The Butterfly Girl: A Star is Born

#72 Into the Light

[Sophia]

I hold the crystal sword in my right hand and the Moonflower close to me in my left. I've been walking down this tunnel for a long time now and I'm not sure if I'm feeling nervous and anxious or calm and rational because I haven't encountered anything besides more rocks and darkness in this cave. I don't know how long I've been down here, but during that time I've begun to speculate that the Moonflower has the ability to communicate with me and is guiding me through the tunnels so I can get out of here and find my friends.
I don't know if it's actually talking to me or if it's that whole I-can-hear-it-in-my-head-but-no-one-else-can sort of deal. However I have no way of knowing this because there's no one else around to help me test that theory. The only thing I do know is that I'm somewhere in-between feeling anxious because I haven't found the exit and there's nothing here, and relieved that there's nothing here and it's okay that I haven't found a way out yet because who knows how far down I am and how long it'll take me to get out?  I also know that I do not trust this flower, because who knows if it's actually lying to me and leading me into a trap? But since I don't know what else to do with myself and I'm not sure where to go if the Moonflower wasn't guiding me, I'd rather take that chance rather than walking around in blinding darkness until I fall into a pit, break my legs and die.

Okay you know what, I think I'm just paranoid. I guess walking around in darkness with a flower that's giving you directions is probably freaking me out because I don't know where I am, where my friends are and what the hell happened to me. So I apologize if this sounds like I'm complaining, even though I am the one stuck down here so...

As I continue down the path, thinking about the Moonflower, I started to wonder if the Twins knew about this. They've been down here longer than I and they said that they used to have whole gardens of Moonflowers. And if this one was talking to me, did any of their Moonflowers say anything to them? They never mentioned anything like this before, so they either didn't actually know or they did and they just didn't tell us. Whatever the reason, I decided to stop thinking and continue to find a way out of here. I hoped that everyone was all right.
"Wait." the flower whispered. I froze and looked down. I listened intently, but I heard nothing. Not even the hum.
"Away with your weapon."
"What?"
"Something is here. Extinguish your weapon, quickly." the flower hissed. Suddenly, I began to feel something too. I flinched and put away my sword. The blue glow went out and all I could see was the faintly glowing flower in my hand. My eyes also glowed faintly in the dark, not as much as the Moonflower, but it didn't help with my vision.
Suddenly, I heard it. And then I felt it. Rumbling in the walls, dust and pebbles falling in-between the cracks in the ceiling. And as soon as it came, it stopped. I looked around frantically, trying to find the source. Or if it was just another earthquake. A very, very quiet earthquake?
Seriously, what is it with these earthquakes? They're so on and off lately, what is even happening?
I tried to regain my courage and keep going. I looked down at the flower and noticed that it looked dimmer than it had before. Something didn't feel right and all my senses were on edge.

I walked slowly, carefully taking each step, making sure there wasn't anything obstructing me or anything that could make me trip up. Seeing with my feet rather than with my eyes.
"Does this cave go on any longer?" I whispered to the flower. But it didn't answer back. Everything went cold and silent and I got no response. I began to feel like something was definitely wrong.
"Stop." the flower finally spoke. I did so and waited, looking around for any sign of danger.

"Run."
"Huh, what?"
"Run!"
Without warning, the tunnel began to collapse and I almost didn't react in time. I scrambled to get back on my feet and run as fast as I could. Dust and dirt clouding my already blinded vision, rocks and pebbles tumbling and pouring on top of my head and making me trip up with each step. Somehow I was able to outrun the collapse and continue in a sprint. But my energy was quickly depleted the faster I ran and I noticed that I was starting to slow down and run out of breath. The tunnel cracked above and below me and it was harder to find balance to keep pushing forward. More than once I looked behind me, but for just a second I finally got the adrenaline I needed to make one more push before I felt exhausted again. But I don't stop for a second.
"On! On! Hurry on!" the flower urged me. Though the rocks threw me off, and the collapsing tunnel was close to crumbling on top of me, I didn't give up. My lungs felt like they were on fire, my breathing was heavy and ragged, but I dared not stop or stutter. Suddenly from my gaze, I spotted something up ahead.
A light? Up ahead?
I gasp a hopeful breath of air and trudge on. The ground beneath me was beginning to crumble and crack and I leap over cautiously. The light at the end of the tunnel began to grow wider and I was sure that this was the way out. With one last effort I summoned the last of my stamina and sped onwards towards the light at the end of the tunnel. The path began to lead upwards and I struggled to gain better footing to keep going. I started climbing upwards, the light shining and I began to hear something other than the sound of loose rocks. I heave myself up on a crumbling platform, pull myself to my feet and try to break into a run. But when I take another step, my foot falls. And there I go with it.

I'm falling off the edge of the cliff, I'm plummeting into the sea! But I was lucky enough to have my instincts kick in at the right moment. The slits in the back of my shirt widened as my wings unfolded, feathers flicking against the wind, I heave them downwards in a long stroke and with the wind in my favor I pull myself upwards away in the water. The tunnel behind me had fully collapsed which apparently led me all the way to the ocean. I pulled myself higher into the air and look around.
From the tree house, I can get to the empty beach in no time. But this tunnel just lead me to a sheer cliff. I wondered how far I was from that beach. It shouldn't be too far to get back to.
I looked at myself to asses my own damage. Besides having run out of breath, I don't seem to be injured anywhere else. But I suddenly noticed the Moonflower I had been holding onto had disappeared. I looked everywhere to see if I had dropped it in the sea after I jumped out, but I didn't spot it anywhere. I guessed it was gone for good then. No point in trying to go back and look for it.

The sun on the horizon looked close enough to sundown and I knew it was time for me to shove off. I had finally escaped but I still didn't know where I was, but I had to get back to Apollo somehow. They might still be in trouble. Well, depending on how long I was down there and what exactly happened while I was out.
I didn't hesitate any longer, I flew up into the air to get a better view of my surroundings and hopefully find a way back.