*Jake's Pov*

I showed my siblings the way to the secret passageway that I found last night.

It was inside the small shed I talked about on the other side of town.

Once we got there, Melody and Tommy were astounded to see the trapdoor.

Melody: So this is the way back to the mines?

Me: I believe so...

Tommy:...

Our youngest brother didn't look like he wanted to go back inside the mines. I get what he saw back there was scary but this could be our only way out.

We have to take this chance or else, we'll be back to square one!

Me: Tommy. Listen. We're right here with you. Barry too. There's nothing to be afraid of.

Melody rolled her eyes at me while Tommy was putting what I said into consideration.

Tommy: Okay...

Me: Good. Now stand back. I'm going to crack this thing wide open.

They did what I asked them to do before I grabbed a crowbar on the shelf nearby and pushed it into the edges to try and yank it off.

Me: Rrrrrrnnnnngh!!! Open up you bitch!

*CRACK*

Finally...It opened! Thank God.

Melody: Great work. Now if we can see if these caverns could be our ticket out of here.

Me: Yeah. Who knows. It could probably be a passageway into another city.

....

Me: So...whose going first?

Melody:...

Tommy:....

I smirked at their hesitation.

Me: Ladies First.

Melody: W-What do you mean by that?!

Me: It means get in the friggin hole before I make ya!

Melody: Tsk!

She grumbled something inappropriate underneath her breath before going in first.

Tommy, reluctantly followed after her. Guess he didn't want to be left behind.

After they went in, I was the last one in as we finally made it to the mines once more.

...This is probably going to be dangerous...

After leaving the ladder, we dropped down onto a wooden floor and turned north through a door which leads back to the mines.

Tommy: We're....here...

Melody: Yep.

Me: Alright Siblings. Let's see if there's a way out.

As usual, I went in first, using my flashlight to guide us while my siblings followed closely.

Melody was behind us as she used her flashlight to make sure to see if anything would be following us.

Inside the mines, it was a pretty open space. Tbh, I was expecting large rocks or boulders to be blocking our path and shit.

So far, the tunnels were hollow.

Melody: Tommy...Are you sure this is where you saw the monster?

Tommy: Y-Yeah...I first encountered it...over there...

We walked down the railroad tracks to see a couple of boxes on the side. I guess that's where Tommy had hid from that creature.

Lucky Him.

Good thing too because even at his age, he still don't know how to fight back.

I mean I get he's a child and all. But most kids his age are starting to learn self-defense.

His excuse is that since he's the youngest, he gets to be spoiled.

Melody: Boys! Over here!

We heard Melody cried out to us not too far away and I shined my flashlight at the spot where I heard her voice.

She was near a large shed pulling something out from a slot from the shed house.

Me: Is...that a map?

Melody: Yep! A map! We're finally making progress! Let's see....according to the map. There should be an exit...just about south east of here...I hope...

Tommy: Oh! That way we can finally leave this awful place!

Me: Hell Yeah! Can't wait to tell Dudley and Tessa the good news. First, let's see if we can find anything in this shed.

We walked into the shed and begin scavengeing around. I managed to find a box of matches in a locker. All Melody could find was cleaning supplies in a bathroom. All Tommy could find was another locked door.

Me: Welp. Not much to find here besides these matches.

Melody: They could be useful for later. So keep them.

Me: Alright.

No need to tell me twice. I'll take any item that could be useful or not. If it helps getting us out. I'll take those chances.

We went further into the mines going south.

We continued following down the railroad tracks.

Tommy: A door?

Tommy was right. There was another door nearby. I went over to it and juggle at the handle for a minute.

Melody: Well?

Me: Not budging. It's locked.

Tommy: W-We should look somewhere else then...

Melody: Hmm...Strange...

Me: What?

Melody: Noticed those rocks over there...

I followed her gaze to see a bunched a stones stacked and bouldered up. I walked over to it to get a closer look. It seems like...something could be behind it.

Me: I think another passage way could be behind it.

Melody: Well those stones aren't going to move themselves.

Me: There's no way I going to do it. These things are fucking heavy.

Melody: No! That's not what I meant...What I mean is...we need something to blow it up!

Tommy: Huh? Blow it up?

Me: That makes sense...because this is a mine and usually. If there's something blocking their way...

Melody: Then they would need dynamite to forge a new path. 

Me: Now where are we going to get dynamite?

Melody: Let's check back with the shed. Maybe we missed something.

...

A few minutes later, we were back at the shed. We dug deeper into the bunch of boxes and other times until Tommy stopped and found something.

Tommy: Guys...What does TNT mean? It looks like it has red candles.

Melody: *Gasp* Dynamite!

I went over to grab the red "candles" that were strapped together by tape. Yep. It was dynamite.

Me: Tommy. These are not candles.

Tommy: Really...but I thought...

Melody: Have you ever seen the movies where people mistake dynamite for candles? No, they're not candles. They're dangerous explosives and they need to be handled by professionals.

Tommy: Ohhhh...

Me: Since we don't have a professional. We have to be careful with these things...alright. Let's go back.

We headed back to the blocked cave with the stones blocking on the outside.

I set the dynamite down in front of it gently.

Me: Stand Back.

Melody: No need to tell us twice!

She grabbed Tommy and went a whole yard away from the dynamite. I then pulled out a match, set it on fire, and lit up the dynamite.

As sounds as it begin, I ran over to my siblings!

Me: HIT THE DECK!

*BOOOOOOM*

......

The dynamite blow up the blocked path making a new entrance. No more rocks and stones in the way.

Whew....

That was...petrifying...

Now I get why cartoons and movies be saying: "Kids don't try this at home".

Me: You guys okay?

Melody: I'm fine.

Tommy nodded but the noise probably scared him...and whatever was in these mines as well.

Let's just hope we don't run into the monster while we're in or we'll be in big trouble.

Alright...let's go check out that passageway.

We went inside the small cave however, Melody stopped and screamed a little.

She pointed upfront and my eyes went wide in horror.

Inside the small cave, there were skeletal remains of human bones everywhere...

Tommy:....?!

Melody: Oh My God......

Me: Are these people...the visitors who came to Dustville?

My question became spine-chilling not only to me but my siblings as well. Not only Tommy was close to crying. Melody as well. I can't believe this...

Tommy: It's like...What me and Barry saw earlier...from the iron gate...

Melody: There's so many of them...how long... how long has this been going on?

That's when I remembered Howie's story.

The Oasis Syndrome...

The Creepy Stares...

The Kidnappings...

The Disappearances...

The Satanic Cultists...

It was all starting to make sense now...

This...is what happens to the victims... it's no wonder we can't find Misty...Is it possible...she's among one of the skeletons here...?

Will this...also happend to us in another day or two...?

....

No...We can't stay any longer.

Death is approaching.

I'm at my limit now.

I can't take staying anymore of a second in this town.

Melody: I...I don't want to end up like them.

Me: Same...You won't..None of us will. Fuck waiting tomorrow. Straight thing tonight. We are leaving and that's final!

The younger siblings nodded at me. No one waiting. No more games. We're getting the hell out of here.

*Clang*

What was that?!

A new sound broke out from the mines...

Both Melody and Tommy hid behind me.

We heard whispers along with the clanging sound echoing throughout the mines.

Is...someone down here with us?

We walked out of the small cave and back into the caverns. We followed the clanging sounds all the way to the west of the caverns and stopped once again to see an actual person holding a pickaxe.

Melody: (Someone is actually there?!)

Tommy: (Maybe they can help us!)

Me: (I don't know guys. It could be a trap. Stay sharp.)

They silently nodded as I walked over to the person. Now that I got a good look at them.

They appeared to be a lady in her mid-thirties. Her long brown hair was disheveled and out of place. She had fair skin but her clothes looked baggy and dirty.

Is she a hobo or something?

What was she doing in the mines? Does she work here?

Me: Umm....Hello?

Lady: *Whispering*.....

Me: Ummm...Excuse Me? What are you doing? Could you help us?

Lady: *Whispering*

The lady continued to whisper unintelligible words under her breath ignoring me.

Usually I don't like being ignored but for some reason right now, I'm kind of glad I am.

Something about this woman was ringing alarm bells in my head.

Me: Ma'am...? Could you help us? Do you know a way out of this town-?!

Suddenly, she stopped whispering...and finally turned to me.

I couldn't believe what I'm seeing...

Her eyes...

Where are her eyes?!!!

They're Not There!!!!

What The Hell?!!

She then whispered one word that will haunt me...for the rest of my life.

"DIE..."

Suddenly, the woman started cackling and raised the pickaxe...at me!!!

OH FUCK!

As usual, someone was trying to kill us! What did we do wrong to deserve this?!!

With that, my instincts to do only thing.

I turned to my siblings who also had looks on horror as the eyeless woman charged at me.

Me: GUYS....RUN!!!