The Red Queen

Chapter - 2

Reine’s POV

I unloaded my hiking gear and started my long hike, excitement heavy in me. Many people had chosen this day to hike as well since I came across many hikers. Some of them had stayed overnight and told me the experience was pleasant.

I had called aunt and Austin from time to time to let them know I was doing well. I had my packed lunch like two hours ago and now I was just exploring the forest. I planned to camp around the lake, so I explored the rest of the area. I walked for many minutes. It was getting dark and I had an hour before it gets dark so I can use that time to explore the next area. Where I was, there was no one to be seen, I think that is because the sky was getting dark, sun was setting in the sky, people have left, those who wanted to camp were at the lakeside. I saw two other hikers setting up the tent near where I was going to stay.

The ground was slightly high as I went further. Carefully watching my stepping, I walked for few more minutes. I was getting slightly out of breath, so took a short water break. I should probably head back but my curiosity won over my intuition to turn back, I wanted to see what’s ahead, no one seemed to be here, that made my excitement levels go up. I loved isolated places; they were very interesting to me.

Getting back on my feet, I started to walk further ahead. As I stepped, my foot slipped an I slid down on my ass and landed rather painfully.

“Aarrghhh.” I groaned, my buttcheeks hurting. “Way to go.”

Sighing, I got up and dusted the debris off me. It had gotten hard to see, so I took my torch out and lit it, waving it around to see my surroundings. I wasn’t lost, I had a good sense of direction, it’s just, it was hard to see in the darkness.

I had fallen off a small rock, embedded in the ground. right in front of me was a blob of darkness, there was something there, a small opening or a cave maybe? I adjusted the backpack and walked towards the small gap under the rocks.

I kept my hand on the rock and flashed my flashlight inside. There seemed to be space enough for one small person to fit; that was me. Without giving it a thought, I squeezed myself inside, sliding through the small gap, deeper and deeper. At one point, I was flattened against the rocks, but managed to slide further. My backpack was not helping, it was pressing my body in the rock more.

As the gap opened to a more opened space, I sighed, the small noise echoing. I flashed my light around; it was like a small room made of rocks. I

I pursed my lips, looking around. “It’s just rocks.” I mumbled.

I walked around, looking for something, anything. The rock walls were unusually cold; freezing cold. It felt like I was touching ice with my bare hands. Maybe it was some earthly and atmospheric phenomenon.

I walked back to the little gap I came through. I had to adjust my backpack before I leave so I wont squeeze myself again. Keeping a hand on wall, I tried to adjust the straps. As I was doing it, I felt the wall beneath my palm. Instantly retracting my hand, I looked at the cracked rock surface.

As far as I knew, rocks were not supposed to crumble underneath this little pressure, unless it wasn’t normal or hollow from inside. raising a brow curiously, I flashed my light on it. Indeed, the surface was cracked. I back ed back, watching that particular side carefully. About six steps behind, there was something on the wall. Narrowing my eyes at it, I tried to rub off the moss and rocky layer.

There was an engraving of some sort, all I was few blurry lines, though they were too specific for it to be natural. Someone had definitely been here, and they had carved these, but that was probably a long time ago. It looked like it was some kind of symbol, but too blurred to make it out. I took two steps ahead and kicked the rock surface to see if it really is hollow from inside.

The wall suffered a huge crack. My eyes widened. I should not do it, what if the entire thing comes down?! I would meet Satan directly. But it seemed like it was too late to rethink my decision since the wall rumbled. I stepped back; eyes wide in fear of the rock crushing me beneath it.

The loud noise of falling rocks resonated and I shielded myself, pressing myself in the walls, eyes closing in panic. The noise ceased. Cautiously, I looked up. The rock surface in my front had collapsed completely, revealing darkness ahead. I lifted my torch up and flashed it ahead. All I saw was levelled ground. I stepped forward and looked around inside with my flashlight. It seemed like a bigger cave of some sort. Biting my lips, I contemplated upon going inside.

“f**k it.” I muttered in the end and stepped inside.

Cold gripped me like a thousand hands grabbing all at once. I shivered, my teeth clattering. Hugging myself, I went further inside. sound of falling water somewhere far echoed continuously, and my footsteps, other than that, it was dead silent. I stepped extremely cautiously, my eyes fleeting everywhere.

The pitch-black surroundings made me uneasy, I had a mildly bad feeling about this place. As I went further, I flashed my light on what seemed like an altar, or a raised slab. I couldn’t help but feel like someone probably used it for sacrificing human beings. I needed a better vision.

Squatting down, I opened my backpack, with my torch in my mouth. I pulled out the big electric lamp I use in tents and kept it on ground. adjusting my backpack, I lit the lamp. The whole area came to life.

I looked around. I was definitely someplace fishy. I saw red candles all around the altar and weird wood figures or stick figures. Witchcraft? Voodoo?