Seth’s neck ached from the awkward position he'd been sleeping in. He groaned and blinked his eyes open to the glowing embers of a fire and the glimmer of daylight.

  Seth frowned, confused. Daylight? How long was I--? Then he looked up and saw Elias pacing in and out of the mouth of the cave. Dawn had already come and the sun was trying to reach rays of sunlight into the fissure. Seth pursed his lips and scowled at the back of Elias's head. You sneaky little... he massaged his neck again. I said a few hours! Not the rest of the night. He shook his head and turned to check on Gloria; he would deal with Elias in a minute.

  She was just as he’d left her the night before—not a single muscle had moved. Fear gripped his heart and Seth hesitantly reached out to touch her.

  “She’s still not awake?”

  Seth flinched, he looked up to see Elias coming over to meet them. He shook his head. “She hasn't even moved an inch.” He reached out and gently shook Gloria’s shoulder. “Gloria?” Her head rolled to one side and her pale face turned towards him, but her eyes didn’t open.

  Blood drained from Seth’s face and his body went numb.

  “Is she—?” Elias started.

  “Don’t!” Seth snapped, whirling back on him. “Don’t even finish that question!” He looked back at Gloria, trembling. She couldn't be...right? She's just asleep. Not... Seth gingerly reached out, placed two fingers on Gloria’s neck, and tried to find a pulse.

  Elias crouched beside them and anxiously leaned in. “Anything?” he asked, his brows knitting together.

  Seth’s hand shook as images of Gloria’s lifeless body flashed through his mind. “I-I can’t tell.”

  “Let me try,” Elias offered and inched over to her side.

  “No, I got it.” Seth adjusted his fingers, desperately trying to find a sign.

  “But sir, your hand is—”

  The words shot out of Seth’s mouth before he could stop them. “I said, I’ve got it!” His shout bounced off the cave walls.

  Elias pulled back a little, then he pursed his lips and stared at Seth with resolve. “Respectfully sir, no you don’t. Please...let me try.”

  Seth looked from Elias to Gloria then grimaced. “Alright, go ahead.” He sat back and anxiously leaned on his elbows, pressing his mouth to his hands, watching Elias closely.

  The boy leaned in and felt around Gloria’s neck, his brows furrowing in concentration. Seth pressed into his hands harder. Then Elias's face slowly softened until it spread into a big smile. “She’s alive!”

  Seth shot up. “She is?”

  Elias nodded. “Her breathing is shallow, but her pulse is strong!”

  Seth sighed in relief and stroked Gloria’s head. “Oh thank Crim,” he said, a few tears blurring his vision. “I was so worried.”

  Beside him, Seth heard a snicker. He looked back at Elias who tried to cover it with a cough. He frowned. “What?”

  A snort left Elias’s nose. “You can’t deny it now, Master.” He chuckled. “You love Gloria!” He pointed teasingly at Seth, then winced and clutched his right hand. “Ow…”

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  Seth’s face grew warm, and he anxiously glanced down at Gloria as if this was the moment she was going to suddenly wake up. He rubbed the back of his neck and smiled bashfully. “Yeah,” he admitted, his cheeks now burning. “Yeah, I do.”

  He looked back at Elias who had smug smile pasted on his face. “Well, it’s about time you admitted it!”

  “Shut up,” Seth answered glaring at him, and Elias burst into a fit of laughter.

  Seth rolled his eyes and climbed to his feet. “Alright! Enough horsing around! We need to get moving.”

  Elias sighed and wiped away a tear. “Alright, Master. How are we getting out of the fissure?”

  Seth looked at the tunnel in the back of the cave. “We’re not. We’re going to take the tunnel.”

  Elias followed Seth’s gaze and his face went pale. “Y-you can’t be serious."

  Seth grimaced and crossed his arms. “I wish I wasn’t, but I can’t think of any other options.”

  “But we don’t know where that tunnel lets out!” Elias protested. “Or if it lets out anywhere at all! For all we know that tunnel could end in a dead end, and we could be..." He stopped and shuddered. "Be...stuck underground.”

  Seth stared at the dark maw of the tunnel; the risks weighed heavily on his shoulders. “I know…” he murmured and tore his eyes away from the tunnel. “But we don’t have any rope and I don’t know any spell powerful enough to get us out.” He glanced at Elias’s bandaged hand. “Even if we had rope, I’m not sure I’d be able to get you and Gloria out.”

  The boy gulped and stared at the tunnel, his face beginning to pale. Seth frowned. “Elias? Are you afraid of enclosed spaces?”

  Elias’s eyes were fixed on the tunnel. “I… I…” His body began to tremble violently.

  Seth’s frown deepened and he reached out to touch the boy’s shoulder. “Elias?”

  Just as his fingers touched him, Elias recoiled from Seth and scrambled to his feet. “I can’t do it! I’m sorry, sir! I can’t!” Then he raced out of the cave.

  “Elias!” Seth called and ran after him.

  Elias stopped in the fissure and bent over panting. Seth came up beside him and tried to catch the boy’s pale face. “What’s wrong?”

  Elias shook his head again. “I’m sorry, Master Seth," he wheezed. "I didn’t mean to panic. Don't worry, I’ll be fine.”

  Seth frowned. “That’s not what I asked. What’s wrong?”

  Elias swallowed hard and slowly looked up at Seth, his eyes shaking. “She…she tried to crush me. While you and Gloria were fighting her, The Lady...she trapped me in a shrinking room." He held his head and shook it, trying not to cry. "I can still hear her singing…” His face turned green. “Oh Crim.” He turned away and gagged before dropping to his knees and heaved bile into the snow.

  Seth dropped to his haunches and put his hand on Elias’s back reassuringly. “She’s not here now. You’re safe. She can't move the tunnel.”

  Elias heaved again, then shuddered. “I know, sir. It’s just…” He swallowed and gasped for breath.

  Seth grimaced and looked up at the tall, slick, wall. "I wish there was another option—”

  Elias put up a hand. “Don’t apologize. You’re right, sir.” He looked up at Seth. “The tunnel is the best option. I’ll be fine.”

  Seth met his eyes firmly. “Are you sure? Because once we go in, we can’t turn back.”

  Elias nodded, panting. “I will make it be okay.”

  Seth rose to his feet and held out a hand to the boy. “Alright then, let's get Gloria and our things and get going.” Elias took his hand and Seth pulled him to his feet before giving him a firm pat on the back. "We're going to make it."

  Elias nodded. "Yes sir."

  They turned back and reentered the cave. Seth glanced over his shoulder and saw Elias hesitate for a moment, then the boy clenched his fists and marched into the cave straight to their things. Seth smiled a little. Good. Hopefully that will get him through the tunnel.

  He approached Gloria’s sleeping body and bent down to pick her up. He paused and worriedly stroked her head again. Please wake up soon. He pulled Gloria onto his back and wrapped her arms around his neck. He rose to his feet and met Elias’s pensive gaze. “Are you ready?”

  Elias set his jaw and shifted the makeshift backpack on his back before nodding. “Yes sir.”

  Seth drew a glowing sigil in the air. “Lux meridania.” He tossed the glowing orb into the air above them and stepped towards the dark maw of the tunnel in the back of the cave. He stared into the oppressive darkness as doubt began to whisper in his ear. What if this is a mistake? What if Elias is right and we do get trapped down here? He looked back at the mouth of the cave. Well, we can’t sit here in this cave forever and I doubt we'd meet anyone traveling up the mountain. He shuddered. Except for more villagers from Giantstoe.

  Seth took a deep breath. “Alright, let’s go.” Then he stepped into the tunnel, Elias following close behind. Soon, the dark tunnel swallowed up the daylight behind them until the only light that remained was the little orb bravely floating above them as they descended into the deep murky depths.