Secret Doors: The Challenge by Brian D. Meeks

Author:Brian D. Meeks [Meeks, Brian D.]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Published: 2013-07-25T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

The night was long and sleep was hard with the sounds of creatures circling the pit. They would run and then howl. Other creatures joined them. Fighting could be heard: growling and gnashing of teeth, and the yelps of the loser heading off into the night. Before the morning sun, a heavy fog poured into the pit and chilled them all to the bone.

The soft light and hunger woke everyone up. Abby stretched and said, “Did anyone sleep?”

Cindy stood, stomped her feet, and answered, “No, not with all the hungry creatures trying to figure out how to get down here and eat us. I hate them.”

Jo said, “They are just trying to survive. It is only instinct.”

“Are you kidding me?! We're stuck in a pit, and you’re worried about the animals.”

“Somebody has to.”

Cindy yelled, “No! They've survived without anyone worrying about them; we're the ones trapped.”

Abby stepped between them. “Stop it! I hate to admit it, but Cindy has a point. We need to stick together if we are going to figure out how to get out of this pit.”

Stevie was sitting on a stone nearby, holding his sword. He looked exhausted. “We should pack up and start to look for an exit.”

A long, low howl wailed out through the morning air. The fog faded, and the top of the pit came into view. All around the rim were snarling beasts looking down at them. A ray of sunlight crept past the top of the opening and lit up the rock wall.

Steve pointed up. “Look where the light hits the wall.”

“What's happening?” Jo asked.

Steve said, “A path is growing out from the side where the light hits.”

Stones from the wall started to fall into the pit.

Jo said, “That's our way out!”

Cindy said, “It's also their way in,” and pointed to a giant wolf that was now making its way down the edge. She grabbed her staff and said, “Let's get them before they get to us.”

Jo yelled, “Wait...”

***

George woke up and stretched. Sleeping next to Billy and Badge had kept him warm, and he'd slept like a log. “Man, I'm sore.”

Billy stretched, too, and said, “It was the fall. That could make anyone sore.”

George looked up river then down and said, “Which way should we go?”

“If I knew where we were and where the others had gone, I could help, but I don’t know. Follow your gut, my boy.”

“My gut usually leads me to McDonalds.”

“I don't know this place, McDonalds.”

“It doesn't matter. In class we learned that towns were usually built next to water. This was for travel and trading. If we follow the river downstream, we might find people and maybe someone there could help?”

“I like the plan.”

“Badger!” George yelled. A head popped up from behind a bush with a bunch of leaves in his mouth. “There you are. We're heading downstream.”

The sun was just barely up, and the morning dew glistened on the ground. George picked up his sword and shield and started walking. Billy and Badger fell in beside him.

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