Escape From Riddler's Pass Read Online Free PDF

tone of her voice gave Jesse a sick feeling. There must be trouble .
    They peered out from behind the rock to see Rae tumble into the cave, out of breath. “Silas, Jesse, where are you?”
    â€œHere,” Silas called, stepping from behind the rock. He hit his head on the roof of the cavern, and Jesse had to stop himself from laughing.
    Rae’s words took all thoughts of laughter away. “They’re here,” Rae said, panting. “They’re here, and they know about the cave. I was above them, on the cliffs, and I heard them talking….” She paused to catch her breath. “Somehow, they found our trail. I don’t understand it. But they will find us here.”
    Silas nodded, and Jesse could practically see his mind moving behind his gray eyes. “How far away are they?”
    â€œOnly a few minutes behind. I ran here as fast as I could.”
    â€œWe can’t keep running from them,” Silas said grimly. “They must have a tracking expert with them. And if they know about the cave….”
    â€œYou said there are tunnels here,” Jesse interrupted. “In the dark, they would have a hard time following us.”
    â€œThat’s true,” Silas said, nodding.
    Jesse almost wished Silas hadn’t agreed. He had never liked the dark. Especially if there’s anything else living in these tunnels. He had heard stories of cave creatures with white, blind eyes that would attack based on scent alone.
    Silas dropped to his knees and ripped open his supply pack. “We’ll have to proceed slowly so we don’t fall into any pits.” He held up the flint triumphantly. “This will help.”
    â€œAnd what do you suggest we light?” Jesse pointed out. He noticed Silas’ eyes on his staff, and he jerked it back, clutching it protectively. “I’d let you set my head on fire first!”
    â€œLet’s have it, then.”
    Jesse wasn’t entirely sure Silas was joking. Thankfully, Rae provided an alternative. She hurried into the darkness, feeling along the cave wall. “Here!”
    Rejoining them, she presented Silas with a stick of wood fitted into an iron holder. “Your torch, sir,” she said, giving him a mock bow.
    â€œHow did you find this?” Jesse asked. He fingered the metal holder. Its surface was tarnished from years of disuse, but he could still see the rough design of a boar’s head formed by the iron.
    â€œI woke up early and explored the cave while you and Silas were still sleeping,” Rae said, shrugging.
    Of course she did . Jesse was sure Rae never ran out of energy. He was surprised she slept at all.
    Silas lit the torch, and the resulting glow made Jesse feel slightly safer. “Come on,” Silas said, holding the torch in front of him as he made his way into the shadows of the cave.
    Rae bit her lip, for once not following immediately behind him. “And you’re sure the ghosts of the Roarics are just a local superstition?”
    â€œWhat?” Jesse blurted.
    Rae glanced at Jesse. “Silas didn’t tell you?”
    â€œNo,” Jesse said, glaring at Silas in the dark. “He failed to mention ghosts.”
    Silas shrugged. “I’ve heard that people from District One are superstitious, and I didn’t want to worry you.”
    â€œOh, because I’m far less worried now that we’re running from a Patrol of armed guards into a dark pit haunted by ghosts,” Jesse shot back.
    â€œSee. I knew you’d be upset.”
    â€œWell, I’ll be upset if Captain Demetri and his men shoot arrows through us while we stand here talking,” Rae snapped. Clearly, she’d rather risk ghosts than stay still, doing nothing. “Come on.”
    Although Silas led the way with the torch, Rae and Jesse had an easier time scrambling through the passageways, since both were nearly a head shorter than their leader. I never thought I would be