Page 34 of The Stone Secret
The tips of my boots hung off the ledge that was suspended over the body of water. Muddy water that was almost viscous in places, bubbling here and there as if breathing. There were creatures below the surface, no doubt, hiding in the reeds. If I fell, I was fucked.
Nope. Not happening.
Keep moving.
The cave got closer. Only a few feet away now. What if something was inside it? A creature of some kind. The thing from the forest?
No. Stop it.
I bridged the final distance, feeling for the cave edge with desperate fingers. The rock face was jagged here, making it easier to grip.
I took another step, leaving my shoulder exposed to whatever was inside the dark aperture. If somethingwaslurking, now would be the time for it to make itself known, but there was no prickle of fear, no warning alarms in my body. I took a deep breath and swung myself into the darkness. But wait…it wasn’t pitch black. There was gray light in here and air flow.
I dragged the map from my pack. “Okay, mountain here. Ledges are a direct route, but…” There was a silver dotted line that cut across the mountains, tracing the path I’d just taken. This was another way to the extraction point, not over the mountain but through it.
Five minutes later and it was clear I was coming to an exit because the gray light had turned orange.
I picked up the pace and exited onto a wide ledge. Rough stone steps to my right lead to a rope bridge that stretched across a chasm. The bridge would get me to extraction, and if my calculations were correct, I had less than fifteen minutes to make it across the bridge to the port which would be on the other side.
The stone steps were steep, leaving me with a sting in my glutes, but with victory so close, I barely felt the pain. The bridge rocked as I stepped onto it. The thing was old, the rope frayed in places, and some of the planks of wood looked rotten.
I took it slowly, careful to step over the rotted planks. Halfway across, I could see the glow of the port built into a lone tree directly opposite.
Three quarters of the way across and the energy from the port kissed my skin.
Almost there.
The bridge rocked violently. I cried out, grabbing hold of the rope and crouching for balance.
Shit. Bax was on the bridge behind me, moving fast, no doubt to stop me. I swung my body forward, focus sharpened by the threat as I picked up my pace, faster and faster.
The whole thing swayed violently.
“Stop!” Bax cried.
He shook the bridge on purpose, trying to throw me off. Like hell. “Fuck you, Bax!” I held fast, moving forward steadily.
The bridge jerked to the left, and I dropped into a crouch to keep my balance. I glanced back to find Bax advancing slowly. I needed to move faster. I picked up the pace, heart in my mouth and an iron grip on the bridge. The other side inched closer, but there was a gap ahead where the wooden planks had fallen away. I’d have to jump.
Shit.
“I don’t want to hurt you, Cam,” Bax called out. “Just stop and come back.”
The gap grew closer.
Bax shook the bridge again. I cried out, bracing myself, rope burning my palms. The gap was a couple of feet away. I could leap it, but to do that, I’d have to create momentum. I’d have to run, and to be able to run, I’d have to let go of the ropes on either side of me.
My heart pulsed erratically in my chest as panic threatened to take over and the urge to look down gripped my neck.
I fought it, keeping my focus on the bridge ahead. On the spot beyond the gap. The rush of blood in my head muted Bax’s urgent bellows.
You can do this, Cam.
I released the ropes and pushed off into a run.
The gap rushed to meet me, and I was airborne, sailing over it and landing on the other side of the gap.
Yes!
