To Rest, or Not To Rest - Chapter 13

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The faint shimmer on its back helped cast a light against the walls. I placed my hand alongside it, so as to not lose track of the way I’d been going. I peered over at the small crab on my shoulder. “You’re not afraid of me, huh?” I murmured, my voice shaky but softer now. The little thing clicked its claws once, like it’d answered my question. I leaned closer, squinting at the jewels imbedded in its shell. Small stones set along its back in an uneven pattern, each glowing faintly violet in the shadows. They caught the air like the tiny lanterns from the fair before. My ability hummed once more, and the glow around the crab sharpened.

“Tidecradle Crab - Shell Embedded Jewels (???): A unique crustacean bound with rare mineral growth. Germ type: Amarilite. Source: Unknown.”

“Amarilite…” I whispered, hearing the name as it burned itself into my memory. I’d never heard of such a jewel, and my father’s workshop carried all sorts of stones and shards. Its light wasn’t like crystal or quartz. It was softer, almost alive even. It was as if the glow pulsed faintly with each of the crab’s movements. I lifted the crab, holding it outward within my gloved palms. Letting its light stretch farther down the tunnel. “I guess you’re helping me now, huh? You’re like a little lantern with legs,” I said with a small smile. It clacked its claws again, and I couldn’t help but feel a little better. Though the hair was cold and heavy, together we could venture down.

We followed the winding passage into the cave. My steps echoed much less now, muffled by the patches of moss and sand scattered across the bits of stone. The farther I went, the quieter it grew, until even the sound of the dripping water seemed to fade.

The tunnel opened into a secluded hollow, which sat half-hidden from the main cave. My breath had been caught once more by the sight. Before glancing any further, my eyes widened seeing something. There, on the cold stone floor was a boy. Judging from the distance. He looked about my age, maybe even a little older. His hair was wild and tangled, sticking in uneven tufts. But what froze me wasn’t his clothes, which were ragged and torn. It wasn’t the bruises that marked his arms or legs either, it was a pair of cat-like ears, dark and twitching faintly. They’d been perched atop his head.

I nearly dropped the crab at the sight, adjusting my hands once more to catch it.

“What…?”

My heart began to pulse quickly, seeing the sight. I hurried closer, crouching beside him. His chest rose and fell slowly, as if his breaths were shallow, yet they were steady. He was alive. I felt a sense of relief wash over me in the moment, loosening my tight throat. “Hey,” I whispered, voice soft and cracked form the shock. I began to nudge his shoulder gently with my glove, “Are you okay? Can you hear me?” I was left with no response. His lashes fluttered faintly, but his body stayed limp along the cold floor. I bit my lip once more, harder than before. Whoever he was, he’d have to have been stuck down here for some time. Alone. Hurt. And now, I’d been the one to find him.

“L-let me help you.” I said softly, though my voice trembled with pure uncertainty, “I promise.”

Before I could reach into my bag, a low rumble shivered through the stone beneath my knees. The crab in my hand let out a shill clack. Its violet glow flickered wildly. The air shifted, heavy and sharp like before, but much more potent. It was as if something within the cave had stirred awake. I froze, clutching the crab closer, eyes darting to the shadows beyond the boy. The hairs on my arms could help but prickle. For the first time, I wasn’t sure if the glowing jewels were protecting me or painting a target for something I couldn’t see.

My heart pounded heavily, it was so loud that it possibly drowned out the cave’s silence. Every shiver of stone, every flicker of the crab’s violet glow made me flinch. A bead of sweat dropped from my head as worry filled my mind. I knew something was approaching. I could feel it in the air, thick and pressing. It was as if the cave itself was holding its breath. My first thought was to run. Just to grab the crab and run until the sunlight from outside touched my skin once more. I couldn’t do anything against a potential monster in this world; my body is frail as it is. But then my eyes focused on the boy once more, laying there bruised and still. Something inside my stomach twisted in knots.

“What if I was the one lying there…”

“What if I had fainted during one of my fevers, and no one had come for me?”

The thoughts swirled within my mind; I understood that leaving him as is would be like abandoning myself in the process. I shook his shoulder harder, pushing with more force than usual. Pleading with the boy. “Hey, wake up, please! Something’s coming, it’s dangerous here!” My voice cracked against the stone walls as the worry began to overflow. The boy only shifted faintly, his ears twitched like before. The sound came then, skittering, heavy and fast. Claws clacking like hammers against the stone. The crab in my hand scrambled frantically; its violet glow sparking sharp shadows against the walls.

And then it appeared.

A massive crustacean, its carapace jagged and gleaming with damp sea-rock. Its claws snapped open and shut. Many eyes reflected the light like shards of glass. The sight of the smaller crab in my arms seemed to drive it into a frenzy. It barreled toward us, chittering with its claws raised high. I froze; terror kept me rooted in place. My legs refused to move, no matter how hard I begged in mind. My breath had been caught by the sudden approach.

I made a mistake; I made a big mistake. I should have listened to Luisa. I’m so sorry! Was this going to be it? Was my second chance over this quickly? Fear quickly rose within my body. Overwhelmingly to the point that I stared at the approaching beast. I couldn’t do anything. But as my eyes glanced downward at the crab in my hand, I felt a sense of direction. My bag…My bag! I quickly opened it up, reaching deep within it, though it wasn’t much. The warming stone that I took from the bathroom was there. The beast’s large eyes stared intently in its approach, clacking its claws louder and faster, ready to strike. I couldn’t just sit and accept this! Tears welled up in my eyes as I grabbed the stone and tossed it as hard as I possibly could.

The stone flew through the air, directly in front of the fast-approaching creature. It flew through the space separating us from it, before landing and striking one of its eyes. Causing the beast to screech out a pained chitter. The moment of impact was enough to slow it for but a moment. But after readjusting itself quickly, it began to charge harder. As if it had been angered even more. I winced see the reaction and its approach, stumbling backward as it approached. This was it; I was a goner. I closed my tearful eyes, giving up in the moment, accepting what would become of me.

“I’m sorry Mother, I’m sorry Father. Please forgive me…I’m sorry for not listening to your advice, Luisa…I won’t be able to see Lance or Gil anymore either…I’m so sorry for being foolish. I’m sorry. I’m sorry!” The thoughts in my head filled with sorrowful pleas for forgiveness weighed heavily. Expecting to be made into mincemeat the moment the creature got its claws on me. I winced heavily, preparing for impact.

But that impact never came, as in that instant, the boy’s eyes snapped open.

Golden. Bright. Searing…alive.