Chapter 200-2
Not A Small-Town Girl
----
âHey, youâre my sister. Looking out for you is my job,"
Xavier said, puffing up a little.
âNow thatâs the kind of son I like to see," Howard said with
asmile. "Iâll take the lead. Danielle, you and your mom stay
in the middle."
"Danielle nodded. "Got it."
âWith Howard in front, they moved forward in tense silence.
No one dared breathe too loudly.
âAs they moved deeper into the cave, the squeaking grew
louder, filling the air like an eerie soundtrack.
"Danielle switched off her flashlight and glanced up. Her
stomach churned. The ceiling was covered with bats,
massive ones, way larger than anything she had ever
seen.
----
"Howard, Vivian, and Xavier followed
her gaze, a hatever calm they
had managed to hold onto vanished:
Their knées felt weak, anda S
creeping dread settled over them. If
the.bats decided to attack, they
Me dnât stand a chance.
----
âThen, out of nowhere, Xavier let out a loud hiccup. The
sound echoed through the cavern, startling a few bats into
restless motion.
âXavier slapped his hand over his mouth, his face was
pale. âReally? A hiccup now?â he cursed himself silently as
he glanced nervously at the ceiling.
âThe rest of the group froze, barely daring to breathe as the
bats stirred.
"A handful flapped their wings and darted around, but
eventually, they settled down again. The silence returned,
thick and heavy, but their relief was short-lived.
----
The next second, Vivian stepped on
a branch. Th⬠Sound was
particularly toud in the empty cave
Their netits sank. Some bats were
already flying towards them. oO
inact all the bats on the top
ofthe cave seemed to wak@up and
flâ¬w towards them.
----
Light the fire!" Danielle yelled, her voice cutting through
the panic.
âThe squeaking grew louder, the chilling sound wrapping
around them like a threat.
âWhat do we do? Theyâre coming right at us!" Xavier
yelped, glancing back nervously. His stomach churned at
the sight of the swarm, and his legs felt like jelly.
âHoward fumbled with the lighter, his hands shaking. No
matter how hard he tried, it wouldnât catch. "Dad, give me
the lighter," Danielle said sharply. "Weâll run ahead and
figure it out."
âHoward passed it to her, his face flushed with guilt. The
swarm was almost on them, and he hadnât even managed
this simple task.
----
Danielle darted behind Xavier without hesitation, her
movements quick and deliberate. "Keep moving! Iâll hold
them off and catch up."
âVivian spun around, her eyes wide with disbelief. "Are you
out of your mind? You only have a dagger, donât stay
behind! Danielle, weâll face this together!"
âXavier, despite trembling from head to toe, stepped up.
His jaw clenched, his eyes full of determination. "Mom, you
and Dad go ahead. Find somewhere safe. Iâll stay with
Danielle and protect her."
âGo, now! Stop wasting time, or none of us are getting out
of here," Danielle said sharply, gripping her dagger like her
life depended on it. Her decision was final, she would hold
them off, no matter what.
----
"Howard grabbed Vivianâs arm and
pulled her fpGard "Letâs go. Danielle
knows wkatâsheâs doing. We canât ~
make thi@harder for her!" Vivian wa
olance back at the kids with ag
heayyheart. âWhy did I step om that
bratich? Now Danielle and Xavier are
paying the price.â