LAW OF ATTRACTION

CHAPTER 10 : THE DARK CAVES

Though my attention comes back in a jump when out of nowhere, a hot breath raise goosebumps on my neck.

The goosebumps turn into a shiver down my spine when someone rasps near my ear, "It's boring here. How about we get away?"

I turn around, and I'm met by a pair of tenebrous eyes I've been searching for everywhere, even closer than I've imagined.

"Er... I don't know... if they notice..." I stutter in front of his confident smirk.

"Come on... try to flirt a little with danger..." His eyes are shining with a twinkle of challenge and a promise of danger that make my skin tickle.

I glance back at the teachers. The same slide show is displaying on the wall as they are still doing their lecture about the cave. I bite my lip, while my gaze flickers from the teachers' silhouette to Alex's attentive eyes.

What they are explaining I already know it, and it's true that I'm bored. I haven't really been focusing until now; I've been looking for Alex, and now, he is in front of me, offering me a distraction. Isn't it what I've been hoping for?

Yet it's forbidden to wander around the cave without a guide, and it can be dangerous; I've seen the various signs reminding the rules near the entrance. They are here for a reason, and I always follow the rules. I always play safe. So why am I considering it right now?

There is something in Alex's eyes that attracts me to the darkness. The more I find arguments against following him, the more an itch grows inside my chest.

I turn back to Alex, and my decision is made. "Okay." I flash him a smile to hide my nervousness.

He grabs my hand, pulling me with him, and the little sparkles of electricity in my hand distract me from everything else. So I let him lead me as we slip away by a path in the back of the chamber. Some signs indicate where we are heading, although I don't have the time to read them.

We slow down our pace once we are out of sight, but he still keeps my hand in his; it feels like it is where it belongs. My thin hand is fitting perfectly in his big one. His skin is calloused like the wall of rocks we're passing by, yet his grip is as gentle as the little flows of water running on the crystal rocks, and I'm melting under this contrast.

My cheeks resemble burning lava; I'm probably red like a tomato right now. Luckily, the tunnels of the cave are dark, only a few faint lights showing the way through the narrow path, so I don't think Alex can notice it, especially because his gaze is ahead. At least, until we get to a crossroads of two tunnels, and he stops to look at me.

"You choose, which one, Angel?"

My heart jumps at the sound of the nickname. I can't tell if it's just the unusual nickname, or if it's also the way he pronounces it so smoothly, yet I'm left breathless with just one word.

I glance back at the two roads, trying to quieten my heartbeats. "Er... this one." I point to the narrowest without thinking.

We follow the path in silence again. With each step, I question my choice, as there is less and less light and we can hear weird noises, probably bats or other creatures of the dark. My hand tightens naturally around his on those thoughts.

I'm pondering about suggesting to turn back, yet I only chew on my lips because something is pulling me to keep going – and not only Alex's hand.

When light finally comes to our eyes, I understand why I've been right to follow this instinct. The tunnel opens up onto a big chamber, and it's like we are entering a fantasy land.