The party had been walking through the woods for two days, and the strain was beginning to show. Perhaps it was the silence that set so much tension. Both Carly and Issa, naturally chatty, were silent.
Carly was silent because that little whispering voice, which she had decided was in her head, was getting louder and more insistent and it was becoming harder to ignore. "
You need to watch him. He could try to get rid of you at any time."
Carly shook her head, and tried not to listen to it.
Issa was silent for a completely different reason. She was remembering. Remembering the smells, and sounds and people who were her with her the last time she was here. They weren't particularly good memories.
Mr. Prince could tell Mrs. Prince had been waiting to tell him something but he had decided it was best to wait for her to start. So he waited.
Finally she turned to him.
"Do you think it was a prudent choice to bring her?" Mrs. Prince asked nervously.
"I think it was our only option. She must face it to overcome it." Mr. Prince replied firmly, then realizing Carson was listening, he quickly changed topics. "I think this is it."
"I think you're right." Mrs. Prince replied and the two of them walked up to the trunk of a large tree.
They began scanning the undergrowth, looking for something.
"You do know where to go, right?" Carson mumbled grouchily.
"Yes, It's just sometimes he's hard to find." Mrs. Prince answered gently. "Mike? Where are you?"
Deciding it was going to be a long wait, Issa leaned her heavy backpack against the tree to give her shoulders a break.
Carly sat down in the grass, and sighed. She was getting tired of this. The excitement had worn off, now all that was left was the worry and that voice.
Suddenly Issa gasped, and pointed up into the tree above her.
Everyone could see someone's feet, and hear his snores.
"Mike!" both Mr. and Mrs. Prince shouted, "Mike! We need you!"
But 'Mike' didn't even twitch, just kept on snoring.
"Oh, this is pointless." Issa grumbled. She dropped the backpack, and began to climb up the tree.
Issa quickly reached 'Mike'. But she called down, "This isn't Michael! I've never seen this kid."
"Well, wake him up. Then we can ask." Mr. Prince instructed.
"Hey, kid!" Issa shook the boys shoulders, "Wake up!"
He still didn't move.
Finally Issa lost her patience and somewhat gently smacked his cheek.
Issa jumped back as he suddenly jerked awake. He looked somewhat panicked, then he saw Issa.
"Wow." He breathed.
"No, this is too good to be true. It has to be a dream." He said, shaking his head, "I haven't seen anyone in, like, a year."
"Um, what was that first part?" Issa asked as her cheeks got red.
"She even sounds perfect!" He sighed.
Finally, they got through to the boy that this wasn't a dream. He and Issa climbed out of the tree but he wouldn't take his eyes off of Issa.
"Um," She said trying to distract everyone from how red her cheeks, "Now what?"
"First things first," Mrs. Prince addressed herself to the boy, "Who are you and where is Michael?"
He tore his eyes from Issa, and gave a sad smile, "I'm Eric, Michael was my dad, but he's... gone. Has been for almost a year."
"Oh, I'm sorry." Mrs. Prince gasped, "So sorry, Michael was a good man."
"Yeah," Eric smiled, "He was. But now I'm the keeper, so if you need to get through, you need to talk to me. So come closer and I'll give you the rules."
"Rules." Carson rolled his eyes, "You make it sound like we're playing a game."
"You are." Eric replied.
Once everyone was listening, Eric began.
"The cave that you must travel through is dark. But don't be fooled this is a special kind of darkness."
"Only one of you will be allowed to see in the cave. This one will have to guide the rest through safely, that is, if you want to get the weapon. So, who'll it be?"
"Perhaps the lovely lady?" Eric raised his eyebrows at Issa with a smile.
Issa shook her head silently. She looked worried, as if she expected something to happen.
Carly opened her mouth to say 'I will!' but she never got the words out.
"I will." Carson said firmly.
"A dark cave, what a perfect place to get rid of someone." the voice in Carly's head whispered. 'Watch your back. Oh, wait, you won't be able to see. This has bad idea written all over it."
So, it was with a sick feeling that Carly followed the others into a wall of blackness.
Wow, this part was really long, like, a part and a half. Oh, well. XD Hope you all enjoy!
~Megan