Chapter Thirteen
A Girl Named Mischief
My eyes darted around the dark, my heart racing. Were Bane and his henchmen on the other side searching for someone small enough to slip between the stones. An ice-cold cable wrapped its way down my spine. Or were they waiting for me outside, sitting on the edge of the cliff casting pebbles into the canyon?
I backed out from between the rocks and flew through the muddled mineshafts, using the footprints I had scribbled on the stones to negotiate the obstacle course. For a while I lost myself in the mindless frenzy—frantically running from rock to rock, deciphering my secret code and ignoring the arrows I’d put up to deceive any possible pursuers. I became so caught up in the game that I didn’t hear the quiet footfalls behind me. Someone was following me, …show more content…
Then I zigzagged through the cave corridors until I came to the section where I would have to inchworm my way to freedom. I jammed my flashlight into my pocket and dropped to my hands and knees, trying to still my hammering heart as I began the long slide to the other side.
Halfway through the tunnel, the ground beneath me rumbled then the ceiling beams creaked and groaned. Huge chunks of black stones fell directly in front of me, and a shower of dust filled the air. I coughed, threw my arms over my head, and lingered in the swirling darkness, waiting for the rest of the rafters to tumble down on top of me.
But nothing happened. I reached forward and rolled the rocks out of my way. Then, breathing hard, I slipped the rest of way through the narrow passageway into a limestone chamber. I switched on my flashlight and saw I was beneath the ceiling of stalactites. I listened for voices but heard nothing except the faint drip, drip, drip of water trickling down the walls. I turned off the light then slowly moved toward the mouth of the cave. Again, I listened and silently prayed I wouldn’t be
A Girl Named Mischief
My eyes darted around the dark, my heart racing. Were Bane and his henchmen on the other side searching for someone small enough to slip between the stones. An ice-cold cable wrapped its way down my spine. Or were they waiting for me outside, sitting on the edge of the cliff casting pebbles into the canyon?
I backed out from between the rocks and flew through the muddled mineshafts, using the footprints I had scribbled on the stones to negotiate the obstacle course. For a while I lost myself in the mindless frenzy—frantically running from rock to rock, deciphering my secret code and ignoring the arrows I’d put up to deceive any possible pursuers. I became so caught up in the game that I didn’t hear the quiet footfalls behind me. Someone was following me, …show more content…
Then I zigzagged through the cave corridors until I came to the section where I would have to inchworm my way to freedom. I jammed my flashlight into my pocket and dropped to my hands and knees, trying to still my hammering heart as I began the long slide to the other side.
Halfway through the tunnel, the ground beneath me rumbled then the ceiling beams creaked and groaned. Huge chunks of black stones fell directly in front of me, and a shower of dust filled the air. I coughed, threw my arms over my head, and lingered in the swirling darkness, waiting for the rest of the rafters to tumble down on top of me.
But nothing happened. I reached forward and rolled the rocks out of my way. Then, breathing hard, I slipped the rest of way through the narrow passageway into a limestone chamber. I switched on my flashlight and saw I was beneath the ceiling of stalactites. I listened for voices but heard nothing except the faint drip, drip, drip of water trickling down the walls. I turned off the light then slowly moved toward the mouth of the cave. Again, I listened and silently prayed I wouldn’t be