Bolt

12

Just as she settled into her movements, Kara arrived upon lines that diverged from the natural ridges of the walls. After a moment, she realized they were drawn hieroglyphics she didn’t initially recognize.

“I found something!” Kara screamed out impulsively.

Her team and Elle ran toward her and stood looking over her shoulder. Her excitement was blocking out her ability to interpret anything her eyes were absorbing.

“Ow.” Kara glanced over her shoulder to see Elle rolling her foot around.

“You okay?”

“Yeah, I stepped on something that moved and twisted my ankle.”

Kara turned back to the wall, and her eyes widened as she tried to focus. She felt Bolt standing over her now, staring at the cryptic drawing along with everyone else. She tried to ignore him as all the knowledge rushed into her like a warm bath.

But just as her focus narrowed, Bolt grabbed Kara by the shoulder, along with everyone else who was staring at the drawing.

“Get out! Get out now!” Bolt yelled.

Kara turned to see the panic in her team's eyes as Bolt tried to hurry them out of the cave. However, Kara remained, once again swiping off Bolt’s arm.

“What the f**k are you doing?” Kara screamed at him.

Bolt took her by the wrist and tried pulling her. He did it so hard that Kara thought her arm was going to pop out of its socket.

But she somehow managed to break from his grasp and ran back to the wall drawings.

“Kara!” Bolt bellowed at her.

Kara pointed a finger at Bolt, who was staring at her with anger and terror in his eyes.

“I don’t know who the f**k you think you are,” Kara howled. “But I am not some damsel in distr...” The rock under her feet began to shake. First, she thought the tremor was from her intense anger. Then tiny dribbles of rock began falling on top of her, and she gazed upward just in time to notice cracks in the thick stone.

“Get the f**k out of there!” Bolt yelled. He lunged for her at the same time as the rock over her head came loose and crashed to the floor. She slammed back onto the rock floor, coughing. She waved her hand in front of her face to clear the dust choking her. The only light came from a small opening at the top of the pile.

“Kara!” Relief flowed through her, knowing Bolt hadn’t been caught in the rockfall.

“I’m okay,” she hollered back. A small boulder rolled off the top of the pile, nearly hitting her. “Careful, Bolt,” she admonished, climbing to her feet. More dust fell from the ceiling. Was there more to come?

It was interesting that the rock pile happened to fall directly where the drawings were located on the wall. It almost seemed like that was done on purpose. Was it a trap laid by some ancient person to try to protect the gem’s hidden location? If it were, then something had to set it off — a tripwire or touching something. What had Elle stepped on?

Before she could consider the clues, the floor rumbled again, much stronger than before. Oh s**t. The side of the rock pile imploded, and light suddenly burst into her eyes. Arms reached out and grabbed her around the waist. Then she found herself thrown over a shoulder

Her body went limp, and she gave Bolt no resistance as he leaped over more crashing rocks. All she could hear was stone cracking against stone, along with the thought of many guaranteed fatal misses.

Outside, Bolt laid her on the ground, and she stared up at the snowy sky. Kara had been in shock before, but never like this. When she slowly came to her senses, Bolt was holding her mouth open to receive water.

She felt weak and, the worst thing of all, utterly stupid that she couldn't interpret the drawing in time.

She blinked her wide blue eyes and pushed the water bottle away from her face. Bolt’s look of concern faded to his usual expression of disgruntled indifference.

“Why did you do that?” Kara asked.

Her team was standing around her as she lay on the snow embankment. Elle was holding her head while Bolt crouched next to her.

Bolt raised an eyebrow.

“That’s an interesting way to say thank you,” he remarked.

Kara pushed him out of her way as she tried to stand. Elle kept her balanced by holding her by her hips. She felt dizzy, but there was a point to be made.

“I needed more time to interpret that!” she yelled, her voice raspy from fear. “Now we’ll never know where the actual f*****g gem is!”

Bolt climbed to his feet with a hefty sigh.

“I’m getting tired of this pissed-off routine,” Bolt said.

“Well, I’m getting tired of you,” Kara snapped back.

Elle stood between them and held her hands out.

“Let’s take a second to breathe,” Elle said gently.

Bolt huffed and took a step away. Elle continued to hold onto Kara’s shoulders to keep her balanced.

Kara was furious, but she couldn’t keep her eyes off Bolt. He indeed had just saved her, but that was something he was going to hold against her forever in the mind of a man who thought women needed rescuing.

“Kara,” Elle said.

Kara’s eyes snapped to Elle’s, which were much more calming.

“What?”

Elle said quietly, “He saved you from certain death. Give him a break for a second.”

This enraged Kara, but her friend was right. She closed her eyes and plopped down. Elle handed her a water bottle so the shock could fade.

Bolt returned with his arms crossed. Kara looked up at him. He said, “I saw the etchings. I know where to go.”

“What?” Kara said. “How could yo..."

“I’ve seen those types of hieroglyphics before,” he said, staring off into the sky. “I can lead us from now on.”

Kara was feeling thankful, but that feeling was eroded by even more frustration. First, he infiltrated her mission, and now he had information about something only she was supposed to know? All from reading some cave drawing?