Posted in Posted by Jane Austen

Good grief! Ya'll are some demanding people! Fine, I'll will post more...but only because there is nothing to do in the "dungeon" that R.K. threw me in. I would do one of my kung-foo moves on her...but then my "Prince Charming" wouldn't get the wonderful chance to save me, then what fun would that be? lol Anyway, to read the first part of Jake's story..go HERE

“Where are you?”

 “I’m in a dark room with one door, the whole place is steel. I feel like I’m in a modern castle dungeon.”

 “Whatever you do, don’t go out that door. It probably will not open though, so don’t even try it. Go to the wall east of the door and remove the second steel plate from the left, then pull the lever.”

 Groaning with pain, he grabbed the wall and pulled himself up. Slices of white fire shot up his leg making him feel like he was about to past out. What a welcome relief that would be, he thought. But the numbing cold made his survival instincts come alive. He slung his gun around his back, drug his leg to the wall, and removed the plate that was heavier than it looked, then groped in the darkness for the lever. The wall immediately swung in revealing a long hall.

 “The wall is open.” 

 “Good, now run.”

 Jake almost rolled his eyes. Shot in the leg and nearly frozen, he was lucky he could walk. He started down the hallway, but stopped short. He turned and looked back at the body lying on the ground. What if he had a family? He was dressed in the same camo-pants and black shirt as Jake. He felt something for this man. Had they known each other long? Jake felt a sense of grief at the thought of loosing a friend, though he didn’t know who he was. He stumbled back to the man and knelt down beside him. He didn’t know if he could make it if he tried to carry him out. He looked down at his arms; he looked strong enough to do it. Well, more than strong enough, either he must workout immensely for the fun of it everyday or he was a wrestler. But the thought of putting any more pressure on his leg that felt as though it was about to explode made the cold go away for a moment. He didn’t know how, but he knew this man wouldn’t have left him behind.

 He bit down on his bottom lip and lifted the man onto his shoulder. His breath escaped and pain came crashing through as he stood unsteadily on his good leg.

 No pain, no pain, I feel no pain. The chant ran through his head as though he had been brainwashed. He stepped into the hallway and the voice in his ear said, “I have finally located your position. What are you doing on that side of the caves?”

 “Your guess is as good as mine.”

 “Rogers is with you? I haven’t been able to get him on his radio.”

 Jake shifted the man on his shoulder, “Yeah, I guess he is.”

 “Good, now take a right at the end of the hall.”

 “It’s dark, can’t see a thing.”

 “Ok, I’ll see if I can turn on the security lights. I don’t identify any dangerous activity around you, but the moment I do, be ready to be back in darkness.”

 Jake took a right at the end of the hall. Caves? This didn’t look like a cave. More like an underground maze of steel corridors that you would see on an Xbox game. The air wasn’t quite so cold in the hall, but he could still see his breath come out in big clouds.

 “Alright, go through this door coming up on the right. You are now in the western cave, coming onto an exit.”

An exit…an end to this nightmare. His breath was coming in hard now, the harder he breathed, the more the frigid air burned his throat and lungs.

 “It’s so cold,” he whispered.

 “It’s going to be ok, Jake. I’ll get you out. Hold on-...Jake pick up the speed, I’m getting some movement going on somewhere behind you.”

 “I’m going as fast as I can.” Jake panted.

 “Dude, you are barely crawling. You have to go faster, no telling what this thing is and you don’t want to find out.”

 “How much farther to the exit?”

 Jake could hear the anxiety in the voice.

 “About 80 seconds at the rate you’re going, but this thing is moving faster than you and according to my surveillance, this thing is big.”

 No fear, no fear, I feel no fear. Jake chanted through his head. He picked up the pace, half running, half hobbling.

 “I see the door,” Jake choked out.

 “Good, I’m going to half to turn out those lights though. It knows you are there. Hurry!”

 Sweat from the struggle leaked down his back, but froze about midway into little drops of ice. One second later, Jake was plunged in darkness. Straight ahead, I will not alter my course.  Perseverance, determination, willpower, purpose …I have all of that. I can make it.     

 Jake heard the stomping of heavy boots in the distance.

 “20 seconds, you’re almost there man. Go faster!”

 Jake heft Rogers into a better position so that he could reach his gun.

 “15 seconds, he is gaining! Lighten your load. You can make it!” the voice almost shouted in his ear.

 Jake grabbed the butt of his gun. He would not leave Rogers behind. The sound of steps were closer. He turned and opened fire. Sparks flew as the bullets rapidly ricocheted off the steel walls. He heard a yell but didn’t know if it was the voice or his attacker.

 Jake stumbled, but didn’t cry out from the pain. There is no pain. Jake tried to run faster.

 “10 seconds. This thing is almost on top of you.”

 He turned and shot off another round. The shots echoed of the walls, ringing in Jake's numb head. I will make it.

 “5 seconds, go, Jake, go!” the voice pleaded.

 I will make it.

 “3!”

 At the same time Jake reach and opened the door, he heard a growl and felt a hand on his arm as he stumbled outside and rolled onto hot sand. Rogers going one way, and he the other. The door slammed behind him closing in his enemy, whoever he was.

 Heat poured over his body like a wave. The sun warmed his frozen face. His whole body was numb; the only thing he felt was relief…and heat. It felt so good.    

 “You’re safe, Jake, you’re safe. You made it.” the voice in his ear whispered, “Well done.”

 Then the world faded and Jake’s world went black.

~ Jane Austen ~