Chapter 9:11 the Bends

A strange fire burns outside the cave entrance as lit gas from the ground bubbles up.

"This is it." Oliver warns.

Without protest, the raft flows into the cave. It slopes downward and the water rushes faster. Scorpions crawl out of holes in the cave walls. It seems the farther they go, the more color drains from the world until everything is in black and white.

The everlasting flame dims as it turns grey, withers and dies, leaving absolute darkness. So dark that Maise can't see her own hands in front of her face. She starts to cry.

"I'm scared." she says.

"Me too." Theo replies.

"Hold on tight," Oliver shouts!

The raft dips forward and the air gets thicker and stinks like hot sulfur. Rapids grow and batter the raft back and forth. The paddles fall off and sink into the water.

The sounds of rattling chains and the moaning of prisoners shackled to the cave walls echo around them. The wailing of insanity grows stronger.

In the distance, at the end of the tunnel, the dim light of a torch flickers from the cavern wall.

They hang on tight as the raft jolts and splashes to the bottom— almost tipping the raft and throwing them off.

The old castle's moat, now an underground river. They circle until coming upon the collapsed draw bridge, flanked by gargoyle statues.

A droopy-faced dodo bird sits there with his legs hanging off the side. Purple smoke rises from his pipe. Torn black clothes, silver rings, necklaces, a bandana on his head and a wide brimmed hat on top of that. Illustrated with tattoos like a costume he wears all the time— not just on Mischief Night.

"We-well look wh-what we have he-here." he says, slurring his words.

A scorpion crawls by. He picks it up and eats it.

"We're looking for someone." Oliver says as they drift closer.

"Ar-aren't we all?" the bird replies.

They dock with the remains of the drawbridge and climb up.

"His name is Enoch."

"Is that ri-right?"

"Can you help us or not?"

"You know there's no way back out of this ca-cave, ri-right?" the bird says. "We-welcome to your new home."

They ignore him and walk past toward the castle entrance.

"Open your eyes or keep your smile!" he shouts at them and the words echo throughout the dark cavern.