Bound To Be Luna

Chapter six

The tunnel’s cool dampness seeped into my bones as we pressed deeper into the earth, the faint glow of Rachel’s flashlight flickering with each step. Every sound echoed ominously—the scrape of our boots on gravel, the distant drip of water, and the distant thunder rumbling overhead. My heart pounded in my chest, each beat echoing the fear that threatened to consume me.

Gina kept a firm grip on my shoulder, her eyes scanning the darkness ahead. “Stay close,” she repeated softly, her voice tense but steady. “We’re almost there.”

Rachel led the way, her face illuminated by the weak beam of her flashlight. Her brow was furrowed, eyes darting from side to side as if expecting danger from every shadow. “The old sanctuary’s just beyond this next bend,” she said quietly. “Once we’re inside, we’ll be safer for a moment.”

I tried to breathe evenly, but my lungs felt tight, each inhale heavy with the scent of damp earth and fear. The adrenaline that had been numbing me earlier now gave way to a cold wave of dread. What were they after? Why had they attacked us now? The questions spun wildly in my mind, but I knew better than to stop and dwell. We had to keep moving.

Suddenly, a faint, distant howl echoed through the tunnel, making my stomach lurch. It wasn’t just any wolf’s cry—it carried a savage, layered quality that sent shivers down my spine. I instinctively stepped closer to Gina, who stiffened at the sound.

“Did you hear that?” I whispered, voice trembling.

Gina nodded grimly. “They’re tracking us. We’re running out of time.”

Ahead, the tunnel sharply veered to the right, and I saw a faint flicker of moonlight spilling through a narrow opening. Rachel quickened her pace, pressing her hand against the damp wall to steady herself. “Almost there,” she said, voice strained.

As we rounded the corner, the air suddenly shifted—the cold gust of wind was sharper, carrying the unmistakable scent of rain and earth. Outside, the storm raged fiercely, lightning illuminating the dark sky. The distant glow of the burning packhouse flickered ominously in the storm’s light, shadows dancing wildly across the trees.

Gina pushed the door open with urgency and we spilled into the night, the rain immediately drenching us. The pounding of water on leaves was deafening, blending with the distant chaos of the battle still raging behind us. Lightning streaked across the sky, briefly revealing the silhouette of the forest—and the inferno that was the packhouse.

“Quick,” Rachel urged, grabbing my arm and pulling me toward a dense thicket nearby. “We need cover. The woods will hide us for now.”

We dove into the tangled underbrush, the wet leaves scraping against our skin and clothes. Every c***k of thunder seemed to shake the earth beneath us, each flash revealing fleeting glimpses of the chaos behind. My muscles ached from the effort, my body trembling from exhaustion and cold.

Gina looked back toward the glow of flames, her jaw clenched. “They’re fighting hard. We don’t have much time before they realize we’re gone.”

Rachel’s eyes darted through the darkness, her voice barely a whisper. “We have to reach the old sanctuary—the cave system. It’s the only place we can hide long enough to figure out our next move.”

“Do you really think it’s still safe?” I asked, voice shaky. “What if they’re waiting for us there?”

“They won’t expect us to go underground,” Rachel replied, her tone steady. “And the cave system’s been hidden for years. But we have no choice.”

A distant growl pierced the night, layered with that primal, darker sound. I froze, heart pounding even harder. The sound wasn’t just an animal—it was something else, something darker and more dangerous.

“Run!” Gina suddenly shouted, grabbing my hand tightly. We surged forward through the underbrush, dodging low-hanging branches and slipping on wet roots. Every step felt like a gamble—one false move and we could be caught.

Lightning flashed again, illuminating the path ahead—a narrow opening in the rocks, concealed by thick vines. Rachel pushed them aside and revealed a dark tunnel descending into the earth. “This is it,” she said urgently. “Stay close. We don’t know what’s down there, but it’s better than out here.”

We hurried inside, the cool darkness swallowing us whole. The sounds of the storm and distant battle faded behind us as the tunnel twisted and descended deeper underground. The air grew damp and heavy, sealing us in an eerie silence broken only by our ragged breaths.

As we moved further into the darkness, a strange feeling settled over me—part dread, part strange comfort. It was as if the darkness was both hiding us from everything outside and threatening to swallow us whole.

Gina’s voice broke the silence. “Elora, listen—you’re stronger than you think. We’re in this together. We’ll find a way out.”

“But what if they find us down here?” I whispered, voice trembling.

Rachel’s eyes burned with determination. “Then we fight. Or we run. But we don’t give up—not now.”

My mind raced, swirling with fears and questions. Who were they? Why attack us now? What did they want from the pack? The answers loomed just beyond reach, hidden in the shadows.

Suddenly, a faint, distant howl echoed again, closer this time. It was layered with that dark, primal echo. My body stiffened, and I clung to the hope that the underground was a safe haven—at least for now.

Gina stepped closer, her voice fierce. “They’re tracking us. We have to move faster.”

I looked at her, desperate. “How do you know all this? How do you know what they want?”

Gina hesitated, then whispered, “I overheard the guards. The intruders—those attacking us—they’re after something in the pack. Something only we have.”

Rachel nodded slowly. “Yes. They want what’s ours—our territory, our strength. They’re willing to burn everything to take it.”

The tunnel twisted again, deeper into the mountain’s heart. I felt a strange mixture of fear and hope—each step into the darkness felt like a step toward survival, yet the threat of discovery lurked behind every corner.

Finally, we reached a hollow in the rocky wall—a narrow, concealed entrance, draped with thick vines. Rachel pushed them aside, revealing a dark, steep tunnel leading underground.

“This is it,” she whispered. “We go now. Stay close.”

We descended into the cool darkness, the sounds of the storm and distant fight fading behind us. The air grew colder, the silence heavier, like the darkness was both hiding us and threatening to swallow us whole.

Gina looked back at me, her eyes fierce. “Elora, you’re stronger than you think. This is just the beginning. We have to stay united if we’re going to survive.”

“But what if they find us down here?” I asked, voice trembling.

“Then we fight,” Rachel said firmly. “Or we run. But we don’t give up—not now.”