“It’s rising faster than I thought,” Jacob said, “Let’s hurry and get her in the cart.”
Matt set Jane as softly as he could inside the metal mine cart. They’d made it to the next level of the mine where the decline tunnel should be.
Matt and Dwight pushed the cart from behind with Jane curled up inside, her spider bite getting worse every minute. Jacob scouted out for the tunnel and finally found something, “Up here!”
Before them was a long upwards tunnel. This one didn't have as many lights and it was eerie. However, Jacob could see a small opening at the very top. He could’ve jumped for joy if he wasn't so exhausted.
“We made it guys,” Jacob grinned.
“Yeah, suck it Thanato!” Matt cheered.
Dwight laughed nervously. Their high spirits helped them find the strength to push the cart. “We’ll get you to a hospital, Jane,” Dwight said.
“Great…” Jane tried sounding optimistic.
They were a few feet away from the steep tunnel when they heard something that sounded like a low groan. Jacob listened carefully; it reminded him of the pipes in his apartment, but much louder.
He tried ignoring it but then noticed his feet were starting to get wet.
“Uh oh,” Jacob looked down.
A thin layer of water had made its way to their level already. Impossible, Jacob thought, that would mean there had to be more than one source the water was coming from…
Jacob’s head shot up; knowing how wacko this place was that very well could be!
“We might need to hustle,” Jacob said.
Dwight and Matt nodded, moving the cart with more gusto. They kicked up water and huffed until Matt heard more splashing. Dwight was next to him, but there were splashing steps coming from behind them…
Matt flipped around so fast, he knew he wasn't just hearing things this time, and felt something grab his throat tightly.
“Agh…” Matt waved at whatever was choking him, but there was nothing and no one there.
“Matt” Dwight looked alarmed.
Jacob stopped. Matt couldn't speak but was attempting to form words with gurgling sounds. Suddenly he was thrown in the air and landed a few feet away. Dwight jumped away, his face tormented with confusion. Jacob tossed the map and gripped the pickax he obtained.
“What is it!” Jacob shouted.
Matt coughed, and his voice was hoarse, “I-I don’t know… There! Look there!”
It was unexplainable, but splashes of someone’s footsteps were forming on their own, and heading straight for Dwight. An invisible force grabbed the front of his shirt. Jacob stared in awe, watching Dwight’s body being lifted up by nothing.
“What…” Jacob looked torn from his pickax to back Dwight.
Dwight was also thrown in the air. Knowing Jane was next, Jacob rushed onto the cart with his pickax out. He waited, threateningly, for the attacker, but the footsteps stopped, and then chased over to Matt still laying in the water.
It didn't bother him or Jane, Jacob noted, what was this?
Matt scrambled to his feet and hurried away, the invisible footsteps continued to chase him. “What the frick!” He ran straight for a corner stacked with large boxes and threw himself on top of them. The footsteps paused, right next to the boxes. Matt kept his eyes on them, seeing an outline of two feet in the water, unmoving.
Jacob thought for a moment, then said, “Dwight get on the cart!”
Dwight rolled off the ground. He’d hit his back on the tracks and moved slowly but tried making his way to Jacob. The feet left Matt from his post and sprinted towards Dwight instead. Dwight was struggling to make it fast enough, limping a little, and was grabbed violently by the ankle.
His face hit the hard ground, and his body was being dragged away. Whatever had him was bringing him back to the ladder. Jacob leaped from the cart to go after Dwight, but the steps changing directions and zoomed toward Jacob as well, pulling Dwight like a rag doll.
Jacob panicked, back to the cart! As soon as Jacob’s feet were back inside the cart, the phantom footsteps stopped. Interesting…
Now that no one was on the ground, the phantom proceeded to his original route and brought Dwight down the ladder. Jacob, feeling useless, delicately set his feet into the water again. Matt dipped his toes into the water, which had gotten higher since the encounter. The water had risen up to their shins.
As silently as he could, Jacob trudged to the ladder. The water had filled from the levels below. There’s no way Dwight could be down there…
Jacob peered below and saw Dwight struggling underwater, this time with someone else present. The only thing Jacob could compare this man to was a zombie. Even underwater Jacob could see his rotted and peeled away flesh, his sunken face, and absent lips exposing most of his teeth.
He wasn't alone.
Four more zombies were starting to surround Dwight. One of them looked up and noticed Jacob watching, and started to climb the ladder.
“Matt!” Jacob yelled.
Matt was already on it. He started pushing the cart, shoving his entire body against it. Jacob hurried to assist him, hearing the sounds of splashes behind them.
“Go, go, go!” Jacob shouted.
They needed to get out of the water, Jacob told himself. They finally started up the tunnel, pushing Jane in the cart, and trying to pick up speed before the incline. They could make is as long as they didn't slide backward.
Several phantoms were following them now, splashing and splashing, getting closer until finally, they stopped. Jacob and Matt and managed to push themselves up the tunnel and out of the water. Ah-ha, Jacob thought.
“Don’t let this cart slide back,” Jacob said.
Matt nodded, “Dwight didn't make it, huh?”
Jacob remembered Dwight drowning in the clutches of the zombies. Somehow, they were only visible under the water, which would explain why they were invisible to them before. This was ludicrous.
“They were dragging him deeper into the water,” Jacob sulked, “I didn't know what to do…”
Matt nodded, “They?”
“I think they were the dead miners,” Jacob said.
“You saw them?”
“Yeah.”
Matt dared to look behind him. Four sets of feet stayed at the bottom of the tunnel, not leaving the water.
“This is stupid!” Matt roared, “We’re losing people left and right and for what?”
The cart was getting heavier, but the tunnel’s exit was so close now. Jacob was fighting his guilt, knowing he should’ve done more for Dwight. Strange, people you hardly know can still affect you.
“Let’s make it out of this alive, and worry about questions later,” Jacob said, “We’re almost there.”
Matt and Jacob struggling the last few yards until finally, the tracks lead them outside. They shoved the cart a safe distance away from the tunnel before collapsing to the ground. Both of them were out of breath.
“Guys…” Jane’s soft voice called.
Jacob had his hand over his heart, making sure it wasn't going to pop out of his skin.
“Guys…”
“What?” Jacob finally responded.
“Someone is coming… we’re saved.”
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