Chapter 17

Chapter 17

            When I opened my eyes I was in the dark. I heard the water echoing through the huge cavern. My head was throbbing and I felt like throwing up. I didn’t get up I felt like laying in the wet dirt for forever. As my eyes dilated I saw a green coin in front of me. I sat up and picked the coin from the, studying it for a moment. Having no clue what it was I put it in my pocket and stood up.

“Hello!” I called, there was no answer, only the muffled sound of the water fall.

            I walked around on the hard packed dirt. It was an island that was only about 8 feet wide. I couldn’t go anywhere unless I got back into the water. As I steeped back into the water, the freezing cold seeped in through my sneakers and jeans.

            Down below the fall the water was calm and unmoving. And unlike the river, it wasn’t as deep.

“Katie? Red?” I called again.

            I looked in all direction for any sign of light. I was in waist deep with my satchel floating at my side like a buoy. I made little to no noise trying as best I could in case I heard anyone else.

“Brady?” I heard someone whisper.

            I jumped and looked behind me, a black figure walked towards me.

“Who’s there?” I said backing away.

“Me Scott.”

            I sighed, “You Tarzan me Jane.” I said sarcastically. 

“What happened to you?” he asked.

“I got smashed against a rock and knocked someplace.”

Scott chuckled, “Always were a clutz, weren’t you?”

            We continued walking through the dark in the waist high water. I was beginning to think we were walking in circles when we heard Katie.

“Guys?” she asked.

“Over here!” Scott said.

“Where? I can’t see you.”

“Same goes to you, where’s Red?” Scott asked.

“I don’t know, we all got split up.” She finally came into view, “Hi.”

“Let’s find him.” I said.

“You don’t think we had to climb before we fell did you?” Scott asked.

“You’re thinking about the gold when Red could be hurt?!”

“Maybe he caught on before we did.”

“Don’t be so insensitive.” Katie said.

“What? It’s only what we came here for.”

“Red!” I called, ignoring the other two.

“Brady?” his voice came from ahead.

“Where are you? Why didn’t you say anything before?”

“Didn’t know who it was, sloshing around, then I heard about being insensitive and all that. Watch out for the wall of rock too.”

“Wall of what?” I asked, but I knew before he had to tell me again, because I got hit in the head. Let’s just say that a lot of people learn from my mistakes, the others tried not to laugh while they all bent under the rock.

“You got a flashlight?” I asked him.

“Nope, even if I did have one, it wouldn’t work.” He told me.

“Yeah, waist deep and freezing.” Katie said.

“Where do you think the gold is?” Scott asked.

“I have no idea.” I said.

“There’s a light up ahead.” Katie said.

            I looked forward and saw a faint light, “Me too, let’s go.”

            We walked down farther with the water getting shallower by the minute. When we came to the light I was surprised we had even seen it. Way up in the ceiling there was a crack where moonlight leaked through.

“What time is it?” I asked looking up through the crack.

“Must be close to morning.” Scott said.

“Well, let’s keep going.” I said wearily.

            Katie somehow got the matches to light up, so we weren’t in complete darkness, but after every few seconds she would have to light another. The water also ended and was accompanied by ankle deep mud that would suck our feet into it.

            I felt so tired and my legs had started to ache hours ago. It was freezing in the cavern and we were all soaking wet. As we all shuffled our feet, mud splashed pretty much everywhere. I was beginning to doubt whether there really was any gold down here. As layers of mud caked to my legs I slipped and fell. But it wasn’t because of my clumsiness it was the ground in front of me. I rolled down the muddy hill coming to a halt at the bottom. Down here the mud became dry and hard packed. I stood but made no attempt to wipe the mud away, it was everywhere. My hair, face, arms, legs, even down my pants.

“You okay Brady?” Red asked.

“Yeah, come down here I think I found a way out.” I called back, “But you’re gonna have to slide down in the mud.”

            Katie groaned.

            I looked at a tiny crawl space in the far side of the wall in the far side of the wall where light emanated from it. I heard a sloshing sound followed by Katie’s disgusted groans. And Scott and Red’s laugher.

“Hey Brady you’re right.” Katie said. From my crouched position I looked up at Katie. She was covered from head to foot in mud.

“Well you look nice.” I said sarcastically.

“Shut up.” She flicked the mud from her hands at me and smiled.

“You look ridiculous.” Scott joked. I looked at him, his face was stained with the mud and his once golden hair was now a light brown.

“Speak for yourself.” I told him.

“Let’s go.” Katie said. She crouched down by the hole and crawled in. I followed behind her while Red followed behind me, then Scott.

“I’m not sure this is right.” Red said.

“Why?” I asked.

“It just seems too easy. I mean it’s only taken you a day to come even a little close to the gold, while no one else in 200 years had come as far as we did.”

“It was mostly the timing.”

“Guess that’s true. But I’m not sure it’s real.”

“Wanna bet?” Katie said.

“What? What is it?” I asked.

            Katie didn’t answer, she moved quicker. The hole became bigger and Katie crawled out into a room that was big and bright. The light was near blinding and as our eyes adjusted the huge room glistened not only from the light but from all the gold that was spread out through the entire room. Gold coins, gold chains, gold earrings, gold. Our eyes grew wide, each of us too speechless to talk. My mouth fell open in shock. We had traveled across country to see this, and I couldn’t even speak.

“WHOO!” Scott shouted. He grabbed me and hugged me and hopped up and down sending the rest of us into hollering and laughter.

            We ran to the gold filling our pockets and bags trying to fit as much in as possible. There were piles among piles of gold. Alongside of it were the tarnished pieces that I had found after I had been washed up by the waterfall. I picked a few from the floor and put them in my pocket with the first. Katie, Red, and Scott discarded them so I kept the tarnished misfit coins.

“First thing I’m doing is buying a new shirt.” Katie said.

“You and me both girl.” Red said, he sat down and scooped up the coins in his hand and let them fall back down making it seem as if it were raining.

            I laughed and sat down. For a fleeting moment everything was perfect, and everything seemed safe and sound.

“You kids got a lot of nerve comin’ round here.” Davri said.

            I stiffened and jumped up. I looked around but did not see him. The others seemed just as confused as I was.

“Having fun?” he mocked.

            I spotted him up above in a different tunnel. Standing above us high and mighty with only two of his men.

“Leave us alone.” I said to him.

“Leave you alone?” he repeated, “I might need you for later. In one day you found what no one else could in 200 years.” He jumped down landing on his feet leaving the other two. He pulled out a gun from his leather jacket and walked towards me, “Yes, I’m going to need you.” he came closer and closer and stuck the gun under my chin, “Did you like the photos Scott?”

            I jerked my head away and stepped back.

“You know, I’m kind’a particular about things like that, you know, a little too personal for my taste.” Scott said, he spat.

“That’s too bad now, isn’t it?” Davri spoke calmly the entire time making him seem more and more like a snake, “You two get down here and start bagging this up!” he said to the others.

            They hopped down and started filling their empty sacks full of gold.

            Davri started towards Scott, “Where were you these past few weeks? You ran off didn’t you?”

            Scott was becoming impatient with him.

“Didn’t think you were the running type.”

“Didn’t think I’d run into a rat like you.” Scott said through clenched teeth.

            There was a long pause, Davri pointed the gun up at Scott, “I’m gonna miss you.”

“No!” I shouted.

            The gunshot blasted through the entire cavern. We all stood in shock, Davri’s men continued to stuff the bags, like nothing had happened. Davri turned back around and walked past me. I stood there not able to breathe.

“Scott!” I shouted, I ran to him and kneeled beside him.

“I’m not a runner, Brady.” He smiled weakly.

“You never have been.” I said. I wanted to something, anything! Scott was dieing and I couldn’t do anything to help him.

“Hey Brady, remember, mostly mentally.” He squeaked out

“What?”

“You’ll get it, you always-“ He stopped and squeezed his eyes shut, “you always do, I love you buddy.”

“No! You can’t.”

“Brady, I’m already gone.” He winced in pain.

“I love you too.” I told him.

            Scott lay there and didn’t say anything more. When he stopped breathing, I started to shake.

“Get the kid, the other two should have the boat, right?” Davri asked.

“Yeah.”

“Good, you tie the others up.”

            I couldn’t move from Scott. Now I was alone. Scott and been murdered.

“Common kid.” Someone said to me. I didn’t move, “Alright, have it your way.“ the man hefted me up and pushed me away from Scott. He jabbed somthin hard into my back, “Get movin’ kid.” I started to walk.

            Katie and Red had been tied and shoved to a corner. The room had been emptied. We climbed up to the tunnel where Davri had made his entrance.

“Close up this opening. I don’t want word to leak out.” Davri said.

            The one with the gun shot the top of the tunnel and it cane caving in. A spray of dirt flew to us and they backed up. That was the last time I would ever see Scott.

Author's Note

I killed Scott and I feel bad, I also feel bad for taking so long to update this.