Ella and the Multiverse by Andrew S. French

Author:Andrew S. French
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Neonoir Books

12 GOING UNDERGROUND

Ella tumbled through wet earth and tried to grab at the surrounding vines, failing every time as something pulled her further and further underground. Damp dirt grabbed at her throat as she choked and the darkness swallowed her vision. She stopped grabbing at the sides and clutched at her mouth as she struggled to breathe. A thousand heavy metal guitars screamed against her skull, and her brain felt as if it was inside a microwave.

She landed on her backside and a stab of electricity shot through her. Ella rolled into a wall and kept on falling over sharp stones and big clumps of grass. Her legs trembled as she fell over one ledge, and then another, feeling the wind on her face as she rushed for the crevice ahead. Down below it was the roar and the smell of the sea and what she knew would be certain death.

Ella tried to dig her fingers into the mud to stop her from moving towards the edge, but only caught the dirt under her nails. Inside the dark surrounding her was a glint of light from below, and she thought it would be the last thing she’d ever see as she reached the brink.

Bits of her life flashed before her, and she saw her parents as a furry paw grabbed her arm and pulled her back.

‘It’s a good job I keep myself fit.’

She threw herself into Jack’s arms and he helped her up. More light came from below and, as her eyes adjusted to the new surroundings, she looked around her. Underfoot, the loose stones shifted, twisting her ankle and sending shooting pain up her leg. She ignored it and continued to check where they were while still holding on to Jack.

Ella watched her shadow dissolve into the darkness. It was clammy, and the only sounds to greet them were of dripping water and the echo of the sea receding in the distance somewhere.

‘What happened?’

‘The pigs saved us from the wolves.’

‘The pigs?’

‘Yes. They dragged us into their world, and now we’ll have to find a way out.’

‘How do you know this, Jack?’

‘Because I’ve been here before. This is the Pig Underground.’

He stepped down and she followed, recognising they were inside a large cave. Ella placed her hand on the wall for support, walking down the steps by touch alone, fearing she might fall at any second. She was surprised at how smooth the walls and ground were, as if someone had spent hours sanding them clean, but realised the place had probably been untouched for many years, if not forever. She was about to ask Jack where they were going when she saw the lights ahead of them.

As she walked into the Pig Underground, Ella’s eyes bulged wide. She followed Jack down the steps, past the candles and lamps illuminating the way. She held her breath as the light grew stronger and she realised what was on the levels surrounding them.

Ominous looming shadows transformed into the heads of pigs staring at her, their long snouts dispensing brief spurts of air in her direction.

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