Chapter 11 : The Cave traps

Austin’s POV

The fire had burned lower, its glow pulsing in the dark.

The forest whispered around us.

Kyle had rolled into his blanket on the other side of the camp, his breathing steady and deep.

But for me, sleep refused to come.

Across the fire, Vanessa sat, her orange eyes staring into the dying flames. The flickering light cast shadows on her face.

I hesitated before speaking, not wanting to break whatever trance she was in.

But I spoke anyway.

“Can’t sleep?”

She glanced at me, a faint smile touching her lips. “Guess not.”

I walked and sat beside her.

Vanessa exhaled.

“Just thinking about what lies ahead. If the portal is real, how do we know if we’re worthy?”

I nodded, staring into the dying flames.

“Yeah. I keep wondering what it’ll be like in there. Feels like we’re walking into something we can’t handle.”

She tilted her head, studying me. “You’d turn back if it were just up to you?”

I let out a slow breath. “Maybe. But Leonardo is after me. Being trapped by him would be far worse.”

Silence settled between us.

The distant chirp of crickets and the rustling of leaves filled the space.

“You still don’t trust Kyle.” Vanessa spoke.

I nodded without hesitation.

“Not yet. But I trust you.”

She smiled and I could feel my heart racing.

“You should get some rest,” she replied.

“So should you.”

She smirked. “Maybe I just like the company.”

For a long moment, we just sat there, the fire crackling between us.

But I felt something.

“Do you remember the last time we kissed?”I asked with low voice.

Vanessa raised an eyebrow. “Yeah?”

“I was wondering if you regretted it.”

She exhaled through her nose, almost like a laugh, but with something more behind it. “Do I seem like the kind of woman who regrets things?”

“No,” I admitted. “But you do seem like the kind of woman who overthinks them.”

She closed the gap between our faces, her lips capturing mine in a slow, lingering kiss. This time, there was no hesitation. No uncertainty. Just us.

As the kiss deepened, Vanessa pulled back slightly, her eyes glinting in the firelight.

“I’ve been thinking about how badly I want you to kiss me again.

“You have no idea how much I’ve been waiting for this moment.” I smiled.

She also smiled and leaned in, resting her head on my shoulder.

I wrapped my arms around her, holding her close as the fire continued to fade.

The next morning, We packed up quickly and move.

There was no need for words, each one of us knew what lay ahead.

Finally, we saw the cave.

The entrance to the cave loomed in the distance, its jagged maw swallowed by darkness.

The air grew colder the closer we got, We took out our touchlights before diving in.

Kyle went in first, his grip tight on his rifle. Vanessa and I exchanged a glance before following.

The deeper we moved, the more unnatural it became.

Symbols were carved into the walls, glowing faintly in the dim torchlight.

The flickering illumination made the markings seem alive.

Then came the traps.

It started with a sudden whoosh of air as an arrow shot past my face, embedding itself in the stone. Vanessa barely ducked in time as another bolt fired from a hidden crevice.

“Guys watch your step,” I muttered, scanning the walls. “This place doesn’t want us here.”

Kyle didn’t seem to hear me.

He was ahead of us, moving faster than he should have, his heavy breathing audible to us.

“Kyle, slow down,” Vanessa said, her voice cautious. “We need to think before—”

“I don’t have time to slow down!” he snapped, spinning to face us. His face was pale, sweat beading on his forehead. “You don’t get it. Laura doesn’t have time!”

I stepped forward. “Kyle, running into traps isn’t going to save any of us....”

He cocked the gun on his hand before I could finish.

“Stop talking,” he hissed, his hand shaking as he pointed the gun at us. “I’m not an idiot. I see the way you two look at each other. You think I don’t know? You’re trying to take this from me. You want the portal for yourselves!”

My blood ran cold.

“That’s not true, man. We’re in this together.”

“Are we?” His eyes darted to Vanessa, then back to me. “Then why are you always questioning me? Why are you trying to slow me down?”

“Kyle,”Vanessa shouted. “you need to breathe. You’re not thinking straight.”

He let out a short, bitter laugh. “Oh, I’m thinking just fine. I wanted your truth but now it's like I can't truth you two...”

Click!

Kyle’s foot landed on a stone, one of the symbols carved deep into its surface.

For a moment, the air was still.

Then the cave roared to life.

Massive stone gears began grinding, the walls trembling as ancient mechanisms awakened. A deep thud echoed, followed by a screech of metal.

Before I could react, an iron-barred gate shot down from the ceiling with a deafening clang, slamming between us and Kyle.

Kyle stumbled back, his breath coming fast. On our side, Vanessa and I barely kept our footing. The bars that now separated us were thick, old and rusted.

I grabbed them, testing their strength. But they were super solid.

“What have you done, Kyle? Damn it!” I shouted.

Kyle staggered upright, his rifle still clutched tightly. His eyes darted wildly between us and the bars. “What the hell was that?”

“It’s some kind of trap,” I said through gritted teeth. “Triggered by the stone you stepped on, you fool!”

Kyle’s expression darkened. “You think I did this on purpose?”

Vanessa cut in before I could snap back. “It doesn’t matter. We need to find a way to get you out before...”

Kyle let out a dry chuckle, shaking his head. “Get me out?”He took a step back, his grip on the rifle tightening. “I’m not getting out. I’m moving forward. I’m going to the portal.”

“What?”

He smirked, the dim torchlight casting eerie shadows across his face. “It was nice knowing you two.”

Then, without another word, he turned and disappeared into the darkness.

Vanessa gripped the bars. “Kyle! Stop!”

But he didn’t answer.

A cold dread settled over me. I exhaled sharply, meeting Vanessa’s gaze.

“We can’t let him go alone. We need to find a way past this gate, now!!”