LOST BUT FOUND III (NYCTO...WHAT?)

The tension in the cave increased as they all looked at Zander "I guess I want to find out too, but first, we got to get out of here"

"The dark passage" Benjamin pointed at a narrow path covered in darkness. He took a plank and took a little fire as he walked to the passage to show light. Prince saw another way opposite the one Benjamin found as he called their attention

"Hey guys, one more"

"What do we do? Which way do we take?" Nicolette asked flustered. "it's simple we spilt

up" Nancy responds "Benjamin, Braun and Nicolette can take the left and Prince, Zander and I can take the right"

"Wait. We can't go." Braun said as held his brother's arms

"Why can't we go?" Zander asked already frustrated

"They're here" his lips quivered

"who's here?"

"Leave him. He acts this way when he sees darkness" Benjamin explained as he

massaged his brother's hair. Zander shook her head in disappointment. she turned

to the right and headed for the right dark passage.

"Let's go". Nancy looked at

Prince as he tried to find signal to play his game. She grabbed his arm and dragged him forward to follow. Zander looked at the two of them and then at the remaining three. "When you find a way come back here. We'll meet you in thirty minutes" Benjamin nodded his head and headed for the left dark passage holding

his brother, Nicolette followed.

As the three, Benjamin, Nicolette and Christian walked down the cave, The path became wider. The more the darkness enclosed, the more the scared Braun became.

"This isn't right. They are following us" Braun hugged himself as spoke those words loud enough. Nicolette looked back. She ran forward to meet Benjamin. He looked at her sensing fear. "don't worry, he doesn't know what his saying"

"What do you mean?"

"He's nyctophobic"

"Nycto…what?"

"Nyctophobia. You know, someone who is feeling crazy, an intense need to escape the situation he's in as a result of fear of night or darkness" he looked at his brother who was shaking and sweating. "This is only the beginning. Very soon he'll start having trouble breathing, racing heart rate, losing control or

overwhelming feelings of anxiety or pain. I don't know"

"And how long has this been going on?"

"For a very long time."

"Stop". Braun yelled. They both looked at each other and then at him. "Do you hear that?"

"Okay, come on. Let's go" she gestured her hands. He walked forward licking his lower lip. "Listen…" she took his hands and patted them "nothing is going on. No one is coming. Nothing is following us. Let's just find a way out of here without you scaring us or making us lose focus. Don't worry I'll hold your hand till all of this is over."

"But what if I see something or what if the walls start to crumble?"

"Nothing of the sort is going to happen. Trust me he looked at Benjamin who was behind Nicolette, then he nodded in agreement. "let's go"

They kept walking hoping to find an escape route. The path seemed longer and it felt they were going in circles.

*clicking*

"Do you guys hear that?"

"What are you hearing?" Benjamin already tired of walking asked Braun. Not hearing a response, he sighed as he looked at Nicolette

"something is..." He stopped talking for a moment

*clicking"

"It's probably not after me, but the two of you" Braun spoke as he pointed at the two of them. He started moving backwards

"You are about to experience the full stage of this thing" Benjamin got prepared. Braun started to run away. Benjamin followed, then Nicolette chased after him. They yelled for him to stop.

"Stay away from me" Braun ran as fast as he could. He suddenly stopped "holy shit. what the heck is that thing?" Benjamin hurried to meet him. He grabbed him by the arm and told Nicolette to run. They ran down the hill in the path and passed the left side of a mini cave. As they ran, they bumped into Zander and the others which made all of them to fall. Giving no time to stand , the three yelled "run". Out of curiosity, Zander decided to wait to see what was they were running from. A ten foot creature with a white thick skin, long sharp teeth, five arms and the strength of about twenty men climbed on top of the walls as he chased them. Zander joined them to run. Not looking at where they were going, they fell inside another hole. This time a smaller one covered in mud.