Chapter 15

Junior Kamryn Schultz, starts the second half of her serialized book titled Redemption. Chapters will be revealed every two weeks. Make sure to check back twice a month and leave comments on what you think about it. If you missed the fourteenth chapter, read Berchtesgaden.

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“OK, don’t panic. There has to be another way out of here.”

I searched the sides of the cave trying to find a possible exit. I pressed against the walls for hidden triggers or secret openings. Nothing. And just as I directed not to, Indi started freaking out. She hit another wall with her fists, each time doing more damage to her hands.

I rolled my eyes, fed up with her immature outbursts. I finally turned around the face her.

“Indiana! Stop it!” I yelled. The cave shook from the sudden volume.

She paused to scowl at me, but ultimately looked shocked.

“I am so sick and tired of your behavior!” I said. “Yes, I know you care about finding my friends and family, and I do appreciate it, but the way you are handling this situation is totally uncalled for. You are an adult, for crying out loud! So stop slamming your hands against the walls and act like one.”

I huffed and ran to the outside of the cave and looked off the edge. I gulped as I scanned the deadly drop below. A fall from this height couldn’t be good.

I couldn’t hear Indi anymore, but I knew she was still upset. I turned back into the cave and plopped myself on the damp floor. Indi sat a couple yards away from me on the opposite wall. It was silent for a long time. Either we were both thinking of ways to get out of here, or we’d given up entirely.

I then thought of a very important question worth asking.

“Why would my father trap us in here when the point of this entire endeavor was for us to get the gems for him? Why go to all that trouble just to keep us here?”

Indi didn’t answer. I’m pretty sure she thought I was speaking to myself since I had just exploded a couple seconds earlier.

“Hey, Indi.” I called out her name a bit louder.

“I heard you the first time,” she responded coldly.

“Well, do you have an answer for me?”

“Oh, I’m sorry, now you want me to speak? I probably shouldn’t since I’ve already made a mess of things.”

“Don’t even take pity on yourself right now Indiana,” I protested. “We can still find a way out of here if you calm down and talk things through with me. It doesn’t help, however, when you throw a five-year-old fit when things don’t go your way.”

“I wasn’t throwing a fit!” Indi raised her voice, and again the cave shook from the defining echo.

She got up and walked over to the imprinted wall she had previously rammed her fists into. I stared at her, confused and furious at her stubbornness.

“Tell me something, kid.” She looked me straight in the eye. “Have you ever trusted me? Because I know you’ve been suspicious of me from the moment we met. That day in the hospital, when you helped me pick up my things and I told you my ‘story’, well, I’m sorry I lied to you. I was never in to see my daughter, I think you know that now.

“The first time you saw me on the street, and the look you gave me. That broke my heart. I never wanted you to see me like that, and then get kidnapped. I was just doing my job. Your dad is manipulative, cruel, and made me do things I have regretted every single day of my life. And I just want you to know that I’m done with all that. As soon as we find these gems, we’ll use them against him to overthrow his big project. And if he holds something or someone else against us, screw him. We’ll find a way. We have so far, haven’t we?”

Why small, quiet tears were falling down my cheek I had no idea. But the way she looked at me, the sincerity in her eyes and voice, it made me truly believe her for once.

“The one question I’m really asking is, do you trust me?”

I took a good long look at my companion. From the outside, she didn’t look like much. Her red hair looked a bit tangled and her clothes were far from clean. She looked tired, beaten down, and not what you would expect. But on the inside, she had a heart of gold. She truly cared about me and was willing to do whatever it took to get me back my family, my friends, and my entire life.

“Yes. I trust you.”

All of a sudden, Indi widened the corners of her mouth into the biggest smile I’d ever seen. And for once, it was sincere and well overdue. Indi then took a deep breath. Arm cocked, fist clenched, she looked towards the cave wall and gave it one final punch. The force made the stone crumble and collapse, revealing a secret tunnel leading deeper into darkness.

Jaw dropped, I ran over to Indi.

“How… did you even…”

“No time for questions. Do you still have the gem?”

I nodded as I slowly opened my bag to show her the green jewel, still in shock.

“Good. Follow me.” She grabbed her bag and headed down the tunnel. I hoisted mine onto both my shoulders as I quickly but curiously followed her beckoning call.

After hours of walking, crawling, and even sliding through the slippery muck in the tunnel, we finally saw another brightly lit opening. We took the last few gross steps inside the cave tunnel and burst into an open grass field. The sky still as blue as before, it illuminated the large green pasture. Definitely not like the one we recline down the mountain from, but a sight for sore eyes nonetheless.

As we scanned the area, we noticed no people in sight. The grass eventually rolled down into hills and valleys, where we could see a few small barns and houses separated out across it. I was so tired from the trek down here, I thought I might fall asleep on this very hill.

“Hello! Friends!”

We both turned around and were shocked to see Emil walking towards us, ropes and harnesses in hand.

“You made it! My congratulations to you!”

I almost tackled Emil, but Indi held me back just in time.

“Where were you? Why didn’t you answer us when we called to you?” I yelled.

“I needed to make sure you trusted Indiana here.” Emil patted her on the shoulder and handed her the ropes to put in her pack. I was appalled that Emil would try something like that in our situation.

“I’m so sorry we did that, kid,” Indi added as a small chuckle came out of her mouth.

“Wait, you were in on it?” I mockingly shoved her, surprised she would pull the same act.

“Your dad needed to know that you were in this for the long run. And now we know you are. By trusting me you’ve proved there’s nothing you won’t do for your family and friends.”

She took out her map and pointed to Interlaken, Switzerland, a small blue dot on the European map.

“But believe me, it get’s much more difficult from here.”

For the last chapter, read Berchtesgaden. For another article, check out College Corner: Prevent rescinded applications.

Kamryn Schultz can be reached via email and Twitter.