WL - Episode 1: "Cave of Wonders" (Part 2)

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The tunnel stretched onward, curving just slightly as it widened again.

Their lanterns cast flickering light against the stone walls, revealing more of the strange markings.

Not words.

Not symbols they recognized.

Just faded remnants of something long lost.

They had been walking for a while.

Without any clue as to where they were going.

Aurora slowed first.

Her eyes narrowed, scanning the walls.

AURORA (thoughtful, frowning slightly)

“How far down does this go?”

Harry checked his notebook.

Ran his fingers lightly along the stone.

He paused.

HARRY (quiet, analyzing)

“We should have hit a natural dead end by now.”

“Or at least, have reached a chamber of some kind.”

JAKE (grumbling, shifting his bag)

“So, basically what you’re saying is, we're lost.”

HARRY (calm, neutral)

"Yes."

Jake exhaled sharply.

SALLY (calm, muttering)

"Welp. If we’re gonna die, at least we’ll die together."

Jake shot her a look.

JAKE (flat)

"Seriously? At least pretend to be hopeful."

FINN (huffing a laugh, grinning)

"Hey, Sal came willingly. Nobody dragged her here."

So...”

SALLY (deadpan)

"So what?"

FINN (shrugging, mock-serene)

"So I get to die with a clear conscience."

AURORA (smirking, shaking her head)

"Honestly, I’m just impressed we lasted this long."

King gave a look to all of them.

KING (flat, deeply drained)

“..Are we really having this conversation right now?”

KING (ignoring them, glancing at John)

“John.

What do you think?”

“We’ve gone deep, but if this just keeps going… maybe we should turn back.”

John was silent.

Not because he had nothing to say.

He had plenty to say, 

maybe a little too much.

After witnessing his friends give up on life in front of him.

But because,

something wasn’t sitting right.

This cave had been untouched for years.

That much was obvious.

But why was it so open?

So deliberate?

Like it had been carved for a purpose.

Just then—

A sound.

Distant.

Low.

Like water lapping against stone.

John turned his head slightly.

Aurora and Finn heard it too.

FINN (blinking, tilting his head)

“Was that—water?”

Aurora nodded slowly.

AURORA (soft, focused)

“I think so.”

HARRY (murmuring, thoughtful)

“That would explain the air down here. It’s not damp, but it’s not dry either.”

Jake crossed his arms.

JAKE (grumbling, unimpressed)

“Great. So we’re trapped and near an underground lake.”

“What’s next, cave monsters?”

FINN (grinning, wiggling his fingers)

“Ooooh. Maybe it’s ghosts.”

Jake shot him a glare.

JAKE (deadpan, flat)

“And soon they'll be your friends.”

Sally snorted.

John tried to figure out the sound.

He wasn’t sure that was just water.

He turned toward the tunnel ahead.

Then—

They heard it again.

But this time—

Not just water.

They heard voices.

A pause.

Aurora’s breath hitched.

Jake froze.

Harry’s brows furrowed sharply.

Because that wasn’t possible.

They were alone.

Right?

John exhaled slowly.

He moved towards the sound.

He signaled them to follow.

As they moved forward—

the ground sloped downward.

The tunnel widened.

---

[The Edge of the Drop]

They had reached the end.

End of the path, as it vanished beneath them.

Not in a sudden fall—

But in a massive, gaping drop.

Like a hole carved into the earth itself.

Aurora’s eyes widened.

Finn let out a low whistle.

FINN (soft, impressed)

“Whoa.”

Harry moved closer to the edge.

He lifted his lantern.

The light flickered, stretching down, down, down.

But didn’t touch the bottom.

Aurora leaned over slightly.

And then—

She heard it again.

The sound. Water.

Slow, steady ripples.

And voices.

But not clearly.

Like they were being carried from somewhere else.

Somewhere deep below.

John narrowed his eyes.

Sally frowned, stepping forward.

SALLY (thoughtful, tilting her head)

“You think that’s… people?”

JAKE (grumbling, shaking his head)

“How? No one comes down here.”

FINN (shrugging)

"Not that we know off."

They all looked at him.

FINN (shrugging)

"Just saying."

HARRY (calm, certain)

“No one SHOULD be here but us.”

"It's a cave in the middle of nowhere."

SALLY (deadpan, dry)

"Remind me why we even came here in the first place."

They all looked at him again.

FINN (blinking, innocent)

"It was.. uhh. Jakeys fault.

Jake made an expression that vaguely resembled giving up on life.

JAKE (giving up on life)

"...We're soo dead."

John sighed deeply, 

the only one trying to keep his sanity alive,

They had two choices now.

Turn back. Look for another way out.

Or,

find out what was down below.

Jake looked at him.

Tried to understand what he was thinking.

Then followed his gaze.

He let out a slow, painfully resigned breath.

JAKE (deadpan, muttering)

“John, trust me. There are better ways.”

Sally snorted.

Finn laughed.

Aurora exhaled, steadying herself.

Because they all knew.

There was only one way forward.

 And there was no going back now.

But jumping into the unknown—that wasn’t something they could take lightly.

John stepped back from the edge.

His voice was steady.

JOHN (low, firm)

“We need to think about this.”

“Whatever’s down there… we have to be sure.”

The group nodded.

They have to make a choice.

One they couldn’t undo.

And as they stood at the edge of the drop—

The voices below did not stop.

They only waited.

---

The group stood at the edge.

Looking down.

Listening.

The voices below had gotten louder.

The sound of water—still heard below.

Slow. Steady.

Waiting for them to make the choice.

Finn picked up a small rock.

Tossed it in his palm.

Then—he flicked his wrist.

The stone sailed over the edge.

And then—

Nothing.

No impact.

No splash.

Not even a sound.

Jake blinked.

JAKE (frowning, uneasy)

“Did… did that just keep falling?”

Aurora tilted her head, watching the darkness.

AURORA (low, curious)

“It should’ve hit something by now.”

HARRY (thinking aloud, focused)

“Either it’s deeper than we thought…”

“Or something about this place is… off.”

Jake ran a hand through his hair.

JAKE (deadpan, exhaling sharply)

“Stocks on that second option.”

Finn grinned.

FINN (grinning, nudging him)

“You mean the better option.”

Jake shot him a glare.

John was still silent, 

even now, the only thing in his mind— was the choice they had to make.

A choice of life and death.

A choice, that will determine not just his own—

But all of his friends future. Their fate.

And, a choice, in his mind..

That had already been made.

---

Sally glanced at John.

Because he hadn’t said anything yet.

SALLY (muttering)

"John.. what're you thinking?"

John took a breath.

He stepped forward.

Turned to face the group.

His voice was calm.

Certain.

JOHN (steady, looking at them all)

“I’ll go first.”

A pause.

FINN (blinking, surprised)

“Wait, what—”

John exhaled slowly.

JOHN (calm, reassuring)

“If there’s a way down, I’ll find it.”

“If not… 

we’ll know it’s not safe.”

Jake frowned.

JAKE (deadpan, flat)

“Great. My brother, the only rational guy in this group just volunteered as tribute.”

Aurora tensed slightly.

But she understood.

Sally crossed her arms.

She looked at him for a long moment.

Then—

She smirked.

SALLY (grinning, shaking her head)

“Well. No one ever said you weren’t dramatic.”

He gave her a small smirk.

Then—he turned back to the edge.

The others watched.

And without another word—

John jumped.

For a second—there was nothing.

No weight.

No air.

Just—falling.

The lantern in his hand flickered—but didn’t go out.

The sound of water grew louder.

And then—

He was gone.

The others stared.

Aurora gripped her lantern tightly.

Jake ran a hand down his face.

Finn grinned.

FINN (grinning, stepping up beside the edge)

“Well. Guess that’s our cue.”

Sally exhaled slowly.

Then—

She jumped.

Aurora followed.

Finn went next, laughing as he fell.

Jake cursed under his breath—then leapt.

King didn’t hesitate.

And finally—

Harry closed his notebook.

Tucked it away.

Stepped forward.

And let go.

The moment they hit the air—they were gone.

The world above them—

vanished.

[END OF EPISODE 1]

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[TO BE CONTINUED IN EPISODE 2]