Chapter 273

Nathan

The suffocating darkness of the mines loomed ominously before us, a stark contrast to the full and bright moon overhead.

As the moon’s blue shine cast long shadows over the rugged terrain, Levi, Angela, and I found ourselves tethered to the mouth of the cave, waiting. Each minute felt like an eternity, and the chilly air did little to soothe our nerves.

Somewhere off in the distance, the sound of a lone bird broke the silence, its song echoing eerily against the stone walls of the cave.

Levi paced back and forth, occasionally stopping to toss a pebble into the dark void.

The echo of the stone bouncing seemed to emphasize the depth of the abyss Olivia had ventured into.

“She should’ve been out by now,” Levi finally broke the silence, his voice edged with worry. “It shouldn’t take this long.”

Angela, trying to conceal her own fears, responded with an attempt at optimism, “You know these mines. They’re like a maze. It’s easy to lose track of time in there.” She wrapped her arms tighter around her, shivering against the cold breeze that whistled past us.

Leaning against a large boulder, I stared intently at the cavern entrance, waiting for any sign of Olivia. Angela’s words had weight, but that didn’t ease the dread gnawing at my gut.

“She’s strong,” I murmured, as much to reassure myself as to comfort the others. “Always has been.”

Angela’s brows furrowed, concern evident in her gaze. “Nathan, do you really think she can navigate that hellhole alone?”

A bitter smile curled my lips.

“More than once, I’ve underestimated her. Every time I’ve ended up being proven completely wrong about her capabilities.”

Memories of our childhood adventures flitted across my mind. Levi and Angela hadn’t been there to experience it. Right now, more than ever, I wished that Alvin was here to share in the experience. If only he hadn’t been working with Ryan, like a traitor.

“You know,” I said, a soft smile playing across my lips as I fiddled with a twig in my hands, “There was this one time when Olivia practically saved my life.”

Levi cocked his head and shot me a quizzical look. “She saved your life?”

“Tell us,” Angela said, clearly intrigued. “I don’t think she’s ever mentioned this to me before.”

I smirked slightly. “Once, when I was fourteen…”

The woods, that day, had looked inviting.

I was fourteen, my head full of the turbulent emotions typical of adolescence. The dense canopy of trees promised serenity, a world away from the complexities of teenage life.

So, I had ventured in, letting my feet guide me, the sounds of rustling leaves and chirping birds a soothing lullaby to my overwhelmed mind.

I had walked for what felt like hours, the familiar paths giving way to lesser-known trails until I had lost any sense of direction. By the time the realization dawned that I might be lost, the sun was beginning its descent, casting an orange glow through the trees.

Still, youthful arrogance had kept panic at bay. I didn’t think much of it, and figured that I could eventually find my way home.

But nature, it seemed, had other plans. The sky, which had been clear and sunny earlier, suddenly darkened.

Fat droplets of rain began pelting down, quickly turning into a torrential downpour. I scrambled, seeking shelter and soon found the hollow of a large tree. I squeezed myself in, huddling against its damp insides as the world outside turned to a watery blur.

The storm felt unending. The rain’s roar and the wind’s howl were the only things I could hear, drowning out my own thoughts. When the rain finally subsided well after darkness had fallen, I emerged, soaked and shivering. The woods, though still familiar, looked different—distorted by the aftermath of the storm.

As I tried to retrace my steps, I reached the ravine I’d hiked through earlier that day—Edward’s Gulch.

But it was unrecognizable now. The gentle stream had transformed into a raging river, its waters ferocious and capped with white. Fallen trees floated down the river, a testament to the power of the waters. I wouldn’t be able to swim or wade across, and there was no way I would ever make that jump.

My heart sank. The passage home was blocked.

The first wave of real panic set in. My clothes, still damp from the rain, clung to me, making the cold night air even more unbearable.

Resigned, I sought shelter again, this time under a canopy of thick bushes. Sleep was elusive, punctuated by the sounds of the night and my growing anxiety.

Would anyone realize I was gone? Would they even come looking?

Morning came, its soft light failing to quell the rising panic in my chest. The river, though less ferocious, still raged on, making the crossing impossible.

As the day wore on, fear’s grip tightened, bringing with it visions of spending another night alone, lost and cold.

But then, cutting through the dense quiet of the woods, I heard it—the most beautiful sound: my name being called.

“Nathan! Nathan!”

I looked up, disbelief flooding me. Through the trees, her silhouette emerging from the mist, was Olivia.

Her familiar golden hair, usually so neatly tied, was disheveled, her face painted with concern. Behind her, a team of searchers from our town.

Relief washed over me in waves. I sprinted towards her, and as our paths converged, we collided in a tight embrace. Her warmth, her scent, the sound of her heartbeat against my ear—it was all overwhelmingly comforting.

“Thought you could just wander off, huh?” Olivia’s voice quivered with a mix of relief and lingering worry.

I pulled back, meeting her gaze. “I didn’t think the woods would turn against me.”

She chuckled, her hazel eyes shimmering with unshed tears. “They’re unpredictable, just like the people who wander into them without telling anyone. Idiot.”

As we made our way back, led by Olivia and the search team, the gravity of the situation began to dawn on me.

It wasn’t just the ordeal of being lost; it was the realization of how much Olivia meant to me. In that moment of reunion, amid the fear and relief, I’d felt something deeper, something I couldn’t quite name then.

When I finished telling my story, I was met with silence. Levi and Angela seemed to be taking it all in. Within the depths of the forest surrounding the cave, I couldn’t hear anything. It was a little concerning, for the forest to be so quiet, but I figured that it was our presence that was frightening the wildlife.

Drawing a deep breath, Angela hesitated before asking, “Nathan, why her? Why did it have to be Olivia to venture into the mines?”

I looked towards the horizon, the sun sinking lower, bathing everything in a soft golden hue. “Because she understands them. Her father worked these mines. Their history, their dangers... it’s all personal for her.” Clenching my fists, I added, “She’s smart, Angela. And strong. If anyone can handle what lies in those depths, it’s Olivia.”

Levi sighed heavily, his previous jovial mood dimming. “She’s got guts, I’ll give her that. But these mines, they’re not just a labyrinth of tunnels. There are stories, legends of the spirits that roam these depths.”

Angela shivered, her face paling. “Don’t bring up those old tales now, Levi. Not when she’s still down there.”

Suddenly, a gust of wind blew past us, stronger than the gentle breezes from earlier. It whipped our faces, carrying with it a hint of smoke. Startled, I turned around, following the direction of the wind.

My heart dropped.

The town below, once a quiet haven bathed in the dying sun’s glow, was now alight with fierce, hungry flames. Buildings were engulfed, the smoke rising in thick, dark plumes against the twilight sky.

“Ryan,” I murmured. “He’s back.”