Chapter 2 - The Promise of Rescue

"Hello?" I called out, feeling certain that I was right. It was my group. They had come back to find me.

I stood silent, waiting for a response, but there was nothing.

Wandering deeper into the cave, I began to doubt myself. All I could hear now was the water, lapping against the rocks.

Maybe I’d imagined the whole thing. The clatter, the voice. Maybe I was hallucinating? Maybe I'd hit my head harder than I thought?

I pressed on, feeling less and less sure of myself with every step I took. Not only because I was starting to doubt what I’d heard, but also because I was terrified I was going to fall to my death or slip and break an ankle next. The dim light of my phone screen wasn’t exactly blazing the trail here, but it was that or blind nausea, so, I mean, I wasn’t exactly rolling in options.

I tripped, my flip-flop catching on a rock, but I somehow managed to catch myself before I went crashing to the floor. Honestly, it was probably a miracle I hadn’t broken my neck yet.

Another faint whisper echoed through the cavern, the sound so soft it was almost drowned out by the swirling water, but it was there, I was almost sure of it.

“Come on, you guys!” I called out, annoyed that they seemed to be treating this like some kind of game. “I’m hurt! This isn’t funny.”

Once again, nothing but silence followed.

I was beginning to lose hope, feeling more and more certain that I was losing my mind, my damaged brain playing tricks on me. But then, just up ahead in the distance, I saw a faint, orange glow.

At last, some undeniable evidence! My rescue! My way out of this hell hole!

I pressed on, determined to reach the orange light, feeling like it was my golden ticket. I picked my way over jagged rocks and maneuvered along slippery pathways, when suddenly, the light from my phone screen that I’d been using to guide my way landed on a pair of boots directly in front of me.

I gasped, jerking back with my heart hammering in my throat. I sure as shit hadn't expected someone to be on top of me so suddenly.

Still trying to catch my breath, I didn’t even have time to react before a strong pair of arms hoisted me up, slinging me over his shoulder like I weighed absolutely nothing.

"Jesus, dude, I can walk!" I protested, trying to struggle out of his grip while the glow from my phone bounced around in my hand, vaguely illuminating the rocky floor as he carried me toward the orange glow.

“Put me down! This is totally unnecessary!” I boomed, my voice echoing off the walls. But he just ignored me.

Finally, he set me down, and I stumbled, barely catching myself as I took in the scene in front of me.

A rowboat bobbing in the water. There was a man sitting in it, and another standing beside it, watching me with great interest.

They were dressed like pirates. Why were they dressed like pirates?

I stared at them for a moment, completely confused. Was it halloween?

The one standing beside the rowboat, a man with piercing eyes and a stance that screamed authority, looked me over with an expression somewhere between suspicion and confusion.

“What are ye doin’ here?” he asked, his voice brimming with scepticism despite his thick, Irish accent.