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.

Torches along the walls being few and far between, they journeyed mostly in darkness. Ivan convinced Shylock, somehow, to relinquish Miles, who had yet to regain consciousness.

The tunnel was roughly hewn, with natural niches and small caverns scattered along the way. It took a long time to find one where they could tie up the sling and take a rest.

Tying it directly to the stone was difficult, and when it was done, an ominous rumble passed through the stone which was more than disheartening. Connie hung tensely, trying not to move.

Sally and Mander curled against the wall trying to catch their breath. Sequoia dropped to a crouch and let her hair drop around her face. With Miles returned to his arms, Shylock withdrew to a niche in the wall, clutching Miles close and rocking slowly.

Ivan walked slowly around the room, trying to decide what to do. He stood at the entrance to the small cavern and listened. The hissing and growls below might be his imagination, but he doubted it.  The whole Academy’s in danger, he said, mostly to himself.

There was no way to keep track of time, but it felt like nearly a day later when they reached the end of the tunnel. Sequoia stepped up to the solid stone wall, touching it lightly with her fingers.

This is the seal. End of the line, she said grimly. What now? Sally asked in a small voice. They stood in silence for a minute, Shylock glued to Ivan’s shoulder.

Shylock, hold Miles, Ivan said, lowering Miles down. Shylock clutched at him, scooting back, and Ivan stepped up next to Sequoia to examine the wall.

Do you think we can shift it? he asked. Sequoia shrugged a shoulder doubtfully. On three? He asked. She flexed her hands and nodded.

They grabbed the door in their enormous hands and pushed. Sequoia’s feet dug into the ground, making Mander take a nervous step back. The door rumbled faintly, but stayed fixed.

Finally they stepped back and caught their breath. Sequoia shook her head. Even if we could move it, that would just mean THEY could get out too. Ivan glanced behind them. The sounds of the creatures was getting closer every time they stopped.

Maybe I could … do something, Connie said uncertainly. Ivan considered, but Sequoia shook her head. Too risky. That was when Shylock stood up, and they turned to look.

He stood over Miles, head bowed, rolling his shoulders, and the hairs rose on the back of Ivan’s neck. Take him, Shylock said, but in a voice not his own, that sounded like bones scraping against each other. Ivan obeyed, scooping Miles up into his arms.

Shylock raised his head and Sally nearly bolted. His face seemed to flicker, his expression unearthly. He raised his hands slowly, extending them toward the sealed tunnel wall.

With a hiss that made Sequoia step back, he spread his hands apart and the wall crumbled before their eyes, a rush of fresh air hitting them in a wave.

Sally bolted across the threshold, dragging Mander and Connie along with her, and Sequoia quickly followed suit. Ivan backed up the tunnel, but kept his eyes on Shylock.

As they watched, something none of them could have named seemed to leave him, and he fell heavily forward onto the tunnel floor, panting hard and trembling violently.

He didn’t look at them, but groaned, touching his forehead to the ground, curling up into himself. What the hell was that? Connie hissed, but Ivan glanced at her warningly.

Shylock, he said cautiously, you with us? Shylock shook and didn’t look up, didn’t reply. Ivan glanced down the tunnel. They’re coming, Mander said nervously.

You’ve got to come now, Shylock, Ivan said, we can’t wait. Shylock glanced up, just for a fraction of a second, but it was long enough to see he was once again the shattered boy they knew, and just as frightened as they were by what he’d done.

Come on, Sequoia said, in a voice gentler than they’d heard her use, we’ve got to move, Shylock.  Every second we spend here is a second Miles’ back gets worse.

That got Shylock stumbling to his feet, toward Sequoia’s outstretched hand. That’s it, she coaxed, as he stepped over the remains of the dungeon seal. She took his hand, again quite gently, and said it’s almost over. You’ve got to do one last thing, and then we’ll go.

He met her eyes fearfully. You know you’ve got to close it back up, she said. Miles won’t be safe if those things can get through. His lips trembled but Shylock nodded.

We’re right here with you, she said. And this time they all saw it. Shylock stepped away from Sequoia, and lifted his trembling eyes and palms toward the ceiling.

In a rush of wind, another indistinct something descended upon him, rushed into him, and he straightened himself, raised his hands, and rocks tumbled, stalagmites grew, until the passageway was once again closed behind them. Shylock shuddered, struggling.

Shylock, Sequoia said in a sharper tone, and the thing inside him reluctantly departed. He fell again to his knees, his whole body shaking. Let’s go, Sequoia said, touching his shoulder.