Soon, the rest of the team, along with Inna, walked quietly along the forest. As they walked further in, she felt that the forest became eerily quiet. In the middle of the silence, Inna scanned the area and saw a small cave by the distance. As they walked closer, it turns out that the cave was a huge one, ranging from about 4 meters tall 5 meters wide.
This must be one of the cave openings!
A few minutes ago, Rod said to her that there were three different cave openings that will lead to the same space underground. And the closest one they will encounter will be for Inna and George.
She felt her heart thump loudly while looking at the cave. She felt it was strange, like she feels like there was something that's about to happen. But she shook it off, thinking that she must've been just too nervous. After all, this is her first quest.
She looked at Rod beside her and he looked at her with a reassuring smile and a nod. Then, Inna and George separated from the team, silently going near the huge cave, while the rest went on their own ways.
With just the two of them, it became more silent. Inna was uncomfortable with the silence because it made her feel more scared. But no matter how much small talk she made along the way, George just stared at her with the same look he had before. A look that said that he wants to say something but can't.
Giving up, Inna just quietly walked towards the cave entrance.
"So, we'll go in here?"
George nodded. He began rummaging through his backpack and a moment later, he took out a palm-sized crystal and murmured something.
The crystal began to light up, but it seems that George adjusted it to make it not too bright. He then handed the crystal to Inna.
"Here, so that it's easier for you to see."
With the crystal at hand, Inna and George began walking towards the cave. Inside the cave, Inna felt creeped out as she goes further. The hair on her arms were on end and the darkness beyond her makes her frightened beyond relief. Because it looks like something is going to pop out anytime.
Like a ghost or something....
She looked towards the walls of the cave and saw fragments of what looked like broken glass. She looked forward and saw something shining. Slowly, they made their way to it.
But as soon as the light shined on it, Inna screamed.
"AHHHHHH--" She dropped the stone as it lighted up a skeleton with a ruby ring beside it.
George immediately clamped Inna's mouth, stopping her scream halfway. Then George looked at her.
"Calm down. It's dead. It's just bones. Nothing more. We need to hurry up." George whispered.
Inna nodded as George removed his hand. She slowly inhaled and exhaled, calming herself down.
After a few moments, they continued walking. When Inna was about to get tired from walking aimlessly, she heard a low growl.
She had goose bumps from the fright of the growl. But the situation didn't give her enough time to recover because following the growl was another weird piercing sound that echoed throughout the walls of the cave. After that strange piercing sound, she felt a gust of wind. And in that gust of wind, she heard the five words.
"Sorry. I had no choice."
She looked back as soon as she heard that familiar voice. Only to see empty space.
George was gone!