Free The Journey by Jennifer Ensley Page B

undies?”
    “Pooh, I’m being serious.”
    “I know you are and it’s freaking me out a little. I was just starting to feel better about what I gotta do. Don’t lay all this heavy crap on me right after we were just laughing and teasing each other.”
    “I know. Sorry. I just worry about you.” He kissed my forehead. “You’ll do fine. And I’ll be right here. Promise.”
    I smiled and nodded before turning back to the waiting darkness.
    Well crap. Here goes.
     
    *****
     
    It wasn’t that it was really hard to breathe—just old air. I kept my vision focused on the little beam of light in front of me. I didn’t scan the walls or look anywhere else. Just where my next step should be taken. It left me totally torch blind, yeah, but I didn’t really want to see what creepy crawly things might be running along the walls or—heaven forbid—the ceiling.
    The narrow tunnel went down a couple hundred more yards before it opened into a large cavernous room. At least, that’s what it felt like. There was no sound, no wind, no dripping water. Only silence… and darkness.
    When the passageway opened up, I looked to my left. Nope, only a wall.
    “I guess it’s this way, then.”
    My whisper didn’t echo, but it sounded a lot louder than it should have.
    Soooo creepy.
    The dust-filled light only stretched out about three feet in front of me. I took small, slow steps—didn’t want to fall into a hole or something.
    When I heard a tiny movement out ahead of me, I jumped and then froze—unintentionally holding my breath as I slowly scanned the darkness.
    Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh my god. “H-hello?”
    Silence was the only answer I received from my pitiful little whimper.
    I took two more steps. “H-hello? Azazel? Is that you?”
    “Douse your flame.”
    “Wha-what?”
    “Douse… your flame.”
    The voice was tiny, strained, dry.
    “Do I have to?”
    “…Yes.”
    “But… but I’m scared. I’m scared I might fall in a hole or step on a snake.”
    He didn’t answer. I took another step.
    “Douse the flame.”
    I froze. “Please… please don’t make me turn out the light. I won’t hurt you. I promise. Just… let me keep the light on.”
    “…No… holes.”
    “No holes ?” I glanced around nervously. The darkness was palpable. “But… please?”
    “…No.”
    I sighed and closed my eyes as I reluctantly pushed the little black button on the end of my flashlight.
    “…Thank… you.”
    I immediately started trembling all over. When I opened my eyes and it seemed even darker than when they were closed, panic set in.
    “Holy shhh— I can’t do this. I can’t do this. Heaven help me. I can’t do this. I’m turning around. I’m turning— how many steps was it to the tunnel? Fifteen? Seventeen? Oh crap—”
    “Shhh…”
    I froze again. No. No. No. No. No.
    “…Come.”
    “B-but, I can’t come. My legs won’t move.”
    “Shhh… Now… come.”
    I barely scooted my feet, just a little bit. “I can’t. Please don’t make me do this.”
    “…Come.”
    I put my hands out, reaching desperately into nothingness. But no matter how hard I tried, I simply could not take another step.
    Okay, just calm down. Caalllm dooown. Okay… baby steps. My body refused to obey my terrified thoughts. “There is no darker dark than this dark.”
    “…Come.”
    I slowly bent down until I was on my knees. What are you going to do, idiot? If I crawl, I can’t use my hands. I’ll bang my head on a rock or something.
    “…Come.”
    “Give me a second… jeez.”
    I took a deep breath, then… started scooting along on my knees—arms fully extended and fingers frantically searching for… anything.
    “Where are you?”
    “Just… come.”
    His voice sounded different this time. It was still coarse and dry, but higher, maybe.
    “Are you… are you laughing at me? Can you see me?”
    “…Closer.”
    I may have gone about ten feet on my knees like that before he spoke again.
    “More…