Ruled By Fear by C. Cervi Page B

stone.  He could make out a shape on the table but, with the low light, he couldn’t be sure what it was.   Approaching cautiously, he grimaced when he realized it was a pair of heavy chains.  Glancing around the room, he saw that there were also chains set in the wall about every six feet or so.  In between the chains were torches and Aaron walked around, lighting a few of them.  The increased light drew his attention to several dark stains covering the room—the table, floor, even the walls.  He wondered if the stains were blood and found himself shivering, in spite of the heat.  The flames cast eerie shadows on the walls, making it look as if contorted figures were dangling from the chains.  For a moment he felt as if he had stepped back into the dark ages, and had stumbled upon an ancient torture chamber.  He was becoming increasingly alarmed, and his mind struggled to make sense of what he was seeing.  There was nothing intricate or orderly about this chamber.  It was crude and harsh, almost primitive.
         What kind of madness is this?
         Just being in the room was beginning to fill him with a sense of dread and he quickly turned back to the tunnel.  The whispering instantly started up again and he hesitated, trying to make out what was being said.  His eyes grew wide a moment later when all the voices seemed to blend into one, and he shuddered when it whispered his name.  It was the same voice that he’d heard the night he was knocked out by the front gate.
         “Who’s there?” he called, darting the candle around the room.
         “Don’t leave,” the voice whispered.
         It seemed to be coming from several different directions at once, and Aaron wiped his hand over his face.
         “Show yourself,” he demanded.
         “Come closer,” was the eerie response, this time it seemed to be emanating from the table in the center.
         Aaron’s logical mind told him to go, face his enemy, and demand answers, but as the voice continued to call, his feet steadfastly refused to move forward.
         Come on—pull yourself together.
         He stood, frozen to the spot, his body pulling in one direction, his mind in the other.  His battle came to an abrupt end a moment later when he heard a scream coming from the tunnel.
         “Keith!” he cried as he raced back to his brother.
     

C  
    hapter 6
    Aaron ran as fast as he dared, following the sound of his brother’s voice.  His loud cries filled the tunnels and Aaron had to stop repeatedly, and listen, to make sure he was running in the right direction.  It was obvious that his brother was in pain but, at the same time, his intermittent screams let Aaron know that at least, whatever had happened, he was alive.
         “Where are you?”  Aaron called out, sure that he must be getting close.
         “Over here,” Keith answered, his voice coming from just up ahead.  “Be careful!”
         Aaron forced himself to slow down and proceed cautiously.  A sharp left, finally, led him to his brother, and he gasped as he took in the situation.  The tunnel path ended abruptly, leading to a dangerous drop off, and Keith had gone over the side.   The only thing keeping his brother from falling to his death was his right arm, firmly wedged between two jagged rocks.  His arm was at an odd angle, and Aaron could see blood seeping from where the rocks were digging into his flesh.
         “Hurry,” Keith shouted.
         Aaron was on his knees in an instant and grabbing Keith’s free hand along with the front of his shirt, quickly yanked him onto solid ground.  Keith’s scream as his arm was suddenly ripped free caused Aaron’s heart to race, and he heard Keith suck in a sharp breath as he reached out to examine him.
         “I’m sorry . . . ” Keith said, his breathing labored “ . . . wasn’t paying attention.  I . . . my arm got caught.  I think it’s