The Pride Game

Chapter 17

"See!" Jonathan exclaimed; he pointed towards the third cave near to them.

Mrs. Brenda, Miss Tina, one girl, and two other young men died in the second cave. The roars of the lions were no longer audible, but they could still feel their hearts being ripped out of place.

Their breaths were still ragged. Their faces were so sad because five lives had disappeared in that cave. The hairs on their necks stood on end as they recalled the horror and terror on their faces when the lions chased and nearly hit them on the back. Samuel could see Alena's back which was injured by the lion's claws, and he could see the path of blood running down her clothes.

"You better change your clothes," Samuel said, approaching Alena, "I saw that there was another cloth in the bag."

The pain from sweat gets into the wound spreads throughout Alena's body. Her face ached from the injury. She sat down and opened her backpack. "I'm going to change first," she said, opening her pack, wanting to see what was in the bag.

"Is there medicine there? I think you need one," said Samuel, "I checked last time, and there's bread in there. We can get some bread first to recharge." Samuel sat down, and they chose a place a little away from the second cave.

The old man was still reluctant to sit and enjoy the bread, he stood up, and his eyes stared straight into the cave. His shoulder was lightly tapped, and he immediately turned to the person who had startled him.

"We'd better recover our strength first," Jonathan said to the Old Man. Old Man's memory cannot be separated from his experience when he was in the cave earlier. The horror was so absolute, and death was behind them. His legs stumbled, he fell, and his legs ran with pain. Now his legs felt numb, and he seemed to have no more energy to do anything.

His breath quivered whenever he recalled the events of a few minutes ago.

"Let's sit down first," said Samuel. He stood beside Jonathan and reassured the Old Man that they still needed food to run.

Neither of them wore a watch, they did not know what time it was, but the sun was already directly above them. "We have little time, and we only have five hours to find our destination." They sat near the second cave, but they didn't see who was going in and out of the second cave. When their stomachs were filled, they could hear the screams of the participants screaming from inside the second cave.

Alena's face suddenly tensed. She still remembers that feeling when one lion ripped her skin. Her heart was still pounding, and her palms were still wet.

"I think the answer is the third cave," said Samuel; he noticed that the previous group that entered the third cave did not scream. They also didn't look like they were about to run for their lives and wanted to get out. "About five more minutes, I think we can go inside," said Samuel, who immediately nodded at the others.

"Yes, fine. We can go inside. I will finish my bread first. Is it true that they only gave us bread? Even though we will run around while looking for the right cave," said Abdul; he couldn't believe that his lunch was bread.

"You can eat mine," said Samuel; he halved his and held it out to Abdul.

Abdul's stomach rumbled, and he felt his stomach was still hungry.

He accepted the bread and said, "Thank you. But what are you going to eat?" he asked.

Samuel shook his head. "It's okay. I'm not that hungry."

Alena found the ointment in her bag as she looked for more groceries that might be available in her bag. However, she did not see anymore, only one loaf of bread he found, but his eyes found the ointment in the bag.

She took it out. The blood on her back had dried, and she was looking for a place where she could apply the ointment to the wound.

After a while, they rose from their respective seats and walked to enter the third cave.

"This cave looks like it hasn't been inhabited for a long time," Jonathan said, "is this the cave we're looking for?" asked Jonathan. He was worried that they were in the wrong cave.

They were still in front of the cave; Old Man's and Abdul's feet shook violently when they were about to step inside.

"What if this isn't the cave we wanted?" asked Abdul. He looked exhausted, his face clouded with anxiety. However, not trying is just as bad when they meet the lions.

"There is no roar or smell of blood from this cave," said Samuel, "it's been a few minutes since we sat between the second and third caves; screams were heard from the second cave and not the third cave, and there is no one turned around because he wanted to avoid something in there." Samuel crouched; he described the players' footprints that only lead into the cave and not out again.

Jonathan and Abdul crouched down and noticed the footprints.

While they were thinking, they heard a few players come to the third cave and pass by them.

"Is this the right cave?" asked the thin woman. She came there along with five other participants.

Alena said, "We don't know, but the analysis we can see from this cave is that this cave is most likely the way to the intended place.

The other participants nodded, and one of them said, "Let's go in and see what's in there."

The woman and the rest of her friends looked quite tired, but it looks like they were determined to win the game.

Samuel, Jonathan, and the other three were warily walking behind them at a considerable distance.

There were no screams; either screams to escape or cries for help, so the five continued on their way.

"Most likely, this is the right cave, but we still have to be vigilant." Samuel strolled. His eyes continued to circle the entire cave.

The others nodded their heads, but no one made a sound. Even to breathe, they must continue to be careful.

They were in the cave; the cave was long and tedious.

So far, they had run into no obstacles at all, but something bothered them: was this the proper cave? This cave seems accurate, but it has no end, and their confusion is resolved when they reach the fork.

"Which way should we go?" Jonathan asked; they had to choose between these two paths.