Free Midnight Fire - Rise of the Dark Angel - Book One by Melody Anne Page B

once taken to the Timpanogos Caves in Utah. We were deep in the earth when they turned off the lights and the blackness settled around us. My mother was holding my hand, thankfully, because it was the only thing that assured me I wasn’t sinking into a deep black hole. My hand was stretched out before my face and I couldn’t see it. I heard whimpers in the darkness which increased the eerie feeling.
                  I remember the tour guide telling us in that kind of blackness your eyes will never adjust because there is no light source anywhere to adjust to. Thankfully , my room wasn’t quite that pitch black , as the elders had solar lights strewn through the hallways at night . One of the chores would be for people to take them outside during the day. Dad said we couldn’t waste fuel to keep the lanterns lit twenty-four hours a day. He’d poked small holes in the doors so some of the tiny light could pee k through. It was enough so I could just barely make out the shape of my hand, but not enough to give me comfort. Shudders ran through me as I fought not to panic.  
                  The door started making a creaking sound , then much to my relief Sadie stepped inside. I could see her outline, thanks to the hall lights, but not her face, which was shadowed. I could tell by her stiff shoulders she was as terrified as I was.
                  “I thought I’ d come and sleep with you,” she barely whispered. I scooted over and she quickly climbed in beside me.
                  “I’m so glad you came. I don’t think I could get to sleep without you. How will we even know when to get up?” Phoenix asked as Sadie snuggled down next to her.
                  “My mom said there are intercoms in all our rooms and they will beep at us in the morning. She said it will stay so dark in here we won’t know what time of day or night it is and we’ll have a really hard time adjusting our bodies to it . They know it will take a while to get used to it,” Sadie whispered. We were both talking quiet ly , afraid they’d come in and make Sadie go back to her own room if they caught us .
                  “This all seems like some bad dream, like we’re going to wake up in the morning at my house after a slumber party of too many scary movies,” I told her.
                  “I hope so,” Sadie answered fervently. We snuggled deeper under my comforter, the sc ent from home drifting around us. With us being together we managed to fall asleep, praying when we woke the whole night would’ve been nothing but a terrible dream .
     
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                  Phoenix woke up with the notebook still in her hand. She didn’t know if it was a good thing to be reliving the past but she felt like she was achieving something as she continued to write her thoughts down . She s upposed it was good to remember because it kept her humble and the stories made sure their people would n’t die.
                  S he climbed from her bed and made her way toward the kitchen. She was on collection duty that day and excited to be outdoors. It was summertime - she knew only because of the warmth and longer days . She was sure the elders kept track of time and maintained extensive journals but it wasn’t like there was a need for watches or calendars . No one had to make it to the office on time, or be at school by eight. They lived the hours of the seasons, having longer days in the summer, than in winter. Phoenix chuckled as she compared herself to a bear, and wishing she could hibernate all winter instead of dealing with the gloomy weather that kept her indoors.
                  “Hey , Phoenix,” Sadie came bounding up to her. Unlike Phoenix, Sadie had unlimited energy , morning, noon, or night. It kind of irritated Phoenix in the mornings but luckily Sadie never seemed able to tell, or if she could, she never said