In The Shadows of the Cavern of Death (Shadows of Death Book 1) (2 page)

BOOK: In The Shadows of the Cavern of Death (Shadows of Death Book 1)
11.92Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
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Tristian and Crowley moved us through the crowd to catch up with my family.  I pressed my body into Tristian in a way I had never done before, causing him to stiffen in surprise, but I needed the comfort as I tried to bury the fear coursing through me. The fear of a future without Rose and all the responsibilities that came with it. Finally reaching the cavern, I stepped forward to embrace Rose, giving her everything in that hug that I couldn’t give her in words. With one last look, I pulled the girls off her with Tristian’s help and took them to the section that we were to watch from. With dead eyes, I looked to the stage set just to the side of the cavern as the governor of our cavern stepped to the podium to give his speech. Our beloved president couldn’t be bothered to deal with the lottery, but appointed a governor to deal with the Contributors.

The fat, balding man who stepped to the podium disgusted me. Having never missed a meal, the glow of health in his cheeks showed in the dim light. As a member of the Elite Caverns, he was given the best of everything––food, clothing, and education. 

“Welcome, contributors” he said, in his high-pitched voice. As if we had a choice. “Today is a day of great joy, as you are chosen to journey into the Cavern of Death. But before we begin, let us remember why we stand here. Welcome Senator Peloci, whose father was one of the original signers of the treaty.” He clapped his hands as a stern, bird-faced woman stepped forward.

Gazing out at us with unseeing eyes and a look on her face as if she smelled something rotten, she took the governor’s place at the podium. “As was written in the treaties of peace, so it shall be. We who once roamed upon the earth in the light were forced into the darkness by the traitors––those who refused to do their duty to society and gave up their earnings and properties. Their greed led us to this. Those who tried to force their benevolent government for change and ended up causing the destruction of the world above, forcing us into the darkness below. In an act of mercy, the government forgave the traitors and allowed them to live in peace in the caverns as long as they took the place that they had refused in the world above. As we were forced to sacrifice and be banished from the world below, so shall the traitors know sacrifice. In the twenty-first year of their birth they must journey to the Cavern of Death and give up their lives so that those they had refused to provide for may live. This is how they will show that they regret their treason and the lives lost. As always, the government gave mercy where none should be given and decided to allow one hundred freedom from the Cavern of Death. Let these who age show testament to the government’s benevolence and mercy. Let these who age be a testament to what you have destroyed in your greed. Today we remember your treason and our government’s rebirth.” She finished with a fanatical gleam in her eyes, her chin up high and a twisted look on her face that must pass as a smile, her stern voice still echoing her last words.

With an owl-like look, the governor hurried to her, nervously eying the crowd. That was not the approved speech and he was obviously worried about the reaction. “Thank you Senator Peloci. Without further ado, let us read the list of the one hundred,” he hurriedly said, clumsily waving to his secretary, who stepped forward to drone out names as he led the arguing senator from the stage to her transportation. The names droned on as I listened desperately to each one, but the one I wished to hear was never said. 

Emptiness filled me as I watched the governor take his place back at the podium, obviously wanting to be done. As the last name left the secretary’s mouth, she was pushed to the side. “To those one hundred, rejoin your families and let the mercy of your government be shown. To the rest of you step forward now to begin your journey and know that your sacrifice today provides for all members of the caverns,” he hurriedly finished, mopping his sweat-soaked, dripping forehead.

Numbness coursed through me. I kept my eyes on Rose’s back as she stepped forward with the crowd, her name not among those pardoned from their fate. The crowd moved in utter silence. Not one looked back. Line after line stepped forward, disappearing into the darkness, never to be seen again.

 

 

 

Chapter 2

If Tristian and his father had not been there, I don’t know if we would have made it home. Gathering my sisters and me to them, they led us through the subdued crowd. When we reached our home, it was Tina who stepped forward and let us in, and without stopping, Tristian led me like a child to my room, helping me into my bed. Through the haze of my grief, I do not know how long he stayed with me before the sweet lull of oblivion claimed me. It was dark when I opened my eyes, but it was always dark. The temptation to remain where I was until death took me was great; only the knowledge that my sisters would be left alone forced me from my bed. 

With heavy limbs, I made my way to the kitchen. The smell of meat cooking, which was so rare, barely roused my appetite. I must have been in bed for more than a day if there was meat. The Contributors received meat once a year, two days after the lottery. Heavily armed trucks pulled into each square, allowing all families a portion. Their reward for the families’ sacrifices. Sitting down at the table as the twins cooked, I was glad they did no more than smile their hello to me. I don’t think I could have spoken at the moment, Rose’s death still to raw within me. Quietly, they moved around the kitchen, bringing me water for my parched throat as they set the table for our feast. This was yet another way that the government controlled us. While people cried out for their family members that had been sacrificed, their bellies silenced them at the thought of not knowing hunger for a few moments. It was beyond cruel. While the ones to be sacrificed in the lottery dreaded the moment, their families secretly welcomed it because they knew that it brought meat. The guilt that those left behind had from delight forced them to not think of those that they lost, unable to bear the guilt.

These thoughts swirled in my head as Josie set my plate in front of me, causing what should be a delicious smell to turn rancid. Forcing myself to reach for the fork, I methodically brought the food to my lips. Again and again I repeated this, until nothing was left, all the while holding on to the hope that Rose had left me––the map. I would need my strength to save us. These thoughts were the only thing that let me keep what I had just eaten in my stomach. Rising from the table, I placed my dish into the sink before going to Tina and Josie. Embracing them both, I murmured, “Thank you, I’m going to lay down for a bit.”

Softly closing the door to my room behind me, I slid the lock in place before prying up the loose board in the floor that hid my secrets. I took out the gifts that Rose had left while putting back the pieces of my family that I had kept to remember them. Memories of the past were too close to the surface to even look at the keepsakes, so I quickly turned my back to them while taking the map and vid display to my bed. Spreading the fragile paper map carefully across the bed, I let the enormity of what I was seeing sink in. The system of caverns were huge. Rose had said that our people were in them. How could this be? They never would have let so many of us live, we could easily overpower them and take control. I could understand her warning about them killing in order to keep it a secret. If this was common knowledge, if they were being forced to live as we live, serving them, it would cause a rebellion. Unfortunately that wasn’t the only thing that didn’t make sense. There was barely enough food, electricity, and supplies for us to survive on. How could there be enough to support all of this? Carefully searching the map, it took me a moment to find our cave, deep in the system, far back from the entrances originally used to enter the system those untold years ago. Most Contributors do not know how many generations have passed with us living below. The government does not teach this in the schools, keeping it a carefully guarded secret. I believe the Elders know, but when I asked Crowley he changed the subject.

Pushing these thoughts aside, I searched the map, trying to find other ways out. It showed smaller caves leading toward the surface that were marked unstable, caved in, or abandoned. None of these could be accessed through our cavern. To find a way out, I would need to get us into the other caverns. Caverns where people like us were forbidden to enter on penalty of death. Not just our own deaths, but the deaths of our whole family line. The only time Contributors left this cavern was when we went to the Cavern of Death. Other than during that time, we were born here, lived here, and worked here, never to see anything else beyond this cavern unless you were a Secretary and then you were watched at all times until you were returned. A knock at my door startled me from my thoughts. Grabbing the bed cover, I threw it over the map and vid display before going to the door. Taking a deep breath while I turned the lock, I cracked the door open and was startled to see Tristian.

“I came to check on you,” he said, a small smile playing on his lips that didn’t reach his eyes.

Staring at him, I made a decision that I hoped was right. Opening my door, I stepped back and waited for him to enter. After a small hesitation, he stepped over the threshold, moving into the room. Closing the door, I could see my sisters peeking around the corner. Shaking my head, I asked, “They went and got you, didn’t they?”

Not bothering to pretend that he didn’t know what I was talking about, he said, “They’re worried,” the look on his face telling me he was, too.

I nodded my head that I understood, because I did. If they were acting like this, I would be dragging them from the house, forcing them to get on with their lives. Moving past him, I folded my arms around myself as I tried to find the words to begin with. Turning to face him, I looked––I mean really looked––at him. Now that Rose was gone, he was my best friend. We had played together since we were children. I had loved knowledge and soaked it up like a sponge and his father was the keeper of knowledge, happy to give me what I sought. His friendship with my father made it impossible to deny me. After my parents’ deaths, he watched out for my family, making sure that we never went hungry, that we never begged for death to escape the cold. Yes, Tristian would keep my secret, and more importantly, his father Crowley would do anything he could to help us, to ensure that he did not lose his son to the Cavern of Death. Between what Rose left behind and the knowledge of the Elders, I would have a real chance to save my family. 

 

“I need your word, Tristian, on the life of your father, that what I’m about to show you, tell you, you will never tell another,” I said, the seriousness of my words echoed in my tone. From the look on his face I could see I had insulted him, but that could not stop me––this was for the safety of my sisters. 

His dark eyes flashed with his anger before he nodded his head. “You have my word, on the life of my father,” he pushed out in a clipped tone.

Taking a deep breath, I nodded my head back and made my way to the bed, quickly pulling back the cover before I could change my mind. Turning my head to look at him, I watched as confusion turned to amazement. Not sparing me a glance, he walked up to the bed and carefully turned the map to face him. I could tell the exact moment he realized what he was looking at––his eyes grew round and his breath gasped before he shut all emotion behind a mask that even I couldn’t penetrate.

“How did you get this?” he demanded, ripping his gaze from the map to bore into mine. If I had not seen that moment of fear flash in them before he masked it, I might have been afraid.

Climbing onto the bed, I motioned for him to join me. “Rose gave this to me. She stole it from a forgotten room in the government center.” Reaching forward and taking his hand, keeping my eyes to his, I said, “She stole this so we can escape. I refuse to give my sisters to the Cavern of Death.” I announced this, waiting for his reaction.

He sharply nodded his head and tightened his hand in mine, releasing it before saying the words I hoped to hear: “So, how do we get out of here?”

I was so relieved when he said those words I had to close my eyes to hold back the tears. I wasn’t alone, he was going to go with me. When I opened my eyes, my feelings must have been there to read. With a crooked smile that had charmed more than half the girls in the caverns, he asked, “You didn’t really think I’d let you go alone, did you?”

Gasping out a breath, I threw myself forward, wrapping my arms around him, my relief so great that my body trembled from it. Gaining some control, I pulled back and looked at him with a smile I couldn’t contain. What I saw in his face wasn’t an answering smile but a brooding look that he gazed at me with when he wasn’t aware that I could see him. Ignoring it as I always did, I pulled out of his arms and sat back on my side of the bed. Reaching for the map between us, I turned it to face him, wanting to draw his thoughts back to our escape. “Tristian, look at the map and tell me what you see,” I demanded, tapping my finger to the paper in front of us. After what seemed like forever, I felt his eyes leave me to gaze down at the map. Careful to hide my relief, I waited for him to see what Rose and I had saw. Taking a quick glance up to his face, I saw the wrinkle appear between his eyes as it did whenever he was in deep thought. Looking back to the map I waited.

I watched as his hand reached out and grazed out over the map. “That’s not possible,” he whispered, even as the truth of what he saw crowded his mind. “How could they have hidden this?” he asked, not expecting an answer, just speaking his thoughts out loud. After a few more minutes, he got up from the bed angrily, pacing the small confines of my room before turning on his heels to come and stand before me. Reaching out, he gripped my shoulders with bruising hands, pulling me from the bed to stand before him. “Do you understand what you have found?” he hissed, shaking me in his anger. Pushing me back onto the bed he turned his back to me, walking to the door. Jumping up, I lunged for him, wrapping my hand around his arm, forcing him to turn and face me. I needed him. I couldn’t let him leave.

BOOK: In The Shadows of the Cavern of Death (Shadows of Death Book 1)
11.92Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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