I dragged in air, coughing and gasping. I was inside a hidden chamber beneath the lake, a secret cavern, and somehow pale daylight filtered down through a crack high above. "Saya!" I shouted. My voice thundered through the chamber. "Saya!
I found it!" A moment later, I heard a violent splash from the other side of the tunnel. Then Seiya surfaced beside me, coughing hard and fighting for breath. "You're crazy," I said. "I told you to wait. And I told you I'd follow if you didn't come back." I couldn't help smiling.
You're impossible. You're not exactly easy yourself. We swam to the edge of the chamber and pulled ourselves out of the water. The cave was breathtaking. Crystals covered the walls, flashing whenever the sunlight touched them.
High overhead, a narrow opening allowed several beams of light to cut through the darkness. And at the far end of the cavern stood a door, a massive stone door. Its entire surface was covered in carved symbols. "What is this place?" Seiya whispered. The entrance to the second trail.
We approached it slowly. The markings carved into the stone looked ancient. Some resembled old symbols from cultures farther south. Others were clearly Apache in design. Nako made this.
Seiya said, running her fingers across the carvings. I recognize his work. How do we open it? She studied the symbols. I need to see the map again.
She removed her soaked blouse and turned away from me. That was when I noticed something new. Right in the center of the map, a single word had appeared in Apache. What does it say? I asked.
Seiya traced the raised marks with her fingertips. Blood. I stared at her. Blood. The door opens with blood.
She swallowed my blood. A knot twisted hard in my stomach. No, Seiya. I'm not letting you hurt yourself. There has to be another way.
There isn't. The map is clear. Then we find another entrance. There is no other entrance. Her voice echoed through the cavern.
We stood facing each other, soaked, exhausted, and frustrated. Seiya, please. Cade, I've spent my whole life running, hiding, looking over my shoulder every day. Her voice shook, but she didn't look away. I'm tired of being afraid.
I want this finished. I want to be free. Not if freedom means hurting yourself. It's one drop of blood. Are you sure?