Chapter Two

It took over a week to clean the abomination that I had called my home for the past few years. I turned off the lights and slowly closed the door until I heard the click. This was it. Walking down the five flights of stairs, I began to plan how and where I would be living for the next while. I pined for the trees, mountains, and almost non-polluted, clean, fresh, air of my old stopping ground. I smiled as I remembered the family camping trips we used to go on I shook my head. I didn't want to start my adventure with these thoughts, besides, what was the point in remembering things like that?

After more than 72 hours of non-stop riding of buses, cabs, ferries, and hitch-hiking I had made it to my family's property. The land was virtually untouched, except for the few high school kids and the occasional homeless. There no buildings, unless you counted the untouched port-a-potty. I instantly set about to pitch my tent, gather fire wood, and fix myself the food I'd bought on the way up here from the small town just sixteen miles from here. On the fifth night, I laid down and stared at the stars while reminisce about the fun adventures my twin brother Adam and I had up here. I suddenly remembered the cave we'd found on our last trip here. Maybe I could use that as book reference. I shivered. Despite the raging fire, it was quickly getting colder. I put the fire out and crawled into my tent.

The next morning, I went toward where I vaguely remembered the path we'd gone. It had been over eighteen years since the accident happened. Adam and I had found it and excitedly explored it. A short time after we'd entered it there was an earth tremor and several large rock fell from the ceiling. I was lost for two days. Mom and dad eventually found me, but we never could find him, alive or dead.

A drop of water falling into my head jerked me out of my thoughts. I blinked several times to clear it. My eyes widened, how did I get so far into the cave without noticing? Drops of water fell around me. It was a clear, calming sound. So clear, and yet any sound could disrupt it. I sighed and turned around. This was only going to bring back bad memories. The ground beneath my feet gave way and I fell down into the depths of the Earth.