Chapter Sixteen: Didn’t See That Coming
I woke up sprawled out on the cave floor, with my arms outstretched and legs folded beneath me. I tried to think, but my head was pounding. I closed my eyes then it occurred to me. I could keep going until I reached The Slash, slip through and out of the cave. But I had no idea how to get to the room where the barrels were stored. I would probably get lost, and beside I couldn’t leave now I needed to save my friends. Then I remembered the flashlight I’d hidden, with the pebbles inside. Maybe I could use it to trick Zane. I walked back down the passage and I found the spot where I had randomly arranged some rocks into the shape of an arrow. I grabbed the light and shoved it inside my shirt. Then started back, crawling quickly on my hands and knees through the darkness. A voice that was definitely Zane’s echoed from the other end of the tunnel. “Hey, you. Hurry up!”
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“Give me that!” Zane growled. I smiled and handed it over. He felt the weight of the pebbles, and thrust it into his pocket. “Now let’s move!” he said. “I want to get out of here.” He took several quick strides then stopped and glared at me. I could see his mind reeling— suspiciously wondering what I was up to. “Wait a minute. How do I know you’re not trying to put the wool over on my eyes? I don’t trust you.” He yanked the flashlight out of his pocket, twisted off the cap, and poked a finger inside. “Wait a minute,” he shouted, but I was already running. He chased after me like a madman, stuck out his foot and tripped me. I fell face-first onto the floor. I laid for a moment, too dazed to move, then painfully I picked myself up and looked