The Preternatural Shadows

Chapter IX

I woke to the calling of my name and the sound of rasping breathing that wasn't my own. My hearing was the first to return then slowly, I peeled my eyes open. I found my back flat on the ground and watched the long shadows dancing like a wave, on the hues of orange ceiling. For a second, I never knew who or where I was. I blinked.

There I stayed, unaware whether I was dead or alive until I felt a searing pain on my head. My hands went up to my forehead and touched a swollen bump gently. A buzzing sound hummed in my ears. I tried to use all my senses to get a feel for whatever this is, but the fetid odour overwhelmed the atmosphere and the chill froze my skin. Every breath I inhaled smelled strongly of dirt, ammonia and decomposing corpses. Then I saw someone crouched down in front of me. It was a man, his long fingers were holding onto my white crop top and asking me over and over if I was okay. My body flexed in shock when I saw his face, inches away from me. Arrow. He looked the same, except I noticed a fresh bruise on his chin. I must have hit my forehead hard onto his chin, no wonder it hurt.

With little brain power, I staggered at my feet, though my head was spinning like a carousel and my legs had given way to gravity. I immediately wished I hadn't stand up so quick. Blood drained from my purple face, as I started gasping loudly for air, finally remembering how to breathe. Arrow stepped back, giving me space, and the society of preternatural shadows were in my sight. It was then I realised what was odd about the room. No, not a room. A cave tunnel. My body flexed in shock when I heard a thin and distant voice say, "Calm down, she's alright."

I craned my neck upward, staring at the walls above arched a few feet up and curved rigidly to the ground. Flaming torch fires lit up the tunnel ahead and the their presence made the cave look like it was on fire. There were loose, fallen stones of different sizes littered on the floor. Professor Lovecraft nudged us to move forward, after I came back to my senses, which took a while. I watched our shadows dissolve into the surrounding dimness, as the trickling sound of water and our echoing footsteps met my ears.

"You okay?" Tori beckoned me and I reached for her hand to balance myself.

I nodded and watched my steps.

"You're not gonna ask me where are we or how did we end up here?" she looked at me in surprise.

"I've been clueless for so long that I'm already getting used to it. It's not that I like it, being lost really sucks, but my grandma told me not to be afraid if my journey is perilous," I smiled wistfully. Brave, that was what she wanted me to be and she was right. At least it made me feel like I was one step closer to finding her.

"I'm sure your grandma would be glad to see you like this, Clo," Tori squeezed my hand, "We'll find your grandparents together, I promise."

We continued to walk carefully on the rocky route, snaking into the darkness. Whether my grandma would be happy to see me in my current state or finding her, either way, I didn't even bother to ask how sure she was. I guess I really was accustomed to confusion as the days went by.

"Papa, why didn't you tell me we will be walking so much today?" Brielle wobbled on her high heels.

"Would you change to sneakers if I told you so?" Professor Lovecraft asked, challenging his great great granddaughter.

"Obviously not! You know how much I hate to be in this stinky place with mud dirtying my heels!" Brielle replied irritably.

As we explored further into the cave, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was downright wrong. Although we were in a dark and dank surrounding, a shiver ran down my spine and my blood chilled in my veins. The wind tasted bitter on the tip of my tongue, almost metallic and more acidic than before.