CHAPTER 2

" Niall where are the rods ? " Elise interrogated , her arms folded as she bore holes through Niall's skull .

" I think someone stole it . " Hesitantly he spoke , avoiding her gaze .

" No one stole it . You didn't bring it ! " She raised her voice as she sat onto the grass , the blades poking her .

" I wasted my sleep for this , Niall . " She whined as she stared at her taller friend who was standing .

" I know , but I have something else . " He spoke , a smile making its way to his face as his lips curved .

Sitting beside her , he opened another page .

Handing over the book , he watched as she read the words .

" Here lies the stone you seek . " She read the words out loud .

" This isn't enough . Explain why we are here ? " Elise questioned , confused as to why the boy dragged her out of bed such early in the morning .

" We are here to find a stone . Tada ! " He spoke .

" I ' m sorry , what ? "

Niall was stupid but he wasn't that stupid . She knew it .

He seriously didn't think of listening to a book and go searching for a stone . Does he even know what kind of stone he was planning to search for ?

" Niall , a serial killer could have probably wrote this book . " She replied , trying her best to scare him off . She just wanted to sleep .

" Elise , I think the serial killer has more than enough strength to break into our houses and kill us all . " He replied , trying to calm her .

" It could be his torture space here . " She replied pointing into the cave .

" It looks like it feeds on darkness . " Elise's voice cut the air , her eyes fixated on the cave .

" Trust me Elise . We are not gonna die . "

" What's in it for me ? "

" Ice cream ..... " Niall replied doubtful of his answer .

" Okay . "

Elise spoke as she took out her own torch , lighting it

" There's my Elise . " Niall spoke as he took the lead , guiding her way , a torch in his right hand and a stick in another .

" Where did you get that from ? " Elise asked , as she observed the boy .

" It was lying outside . " He spoke nonchalantly as he touched the slightly wet surface of the cave .

" Niall, you didn't really tell me what stone we are looking for . Half of the words in the book are smudged . " She spoke , as she directed the torch towards the page of the book .

" Um , a magical stone . I don't how it looks like , but I guess we will see if it's here . " He spoke scratching his head .

Elise only hummed as she walked further , wary of her steps as she felt the slippery ground beneath her . The last thing she needed today was a sprained ankle and a broken nose.

Shifting the torch light , she noticed how the cave was split into two .

" Niall , which way are we going ? " She asked her friend who was still busy observing the cave walls .

Cautiously walking towards him , she asked .

" What are you looking at ? "

" This . " He spoke , moving away , leaving her the opportunity to see for herself .

" Writings . " She murmured as she placed her fingers over the painted words .

' Sound kills . ' She read the first few words .

Did they have to be quiet ?

Was something or someone going to pop out if they made noise ?

Turning around to speak , a finger was immediately placed on her lips , shushing her .

Walking closer he whispered in her ear , concern dripping from his voice .

" There's something else in here . There has to be . "

Elise stood there , gulping her saliva as the hairs in hands arose . Somehow she felt as if her shoes were glued to the ground . She knew they weren't .

She was petrified to the core .

Niall slowly moved backwards . They still had time to run out . Turning around , he looked at the entrance of the cave .

Tapping Elise on the shoulder , he made his way outwards only to fall back as spikes erupted from the ground , obstructing his way .

He couldn't move around them . Looking back at Elise , she was terrified . Her bambi eyes seemingly became wider as she stared at the spikes . Her eyes slowly trailing back to Niall's face , anger fuming in the pits of her stomach as she glared at him . Niall unconsciously licked his lips , nervousness uploading itself onto his brain .

Carefully moving forward , his eyes stuck onto the floor , waiting to see if more spikes showed up , he made his way to the glaring girl .

He could see the portal to hell already forming in her eyes and he knew she would kick him in , the moment she gets the chance to .

Elise was scary when she was angry , but those spikes looked angrier . They seemed as if they were waiting to draw out his blood so they could feast on his flesh and fifteen year old Niall didn't want that .

" We should check inside . There might be another way to get out . " Niall whispered , not looking at fiery Elise .

Signaling him to wait , she read the rest of the words painted onto the wall .

" Uncontrolled movements lead to death . "

" Choose your path wisely . "

Turning around she didn't say anything , briefly glancing at Niall , she signalled him to move forward .

Elise took the lead this time . Directing the torch towards the two ways they could proceed , she glanced at the book for anything that could help them find the right way .

" Which way ? " He asked as he watched her observe the page . Bringing his torch towards the book , he provided her with more light .

There was absolutely nothing that was there in the page that was helping them .

The only thing she could see , was a map that showed them the way to the cave , a few other scribblings which she nor Niall could perceive .

Closing the book , she took out her phone .

There was absolutely no network coverage .

They were fucking trapped .

Swearing at herself for trusting Niall , she glared at the boy before asking .

" What do you suggest we do ? "

" I wouldn't want us to split , but if we do , I think we could find a way easier and incase one of us gets trapped another could help . "

Niall spoke as he looked at the divergence .

Carefully kneeling down , he took out one more glow stick .

Handing over his own and the new one , he stared at the girl as she took off her hat immediately keeping it inside her bag .

" Stuff it into your pockets . " He whispered , as she took them , immediately listening to what he said .

" Keep this too . " He spoke giving her a bottle to keep with her .

He didn't know how long they would be trapped . It was his fault and now it was his chance to protect Elise as much as he could .

Niall needed to get her back home in one piece .

Taking the ropes in his bag , he hung one on her shoulder .

" Now you are ready . " He murmured as he carefully zipped the bag . Throwing it over his shoulders , he stood up .

" You can keep this. " She spoke giving the book to him .

" What about you ? " He questioned as he noticed her taking out her phone .

" I will keep a pic . " She replied immediately taking one .

" Sorry. " He whispered as she stared at him dead in the eye .

Nodding at his word , they moved forward .

" I will take the right . You can take the left . " She spoke as they split .

Elise walked to the path on the right , flashing the light everywhere as she scanned to see if something else would pop up .

Sighing she walked further , her steps as light as she could make .

' Noise kills ' . She remembered the words from before .

Lighter steps equalled to one step closer to freedom .

Glancing at the phone from time to time , she stared at the ground for cracks .

She should have notice them before .

There were many cracks on the ground at the entrance . She just hadn't thought enough .

It wasn't her fault and nor was it completely his . No one expects spikes to pop up randomly.

Occasionally gazing at the walls , she mentally relaxed seeing no cracks . She was taking hold of this situation better than she had thought .

Elise's thoughts moved back to Niall.

What could have been him doing right this moment ?

Niall was far more scared than Elise. Ofcourse , he was the one who had dragged her into this mess as well , but he did not expect this to happen .

Similar things had happened before when he had brought her along with him to check out places he had seen in the book .

Some were just places to see . They had absolutely nothing to do with finding stones.

They were just beautiful spots that had almost took their life .

Exhaling the air he had held in , he turned around , paranoia getting to him .

There was no one following him , but the feeling that something was staring right at him , caught him in a chokehold .

Ignoring his racing heart , he made smaller steps .

Looking up , there was no one else there too. He expected some bats , but it seemed as if even they were smarter than him to choose another cave .

" Stupid Niall . " He uttered to himself .

The only noise he could hear was the sight sounds of his footsteps and nothing else .

Making a sudden stop , he looked at what seemed to be a huge chest .

A wooden chest with miniscule works sat infront of him . It was closed but it wasn't locked .

He needed to let Elise know about this .

Turning around , he was petrified as two red eyes stared right back at him .