Part Nine: Cold Hard Truth

Horrified didn’t even come close to explaining how Cameron was feeling as they carefully picked their way into the Cimmerian abyss below. Tears streaked down her cheeks involuntarily, and every few moments her shoulders would shudder from the cold, damp air inside. If you listened very carefully, one could hear distinctly water dripping from various corners of the cavern, and sharp reverberations of their boots scraping and sliding against the gravel floor that echoed into complete, utter darkness. It was definately spooky, even for Sydney’s tastes. She and Nigel both held flashlights while Cam walked just behind them. Mark was just to the rear of her shoulder, his rifle now poised at his hip. He warned them not to try anything, and knowing well of Sydney Fox’s martial arts skills kept her at the very front of the group. He was no idiot.

"How, how m-much further?" Cameron called out to Sydney, who was studying the three hundred year-old writings on the walls. She didn’t feel well...

"I’m really not sure Cam, I’m sorry." Syd looked back, fearing Cameron was becoming a little hypo-glycemic. It had been many, many hours since they had taken a break or eaten anything, not to mention their clothes were damp and didn’t protect from the elements anymore. She stopped and shone the light into Cam’s face. "We need to stop. She isn’t going to make it very much further without a rest Mark."

He hated to admit it, but the relic hunter was right. "Fine. Ten minutes is all you got."

Nigel couldn’t believe this troglodyte was the father of Cameron’s unborn child. He got down on his knees in front of her and unscrewed the top of his water bottle. "Here, sip on this... slowly. Slowly Cam, slowly okay?" She took it from him, her hands trembling just a little. All she did was concentrate on his soft spoken, comforting voice. His gentle hazel eyes were full of pity for her, knowing she must have overdone it when they were clearing the mouth of the cave. She was so much like Sydney in many ways... Always pushing harder, never giving up. It wasn’t like her to be this weak. Raising his hand to her head, Nigel brushed her mud caked hair from her languid eyes. "Syd, do you have anything she can nibble on?" He asked, patting his own pockets down with no luck. "Looks like we may have left everything back at camp."

"Not everything!" Sydney slid a small health bar from her breast pocket. "I figured we might need this." She said, and handed it to Nigel, then watched as he pulled the wrapper off and broke it into smaller pieces. He was so good with her, Sydney thought, suddenly feeling a pang of regret streak through her body. Her eyes were glued to his every movement, watching intently as he helped this woman regain some of her strength and climb back to her weary feet. For a moment she imagined she was the one Nigel was nursing back to health, but that feeling fled quickly when Mark started barking out orders again.

"Okay, she’s had enough! Let’s get moving!" He commanded, shoving Nigel ahead with his rifle. "We’ve got a pearl to uncover."

Sydney’s eyes were like daggers as she watched him push her friend around so roughly. All she wanted to do was kick his redneck ass, but that would have to wait a little longer...


"Great!" Sydney stopped. There in front of her was the first of several tunnels leading into who knows what. "Nigel, I'm stuck," she held her flashlight up to the ancient markings on the walls, "can you make this out?"

He came forward and put his glasses on, squinting to get a better look in such poorly lit conditions. "Hmm..." His stomach was in knots. He figured they had to be at least fifty or sixty feet below the surface by now, and with three ways to go, he didn’t want to make a mistake. "I want to be positive..." He muttered. There were too many reasons not to be. Cameron needed to be in a hospital, soon. Looking at his partner, he could see she was also feeling the effects of such a tumultuous journey and almost out of gas herself. "Okay, I think it’s, this way!" He pointed to their left and started down the corridor with the others in pursuit.

The sound of running water was becoming louder and more pronounced the further they descended, and Nigel picked up the pace. "Come on, this is it!" He called behind him. All four broke out into what looked like an underground cavern. The walls had a bright red tinge to them as well as something else... It had stars...

"You idiot! It’s led us right back out again!" Mark was furious. "I always thought you were a bumbling fool Bailey, now I KNOW it!" Without so much as another word he slammed the butt end of the rifle against the side of Nigel’s head, dropping him in an instant. Both Sydney and Cameron froze. Mark now had the gun pointed at Syd. "Don’t bother trying anything sweet pea, you’ll be dead before you take your first step. Cam!" She jumped. "Get the rope I have inside Professor Fox’s back pack, will you? Move!" She quickly did as she was told, afraid to even look at poor Nigel. "Now go over there and tie her up really good!"

Cameron took Sydney’s hands and fastened them together behind her back, then helped her into a sitting position. "I’m, I’m so sorry..." She whispered before moving away.

Mark put his gun down and stalked over to Cam, a menacing look in his cold dark, steely eyes. "Your turn my love."

Sydney’s mind was reeling with dread, not knowing if the blow had killed Nigel or just knocked him cold. She could see blood, but couldn’t tell if he was breathing or not. Cold, hungry, physically weakened and in pain, she felt salty hot tears prick at her eyes. If she hated anything on earth, it was the feeling of powerlessness. She could do nothing to help Cam, Nigel or herself.

Go to Part Ten.


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