*Tommy's Pov*

I'm scared.

I'm scared. I'm scared. I'm scared.

It was dark and scary down here in the caverns. Jake went to go get a rope to help me get out while Melody told me to look for a way out.

If I can't. I should go back to large gaping hole above waiting for her voice.

Me: Can I...really do this? I'm all alone...and surrounded by the darkness.

I'm scared.

I'm scared. I'm scared. I'm scared.

I'm scared. I'm scared. I'm scared.

No. I shouldn't be so scared. I have light and Barry with me. With this I can escape this cave and get back to the surface.

Okay...

Here we go...

I wonder what could be down here...

Maybe there's an abandoned underground city or something. That would make a great adventure.

.....

No. That wouldn't be possible. Especially in a place like this....Ugggh. I just want to go home.

I want to eat my Mom's cooking again...

Why did Mommy and Daddy abandoned us...?

Did they...really not care about us...care about me?

I've been a good boy this year and followed all the rules. Clean my room and did well in school.

So why...?

Am I...really not...worth loving?

The tears beamed down my cheek as my heart begin to hurt. I clutched Barry close to my chest to make the pain go away.

Melody: Tommy! Can you still hear me?

Me: Yes! I can! Even with this flashlight! It's still dark down here!

Melody: I see...

Me: Is Jake back yet...?

Melody: Sadly no. How far away are you?

From the sound of her frantic voice, he didn't walk away too far. Tbh, he didn't want to do any further.

Me: N-Not too far...

Melody: Just look around for a bit. Try to find anything that could be useful later. You never know what you might find.

Me: O-Okay!

Doing what Melody says, I shined the flashlight down a left pathway and went down the mine tracks.

I really don't like being down here.

I heard that caverns and caves have some leading to long, dark, winding underground mazes, others leading to deep, endless pools or fast-rushing waters.

The small relief that no monsters seemed to be roaming these caves yet was undone by my rapidly growing anxiety that I could have gotten lost anywhere...

Hunted and shackled down, this fear leads me to tears...

I stopped when I noticed something on top. There was a sign on top of the caverns.

It said...

Me: Closed...For Repairs?

Now that I think about it...how long...were these mines abandoned...?

I kept walking until I stopped to see a Generator. I tried turning it on but to no avail.

Melody:....my!....id...u...nd...thing?!

Melody was calling out to me again. I couldn't hear her.

Me: What?!

She spoke a little louder this time.

Melody: Did you find anything?!!

Me: I've found a generator but it's not working. I tried turning it on but nothing.

Melody: I guess that makes sense because there's no power down there. Wait...if there's no power down there, them how is this desert town getting electricity?!! Or maybe it only works down there. Try finding a electric fuel box somewhere. Maybe that will restore the power.

I don't understand what she's saying but I decided to take another good look around.

An electric fuel box...now where could that be...?

All I could see were some coins, a bunch of rocks, a comb, some cobwebs, and an ring.

Wait a second...a ring?

I picked up from the bunch of rocks it was on and to my surprise, it an initial first name on it.

"Misty"

Oh My Gosh...!

Miss Misty...Miss Tessa's missing roommate...was she...down here...?!

Well...only one way to find out...!

I put the ring in my pajamas' pocket.

Maybe she's somewhere in these caverns being held hostage. Maybe I can look for her...

But...if she really is down here...what can I do...?

I'm too little and small...I'm only eight years old...

I made pace down the caverns and stopped to notice a familiar symbol to my right.

Me: Is this...the cult symbol that Melody was talking about?

I looked at Barry who seem to agree.

Yeah. It must be!

So something happend down here as well. I think we're close to finding something else.

I continued pressing onto for the past couple of minutes until I stopped at a iron gate. I couldn't see pass it. So I shined my flashlight inside.

....

I wished I didn't...

My eyes went wide upon the sight...

Inside the iron gate was a couple of skeletonal remains of people inside. I gone pale upon recognition. Tears fallen down my face again.

Oh My Gosh! Oh My Gosh! Oh My Gosh! What happened down here?!

What is going on?!

Are those really... actual people...?! Were they...? Left inside this cave...to die?

I couldn't see what else was in there, even if I'm young but I could tell something horrific happened here. For who knows how long.

Not wanting to stay any longer, I ran back into the area hoping to hear Melody's voice again. But then I stopped in my tracks when I heard something.

Groooooooooowl....

My heart started pounding faster as I heard a low growl broke out from the cave...

Something was coming towards my direction to my right.

Is this...the monster? It was down here!

I begin to panic.

I've...I've gotta hide...!

Luckily, there was large box nearby. I quickly opened it up and was relived to see it was empty. I heard the large stomping sounds coming closer. Taking this as my chance. I quickly hid Barry and myself inside and closed the box.

Me:.....

Stomp. Stomp. Stomp.

Groooooooooowl....

The black monster was now near the boxes. It looked around while continuing to growl...

Before it went into another direction of the cavern.

As soon as I didn't hear anymore. I took as another chance to hurry up and leave.

Me: So...that was the monster? I...need to hurry up and get out of here...before it comes back...

The familiar tears poured down my face as I clutched onto Barry once more before I immediately ran back to where Melody should be at. There I then I saw a rope.

Melody: Tommy?! Are you there! Come on!!!

Oh Thank Goodness! Jake must be back. Relief washed over my features.

Me: Y-Yes I'm here! Hurry! Pull me up! Please! It's down here! It's down here!!!

I quickly grabbed onto the rope as my siblings begin to pull me and Barry up.
I suddenly begin to feel small and vulnerable...

I also felt eyes were watching me...

I heard small whispers of laughing, screaming, and crying echoing throughout the caverns.

I didn't want to look back to the mines out of fear that the monster or something else would come back and chase me.

I...DON'T WANT TO DIE!