8

Keith wasn't sure what he was doing.

He held up the torch and walked deeper in. Keith was trying to be as cautious as possible in case he happened to run into his cloaked friend from earlier.

When he reached the end of his cave, it opened into a large clearing. A large two-headed dog, with a mane, and a snake for a tail, was, pacing back and forth, snarling and hissing.

How am I supposed to get past this thing? Keith wondered.

Before he could think of a way to slip past, the beast's heads jerked up and turned in Keith's direction.

The dog's nose twitched, and it charged toward him. Keith stood, frozen in shock, but the animal didn't get far before a silver chain stopped its pursuit.

Thank the heavens. I can't possibly get past this thing without killing it because it'd tear me to shreds.

Keith pulled a dagger that was strapped to his thigh and gripped it tightly in one hand. He counted to three in his head and tossed the blade, aiming toward one of its heads.

He placed the torch down and pulled out his sword, bringing it down onto the second head.

Once he was sure the animal was dead he picked up the torch and walked into the other cave. This one was shorter than the first and opened up into another clearing larger than the other.

There were large beasts roaming about, ghosts chatting, creatures playing with each other.

Keith wasn't sure how the Gods managed to hide a box in here without getting lost. There were no more caves to go into.

He looked to his right and saw three more cave openings where Mason and his other friends might be. Keith wasn't sure if he should go after them or wait up.

A yelp from the next cave startled him and he took out his dagger.

Caleb and Vanessa stumbled out, both covered in what looked like lime green goo. Keith sheathed his weapon. "Uh, what-"

"I am never doing that again. Ever." Caleb panted. He collapsed on the ground and Vanessa shrugged her shoulders.

"It wasn't really that bad. It was just some snakes."

"Some?" Caleb glared at her. "That was a freakin' whole nest in there. I'm surprised we even made it out alive."

Keith waved at their surroundings. "Where to from here? I don't see anymore caves, you?"

"Aren't we supposed to wait up for the others?" Vanessa said, glancing over her shoulder. "Maybe it's best if we-"

"Heya guys!" a voice called out behind Caleb.

Emerson skipped toward them with a bright smile on her face and a silver bow strapped to her back. "Hey, guys. I have someone who can help us find the box. Come on Typhon."

The creature that stepped out of the cave made Keith want to scream. It had a hundred heads, long muscular arms and a snake-like body that would have no trouble crushing a semi.

Caleb scrambled back. "What in the world, Emmy?! Typhon? Have you lost your mind? Did you hit your head while you were in there?"

"How is he supposed to help? Isn't he working with Kronos?" Keith asked. "He might double-cross us."

"He won't." Emerson said, matter-of-factly. "He pledged his loyalty to me. Also, he didn't hurt me."

Caleb pushed himself to his feet. "That doesn't mean he won't!"

"I don't mean you or your friends any harm." Typhon said. "I would like to help you on your search to find this…box. But I suppose I know why you're hesitant to trust me."

Vanessa glowered at Caleb. "Don't be so hard on him."

"What?" Caleb cried. "He caused that storm that killed my mortal parent! She drowned, thanks to him."

Typhon looked ashamed. "He's right. And I'm deeply sorry. I wish I could go back in time and fix all the mess I made, but I cannot. I wish to redeem myself by helping you on this quest."

"Come on, guys!" Emerson pleaded. "He doesn't even have his weapon, see?" She held up the silver bow.

"I'm fine with this." Vanessa said.

Keith and Caleb exchange a glance. Caleb folded his arms and huffed. "Fine."

Keith shrugged. "Alright."

"Yesss!" Emerson pumped a fist into the air. "Before we continue, lemme do a head count." She blinked. "We're missing one."

Keith gasped. Mason.

"Shall we wait for him?" Vanessa asked nervously.

Caleb glanced at Typhon. "What's taking him so long?"

"The fourth cave he should not have entered alone." Typhon shook his head. "He'll go mad in there."

Keith whirled toward him. "What are you talking about?"

"Mason is in the fear cave."

"Fear cave?" Caleb snorts.

"It's not a joke, boy. Most people who enter that cave never make it out. In this cave you will face your deepest fear. You'll either go mad or kill yourself."

Keith looked at the last cave and thought, He's going to make it out, right? He's smart, strong, and capable of taking care of himself. He can do this.

***

Mason was halfway through the cave when he saw someone slumped over in the distance.

"Hello?"

He walked toward the shape and crouched in front of it. "Hey, what are-" he turned the person toward him and yelped.

It was Keith. He was slumped over with a sword in the chest. The wound bleeding freely.

"Keith are you-"

A scream off in the distance tore him away from Keith's body and he jumped to his feet and raced deeper into the cave. He saw Keith fighting an opponent, two times larger than he was. He knocked the blade from Keith's hand and kneed him in the stomach.

Mason pulled a dagger from his side and threw it, but missed. The creature didn't even look up.

Keith was on his stomach struggling to get to his feet. The creature took his weapon and stabbed him in the back.

Mason barely heard Keith's scream over his own. He pulled out his sword and charged the creature, but when he swiped at it, his sword went straight through.

When he turned around, the scene was playing over again, starting with his scream. Mason shook his head slowly and turn to run but he ran into something hanging from the ceiling.

He stepped back and looked up to see Keith with a rope around his neck. His white tongue hanging out of his mouth, and his eyes were empty of life.

Mason growled and pushed past the body.

Off in the distance were more bodies, Mason knew they were Keith. He couldn't bring himself to stop and look at them.

He ran as fast as he could, but a flash of brown made him stop again.

Cinnamon was standing over Keith's body, staring down at him. She looked up and didn't react when she saw Mason.

"Cinnamon? What are you doing?"

She opened her mouth wide, her teeth were dripping blood. Mason gaped at her as he watched her take a bite out of Keith's neck.

"Holy shit."

Mason ran. He had to get out, had to get away from all that blood.

He stopped and bent over to be sick.

Why am I seeing these things? They're not actual events, right? Are they possibly glimpses of the future?

When he finished being sick, he ran toward the light that he saw in the distance. But there were more bodies and bloody scenes he had to encounter.

After seeing Keith fall from a cliff to his death, he collapsed.

Come on, Mason. These events aren't real. Keith is fine, he's alive. Mason pushed himself to his feet, but couldn't take a step forward.

What if Keith is already dead? Did my friends share the same fate?

Mason pushed the thought from his head and walked toward the entrance as fast as he could, making sure to block out Keith's screams and the puddles of blood along the way.

He reached the end of the tunnel and he saw his friends standing in a circle, talking.

"We should-" Keith was saying.

Emerson was the first to spot him. "Look, he's right there!"

Keith and Emerson raced toward him.

"Are you alright, Mason?" Keith asked, wrapping an arm around his waist. "You look like your're going to pass out."

Mason blinked up at him and then passed out.