The Guardian (Coranite Chronicles) (28 page)

Slade nodded and looked at the giant bean once more. Then he took a deep breath and bit into it. Slurp. It was really moist inside. Slade's eyes widened. His puzzlement soon became delight. He took another glance at the bean he had just bit into. “WOW! Just wow!” He smiled at Darek with a stupid expression. “This is better than I could have ever imagined!” He nodded to the other bean on the root. “Go ahead! Eat one! It's delicious! Better than chicken!”

Skeptical, Darek said, “Okay, you had me going there for a second...but there's no way a bean could taste better than fried chicken.”

“I'm serious!” Slade exclaimed excitedly. “This is really good!”

Darek crossed his arms. “I'm not falling for that—”

“Suit yourself...” Slade began to devour the bean heartily with his eyes closed. “So good! SO GOOD!” While he ate, he kept licking his lips, savoring every bite. “Wow, it's just mind-numbing! I can't even describe the flavor. It's just GOOD!” As soon as he finished one bean, he immediately reached for another.

Darek studied him. Slade's enjoyment seemed genuine enough. But Darek just couldn't believe it. A bean that tasted amazing? How could such a thing be possible? Darek watched Slade eat for a while longer. Slade was already up to his fifth bean and showed no signs of slowing down. Darek's stomach growled. He eyed the nearest giant bean with a furrowed brow. He finally gave in. Frowning, Darek pulled the bean off the root. He took one last glance at Slade before sinking his teeth into it. The juices dripped into his mouth and down his throat. Darek swallowed. His jaw dropped.

“It really...does taste good...” Darek uttered in disbelief. “I don't get it. It tastes nothing like a bean. It tastes even better than any fruit I've ever eaten. What is this?”

Slade shrugged. “Dunno. But anything that tastes good must be all right.”

They ended up eating all the beans. Luckily, it was just enough to satisfy them.

“Urp.” Darek patted his belly, feeling quite full. “Ahhh...that hit the spot. I have to admit, you were right about coming down here. Best decision we ever made.”

Slade yawned and curled up on the dirt. Darek tucked in his knees as he lay back on the wall. They were already tired of crawling by the time they reached the chamber. And now they were ready to sleep.

CHAPTER 22

Enslaved

Darek woke up not long after. Even though they had been wandering for days, he still couldn't get used to sleeping on the dirt. He looked at Slade. Slade rolled on his back, snoring. Slade didn't seem to have any trouble sleeping.

Darek wondered what they were going to do now. It was kind of a shock to him that they found food underground. The giant beans were just what they needed. While it may have solved one problem, it also raised more issues. This was the only real food source they had come across. If they wanted to survive...they'd have to live underground.

Darek groaned at the thought of being stuck in this dark tunnel for the rest of his days. The tunnel was so cramped and narrow. They wouldn't really be able to stretch their legs, stand or even walk here. And it wouldn't be a simple task to go to the surface. They had to crawl hours to reach this place.

No, even if they could survive there, Darek couldn't bear the thought of being stuck forever in this dark place.

Dark place?

Darek glanced down. He wasn't using his power to generate light anymore. He had stopped when they had gone to sleep. Then how was he able to see anything? His eyes wandered over to a small hole by the side. The chamber had two holes. One was the entrance they had used to get here...and the other one seemed to lead further down.

A faint light emerged from the hole. It was getting brighter. Something was coming.

Then he remembered something: the tunnels couldn't have been made naturally. As Slade had said before, these were burrows. They had come down here searching desperately for food because of that idea. But once they had found food, the bliss had stripped their minds of all worries...including legitimate ones. They had gotten so comfortable they had forgotten the possibility that something might still be living down here—something dangerous.

Darek tried to wake Slade up. He shook him and whispered, “Slade, come on. We've got to go. I think something coming....”

Slade tossed and turned, but showed no signs of rousing.

“Slade, wake up,” Darek whispered again, glancing back at the glow. “Man, why are you such a heavy sleeper?”

Darek turned around once more when the light brightened. A white glowing orb entered the small chamber. Darek stumbled over Slade in fear.

“Oof!” Slade bolted upright as Darek stepped on his stomach. He glared at Darek and snapped, “What the—What was that for?”

Darek pointed. Slade turned his head and raised a brow at the white orb. The white orb hovered over the dirt, moving ever so slightly back and forth.

“What's going on? What is that?” Slade asked.

“I don't know...” Darek whispered. “It came out of the hole.”

The white orb spoke. “Where is the fruit?” it asked.

Apprehensive, Darek stuttered, “Fr-fr-fruit?” He whispered in Slade's ear, “You don't think he's talking about what I think he's talking about, do you?”

“You have eaten it,” said the white orb. It didn't sound like a question.

“Now just wait a minute,” Slade said to the orb. “We didn't think it belonged to anyone.”

“It belonged to us.”

“Our mistake,” said Slade.

“Gnorton wishes to speak with you.”

“Charming name,” said Slade. “We don’t want any trouble. How do we find this Gnorton?”

“Not to worry. He has found you.”

In an instant, Slade fell and slid across the ground. He was being pulled downward into the hole. Digging his fingers into the dirt, Slade clumsily struggled to clamber out. His lower body had already sunk into the tunnel. Darek grabbed hold of his hand and held on with all his strength, keeping Slade from getting pulled under. Then Darek reached out with his other hand and took hold of a root, using it as support. The root was surprisingly tough.

“W-what's happening?” Darek gasped. “Are you sinking in?”

“Something's got my feet!” Slade grunted. “It's strong! My leg feels like it’s about to get ripped off!”

“Just hold on!” Darek groaned, tugging firmly on his arm. “I've got you!”

Slade breathed heavily. “Ungh. Just leave me! See if you can climb out!”

“Why do people always say that?” Darek growled. “I'm making an honest effort here! You think I'm doing this just to be nice? I can't lose you!”

“Sorry,” said Slade, slowly getting pulled deeper into the hole. “But I'm serious. I doubt you can win this tug-of-war. Either you’re going to let go, or my limb is going to fall off. And once they take me, they'll get you next! What's the point in both of us getting caught? Leave me and—”

Darek grinned. “All right then—change of plans! I'm coming with you!”

“WHAT? I told you to—”

“I'm not going back to the surface alone!” Darek spat. “I'd rather die with you!”

Darek held onto Slade while letting go of the strong root. The tunnel swallowed them up. Darek flinched as they slid. It was a bumpy ride. Darek groaned and moaned as his body was dragged through the dirt. Small pebbles would bounce up and hit him in the face. He had his eyes slightly open for a while, but with all the dust flying up, he could barely keep them open. Darek screamed. The intense friction burned his skin.

When they finally fell out of the hole, they wound up in a large underground cavern. Both Slade and Darek dangled by their legs. Darek curled up to look at what was holding onto them. Orbs of all colors floated around them, illuminating the area. Through the colored light, he noticed their legs were in the grasp of several long tentacles. Blood rushing to his head, Darek looked straight down. The cavern was filled with water. There was a huge lake in this underground cavern. And in the middle of the lake he could see a massive shadow.

The surface of the lake bubbled and rippled as the cavern trembled. The shadow grew larger and larger. Darek gazed at the large round object emerging from the center of the lake. It was the head of a giant blue octopus! But then again, thought Darek, it couldn’t be an octopus because it way more than eight arms. Perhaps it was more of a millipus. Darek gawked at the hundreds of glowing tentacles around them.

Glow in the dark tentacles
, thought Darek.
Neat
.

The tentacles crept into the holes in the ceiling, brought down the fruit that looked like beans and then deposited them in barrels. While this was going on, Darek and Slade were taken to the sea monster’s eye level. Darek quivered as he stared at giant eyes bigger than him. The eyes scrutinized them.

“Oh—this doesn’t look good,” said Darek, sounding worried.

“Just stay calm,” said Slade. “I’m sure these guys can be reasoned with.”

“You ghasts are among the lowest of the lesser spirits,” the sea monster said in a thundering voice, “yet your impudence knows no bounds. Thought you could steal from us and get away with it?”

Darek began, “Ghasts? We’re not—” But Slade elbowed Darek to shut him up.

Slade said, “We will pay for the fruit. We had no idea it belonged to anyone.”

The creature growled, “You had no idea? Fruit like that does not grow naturally!”

“We made a mistake,” said Slade. “We were desperate. Hungry. If there’s anything we can do, anything at all—”

“You don’t understand,” said the creature. “You are in no position to say anything. You will not offer a favor. You ghasts must only obey.”

“I completely understand,” said Slade. “Our punishment should only fit the crime. I ask that you do not exceed it.”

“The fruit you have eaten is a special fruit that belongs to our masters. Our masters, the Coranites, are here, demanding for the fruit. Since you have stolen what is theirs, you will be handed over to them. They will decide your punishment.”

“But—Whoaaaaaaaaa!”

Before Darek could protest, they were once again on a wild ride. They swung side to side on their ankles as the tentacles thrust them into another tunnel. These tunnels were larger and more extensive.

“The Coranites?” Darek gasped. “Did you hear that? They’re going to hand us over to Coranites!”

“Get us out of here!” Slade growled. “We’re doomed if we meet them!”

Darek unsheathed his daggers, curled up, and slashed the tentacles, cutting them apart. Slade and Darek fell on their backs. Darek stood up. The wounded tentacles were growing back. And even the severed pieces of the tentacles continued to squirm after them.

Slade jumped and smashed his fist against the ceiling. Part of the tunnel collapsed. The fallen debris created a barrier between them and the tentacles.

“Wow, nice punch,” said Darek.

“Whatever, get the lights on and let’s go!”

As the two of them raced down the tunnel, Darek let his daggers shine brightly.

Black ooze seeped through the cracks in the wall. The ooze solidified into large black four-legged creatures. Darek didn’t really care what they were and didn’t bother to get a good look. Slade was in agreement. They rushed through the monsters, slashing and punching everything out of their way. The monsters didn’t stand a chance.

“Whoa!” Slade stopped his feet just as he noticed a huge drop before him. Then he grabbed Darek to keep him from falling over the precipice.

They had reached another large chamber. This one also had a lake below. Slade looked up. Long roots were dangling from the ceiling. Slade grabbed the nearest root and tugged on it. It seemed pretty strong.

“Up for some fun?” asked Slade, smirking.

Darek said, “Sure. It’ll keep the mind off the trouble we’re in.”

“Then follow my lead and keep the momentum going. Don’t hesitate and don’t stop.”

Clenching his hands on the root, Slade hopped off the ledge and swung forward. Then he quickly swung from root to root in order to get across. Darek tucked his dagger by his chest and followed after him.

Just as drew near to the other side of the chamber, the water below began to bubble. A stream of water shot up, coiled in the air and surrounded them. Then, right in the water, they saw the form of a human face.

“STOP WHERE YOU ARE!” a loud voice shrieked. It echoed in the cave.

Darek reached out and shoved his hand into the stream. A burst of yellow light flowed out his fingers and ignited in the water. The water stopped flowing up and dropped back down into the lake, causing a massive splash.

They made it safely across. They leaned against the wall, gulping air.

“This looks serious,” said Darek, wiping the sweat off his brow.

“But that fruit was really good,” said Slade. “I don’t feel very tired. I hate to steal but they aren’t really giving us any options. We’ll need more of that fruit if we want to live.”

“Options?” said a voice. “I can give you options.”

Darek and Slade turned their heads at the same time. A man emerged in the tunnel. The Judges froze as they stared into the man’s piercing eyes.