The Stone

Lea became more and more frightened with each and every step. They were coming.

Adventure. Wasn't this whole thing about adventure? The map in the book, the familiar landscape, the cave, the tunnels, and now the Skeletal Soldiers. But she's not turning back now. Not until she gets the Stone.

She shone her flashlight on her map. Yes, she just needed to go forward until she reached the symbol on the wall.

As she walked, her hands and vision brushed past the wall, searching for traces of the mark.

Footsteps. The Skeletal Soldiers. They were like ghosts, like vapor. Solid in appearance, their particles simply scattered when Lea tried to hit them and regrouped as the weapon retreated. They would do anything to stop anyone from getting that stone. The Stone was theirs, for now.

The Skeletal Soldiers were approaching quickly. Lea ran as fast as she could, her fingertips brushing the cave wall, searching for anything irregular.

She ran. The Skeletal Soldiers weren't far behind. She could hear their rattling breaths. Their hands were reaching, reaching for her.

"Please," she whispered to no one, "Please let that mark be near."

Her fingertips felt something. A carved symbol almost worn smooth by time. This was it. She pushed hard against the symbol, as hard as she could, and the wall gave way. Taken by surprise, she stumbled in. The wall closed behind her. She listened as the footsteps grew fainter and fainter as the Skeletal Soldiers went farther and farther away.

She turned to look at the room she was in. The walls were covered with tiny crystals that magnified the light from Lea's flashlight. At the other end of the room was a wooden door. In the middle of the room was a large gem. It was the size of an apple, with the colors of a pastel rainbow. It was glowing a soft white light.

The Stone.

Lea gently picked up the Stone and put it in her jacket pocket. But before she left, she filled all her pockets with crystals. Just in case.

She pressed her ear against the door for a few moments before deciding it was safe. Then she pushed open the door and stepped into the corridors.

Lea felt lighthearted as she walked between the sheets of limestone. She was eager to get home with her Stone. Victory was near. It felt like having chocolate ice cream at your fingertips; not quite in your hand, but close.

Just before the exit, the corridor widened to form a room-like place. In her unrestrained glee she failed to notice the Skeletal Soldiers crouching in the shadows.

They approached slowly. Each slow and measured footstep was in union. They surrounded her.

Lea didn't know what to do. She considered her chances at running for it. Low. Then she remembered the crystals. She took out a handful and threw it at the Skeletal Soldiers blocking the exit.

The Soldiers screamed an inhumanly high scream. As the crystals hit them, they melted into a pile of ashes. But the scream had made the rocks shake and quiver as the cave roof threatened to give way.

Lea ran for it. She ran as fast as she could. As soon as she was through the door, the roof collapsed, crushing all the Skeletal Soldiers. The cave was hers. She would explore her new territory later, but first, she wanted to go home and sleep. She took out her Stone to examine it. It was warm to the touch and gently pulsing, like a heart. The soft light washed over its surroundings. The girl trotted through the woods toward her house, one hand over the Stone, to make sure it was safe, one hand holding the flashlight, to blaze her trail. Victory was sweet.