Chapter Eleven: The Cave

Eloise looked down at the cave. She couldn’t see more than three feet in, the darkness was so oppressive. She looked at Bobby: kind, familiar Bobby. He had never steered her wrong.

But, when she looked at his wide grin, Eloise felt the first tickle of doubt.

“I do not like this,” said Olban.

Me neither, Gareth agreed.

Eloise remained silent.

She wasn’t sure if Bobby really was her friend after all, or if he even was Bobby.

But she has to trust him.

After all, it’s Bobby. She’d known him her whole life. And she was trapped with two weird guys who she’d known for less than a day. Obviously Bobby was more trustworthy.

But, by being plunged into this new world, Eloise had no idea what to do anymore. Everything she thought she knew was a lie. Everything she’d been was no longer everything she was.

“Come on,” said Bobby. “We don’t have time to waste.”

What do you mean? asked Eloise. There’s no time limit, is there?

“Um, no. But… you guys want to get your bodies, right? We should move as fast as possible.”

Yeah, yeah, of course… Guys?

“We shouldn’t go,” said Olban, eyeing the newcomer suspiciously. “We already know everything we need to know. We can use the slow and secure way and we’ll get there. We don’t need to trust this guy to lead us into a trap.”

We have to go. Eloise objected. Do you really want me in your head for that long? How will we even find the rings we need if not with Bobby’s help?

Even while they debated among themselves, Bobby merely smiled. Something was wrong, Eloise decided. Bobby showing up here? Now? It’s too convenient. It makes no sense.

If only she could talk to everyone, back in her own body. Consult them on what she should do. She’d always been the happy one. Everyone had always kept her safe, like a little sister. But now she had no one, except these two boys, and they weren’t much of a help.

Should she trust them? Should she listen to their shared gut feeling?

Or should she trust Bobby, who’d always been her friend? Who she’d known her whole life?

She wanted nothing more than to get back to her body. As soon as possible. She had to make things right with everyone.

And if Bobby was telling the truth… then this portal would be the key to success. Their journey would be over, and they’d all be back in their proper bodies.

But Olban seemed convinced on the rings. He seemed to know that the rings are the key to success. He’s convinced, which means that something must have happened to prove their efficacy. But Bobby… the portal he was supposedly taking them to was only mentioned by Wellick in an attempt to mess with them.

Who’s to say that Bobby isn’t Bobby at all, and only Wellick in disguise.

As much as she hated to admit it, she had to trust Olban and Gareth. There was no way to prove that Bobby was really Bobby and that this portal wasn’t a trap.

Eloise was going to trust her gut.

I… I agree. She hesitated, her voice soft. I don’t think we should go. I don’t think that this is the Bobby I know.

Even though she was only talking to Olban and Gareth, the smile fell from his face in an instant, changing from an amicable and slightly too-wide grin to an angry scowl. It was as if he could hear their thoughts— which shouldn’t be possible.

It only further proved her point.

“Run!” Olban yelled, but there’s no point in saying it— they were in his body, after all. He bolted back towards where they came, and they heard Not-Bobby’s angry yell turn into a monstrous roar.

By the sound of the heavy footsteps and inhuman sounds, they were right— Bobby was not Bobby at all.

But it didn’t take them long to realise that the rope they came down on was the only way out. They were trapped in a canyon with Wellick.

What do we do? Eloise asked, trying to resist the urge to burst into tears at any moment. This was all too much for her.

“We can’t climb the rope,” Olban says. “It would take too long. Wellick would kill us instantly.”

We’re trapped down here! Eloise whispered, her voice shaking. We’re gonna die.

There’s still one place we might be able to go, said Gareth. It’s risky, but it might work.

“Oh no. We are not doing that.”

Doing what? asked Eloise.

It’s the only way. said Gareth. Once we’re in the cave, we might be able to lose him.

The cave? Eloise yelped. For a moment, she agreed with Olban— that’s where he wants us, we can’t do that!

But it was obvious that Gareth was right. It was the only way.

With Wellick chasing them in circles, shaking the ground under their feet, Olban took a sharp turn and veered into the cave.

They sprinted forward as fast as they could, listening in fear as Wellick’s vile laugh followed them into the tunnels.

All of them were thinking the same thing.

I hope we made the right choice.