NeverSeen

I told my head to shut up and focus. My heart pounded inside my chest. My hands were covered in sweat, and my fingers twitched involuntarily, ready for some kind of target, anything, that would alert me that this was it and after that nothing else. I couldn’t stand waiting in the darkness, but we couldn’t afford anything more than the torch at the end of the tunnel.

The rolling sound came back, and a little kid in a brown suit driving a metal cart full of metal stuff went by on the track. He was small and dirty, but I couldn’t save him right then. I was looking for Raven, but however many more there were, I would do my best to save them, too. They had a future. I didn’t.

Another kid with an empty cart rolled past much faster. We understood. It was a constant cycle of bringing, dumping, and taking back. If we timed it right, we could follow the track back to the start and look for Raven.

The first boy rolled by again with an empty cart, not even glancing in our direction. I motioned towards the opening. “Must be an enchantment or something,” I whispered. “Disguises the tunnel as part of the wall.”

They nodded. “Do you think we’ll be able to find it again?” worried Wayk from the back.

I nodded. “Don’t worry. I think I can take care of that.”

Suddenly, the blare of an alarm shattered the chilled air. We all jumped, cowering in the shadows where nobody could see us. The echoes of a Guard bounced down the passageways. It was a shift change for the kids now.

“Quick, let’s move. We can slip through unnoticed.” I hoped Shades was right and her memory was strong as she led us down the middle of the tracks. “Keep your weapons ready,” she ordered unnecessarily. As if we are just going to stroll in like guests at a party.