The sound of monsters tore into my courage with sharp screams and jagged howls of rage. I drove my legs hard, trying to squeeze every last drop of speed from them. I glanced over my shoulder as I shifted the Skull Key from one hand to the other. Red light filled the tunnel behind me, the imps lighting the rocky walls with their devilish horns.
The buzzing in my head grew louder.
The passage looked as if painted with fire, the walls and floor like glowing coals. It was like staring into the throat of a giant, fire-breathing dragon. The twisting tunnel hid the monsters from sight. But that did nothing to hide their terrifying snarls. The crimson light grew brighter, casting frightening shadows on the rough-hewn walls. With every step, the monsters grew closer.
“Bobby, is there a way out of these tunnels?” Leonard asked.
“I’m looking, I’m . . .” Bobby brought the map close to his face.
“Bobby, look out.” Elisa pulled him to the side, dodging a stalactite hanging from the ceiling.
“Thanks.” Bobby smiled. “It’s hard to run from a blood-thirsty horde of monsters and look at the map at the same time.” His smile grew bigger. “I think I found something. There’s another passage coming up on the right. It looks like it’ll take us to the surface.”
The passage widened, then narrowed again as it curved to the left, then straightened out.
“Turn here,” Bobby said.
A dark passage pierced the tunnel wall on the right, flashlights barely showing its presence; the narrow path would be easy to miss. We moved into the cramped tunnel, flashlights aimed at the walls and floors.
“Quick, turn off your lights.” I switched mine off.
“But we won’t be able to see as we run.” Karl pointed his light into my face.
“We’re not gonna run.” Leonard stopped running and turned off his light. “We’re gonna hide. Our footsteps might give us away.”
“Exactly.” I nodded. “Right now, silence and darkness are the best weapons.”
Everyone turned off their lights and stood still. The gloom wrapped around me like a suffocating shroud, amplifying my fears and heightening my sense of dread. An image of that terrible demon appeared in my mind, its red eyes staring straight at me.
The sounds of monsters grew louder. I shuddered as my anxiety created worst-case scenarios and played them over and over in my head. I shut my eyes, trying to block them out, but it didn’t help. Some of the Agarthans wailed in frustration; others growled and snarled. A whip cracked, causing a high-pitched, painful scream.
My body shook. Sweat trickled into my eyes, stinging. I wanted to wipe it away but didn’t dare move. Terror held me in its tight grip.
“Where did they go? You lost them.” It was the voice of the gremlin, Krak. “I told you, Fool, to keep an eye on the humans.”
The vicious gremlin’s whip whooshed through the air, then CRACK! An imp screeched in pain.
They’re so close. What if the monsters look for us in here? The words in my head made the buzzing grow louder, which brought forth more what-ifs, causing the hornets to get even angrier—the thought-loop firmly entrenched in my brain.
The buzzing grew louder. I wanted to run, but knew they’d hear me. ANTs came to life in my mind as every possible what-if hammered away at the last morsels of my courage. My Beast fed on my worries, waiting for its moment to strike. I tried to steal some of Leonard’s courage and pretend to be him, but the ANTs refused to release their grip on my brain. That won’t help, one of the ANTs said. You’ll never be like Leonard, so don’t even bother to try. You’re a coward.
I took in quick raspy breaths as my pulse quickened, my body reacting to the fear. The idea of trying one of the many breathing strategies Dr. Jen had taught me popped into my head, but . . . Those won’t do any good, my anxiety said. The Beast is coming.
“They turned the corner and disappeared,” the imp pleaded. “I don’t know where they went.”
“Keep going, you idiotic monsters.” The gremlin cracked his whip again — another scream of agony. “If Malphas finds us just standing around, he’ll kill us all. Now MOVE!”
The monsters continued moving past the hidden tunnel. The sound of their clawed feet and the red glow of the imps gradually diminished.
The orchestra of buzzing hornets faded but wasn’t gone; danger still lurked nearby.
“Let’s go,” Karl whispered.
“No, wait.” I wiped the sweat from my forehead.
Just then, I heard the hateful voice of Malphas, the Demon Lord of Agartha.
“What?! You lost them?” Malphas bellowed. The demon stood so close to the hidden passage I could hear him breathing.
Goosebumps spread across my arms.
A gargoyle screamed in pain. It was a gravelly noise, like stones being ground together but with a dose of agony added.
“Find them,” Malphas commanded. “I want every tunnel searched. The humans have the Skull of Longing; I can feel it. Find them or taste my wrath.”
The sounds of monsters filled the air, clawed feet scratching at the ground as they dispersed into adjacent tunnels.
“Just one light,” I whispered, my voice shaking. “We need to move while the Agarthans are confused.”
Leonard nodded and flipped on his light. Cupping his hand around the edge, he pointed it at the ground and crept through the widening passage. As we went, I moved to Elisa’s side.
“You doing okay?” I asked, then shuddered. Shapes in the dim lighting took on monstrous forms. Is it my imagination, or is there something in the shadows?
She nodded, her face barely visible in the faint light. “Yeah, how about you . . . the anxiety?”
“It’s trying to get me, my Beast, I mean. I hate that the anxiety takes control of me. It makes me feel like I’m letting everyone down, like I’m a failure, as always.”
“But is that true, Cameron?” Elisa asked. “You saved Karl from falling and grabbed the Skull Key when we fled, right?”
“Well . . . I don’t know.”
“I do know. You kept the second skull from getting into the hands of that terrible demon, Malphas.”
“I guess.” I felt a little stupid now, complaining about how I felt.
“Don’t just think about how you feel, Cameron,” Elisa said. “Think about the facts around you.”
“Now you sound like my therapist.”
She smiled and put a hand on my shoulder. “Just remember, I’m here to help you. Maybe that’s all I’m good for. I don’t think I’ve hit anything with my arrows. I love archery, but sometimes I hate it, too.”
Gravel crunched under my feet as we walked. It sounded like thunder in the quiet passage.
“Maybe archery isn’t your thing,” I said.
“That’s what I said about gymnastics, ‘cause I failed at that.” Elisa ducked under a stalactite. “I love archery, but I’m a terrible shot when it’s important.”
“But I’ve seen you practice; your aim is excellent.”
“Sure, when I’m alone or with a friend.” Elisa sniffled. “But when I have to make the shot, I miss. And you know why?”
I shook my head.
“Because I’m afraid of failing my father.”
“Why is that?”
“Well, every time I shoot my bow, I get an image of my dad in the back of my mind. He’s standing there shaking his head, a look of disappointment on his face, like when I quit gymnastics.”
“So just ignore it,” I said. I felt like a fraud when I said it. It’s always impossible for me to ignore my fears, but maybe she’s strong enough to do it.
“I can’t.” Elisa sighed, then leaped over a small boulder in their path. “For some reason, I desperately want the respect he easily gives to my older brother who’s at the University of Kentucky.”
“The track star?”
Elisa nodded. “When I realized I wasn’t good at gymnastics, I told my dad I wanted to stop. He was so angry his face turned red, and he yelled at me. ‘Why can’t you do it? Just be the best, like your brother.’ It was awful; I felt like a total failure. Now, I’m so afraid I’ll fail him again that I’m almost afraid to try. My shooting back there was terrible, but I’m used to it. That’s what I expect; it’s how I shoot in tournaments . . . pitiful. Every time I miss, it just proves I’m the failure of our family.” She hung her head down. “I’m pathetic.”
“I know a lot about failure.”
“What are you talking about? I’m sure you’re an A student in every class.”
“I don’t mean grades; I mean everything else.” I sighed, then coughed, our footsteps kicking dust into the air. “The only place I’m any good is on a test or inventing something all by myself. Back home, my anxiety makes everyone think I’m a coward or a baby or just plain weird.” I swerved around a pile of rubble in the middle of the passage. “The only people who accept me and my anxiety are you and Bobby. I’m terrified when I walk through the camp. I’m afraid every time I go to the dining hall. I’ve failed at many things because of my fear, and I’m always scared. I hate it. So, I know a lot about fear, and I’m gonna tell you something . . . you can beat it. Maybe I can’t. My anxiety won’t let me, but I know you can get past it.” I put a hand on her shoulder. “Elisa, you need to realize that you’re good enough, just as you are. I’ve seen you shoot and know how skilled you are; your friends know it too. But your opinion is the only important one.” I wiped the sweat from my face, trying to keep the salty moisture out of my eyes. “Other people can’t make you feel like a failure unless you let them.”
“If it’s that easy, why don’t you beat your fear?” she asked.
“Well . . . umm . . . it’s difficult and—” I started to say but was cut off.
“Be quiet,” Leonard said. “I see some light ahead.”
“I think we’re nearing an exit.” Karl turned on his flashlight and shone it on his companions.
“Hey, that’s bright.” Bobby put his hands in front of his eyes.
Karl smiled.
“How do we know if anyone’s following us?” Leonard asked. “I hear something back there. It might be an echo, or it might be something else.”
We all listened for a moment. The faint sound of claws scratching stone drifted through the passage.
“Poppers!” Bobby said. “I have a bunch of ground-poppers I made in the chemistry lab last week. They’re leftovers from the 4th of July, but I wish I had more of the big fireworks with me; they’d be excellent weapons.” Bobby reached into his pocket and pulled out a handful of tiny paper objects shaped like teardrops, each with a twisted end. “When something steps on these, they’ll explode and make a popping sound. We’ll hear when the monsters reach this part of the tunnel. Then we’ll know how far behind they are.”
“Good thinking, Bobby,” Elisa said.
Bobby spread the ground-poppers across the tunnel floor behind us.
“Everyone, be quiet for a change and follow me.” Karl switched off his light and turned his back on us.
I could see the end of the tunnel up ahead, silvery moonlight leaking into the passage. But across the exit, a tangle of ivy choked the opening. Through the leafy gap, I saw a tangle of tall grass and weeds; the passage had dumped us out back in the forbidden grounds near the cave and crypt. Karl stepped up to the plants, pushed the vines aside with his bat, and then stuck his head out of the tunnel.
Holding the bat sideways, Karl inched forward, pushing the weeds over to make room for everyone.
“Let’s get out of here.” Karl glanced at his companions and smiled. “Good ol’ Number Three never fails.”
“Number three?” I glanced at Leonard, confused.
“It’s Babe Ruth’s number; that’s what he named his bat.” Leonard lowered his voice. “I think that bat is his most cherished possession.”
I nodded. “Let’s get out of here but stay low and quiet. We don’t know if Malphas left any monsters outside.”
“Good thinking, Cameron.” Leonard slapped me on the back, then stepped out into the moonlight.
Karl pushed forward and stepped out of the passage right after Leonard, leaving Bobby, Elisa, and me to follow.
When I stepped out, I surveyed the surroundings. The moon stared down at us from a cloudless sky, shading the landscape with a silver hue. Countless stars sparkled in the dark canopy like the rarest of diamonds. It would have been a beautiful night except for the horde of monsters trying to kill us.
Crouching, I looked around. We emerged near the cave, the Skull Key over the entrance shading the ground a sickly green. Across the tangle of weeds and grass, the Crypt stood tall and silent.
“Look,” Elisa whispered. “Something’s coming out of the Crypt.”
One of the tiny red imps emerged from the Crypt, followed by the angry gremlin with the leather straps crisscrossing his muscular chest.
“That’s the mean one,” Elisa whispered. “I think he’s called Krak.”
I nodded and pushed aside the tall blades of grass and weeds to get a better view.
“You lost the humans while we were following them in the tunnels, Fool!” the gremlin shouted. “They have the Skull of Longing. We need that Skull Key.”
“It wasn’t my fault, Krak,” the imp pleaded. “A lot of monsters followed the humans, not just me.”
“Don’t make excuses.” Krak flipped his whip around, holding the long, leathery thong portion, the wooden handle now like a club.
“No . . . please,” the imp begged.
Suddenly, a popping sound emerged from their secret tunnel.
“My ground-poppers,” Bobby whispered. “They’re coming.”
Leonard glanced at the others. “We need to move carefully through this tall grass until we reach the stone wall, then run for it. Okay?”
We all nodded.
“Follow me.” Leonard used his hockey stick to part the grass as he crawled across the ground.
Additional pops came from the tunnel.
More monsters, I thought, my fear growing.
Buzzzzzzz, the bees in my head grew angry.
Suddenly, the imp cried out in pain.
“Let this be a reminder for everyone.” Krak swung the handle at the imp, hitting the creature over and over. Other monsters emerged from the Crypt and watched. “The cost of failing our master, the Demon Lord, Malphas, is severe.”
“Please, nooooo . . .” the tiny monster begged.
The gremlin beat the imp again and again, the small creature’s cries getting weaker and weaker.
Suddenly Elisa stopped and turned toward the gremlin.
“Elisa . . . don’t.” I reached for her, but it was too late.
Elisa screamed, “NO!” She stood and pointed at the gremlin. “You stop hurting that little guy.”
“The humans,” Krak screeched. “Get them!”
“Come on, everyone.” Leonard stood. “Run!”
I grabbed Elisa by the arm and pulled her toward the stone wall separating the Crypt grounds from the schoolyard. With the Skull Key gripped under an arm, I wove around thick clumps of thistles and through tall grassy barricades, pulling on Elisa’s sleeve.
Just then, the monsters emerged from the tunnel behind us and charged across the weedy landscape. Eight monsters surged through the tall grass, imps and gargoyles growling their blood-thirsty cries for violence.
This is the end, I thought. We’re outnumbered, and they’re probably faster than us.
Without looking back, we ran for our lives.