Chapter 10; Rescue Mission

“I’m beginning to have doubts about this,” Ethan said, his voice laced with frustration. “We have been walking around without getting close.”

With a soft crunch of her boots on the wet ground, Ravena continued to move. The air was heavy with the smell of mold and rot, and the rough, uneven tunnel walls closed in around them.

Except for the distant sound of dripping water, the tunnel was strangely silent. 

Ethan let out a sharp sigh, his patience wearing thin. “This is taking longer than anticipated, Ravena. “What makes you think you have accurate information? The map. That we are not walking into a death trap.”

Ravena halted mid-stride. And then turned around swiftly, glaring at him. “Ethan, stop whining like an old lady. I always trust my sources.”

The doubt in Ethan's eyes persisted even after he raised his hands in surrender. “This place feels like a damn maze, I'm just saying that. What if we made a mistake?”

Ravena gripped the flashlight more tightly. “We didn't”.

Despite looking at each other the other two fighters remained silent. They had long discovered the futility of arguing with Ravena.

They continued because they had no option. 

It grew colder as they descended further. The damp air filled their nostrils.

The tunnel wound in confusing directions and went on forever. Every wall was the same as the last and every turn had the same appearance.

 Minutes went by. Then, Ravena froze.

Her sharp gaze was pinned on something before her. Her eyes widened in surprise. And her heart leaped in joy at the discovery. A proof that she didn't waste her time coming here.

Ethan's heartbeat accelerated as he followed her gaze. Thick iron bars stood there hardly visible in the flashlight's dim light.

 A dungeon. 

His throat tightened with breath. A slow triumphant smile danced across Ravena's lips. “We found her!”

They hurried forward without a second thought. Ravena's skin was pricked by the cold iron as she held onto it. 

She held up the flashlight and swept it around the inside of the dungeon.

 On the cold floor, a figure was curled up against herself, facing the wall covered with moss. 

“Selene.”

Ravena's chest constricted. She appeared weak and tired.

 Ethan gripped the bars more tightly. “Selene!” he said sharply and urgently. 

No answer. 

Ravena's pulse roared in her ears as she pressed her forehead against the bars. “You’re leaving here with us.”

But Selene did not move. Ravena felt a chill go down her spine. Is she dead? 

Curled up on the damp dungeon floor 

Selene's body trembled with despair and exhaustion as cold seeped into her bones. 

She clung to herself in an attempt to find warmth that would never materialize. She shed a lot of tears which seeped into the dirty stone floor. 

With the weight of her fate bearing down on her, her thoughts wavered between fear and hopelessness.

Then she heard faint sounds, movements from a distance.

Despite hearing them she was not concerned. Even if they arrive now or later, the warriors would eventually drag her out for execution.

She waited for the inevitable while remaining motionless and gazing at nothing. 

Then the silence was broken by a voice. 

“Selene!”

Her body froze. 

The voice. It doesn't sound like one of the warriors.

She jerked up from the ground. Blood roared in her ears.  Her eyes widened in surprise.

Standing outside the dungeon was a tall woman with an athletic build. She exuded an aura of raw strength. 

From her dressing, Selene concluded she is a warrior. Three warriors stood beside her. All looking fierce.

But there was something oddly familiar about the woman. But she couldn't place it.

So this is it? A death sentence.

She constricted her throat. 

Had they been sent by Rylan to pick her up for the execution?

Her heart fell. Perhaps this was the miracle she had hoped for but not in the way she had hoped. 

The woman's voice was firm but urgent as she spoke again. “My name is Ravena.” 

“Ravena?” she whispered.

This must be a joke!

The last time she saw Ravena was during the last attack on their pack.

With shock pulsing through her veins, she asked, “What are you doing here? The last time I saw you, you were attempting to ruin us.” 

Ravena did not flinch when she looked at her.  “I am aware.  We don't have time to talk about the past. Our purpose is to rescue  you before the Elders perform their sacrifice.”

Selene froze. 

Mentioning the elders left a bitter taste in her mouth. Yes. They were the reason why she got here in the first place. “ Sacrifice? What are you talking about?”

Ravena grew serious. After we take you out of this dungeon. I will tell you all you need to know.”

Hope surged through Selene since she was cast into the dungeon like a petty thief.

She hurried forward, her knuckles whitened from the tight grip she had on the iron bars. Her ribs throbbed with the pounding of her heart.

 Her prayers were heard by the Moon Goddess.

She finally got help.

Ethan, one of the warriors moved in and looked over the lock. “The dungeon is locked,” he whispered. “How can we free her?”

Ravena's keen eyes swept over the iron bars looking for any weakness, any gap. 

Then they heard footsteps. The sound made them tense.

Ravenas head jerked up, she needed to be fast before they got caught. The last thing she wants is another fight with them. Which might complicate things.

They were no longer alone.

“Hide. Hide!” she muttered angrily. 

She immediately ducked behind a corner and pressed into the shadows with the warriors.

Selene whirled around and fell to the ground, pretending to be too weak to move, her body limp and her breathing shallow. 

The dungeon door opened with a creak. Heavy boots stomped inside.

A deep voice broke through her ears. “The time is now. Say your last prayer.”