Chapter Three
Showers continued throughout the morning while Fee threw on a striped shirt and a pair of jeans. Thunder rumbled like nature at war with itself, while sizable clouds dumped buckets of rainwater. A forty-minute drive on slick roads worried her, creating a dilemma. Fee considered not showing, to avoid facing Faron’s disapproval at her faking an interest in something dangerous. So why did she go? The answer didn’t make any sense to that question, either. She wanted to see him. She liked how he had been protective toward her, not to mention his voice and his intense eyes. He even promised to help her overcome her fears. That had to be the real reason.
There were only a few cars in the parking lot. She hoped one was his. Most had out-of-state tags, though he was local. He just had to be here. Wasting no time, she jogged through the rain until she got under the roof. She took a moment to compose herself. With her hands in her pockets, she inched closer to the counter, needing to see him. There he stood, reading a magazine. He was absorbed in an article—probably some outdoorsy type. Not much business on a rainy day. His wet hair looked like he had recently run his fingers through it. It gave him the appearance of a brooding artist.
He jumped upright when he caught her in his periphery and diverted his attention elsewhere, as if concealing whatever he had been thinking before rooting it back on her.
“Hi,” he said, sounding shocked.
“Hi,” Fee said, kicking a pebble with her boot.
Why was he staring at her like that with his lips parted?
“I’m here for the tour,” she reminded him.
How many girls did he do this to?
“The tour?” his voice faltered.
Not this, again!
“Right, no cave,” she nervously laughed. “I heard that before. Remember?”
Did he honestly not remember?
“Sorry about doing that to you, yesterday. I was just teasing, you know. But, seriously, there are no tours today.”
“But you said…you said you would help me. That’s not very nice. I believed you!”
What a horrible person!
Fee crossed her arms over her chest and glared, hoping he felt sorry. He probably intended to stand her up at the coffee shop, as well. She turned, trying to spot her car, so she could dash through the rain toward it. There it sat, two hundred yards away.
“Wait!”
He quickly came around the counter, and she took a step back, but he closed the gap between them. She clenched her fists. Not a violent person, she just wanted to defend her sensitive nature from any more of his meanness.
“Fee…”
He remembered her name. Didn’t matter. She turned away. He touched her elbow, gently pulling. Why did he feel the need to touch her? He should keep his hands to himself!
“Please, let me explain.”
“Go ahead.”
“The cave closes when it rains this hard for this long. The water rapidly rises, and we could get caught in there. We could drown.”
“Oh.” That made sense.
He stepped even closer, making her gulp.
“You thought I wasn’t keeping my word to you, didn’t you?”
“I guess not drowning is a good excuse.”
“I’m really sorry, Fee.”
“But I need to practice.”
“So, it’s still on for today whether it costs your life or not?”
“I haven’t heard from the others. I don’t know.”
He grimaced. He didn’t understand the importance, perhaps.
“Can we just go in there for a minute?”
He held his hand out. She didn’t take it.
“On one condition.”
“Which is?”
“You don’t let go of me for one minute. A flashflood in a cave could quickly separate us and pull you under. I wouldn’t be able to save you.”
His palm awaited hers. He must have seen her hesitate. She didn’t want to explain that she found him a little bit too appealing to be that close to him, that touching his hand might cause her to lose her mind.
“Here, wear a staff raincoat at least. I don’t want to get fired today.”
He grabbed a blue jacket from behind the counter and tossed it to her. She threw it on, eager to be going with him. He took her hand before they were even near the cave. His touch jolted her. He wasn’t even her boyfriend, yet it felt intimate. She tensed, and he cast an incredulous look. It made him even more handsome, even though her signals suggested the opposite.
“You don’t like me, do you?”
“No, it’s not that at all.”
He seemed to contemplate that.
“You really should wait until the rain clears. Do you care that you are putting your life in danger and mine as well?”
“We don’t have to go far.”
Faron shook his head as if not believing her stubbornness, but continued leading her like she was an insolent child. When they entered, he glanced one last time at her to see if she would change her mind. She didn’t. The cooler air embraced them, urging them into the dark. The first room was the easiest. Plenty of light and an even surface helped her get her nerve up.
“I still don’t know why you are doing this, but I hope he’s worth it.”
“It’s not like that. He has a girlfriend.”
“And you think doing something like this will get his attention?”
She stopped in her tracks.
“I’m just trying to understand, Fee.”
“She’s beautiful. I don’t have a chance. Even if I dive into a volcano to impress him.”
He chuckled and said, “Maybe you should give your time to someone who likes you for who you are and what you like to do.”
“That’s not very easy. I’m an outsider. I’m not from here.”
“That’s obvious.”
“I stand out?”
“In every way: your accent, mannerisms, clothes.”
Fee rolled her eyes.
“Well, it wasn’t my choice to come here.”
“What brings you, then?”
Her mouth opened, but nothing came out.
“That bad?”
She curled her fists against her eyes, trying not to let any tears leak out. The wound was too fresh to not fall apart.
“Hey, I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“It’s not you. I moved from Virginia a few weeks ago…after my Dad died.”
As if automatic and without thinking, he pulled her into his arms and whispered, “I’m sorry, Fee.”
Surprised by the affection, she sucked in a startled breath, but sank against him, too dejected to care if it was inappropriate. No one, not even her mother, had had the strength to help her through it.
“I know it hurts,” he told her, sympathetically holding her in his arms, tenderly stroking her hair. It felt natural, like he meant it. “I won’t ask any more questions. I think I understand.”
“Don’t be so sure.”
“Try me.”
She didn’t answer. Instead, she confessed, “I didn’t want to break down in front of you. I don’t know what you must think of me.”
“I think you could use a friend.”
Fee pulled away, confused and uncomfortable.
“Don’t be embarrassed. I lost my mother. I know the pain.”
“What happened, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“She left when I was seven.”
“She just left?”
“And never came home.”
“How could she leave you? You were just a little kid.”
“I guess I wasn’t the kid she wanted.”
“That’s horrible,” Fee told him, wishing to comfort him, but not sure how. Maybe by changing the subject and refocusing. “You’re a natural tour guide. I think I only enjoyed yesterday because of you.”
“Thanks. I love this cavern,” Faron said. “It’s very special to me.”
“I do like it somewhat. Maybe if I can take my fear away, I can see it more completely. I want to be able to enjoy it with my new friends.”
“Come on, then,” Faron said, leading her to the bridge as if he found a purpose in helping her.
She banished her emotions to the crevices below, concentrating on the mission. They neared a problem area, where there was a ten foot drop on both sides. Images of falling filled her head. She focused on him, hoping to override the panic. He stood like a rock.
“Can you get closer and look over the rail?”
Fee shook her head. This wasn’t going to be easy.
“Come closer, slowly,” he encouraged, as if trying to suppress a laugh. “You aren’t going to fall.”
She dragged her feet, still a little sore, toward him. Her heart beat faster. He put his arms around her waist like an anchor.
“I’ve got you. Now look over the edge. Tell me what you see.”
She cautiously extended her neck, fighting vertigo. She fought to stop the spinning. She took a few more breaths. The untamed backdrop revealed itself once she pushed the fear back. She mentally clung to the sloping shapes, rounded by time.
“I see brownish boulders, some are large, others are in piles, but smooth, and water is rushing over them.”
“Pay attention to details. When you go into caves, keep landmarks in your head, hunt for danger spots, and find the safest route, if possible. At the very least, keep stable footing.”
The water churned faster. It had risen several inches as rain continued outside. She closed her eyes.
“Is it too much?”
“Almost.”
“If I let go and step back, can you stand here by yourself?”
She shrugged.
“Try.”
“If I act like this in front of them, they will all laugh at me. I think they are counting on that. Or at least one of them is.”
“Focus on that.” Faron stepped back, saying, “Use that to motivate you.”
Cool air lashed out on all sides of her. She felt unprotected, ready to fall. His arms had sheltered her. She didn’t like feeling alone and in danger.
“How do you feel?”
“I’m okay.” She answered too soon.
As if by a switch, without warning, the lights went out, blanketing them in complete darkness along with the overwhelming notion that they were trapped, with no chance to find their way out. Fear, like venom, crept upward, paralyzing each muscle. Without sight, other senses kicked in. Fee heard the wild water, probably rising at that moment to wipe out the bridge, and she wanted to back away from the edge, but she couldn’t. She didn’t know where it was. Like a drowning victim, she reached for something to cling to. The nothingness stretched infinitely like the void growing inside. She needed solidity, safety.
“Faron!”
Desperate fingers clawed through thick shadows, finding
emptiness. She kept trying, about to fall apart. The cave loomed larger in her imagination, making her lose all sense of direction.
“Where are you?” she cried, flailing her hands around until she bumped something hard. Fingertips brushed over fabric and slid across its surface, realizing she had found his chest, feeling muscles beneath. Before she grabbed hold of his raincoat, he vanished. He must have purposely taken a step back, away from her. So she lunged forward, swinging her fists until it once again hit a flat surface. She wanted to strike him. Again, he moved away.
“Why are you hiding from me?”
She hyperventilated as her lungs forgot how to manage air. She had the urge to lie down and curl up into a ball until the light returned. Anger kept her firmly planted, ready to fight.
“You might as well use this moment to learn,” he calmly told her. “If your headlamp or flashlight goes out when you are in a deep cave, what will you do?”
“Get rescued.”
“Can you stay calm for a moment and try to think your way out?”
She angrily stomped her feet in answer.
“Stay still,” he sighed. His hands found her, and he gripped her arms, pulling her against his chest like the volunteer cave rescuer he was. She clutched him back, not wanting to be alone.
“Breathe.”
“I can’t. You…are horrible.”
Her nails dug into his jacket, not about to let him do that again. She hated being close to him, yet she was too scared not to be.
“What if no one is coming, Fee? What if your friends leave you and can’t remember your location when they do find help?”
“Faron, just get me out of here. I’m too scared.”
He sighed. “This is hopeless.”
“We’re going to die?”
“No, Fee. I’m a cave rescuer. This is second nature to me. You, on the other hand, learning how to survive without some training from me, is hopeless.”
He flicked on a flashlight, illuminating a path. He must have had it in his pocket the whole time.
“You jerk!”
Ignoring that, he explained, “They are shutting down the cave until the weather clears. Let’s go.”
He shone the light on the pathway. Fee took hesitant steps down the dicey slopes. He probably knew the lights were going to be turned out, and she overreacted.
“It’s too dark. You could have told me you had a flashlight.”
“You have to trust me. Never go into a cave with someone you don’t trust.”
“But, what if we slip and fall?”
“Fee, you aren’t trusting me.”
She trembled. At least bats weren’t flapping overhead. Her thoughts shifted when they stopped walking. No more survival training. She wasn’t up for it. She protested, trying to force them forward. She needed to keep going, but he was in front of her, pressing closer to her. His fingers lifted her chin. His face tilted closer. Warm breath startled her.
“Fee,” he whispered, brushing his lips lightly over hers. “Trust me.”
That wasn’t helping. It brought on different fears, those involving her heart. She didn’t want to lose that or her life in a cave. She pulled back only slightly, on account of the logical side of her brain.
“I don’t even know you,” she complained. “You hid from me. How do I know you won’t do that, again?”
He planted a soft kiss, lingering, before saying, “Use your instincts. Trust them to survive.”
Feelings stirred, making her want to believe. Only one thing could kill fear, but that had no place here. No, she couldn’t like him, so why did she have trust in him? He was a guide. It was his job, yet goodness emanated in his intentions. It filled her like an inner light, keeping panic at bay. She kissed him in return, even if her brain questioned such a hasty move. Like a well overflowing, vitality spiraled up her spine with the innate desire to live and return to the light outside.
“Keep the fire of life in your core,” he whispered, “like a coiled snake springing to its defense. Never give up.”
Faron let go and backed away, causing her to stumble. Her legs felt shaky. That so did not help. She had no choice but to follow, keeping one hand on the cold railing and one on him. Water had risen, splashing onto sections of the bridge, making it slippery. Her fingers tightened around the fabric of his jacket that she clung to for dear life. He slowed over slick spots and down inclines until they came to a dry, flat surface.
Fee breathed a deep sigh of relief. Her legs ceased shaking. Muted daylight peeked through the cave mouth. She never loved the sun more than at that moment. Powerful rays pushed through a break in the clouds, dividing the darkness.
“You did it,” he softly told her, though without looking at her, his sadness was palpable.
“You’re disappointed in me?”
“No, but you just confirmed how far from ready you are to traverse caves.”
“What if I couldn’t make it out? Would you have left me?”
“Not a chance. I would have slung you over my shoulder and carried you out.”
Fee reddened. The reality of what happened between them hit her after the trauma of the darkness subsided. He had kissed her. Did that come with any expectation? Should she read more into it, or did he use it as a means to get her mind off her fear and onto him? Someone she needed to believe in at the moment?
“Fee?”
“Yes?”
“Should we go to that coffee shop and meet up with your friends?” he asked. “If you still want me to come, that is.”
“Yeah, I think I need you to come.”
He grinned widely, and she bit her lip. It didn’t come out how she had intended, and she wasn’t sure how to clarify it. She hoped he knew that she needed him as a support system and a guide, not as a boy who seemed to have been coming on to her.
“By the way, Faron. How old are you?”
“Eighteen.”
“Two years older than me. I’m sure my mother will love that.” Fee reddened, not meaning to say that aloud. He just continued to grin, putting her at ease.
They headed to the parking lot, and she motioned toward her car. But he suggested, “I could drive.”
“I don’t want to leave my car way out here. It’s a long way back,” she explained, wondering if that was his intent.
“But you could ride with me if you want to.”
“Thanks, but I’ll take my Jeep®. I have first aid gear in there. I’m not sure if you and your friends are adept enough in caving.”
“We better go find out.”
She waited until he pulled out behind her before leading the way to Huntsville. Few cars dotted the highway on Sunday, so she enjoyed the peace. It gave her time to go over in her mind what had happened between them. Never had someone been so forward, she told herself. Nor had anyone ever been so gentle. He was never meant to be a part of the caving plan. Now, she couldn’t see him not being a part of it.
His lips had touched hers. How could that not mean anything? She didn’t take affection lightly.
Glancing in the rearview mirror, she checked to make sure he was still following her. He seemed deep in thought as well. She checked the road again. All was clear, so she sneaked another peek at Faron. His face seemed longer, wider. A morphing image startled her, and she hit the brakes while her mind wrestled with the hallucination, nearly running off the road. She regained control and didn’t look behind her anymore for several minutes. She didn’t want to see what she thought she saw, a sort of reptile creature. Still shaken, she dared another look and saw Faron motioning for her to pull over.
Though not wanting to do it, she turned the car onto a dirt shoulder near a fenced pasture, but didn’t get out. She slunk down in her seat, not sure what to say. He parked behind her, probably ready to scold her. She waited as he unhurriedly came around to her window. She braced for his yelling. She clasped her head.
“Are you all right?”
“I saw something, or at least I thought I did,” she rambled. “I didn’t mean to drive all crazy.”
He stayed calm, acting concerned. “What did you see?”
Something about his gray eyes puzzled her…guilt? Why? She couldn’t tell him that she saw a reptilian-type figure sitting in his car, exactly where he had been sitting.
The sunbeams must have played an illusion, or else I’m losing it.
“I thought I saw a big lizard…in the road.”
“Oh, I see.”
“I wasn’t expecting it, that’s all.”
“I’m sure it was nothing.”
“Right, nothing.”
“I wouldn’t worry about it.”
“Did you happen to see anything?”
“No.”
“Well, we’re almost there. I think we should continue.”
As if unsettled, Faron backed toward his car and then climbed in, taking a look in the mirror to maybe see what she thought she had seen…a monster like she had once seen on Montesano. A monster who guarded caves, and his name was Daemon. Daemon Rothschild! Waves of consternation, like an onslaught of bat wings, hit her chest.
“Why hadn’t I remembered that name?”
Fee’s lungs constricted. She tried not to fall apart. She reigned in the chaotic thoughts, taking them on in a collected manner. Is he a strange creature like Daemon? No, he couldn’t be. Her frazzled mind played tricks on her. That strange place must have cracked her sanity. Besides, she had been close to him, very close. Surely, she would know if he were something other than what he appeared.
He kissed me. Did I kiss a monster? The insanity of it humored her. She laughed to herself. That was almost too much to believe. It didn’t bother her as much as it probably should have. Whatever he was, he was more human than anyone she had ever met before.
The mystery left her scatterbrained. She returned to the highway, letting memories slowly come back. So, what is it with this family? Faron Rothschild might be one of them! Would he ever tell her?
What did this all mean, and could she handle knowing?