Chapter 245: A Choice In The Cave (1)
"Where did you say the mountain cave was?" Cassian asked Lily who brought him to a junction with treacherous hills that lay ahead of him. When she pointed up, indicating he’d have to climb all the way up to get there, Cassian exhaled as he took a step back to take notice of the height, and it was going to be a long climb.
He bit his lower lip and placed his hand on his hip, taking it into study and finding the safest place to start climbing.
The path ahead was Rocky and steep, with jagged boulders and deep crevices blocking his way. The wind in this area was quite strong, and it howled fiercely all around him.
"Hold on, Maddie." He whispered to himself and took a deep breath. Cassian began his ascent, scrambling up the rough terrain with all his might. Lily remained below, watching him climb the dangerous mountain to get to the top and save his wife. A barely noticeable smile reached her lips, and for the first time, her eyes twinkled with admiration as she watched him go.
Every step he took was a struggle, and he felt his muscles burning with exertion as he pushed himself ever upwards. The rocks beneath his feet were unstable and slippery, and when he looked below to see how far he had climbed, his eyes widened slightly upon realizing he had climbed much higher than intended, but it wasn’t because of that he looked alarmed. If he falls from here, that could be the end of him.
"Ahh... shit!" He cursed through his teeth, but then when he thought of Madeline and what she must be enduring in the hands of Jeremy, his will to continue grew stronger, and he kept moving, despite the odds. Since the rocks were dangerously slippery, he had to use his experience as a trainee those years ago when he did most climbing to keep himself safe.
Several times he felt his grip slipping, and he had to cling onto the rocky outcroppings with white knuckles to avoid plummeting to his doom. But despite the danger, he refused to give up, driven on by his desire to find his wife and save her from the wicked hands of Jeremy.
Finally, after what seemed like hours of grueling effort, Cassian finally reached the summit. With a slight groan, he pushed himself up once more and successfully made it to the top. Laying flat on the hard ground while looking at the stars that twinkled above, Cassian tried to catch his breath and gather his strength, but in the end, he made it.
With a fierce determination taking control in his red glinting eyes, Cassian rose to his feet and made his way towards the only cave he could see. As he quietly approached the entrance, the hairs on the back of his neck stood up, sensing something sinister lurking within. The inside looked too dark, and he could barely see anything on the inside.