-" She collapsed and Eva had to haul her up and support her. "He's gone" She whispered.