The narrow passage had everything a gloomy and murky path would be expecting to present itself to a new set of eyes; I had no idea this was even here. It was well camouflaged by the outside; of course, why the hell would anyone come out this far and discover this hot hole in the side of valley – was not my cup of tension tamer tea.

"What is this dump of a hole?" I hesitantly asked.

"It's been called many things through out the years, with it now settled on the title of 'The Devils Firebox." Jensen explained.

I scowled with that off-putting information. Of course, it would be called that... any cave systems ever been nicknamed the 'Heavenly Angels'? Nope, that wouldn't be as creepy or horrifying to punch off the tongue. "And we're supposed to be safe in here?"

Talek only shared the same grimace as we continued down... down... down.

**

Jensen came to walk beside me as Talek took the lead. I felt he wanted to say something as he kept turning to peep at me; a slight opening to his lips.

"Just say it..." I quipped as I had gotten tired of the 'maybe' or 'maybe he will' say whatever was on his mind.

"I... err... I... look, I'm so sorry for earlier..." He begged earnestly. "I wasn't myself... and I had forgotten my protein bar at home... so I was getting the nauseated... err... low sugar sensations..."

I frowned at his off version of events. "Whoa..." I exclaimed with a dramatic handwave. "...You're telling me you masticated on the professor and killed that girl in one blow because you were hangry?"

He plucked at my arm instantly; heaving us to stop. "What!" he raged.

"That's right..." I exclaimed. "... you killed two...err... well... one innocent person tonight."

He almost looked convincing by his devastated expression; I was too concerned that he was playing quite the actor with his performance to think otherwise – I mean, he is a drama major after all; clearly he needed work on the poker face he'd tried to play on.

He groped his fingers around his face; covering his eyes and cheeks just for a few seconds; I suppose adhering himself to the bombshell news I'd laid on him. He recoiled his grip from me when he realized he was still attached to me; tearing up morsels of moisture; in the that moment, I think I was being a tad too hard on him. If he were acting this superbly, somebody give this guy the Oscar for best actor!

Talek, came back and swung an arm around his neck, submitting to the guilt that he saw my face conjured as he and Jensen lugubriously traveled on further down the rocky path. I could hear Talek's voice echoing and bouncing off the abundance of (floor to ceiling) stalactites; but something about these growths weren't so typical.

My fascination got the best of me (again) as I reached to touch the elongated formation; my index and middle finger reaching first, as the touch withdrew back immediately, as the color quickly burned to an amber coals fiery peak; they weren't hard nor frozen; but hot – intensely hot!

The one upside down peak I had touched suddenly flared to another and another and another, seemingly spearing faster and out of sight towards our headed direction. The hole was lit (like the worst Christmas decorated house ever on a street block) creating an uncomfortable warmth, that instantly prompted my body to tingle in heat- like goosebumps; the air was even more sucked out from the frying out effect.

The fake-rock I had touched vibrated in a few synchronized shimmers of light (as like a LED bulb slowly growing brighter with each second it's turned on). Then an exact flash from another then another; then back to where the light had originated from.

I had the strangest feeling that it was a warning of sorts. Of course no night would be one-hundred without a bit of chatter between a faux rock and a close to being committed girl from a complete psychotic breakdown; on the premise that the whole world has gone to hell, and now entertaining the idea that cave spikes were capable of signaling a warning.

"Hey guys..." I jeered out. "... I think we should try a different way... something's not right here."

"Danni...err... there is no where else to go..." Talek pressed. "The whole graveyard has become an immense land mass of blocks..."

"Not to mention the group of collected misfits...err... that are left... who would desire nothing more than to rip us all new holes..." Jensen added.

"I'm aware of them out there..." I fussed. "but I swear these blinking icicles are trying to warn of something deeper in the cave."

They both leered at each in matching confusion, readying a slight compressed chuckle, before gulping in as they glanced back at my resolve.

I couldn't believe after all that crap that they've both shown to be capable of doing... would find this to be such for hilarity. I felt a tinge boil on the inner of side of my navel; traveling up and through my chest by forceful variant speed.

"Really?" I chimed "...you both are harboring supernatural abilities that most people in the world would find to a tad unthinkable, and a good portion would also condemn the two of you to either years of scientific study or worse... extermination!" I heaved a breath. "but for me to say I have a wrenching feeling from these limestone conduits... you've gotta be freaking' kidding me!" I huffed out a rattling sigh. Throwing my hands up, as I stomp passed their silence, and down the one flickering corridor.

"Let's go..." I yelled back at them. "...our impending doom awaits!"