Unspeakable, Part 20

They had several weeks of quiet. Everyone settled into their own corners of the cavern. Mander started swimming in the magma pools, scaring Sally half to death as he emerged one day.

Unspeakable, Part 19

Miles lay quietly in the niche of stone, feeling curiously at peace. He listened to the lava flow and Shylock breathe in his sleep, and he waited. The others came one by one, to talk.

Unspeakable, Part 18

Miles woke flat on his back in a stone shelf, Boy bending over him. He tried to move and thought better of it. How long? he asked. A long while was Boy’s reply. How do you feel?

Unspeakable, Part 17

We’ve got to keep moving, Ivan said at last. Where? Mander asked. We’re sealed in. Ivan looked around at them in the nonexistent light and said finally we’ll find something.

Unspeakable, Part 16

Mander woke in the night with a start as a hissing, scrabbling noise slid past his head through the wall. He shot off his slab and into the room, breathing hard. The noise passed by.

Unspeakable, Part 15

They didn’t dare take much time to celebrate their improved fortunes. Before long, they were hearing scratching and scrabbling behind the walls, stalking around the sealed door.

Unspeakable, Part 14

Who? Miles demanded. Can we trust them? Absolutely? Sally nodded. Yes. Definitely. Boy and I were in the same classes together for ages, I know him.