Chapter 1: The Cave

We all gather around the campfire for warmth as Justin explores the cave.

Justin's voice echoes out of the cave, "Hey guys! Get down here and look at this!"

Tom stands up, "Who the hell does he think he is giving US orders?"

Alex rests her hands on his shoulders, "Hey now. Just calm down. That's enough."

We entered the cave and climbed down two sets of crevices. We finally made it to the bottom where Justin is patiently waiting.

I sighed, "Alright Justin, what is it?"

He looked at me in disbelief, "You are not going to believe this."

He points ahead. It looks like stairs made out of stone. They seem to be carved and sculpted by hand. They lead down deeper into the cave.

I stuttered, "D-did you?"

He instantly snaps, "No, how could I?"

We all slowly creeped down the stairs. It brought us to a large cavern. There are three natives standing on a small base made of stone.

The men to the left and right are carrying spears. The man in the middle is wearing a huge feathered headdress and a long necklace.

He pointed at us and said, "Be warned. Only those with a truly pure heart may pass through the gate."

We turn around and notice a long corridor beside the stairs. There is a large stone arch at the very end of the corridor.

Justin runs down the corridor as he calls out, "Well? What are you waiting for?! Let's go!"

I yelled. "Justin! wait!"

Alex follows him. As soon as he passes the arch, he stops dead in his tracks.

Alex stopped running and proceeded cautiously saying, "Justin?"

He slowly turns around.

He is very pale and his eyes are green like bright glowing emeralds.

He looks at her and angrily tackles her down. He chokes her aggressively. A spear lands into his chest. He drops to the floor beside her.

I ran to Alex, "Alex! Are you ok?"

We helped her up.

She coughs trying to catch her breath, "Oh my god, he just tried to kill me!"

Tom checks Justin for a pulse on the neck.

He looks at us in shock, "He's dead"

Alex gasped, "What!?"

She observes Justin very closely. She turns away fast and vomits.

Tom angrily yells at the natives, "Why did you kill him!?"

A moment of silence passes.

The one sitting on his throne finally spoke, "He was warned. Only those with a truly pure heart may pass through the gate."

He looks at the native with no spear and slightly bows his head.

The native slowly walks to Justin while observing our body language.

He kneels over his body, chanting in a strange language.

He retrieves his spear and gently puts it down. He cuffs his hands into the dirt. He blows the dirt towards Justin in a puff of smoke.

He picks up his spear and returns back to his spot beside the throne.

"Who are you?" I asked.

The one on the throne answers, "I am Chief Wall."

I continued, “Are you guardians to this cave?”

He answers, "We are executioners to the gate of pure hearts."

Executioners?

I glanced at the arch and asked under my breath, "Has anyone ever made it through?"

He huffs, "Only those with a truly pure heart will pass through the gate with no change. Twenty years have passed since a pure heart has entered the gate."

Alex screams becoming hysterical.

Tom grabbed her by the shoulders and said, "Alex! Alex, look at me. Calm down!"

She snaps back, "No! You don't get it! He is gone!"

She points. We looked over and Justin was nowhere to be seen.

He blurts out startled, "What the fuck!?"

Alex asked, "Where is he?"

Chief Wall answers, "Your friend has angered the gate. The gate has punished him for the darkness in his heart." He glares at the arch.

Alex insists, "We need to save him!"

I asked the chief, "Can he be saved?"

He continues glaring, "Your friend no longer exists. He has earned his fate."

Alex snatches my hand as she begs, "Jackie. Please. We need to save him."

I blurted, "Alex. I don't think we can-"

She interrupts, "Please Jackie? We need to at least try!"

I glanced at the chief. He stares at us emotionless as I speak, "Well, alright. But we have to be careful. We don't know what will happen when we pass the arch."

Alex speaks abruptly, "I know! Lets all hold hands. Maybe it will work better with all of us together as one."

I paused for a minute to think, "You know. That's a good idea. Let's all hold hands."

We all gather side by side in front of the arch. We hold each other's hands.

I commanded, "Alright. Ready? Let's jump on three. One, Two, Three!"

We Jumped past the arch and looked at each other. We all look healthy. We sighed in relief.

Tom looked over his shoulder, "What the hell!?"

There is a wall!?

He touches the wall and said, "Fuck!"

Alex pokes the wall carelessly, "Well. It looks like we have no choice but to keep going."

She rushes ahead.

I called out, "Alex!"

She stopped with an attitude and blurted out, "What!?"

Shocked by her attitude I said, “We need to stick together if we are going to get out of here.”

She looks ahead then looks at me saying, “Oh. You're right. I got carried away for a moment there.” She laughs.