Chapter 6: Discovering the Treasure
Analyzing the Maps in Eddie’s Garage
Eddie’s garage felt like the command center of a high-stakes operation. The single hanging lightbulb flickered occasionally, casting long shadows across the cluttered workbench. Maps, old documents, and the pictures they had taken in the caves were scattered across every available surface. The hum of Eddie’s old computer mixed with the quiet tension hanging over the group as they gathered around the table.
Jackie, seated at the head of the table, leaned over one of the maps they had found in Cedar Mansion’s basement. The lines on the worn parchment marked a series of tunnels and secret passageways winding beneath Cedar Hollow, including the Willow Caves they had already ventured into. But it was one symbol in particular that held her attention—the same symbol they had seen on the walls of the caves.
“We’re close,” Jackie said, her eyes locked on the map. She traced the symbol with her finger. “This marking... it matches the symbols we saw in the caves. Whatever Blackwell is after, it’s down there.”
Max, leaning back in his chair, eyed the map with a mix of curiosity and dread. “Close to what exactly? A pile of gold, or, you know, our inevitable doom?”
Jackie smirked, though the tension in her voice was clear. “Hopefully more gold, less doom.”
Eddie, sitting to Jackie’s right, adjusted his glasses as he studied the map. “This isn’t just some random marking,” he said, his voice thoughtful. “These tunnels—they were built for smuggling operations back in the 19th century. According to this,” he held up a crumbling piece of paper, “there’s a legend about a treasure hidden by a notorious smuggler. He used these caves to move goods in and out of Cedar Hollow, and when he disappeared, so did the treasure.”
Holly, who had been pacing nervously in the corner, stopped and crossed her arms, clearly skeptical. “A treasure? Like, actual buried treasure? This sounds more like a fairy tale than something Blackwell would be involved in.”
Jackie glanced at her, her expression serious. “Blackwell isn’t just interested in stolen goods. He’s looking for something bigger. This treasure might be the key to understanding why he’s gone to such lengths to keep this place under wraps.”
Max leaned forward, curiosity piqued despite his usual reservations. “So what, we’re talking gold coins? Jewels? Pirate maps?”
Eddie chuckled lightly. “Maybe not pirates, but the value of the treasure could be astronomical. We’re talking historical artifacts, gold, priceless things that have been hidden for over a century.”
Holly shook her head, her nerves still clearly rattled from their earlier encounters. “I don’t know, Jackie. Blackwell could already be ahead of us. What if he’s already found it?”
Jackie’s eyes flickered with determination as she sat back in her chair. “Then we have to make sure we get there first.”
Eddie spread out another map, this one a detailed diagram of the Willow Caves. “According to this, the deepest part of the caves is where the treasure is most likely hidden. It’s not just a random stash—it’s been hidden for a reason. But it’s dangerous. These tunnels twist and turn, and it’s easy to get lost.”
Max raised an eyebrow, glancing between Jackie and Eddie. “Great, so certain doom it is.”
Jackie shot him a look. “You don’t have to come.”
Max waved off the comment with a grin. “Are you kidding? And miss out on this adventure? I’m in. I just reserve the right to complain when things go sideways.”
Holly exhaled slowly, the anxiety still gnawing at her, but she nodded. “If we’re doing this, we have to be smart. Blackwell’s not going to just sit back and let us find the treasure. He’ll be watching.”
Jackie stood, folding the map carefully and tucking it into her jacket. “That’s why we move fast. We get in, find the treasure, and get out before Blackwell even knows we’re there.”
Eddie leaned back, adjusting his glasses. “We’ll need to be prepared. The caves are dark, and the tunnels can be unstable. We’ll need ropes, flashlights, and something to mark our path.”
“I’ll grab the gear,” Max said, standing up and stretching. “Nothing says ‘fun day out’ like spelunking into a dark, dangerous cave.”
Jackie smirked, though her mind was already racing ahead, calculating every possible scenario. “Let’s move quickly. The longer we wait, the more time Blackwell has to figure out what we’re up to.”
Eddie began gathering the documents and maps, organizing them into a small folder. “I’ll download the photos we took from the caves earlier. They might help us navigate.”
Holly bit her lip, still uneasy but trusting Jackie’s leadership. “We’re really doing this, aren’t we?”
Jackie nodded, her eyes burning with determination. “Yeah. We are.”
----------------------------------------
The next day dawned with a biting chill in the air, and by the time they reached the entrance to the Willow Caves, the tension in the group had only grown. The dense foliage around the entrance seemed to shroud the cave in shadows, and a faint mist hung in the air, adding to the eerie atmosphere.
Max looked up at the looming mouth of the cave and shuddered. “I don’t know why, but caves always feel like nature’s way of saying, ‘Turn back, this is a bad idea.’”
Jackie, leading the way with the map in hand, didn’t look back as she replied. “We’re too far in to turn back now. Keep up.”
Holly gripped her flashlight tightly, her eyes darting around nervously as they stepped inside. The air was cooler in the cave, and every step echoed off the stone walls, making it feel like they were being watched. “I hate this already.”
Eddie stayed close to the group, his flashlight illuminating the walls. “Just stay close and watch for the markings. If the map’s right, we should start seeing symbols that match the ones from the mansion.”
They ventured deeper into the cave, the narrow passages twisting and turning as the air grew heavier. Jackie’s flashlight cut through the darkness, revealing strange markings etched into the stone walls. Her pulse quickened—they were getting closer.
Max’s voice broke the silence, his tone laced with nervous energy. “So, what’s the protocol if we run into, I don’t know, a bear or a bat the size of a small dog?”
Jackie smirked. “Run faster than you.”
The deeper they went, the more oppressive the air became. Holly’s anxiety was clear in the way she clutched her flashlight, her breath coming in short bursts as they pressed forward.
“We have to be getting close,” Eddie said, squinting at the symbols on the walls. “These markings are older—way older than the mansion. This is it.”
Jackie’s heart raced. They were on the verge of something huge, something that could change everything.
“We’re close,” she said, her voice hushed with anticipation. “Let’s keep moving.”
Venturing Deeper into the Willow Caves
The entrance to the Willow Caves yawned before them like a dark mouth ready to swallow them whole. The air was heavy with moisture, and the chill of the cave seemed to seep into their bones as soon as they crossed the threshold. It was quiet—too quiet. Every step they took echoed against the stone walls, creating an eerie symphony that heightened the tension hanging over the group.
Jackie was at the front, her flashlight beam dancing across the damp stone. The map was folded tightly in her hand, but she barely needed it now. The strange symbols etched into the walls were all she needed to know they were on the right path. Her mind raced with the possibilities of what they might find—the treasure, the history, and, hopefully, answers.
Holly trailed behind, her grip on the flashlight so tight her knuckles were white. Every few seconds, her eyes darted back toward the entrance, but the cave’s twisting path had already swallowed them, and the daylight was long behind them. She forced herself to breathe steadily, though every inhale felt like the weight of the cave was pressing down on her chest.
Max, walking beside her, kept the mood light in his own sarcastic way. “You ever notice that all caves feel like bad news? Like, nature’s little ‘beware’ signs everywhere?”
“You could’ve stayed outside,” Jackie called back, her voice echoing down the passage.
“And miss out on this grand adventure? No way,” Max replied, though his voice was slightly strained, revealing his own nerves.
Eddie, who was walking next to Jackie, was deep in thought. His flashlight was angled toward the floor as his mind churned over the symbols, the maps, and everything they had uncovered so far. He knew they were on the verge of something big, but the gnawing guilt that Blackwell might have used his invention to track them weighed heavily on him. He wasn’t just chasing history—he was trying to make things right.
As they ventured deeper, the cave grew narrower, and the temperature seemed to drop with each step. The stone walls felt like they were closing in, the air thicker, more difficult to breathe. The darkness ahead seemed endless, their flashlight beams barely cutting through it.
“This is starting to feel like a bad horror movie,” Holly muttered, her anxiety clear in her voice. “Like, the kind where we should’ve turned around five minutes ago.”
“Relax,” Jackie said, glancing back at her. “We’ve come too far to turn back now. Besides, we’re close—I can feel it.”
Holly shot her a look that said she wasn’t so sure about that, but she kept moving, determined to stick with the group. She wasn’t about to let her fear stop them now, not after everything they had been through. Still, the oppressive weight of the cave was making her heart race, and she could feel her palms beginning to sweat.
Max, sensing her discomfort, offered a nervous grin. “Hey, if we do find this treasure, I’m calling dibs on at least one gold coin. I’ve got a lot of parking tickets to pay off.”
Holly managed a small smile. “Deal. If we make it out of here in one piece, I’ll throw in an extra coin for good luck.”
As they continued deeper into the cave, the strange symbols on the walls became more frequent. Eddie stopped occasionally to snap pictures with his phone, documenting every detail. The symbols were ancient, far older than anything they had seen in the mansion, and their presence only reinforced the idea that they were on the right path.
“These symbols... they’re almost like a guide,” Eddie murmured, more to himself than to the group. “Whoever built these tunnels wanted to make sure they could find their way back. We’re following the same trail they did.”
“That’s comforting,” Max said dryly. “Just as long as it doesn’t lead us straight into a booby trap or something.”
Jackie didn’t respond. Her mind was laser-focused on the goal ahead. The deeper they went, the more certain she became that they were about to uncover something huge. She could almost feel the treasure calling to them, buried somewhere in the depths of the caves, just waiting to be discovered.
Suddenly, the tunnel widened, opening into a larger chamber. The walls stretched high above them, and their flashlights barely illuminated the ceiling. The air here was colder, stiller, and the sound of their footsteps echoed back at them in a hollow, unsettling way.
“We’re getting close,” Jackie whispered, her voice reverberating through the chamber.
Holly swallowed hard, her anxiety spiking as the space around them grew darker and more foreboding. “I hope we’re close, because I don’t like this at all.”
Max waved his flashlight toward the far end of the chamber, his beam catching glimpses of more symbols and jagged rock formations. “This place just keeps getting weirder. What do you think’s behind door number three?”
Eddie moved toward one of the walls, inspecting a series of symbols etched into the stone. His flashlight hovered over one in particular—a larger symbol that seemed to mark a significant point in the cave. He traced his fingers over it, his brow furrowing in concentration.
“This one’s different,” Eddie said, stepping back to get a better look. “It’s bigger, more detailed. This has to be it.”
Jackie approached, shining her flashlight over the symbol. Her heart pounded with anticipation. “The treasure’s close. We’re on the right path.”
Holly, ever the skeptic, shifted uncomfortably. “And what if Blackwell’s already here? What if he found it first?”
“We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it,” Jackie said, her voice firm. “But right now, we need to focus. We can’t let Blackwell beat us to it.”
The group pressed on, following the symbols as they wound deeper into the cave. The path grew steeper, and they had to watch their footing on the uneven ground. Holly’s nerves were fraying with every step, but Jackie’s determination kept them moving forward.
Finally, they reached a point where the cave split into two paths. Jackie paused, studying the map and comparing it to the markings on the walls.
“This way,” she said, pointing toward the left tunnel. “It leads deeper underground. That’s where we’ll find it.”
Max groaned, his nerves starting to show. “Of course, it’s the darker, scarier tunnel.”
Holly looked down the tunnel, her grip tightening on the flashlight. “This is crazy.”
“It’s what we came here for,” Jackie reminded her, taking the first step forward. “We’ve come this far. Let’s finish this.”
The group followed her into the tunnel, their footsteps echoing through the dark, winding passage. The air was heavier now, and the sense of anticipation grew with every step they took. Jackie’s pulse quickened—she knew they were close.
As the tunnel curved around a sharp corner, the light from Jackie’s flashlight revealed something ahead—an opening, much larger than the tunnels they had been traversing. It was the entrance to a massive underground chamber, and from the glint of gold that reflected off the walls, Jackie knew they had found it.
“We’re here,” she whispered, her voice filled with awe.
Discovering the Hidden Treasure
The underground chamber stretched before them like something out of a dream. The cave was massive, its towering stone walls arching high above their heads, and in the dim glow of their flashlights, the dust in the air swirled like tiny flecks of gold. But it wasn’t the dust that held their attention.
It was the treasure.
Stacked against the far wall, chests and crates overflowed with gold coins, shining trinkets, and ancient relics that seemed untouched by time. The light from their flashlights bounced off the golden objects, casting flickering reflections that danced across the cavernous space. The sight was mesmerizing, almost too surreal to believe.
Jackie stood frozen, her eyes wide with awe. She couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe, as she stared at the treasure they had been chasing for so long. “I can’t believe it,” she whispered, her voice barely audible over the sound of their footsteps as they stepped into the chamber. “We actually found it.”
Max, who had been just as tense and on edge as the rest of them, let out a low whistle. “Well, I’ll be damned. That’s a lot of gold.”
Holly’s eyes darted around the room, her flashlight skimming over the ancient chests and scattered artifacts. She swallowed hard, the sense of unease growing as the surreal nature of the situation sank in. “This... this can’t be real, can it?”
“It’s real,” Eddie said, his voice quiet but steady. He took a step forward, kneeling beside one of the chests. His flashlight illuminated the contents—gold coins, each one gleaming as if freshly minted. He reached out, picking up a coin and turning it over in his hand. “This stuff must be worth a fortune. We’re literally standing on history.”
Jackie, her pulse racing, stepped forward, her hand trailing over the rough edges of a wooden crate. She pulled back the lid, revealing more treasure inside—gold and silver artifacts, relics that seemed to tell the story of Cedar Mansion’s infamous past. Each piece was more valuable than the last, and together, it formed a treasure trove that could change everything.
“This is incredible,” Jackie said, her voice filled with awe. “We’ve found it. The treasure of Cedar Hollow.”
This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Max couldn’t stop grinning as he picked up a golden goblet, weighing it in his hands. “Okay, I officially take back everything I said about this being a terrible idea.”
Holly, though intrigued by the treasure, couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. She looked around, her nerves still on edge. “We shouldn’t be here. This... this feels too easy.”
Eddie, still marveling at the coins, stood and looked toward the far end of the chamber. “Maybe. But we’ve worked hard to get here, and now we’ve found something that no one’s seen in over a century.”
Jackie couldn’t help but agree. They had solved the clues, navigated the caves, and now they were standing in front of one of the greatest treasures ever hidden in Cedar Hollow. It was everything they had been chasing.
“We need to document this,” Eddie said, pulling out his phone and snapping pictures of the treasure. “This is bigger than anything I could’ve imagined. We need to show the world what we’ve found.”
But as Eddie took more photos, the faintest sound caught Jackie’s attention. It was subtle at first—just the echo of a footstep, maybe the creak of something shifting in the dark. But it was enough to make her freeze.
“Did you hear that?” Jackie whispered, her eyes narrowing as she looked toward the shadows beyond the treasure. The dark recesses of the cave seemed to stretch on forever, and her flashlight didn’t reach far enough to illuminate everything.
Max, still holding the goblet, raised an eyebrow. “Hear what?”
Another sound—a more distinct, heavier footstep—echoed through the chamber. This time, everyone heard it.
Holly’s breath caught in her throat. “We’re not alone.”
The group froze, their hearts racing as the sound of footsteps grew louder. It was unmistakable now. Someone—or a group of people—was coming their way. Jackie’s mind raced, her heart pounding in her chest. There was only one person who could have followed them here.
“Blackwell,” she hissed, her voice tight with fear and frustration.
They ducked behind a stack of crates, their hearts pounding as the shadows at the far end of the chamber began to shift. Flashlights bounced off the walls, casting erratic beams of light as Blackwell and his men entered the cavern. The smugglers moved with purpose, their voices low but clear as they surveyed the treasure trove.
“There it is,” Blackwell said, his voice laced with satisfaction as he strode toward the pile of gold. “The treasure of Cedar Mansion. I knew we’d find it.”
Jackie clenched her fists, her mind racing. They were outnumbered and trapped, with no clear way to escape. Holly crouched low, her breath shallow as she tried to keep calm. Max’s face was a mix of fear and frustration, while Eddie’s expression was tight with guilt.
“How did he find us?” Holly whispered, her voice trembling.
Eddie’s face darkened. “My invention. He must’ve used the tracker to follow us here. I didn’t disable it in time.”
Jackie’s heart sank. It wasn’t Eddie’s fault—Blackwell had always been one step ahead of them, and now they were stuck, caught in the same trap they had set for him.
“We need a new plan,” Jackie whispered, her mind racing. “We can’t let him take the treasure.”
Max, his voice low, added, “Not to be that guy, but there’s, like, six of them and four of us. And they’ve got guns.”
Jackie clenched her jaw, weighing their options. They couldn’t just stand by and let Blackwell walk away with everything, but they couldn’t go up against him head-on either. They needed to be smart.
As Blackwell’s men began loading the treasure into crates, Jackie’s mind raced. They had to act soon, or they would lose everything they had worked for.
“Eddie,” Jackie whispered, her eyes sharp with urgency. “Can you disable the tracker on your invention now? If we can stop him from tracking us, we might still have a chance.”
Eddie nodded, his hands trembling as he reached into his bag for the device. “I’ll need a minute.”
Jackie turned to the rest of the group. “We’ll buy him time.”
Blackwell Arrives
The treasure chamber, which had moments ago felt like a dazzling victory, now felt like a trap. Blackwell’s footsteps echoed ominously through the cave as he and his men entered the chamber, their flashlights slicing through the dark recesses where Jackie and her friends were hiding. The tension was thick, every sound amplified as the group huddled behind crates, desperately trying to remain unseen.
“Look at it,” Blackwell’s voice rang out, filled with satisfaction. “We’ve been chasing this treasure for years, and now it’s all ours.”
Jackie’s heart pounded as she watched Blackwell stroll casually among the treasure, his eyes gleaming with greed. His men were already starting to pack up the chests, methodically working under his orders. She had to think quickly—if Blackwell got away with the treasure, everything they had worked for would be gone.
Max, crouched low beside her, whispered, “Why does it always have to be him? Can’t we just once deal with someone who doesn’t have an army of goons?”
“Because we have terrible luck,” Jackie whispered back, her voice tight with frustration. Her mind raced as she tried to come up with a plan, but they were outnumbered, and Blackwell’s men were armed. Confronting them head-on would be a suicide mission.
Eddie, working quickly and quietly, fumbled with his invention, trying to disable the tracker that had led Blackwell straight to them. His hands trembled as he tweaked the small device, the pressure of the moment weighing heavily on him. The guilt he felt was almost too much to bear—if he had just disabled the tracker earlier, none of this would have happened.
“I’m almost done,” Eddie whispered, his voice barely audible over the sound of Blackwell’s men loading the crates.
“Good, because we’re running out of time,” Jackie hissed back, keeping her eyes on Blackwell.
Holly was crouched low beside them, her hands shaking as she watched the scene unfold. “What are we going to do? We can’t just sit here.”
Jackie’s eyes narrowed, her mind working through every possible option. They needed a distraction—something to throw Blackwell off long enough for Eddie to finish disabling the tracker. She glanced around the chamber, her eyes landing on a stack of crates near the edge of the treasure. If they could create enough noise, they might be able to slip away unnoticed.
“Max,” Jackie whispered, her voice calm but urgent. “See those crates over there? I need you to knock them over. Create a distraction.”
Max’s eyes widened, and he gave her a disbelieving look. “Are you serious? What if they shoot me?”
“They won’t,” Jackie replied, her voice steady. “They’re too focused on the treasure. Just do it, and be quick.”
Max took a deep breath, clearly not thrilled with the plan, but he trusted Jackie. “Fine, but if I get shot, I’m haunting you.”
Without waiting for a response, Max darted toward the stack of crates, moving as quietly as he could. Jackie held her breath as she watched him go, her heart pounding in her chest. Blackwell and his men were still focused on the treasure, their backs turned to Max as he neared the crates.
Max reached the stack, and with one quick shove, he sent the crates crashing to the ground. The noise was deafening, the echo of splintering wood reverberating through the chamber like a gunshot.
Blackwell and his men spun around, their flashlights sweeping across the chamber in search of the source of the noise. “What was that?” one of Blackwell’s men barked, his hand moving to his holstered gun.
Jackie took the opportunity to motion for Eddie and Holly to move. They slipped toward the opposite side of the chamber, staying low and out of sight as Blackwell’s men investigated the fallen crates.
“Someone’s here,” Blackwell growled, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the chamber. “Spread out. Find them.”
Jackie’s pulse quickened. They were running out of time. She crouched lower, keeping her movements slow and deliberate as she motioned for Max to rejoin them. He slid back into the shadows, his breath coming in short, sharp bursts.
“Nice work,” Jackie whispered as Max reached them.
“I hate this plan,” Max muttered, but there was a hint of a grin on his face.
Meanwhile, Eddie was still working furiously to disable the tracker. His fingers moved with precision, but his nerves were getting the better of him. The fear that Blackwell would find them before he finished gnawed at him.
Jackie, her mind still racing, realized they needed one more distraction. Something bigger, something that would keep Blackwell and his men occupied long enough for them to slip away.
Her eyes darted toward the lanterns that Blackwell’s men had set up around the chamber. If she could knock one over and create a larger distraction, it might buy them the time they needed. It was risky—if the fire spread, they could all be trapped—but it was the only option she had left.
“Stay low,” Jackie whispered to the group. “I’m going to create one last distraction. Be ready to move.”
Max’s eyes widened. “What are you going to do?”
Jackie didn’t answer. She slipped toward the nearest lantern, moving quietly and carefully as she positioned herself behind a stack of crates. Blackwell’s men were still searching the chamber, but they hadn’t spotted her yet.
With one swift motion, Jackie knocked the lantern over, sending it crashing to the ground. The flame flared up, catching on the dry wood of the crates and sending a wave of heat through the chamber. The fire spread quickly, casting an eerie orange glow across the room.
“Fire!” one of Blackwell’s men shouted, his voice filled with panic.
The chamber erupted into chaos as Blackwell’s men scrambled to contain the fire. Blackwell himself looked furious, his eyes darting between the spreading flames and the treasure he had just uncovered.
“Put it out!” Blackwell barked, his voice filled with rage.
Jackie took the opportunity to motion for the group to move. “Now!”
Eddie, Holly, and Max didn’t need to be told twice. They bolted toward the far side of the chamber, slipping into the shadows as Blackwell’s men tried to extinguish the flames. The fire was spreading fast, and the smoke was thickening, but they managed to stay ahead of it as they made their escape.
Just as they reached the far tunnel, Eddie glanced down at his invention. “I did it. The tracker’s disabled.”
Jackie gave him a quick nod, her eyes still scanning the chamber for any signs that they had been spotted. “Good. Now let’s get out of here.”
The group slipped into the narrow tunnel, the heat from the fire pressing against their backs as they crawled through the tight passage. Blackwell’s shouts echoed behind them, but they didn’t stop. They kept moving, determined to escape with their lives—and the evidence they needed to stop Blackwell once and for all.
Confrontation with Blackwell
The narrow tunnel felt even tighter as the group crawled through, the faint orange glow of the fire they had set reflecting off the walls behind them. Jackie led the way, her breath coming in short bursts as she pushed herself forward, heart pounding. The smell of smoke was still thick in the air, and every step felt heavier, but they had made it this far. They weren’t giving up now.
Max, crawling just behind her, muttered under his breath, “Okay, so not that I don’t appreciate the whole ‘escape the fire’ plan, but this tunnel is way too small for comfort.”
Holly, following behind Max, responded with a nervous laugh. “Trust me, I’m trying not to think about that.”
Eddie was the last one in line, still clutching his invention tightly. The guilt of everything that had happened weighed on him, but he couldn’t let it slow him down. They had disabled the tracker, set the fire, and now they just needed to find a way out of the cave before Blackwell caught up with them.
Suddenly, Jackie came to an abrupt stop, holding up her hand to signal the others. “Shh.”
The group froze, listening intently. Jackie could hear footsteps—heavy, deliberate footsteps—echoing down the tunnel ahead of them. Her heart skipped a beat as she realized who it was.
“Blackwell,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Holly’s breath caught in her throat. “He’s ahead of us?”
Jackie’s mind raced. Somehow, Blackwell had anticipated their move and cut them off. He wasn’t going to let them escape so easily. She clenched her fists, her determination growing stronger. They had come too far to let him win now.
“We need to confront him,” Jackie whispered, glancing back at the group. “We don’t have another choice.”
Max raised an eyebrow, his usual sarcasm replaced by nervous energy. “Confront him? You mean, like, talk it out? Because I don’t think he’s the negotiating type.”
“No,” Jackie said firmly. “We stall him. Keep him distracted long enough to figure out our next move.”
Holly’s eyes widened, clearly not thrilled with the idea. “Jackie, he’s dangerous. What if this doesn’t work?”
“It will,” Jackie replied, her voice steady. “We just need to buy some time.”
Before anyone could argue, Jackie started moving again, inching forward toward the sound of Blackwell’s footsteps. The tunnel widened slightly as they approached the opening, and soon enough, they found themselves standing in a small, cavernous space.
And there, standing at the far end of the chamber, was Blackwell.
He stood tall, his silhouette outlined by the flickering glow of the fire behind him, casting long shadows against the walls. His eyes were cold, calculating, as he spotted the group emerging from the tunnel. His men flanked him on either side, their flashlights illuminating the chamber in harsh beams of light.
“Well, well, well,” Blackwell said, his voice low and dangerous. “I knew you lot would be trouble from the moment I saw you poking around Cedar Mansion. But I have to admit, you’ve caused me more headaches than I expected.”
Jackie squared her shoulders, stepping forward, unflinching in the face of Blackwell’s imposing presence. “You’re not getting away with this, Blackwell.”
Blackwell let out a humorless chuckle, his eyes narrowing. “And what exactly do you plan to do about it, little girl? You think setting a fire and running away will stop me? I’ve been in this business a long time. I’ve dealt with worse than you.”
Max, unable to help himself, muttered, “Always with the ‘little girl’ stuff. Can’t these villains come up with better insults?”
Jackie ignored Max’s quip and kept her focus on Blackwell. “You may have been in this business a long time, but you’ve underestimated us.”
Blackwell’s smirk faded, replaced by a flicker of annoyance. “Underestimated? You’ve been nothing but a nuisance. But this ends now. Hand over the invention,” he said, pointing at Eddie, “and maybe I’ll let you all walk out of here alive.”
Eddie’s hands tightened around the device, his knuckles white. The invention had been the key to everything—to Blackwell tracking them, to the smuggling operation—and Eddie felt responsible for all of it. But now, standing in front of Blackwell, he knew he couldn’t give it up. Not now. Not ever.
Jackie stepped in front of Eddie, her eyes locked on Blackwell. “You’re not getting it.”
Blackwell’s expression darkened, and he took a step closer, his men following his lead. “You don’t understand what you’re dealing with. That invention is worth more than your lives. Hand it over, or I’ll take it.”
The tension in the chamber was suffocating, and for a moment, no one moved. Jackie’s mind raced, trying to come up with a plan. They needed more time—just enough to get out of there, just enough to stop Blackwell for good.
But as she opened her mouth to stall further, Holly’s eyes widened, and she grabbed Jackie’s arm, her voice urgent. “There’s a tunnel behind one of the crates! I saw it when we first got here. It’s hidden—maybe we can use it to escape.”
Jackie’s heart leaped. A hidden tunnel—of course. They still had a way out.
But they had to act fast.
“We’re not giving you anything,” Jackie said, her voice steady and defiant. “You’ve lost, Blackwell. And we’re going to make sure you never get your hands on anything ever again.”
Blackwell’s face twisted with anger, and he motioned to his men. “Enough of this. Take them.”
Before Blackwell’s men could react, Jackie sprang into action. She grabbed the nearest lantern from a crate and hurled it across the chamber, where it shattered against the stone wall with a loud crash. The sudden explosion of noise startled Blackwell’s men, and the room was briefly filled with chaos as the flames from the lantern sputtered and flared.
“Go!” Jackie shouted, grabbing Holly’s hand and pulling her toward the hidden tunnel.
Max and Eddie followed, sprinting across the chamber as Blackwell’s men scrambled to regain control. Jackie spotted the tunnel Holly had mentioned—it was narrow, barely noticeable behind a pile of crates—but it was their only chance.
One of Blackwell’s men lunged toward them, but Max, in a burst of adrenaline, swung the crate he had been hiding behind, sending the man stumbling backward. “Not today!” Max shouted, before diving into the tunnel after Jackie and Holly.
Eddie was right behind him, clutching his invention as they squeezed into the tight passage. The tunnel was dark and cramped, forcing them to crawl on their hands and knees as the sounds of Blackwell’s fury echoed behind them.
“Don’t let them get away!” Blackwell’s voice boomed, but the narrow passage slowed his men down, giving Jackie and the others a precious head start.
“Keep moving!” Jackie urged, her voice strained as she pushed herself forward.
The tunnel seemed to stretch on forever, winding upward through the stone, but Jackie could feel the fresh air getting closer. They were almost there.
Escaping the Caves
The narrow tunnel seemed to stretch on endlessly, the cold, damp air growing heavier with each passing moment. Jackie led the way, her hands scraping against the rough stone as she crawled forward, determined to keep moving despite the burning in her muscles. Behind her, Max, Holly, and Eddie struggled to keep pace, their breath labored as the sounds of Blackwell’s men echoed faintly behind them.
“Are we... almost... out?” Max wheezed, his voice echoing through the tight passage.
“Almost,” Jackie replied, her own voice strained. “Just keep moving.”
The tunnel was claustrophobic, the ceiling so low they could barely crawl, but the faint scent of fresh air grew stronger with each inch they gained. Jackie’s heart pounded in her chest, the adrenaline coursing through her veins keeping her focused on the task at hand—escape.
Blackwell’s voice boomed from somewhere behind them, furious and frustrated. “Find them! Don’t let them get away!”
Holly’s eyes were wide with fear as she glanced back, half-expecting to see one of Blackwell’s men crawling toward them. “They’re getting closer.”
Jackie pushed herself harder, her arms trembling with effort as she pulled herself through the narrow tunnel. “We’re almost out. Just keep moving!”
Eddie, clutching his invention tightly to his chest, felt a mixture of fear and guilt twisting in his gut. The weight of everything that had happened was pressing down on him, but he knew they couldn’t stop now. They had to make it out.
Suddenly, Jackie’s hand brushed against something soft—a rush of cool, fresh air. She grinned in the dim light. “I see it! There’s an opening up ahead!”
The tunnel widened slightly, just enough for Jackie to push herself up onto her feet. She reached forward, her hand grasping the edge of the opening, and with one last burst of effort, she pulled herself out of the tunnel and into the open air.
The others followed quickly, scrambling out of the tight passage and collapsing onto the damp grass, gasping for breath. They had made it.
For a moment, they lay there, panting and shaking, the cool night air washing over them like a wave of relief. The dark woods surrounded them, and the distant glow of the fire they had set in the treasure chamber flickered faintly against the horizon.
“We did it,” Jackie breathed, her chest heaving as she sat up. “We made it out.”
Max, lying flat on his back, let out a breathless laugh. “I don’t think I’ve ever been so happy to see trees in my life.”
Holly, still shaking, looked around, her eyes wide with disbelief. “Are we... are we really safe?”
“For now,” Jackie said, her voice firm but cautious. “But we need to keep moving. Blackwell’s men won’t be far behind.”
Eddie sat up, still clutching his invention tightly, his hands trembling. “I’m so sorry,” he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. “If I had disabled the tracker sooner, this wouldn’t have happened.”
Jackie turned to him, her expression softening. “It’s not your fault, Eddie. Blackwell’s been one step ahead of us from the start. But we’ve got the evidence now. We can stop him.”
Eddie nodded, though the guilt still weighed heavily on him. He knew Jackie was right—they had the evidence they needed to expose Blackwell’s smuggling operation, and that was all that mattered now.
“Come on,” Jackie said, pushing herself to her feet. “We need to get back to town and take this to the police. We can’t let Blackwell escape.”
The group staggered to their feet, their bodies sore and aching from the crawl through the tunnel, but their determination was stronger than ever. They moved quickly through the woods, staying low and quiet, their eyes darting around for any sign of Blackwell’s men.
The trees loomed tall around them, casting long shadows in the dim moonlight. The wind whispered through the branches, and every rustle of leaves seemed to put them on edge. But they kept moving, knowing that every second counted.
As they reached the edge of the woods, the faint glow of Cedar Hollow’s streetlights came into view. Relief washed over them—they were almost home.
But just as they began to step out of the tree line, the sound of footsteps behind them made Jackie freeze.
“Stop right there!” a voice barked.
They turned to see one of Blackwell’s men stepping out from behind the trees, his flashlight glaring in their eyes. Behind him, two more men emerged, blocking their path.
Holly’s heart raced, her breath catching in her throat. “What do we do?”
Jackie’s mind raced, but there was no time to think. They were outnumbered, and they had nowhere to run.
“Hand over the device,” the lead man demanded, his eyes fixed on Eddie.
Jackie stepped forward, putting herself between Eddie and the men. “You’re not getting anything,” she said, her voice firm.
The man sneered. “You really think you can stop us?”
Max, despite the fear that gripped him, smirked. “We’ve made it this far, haven’t we?”
Before the men could respond, a bright flash of headlights suddenly illuminated the group. The roar of an engine filled the air as a car sped down the road, screeching to a halt just feet away from them.
Jackie’s heart leaped in her chest as she recognized the car. It was Eddie’s uncle—someone they had called earlier for help before heading into the caves.
The driver’s door swung open, and Eddie’s uncle stepped out, his face stern and determined. “Get in,” he called out, motioning for them to hurry.
Without hesitation, Jackie, Max, Holly, and Eddie darted toward the car, diving into the backseat as Blackwell’s men shouted in frustration behind them. The car peeled away from the scene, leaving the men standing in the dust.
As they sped away, the group collapsed into the backseat, breathless but safe. Eddie’s uncle glanced at them in the rearview mirror, his eyes filled with concern. “You kids alright?”
Jackie nodded, still catching her breath. “We’re okay. But Blackwell’s still out there.”
“We’ll deal with him,” Eddie’s uncle replied, his voice calm and reassuring. “You’ve done enough.”
The group sat in silence for a moment, the weight of the night’s events finally sinking in. They had escaped the caves, they had the evidence they needed, and now, for the first time, it felt like they had a real chance to stop Blackwell for good.
Jackie leaned back in her seat, her eyes drifting toward the window as they sped through the dark streets of Cedar Hollow. It wasn’t over yet, but they were one step closer to ending this once and for all.
And as the town lights flickered in the distance, Jackie knew they had what it took to finish the job.