The Hidden Beast Read Online Free PDF Page A

to stand guard outside here, I don’t mind.”
    â€œCoward,” Cindy whispered.
    â€œWho are you calling a coward?” Sally snapped.
    â€œThe two of us,” Cindy said. “I’d prefer to stay and stand guard with you.” She paused. “Who knows? The door might suddenly shut behind us.”
    Watch nodded. “Cindy has a point. It might be foolish for us all to go inside.”
    â€œAnd it might be dangerous for us to separate,” Adam countered. “I prefer we stay together.”
    â€œAre you saying that because you don’t trust me?” Bryce asked.
    â€œI never said anything about trust,” Adamreplied, although the thought had crossed his mind.
    â€œIf we’re going in, let’s get going,” Watch said. “I want to see where these steps lead.”
    Sally was excited. “Obviously they lead to the treasure.”
    â€œYeah,” Adam muttered. “But to what else?”

4
    T he descent was long and difficult. Because the angle was so steep, they were constantly afraid of slipping and falling. Also, the deeper they went, the damper the steps became. Soon the smooth surface of each step was covered with a thin layer of liquid that squished under the soles of their shoes.
    Eventually, however, the steps leveled off and they came to a cavern with a large dark pool at its center. The walls of the cavern disappeared into the darkness. The pool lay to either side of them, dark liquid that showed no bottom when they shone their flashlights into it. Indeed, theycouldn’t even see the edges of it with their lights. Sally leaned over and touched the liquid and put a handful up to her nose.
    â€œIt’s just water,” she said. “But it’s got a faint odor that I can’t place.”
    Cindy took a step back. “I don’t think you should disturb it.”
    â€œA pool of water can’t hurt us,” Sally said although she did step back.
    â€œUnless an ancient pet sleeps beneath it,” Watch said ominously.
    Adam glanced at him. “You don’t think it’s here?”
    Watch glanced around. “If it does exist, it’s in here somewhere. The less we disturb the better.”
    â€œI’m worried about Leah,” Bryce said with genuine concern. “I’d like to call out for her.”
    â€œDon’t you dare,” Watch said strictly, his meaning clear. If the ancient pet was here, and asleep, there was no need to wake it up.
    They went on, and soon it became clear that the cavern they had entered was vast. But the darkness was oppressive. Their voices, as they whispered, died in the air above and aroundthem. It was as if a huge invisible presence hung over them. Yet they could see and hear nothing. The dampness on the ground remained.
    For a moment, behind them in the distance, they thought they saw a flicker of light. It caused them all to stop.
    â€œThat could be a flashlight,” Adam gasped.
    â€œLeah,” Watch agreed.
    The light winked out as quickly as it had gone on.
    â€œShe may have circled around us,” Sally said. “She may already be on her way out with the treasure.”
    â€œShe might shut the door on us,” Cindy said.
    â€œLeah won’t hurt us,” Bryce said.
    â€œLeah has already lied to us,” Sally said.
    â€œIf she is on her way out,” Adam said, “let’s be happy she’s safe and let her go.”
    â€œI agree,” Watch said. “We’ve come this far, so we might as well see what’s in this cavern.”
    They hadn’t walked much farther when they became aware of something huge waiting in the darkness in front of them. The realization came slowly because at first their minds refused toaccept what they were hearing. It sounded like the long, slow breathing of a creature as large a dozen houses.
    They stopped in their tracks.
    The deep breathing sounded like horror.
    Whistling in and out of lungs