Worth The Shot

Whispers of Ghouls

Today's fanart is by @StarAnimations774 ! It's of Camilo and y/n dancing and It's sooo cute! Y/n's skirt looks so fluid and pretty. I THINK It's the scene from Rain on the Parade! Do you guys remember when we were dancing lol

BACK TO THE STORY (arguably less fun than dancing)

They'd used Julieta's cooking as an excuse to inflict whatever life-threatening pain they'd wanted. They could be merciless and cruel, and he wouldn't even die. It wasn't over. They'd locked Camilo in a ruthless cycle with the magical revivals.

Rotten ships rolled in your stomach. You felt sick. It wasn't right, it wasn't fair. Not when Camilo knew nothing.

Upset, Augustin quickly beckoned for Dolores, you, and Felix to withdraw from the warm cavern light that licked the stony mouth of the hole. Retreating into the damp tunnel muffled your voices, sealing them from ringing echoes of the cavern.

Dolores shuddered, her dewy eyes blankly staring at Augustin. She was in shock. Mariano regarded her with concern, his fingers twitching as if wishing he could help.

"We need to move," Felix gravely said, furrowing his eyebrows. Shooting Mariano a curious look, he reassuringly wrapped an arm around his daughter's shoulders. "We need to free Luisa first. But how? She's so far up."

"There was a tunnel," Augustin finally reported, deliberately cleaning his glasses on the hem of his stiff, navy-blue shirt. "Another tunnel leading to the cavern. It opened up right next to Luisa. Can you get us there?" You hopefully glanced at Felix for a moment until you realized Augustin's question had been directed to you.

"I don't know," you honestly admitted. "I've never been there before."

"Then let's start walking," Felix shrugged, smiling at you with false levity. Trying not to make you feel bad. You awkwardly snatched your gaze away. It reminded you of Camilo.

Dolores numbly nodded her head, but the movement seemed exaggerated and forced. As she led you into the tunnels, she rigidly tottered forward like a wooden puppet.

A fresh level of grimness settled on the hollowness of the tunnels like black pepper. Bruno's morbid prophecy seemed to pulse in the darkness. One of us will die. One of us will die.

"Oh," Dolores squeaked, her delicate chin snapping upward. Startled clarity swarmed her eyes. "I wasn't paying attention. I'm sorry. Someone is close." Stomp. Stomp. Stomp.

Someone is close. You wildly swung your head around, scared as an exposed child in hide-and-seek. You scored the heartless, earthen walls for safety, but where could you shelter in this cylindrical prison? We need to run.

"We can't run," Dolores anxiously whispered, as if hearing even your thoughts. Her gaze flitted around sightlessly. "They're too close. They'd hear us. The tunnel is wide here. Stand against the wall. Maybe they'll pass." The footsteps grew deafening. Stomp. Stomp. Stomp.

Like prisoners, you pressed your backs into the dirt. Candlelight flared on the walls. Your heartbeat quickened, and you briefly shut your eyes, praying the walls would envelop you. Terrified, your hand curled into the moist soil, driving grime underneath your fingernails.

STOMP. STOMP. STOMP. They were directly in front of you. Four men.

You held your breath, adrenaline and sweat dripping down your forehead. You wanted to run. To scream.

Lazy as donkeys, they plod down the tunnel. Excruciatingly slowly.

Finally, they rounded a corner, their candlelight fading like tails of smoke. Relieved, Augustin, Mariano, Felix and you unanimously exhaled. But Dolores urgently shook her head.

You froze, your pulse jerking back up. A lonely, orange candle floated down the tunnel. Sebastian's long, pale fingers were wrapped around it.

The glow of the candle breathed underneath Sebastian's chin, lighting his face from underneath. The freakish lighting shadowed his features with a ghoul-like cruelty.

Keep on walking. Keep on walking, You mentally begged, too terrified to blink. A whisper from Sebastian would draw the armed guards back. They'd take you all.

Suddenly, he halted, his eyes glinting warily in the candlelight like hard emeralds. He glared, turning his head. He'd seen you.

"Sebastian," you pleadingly mouthed, frightened.

Sebastian's green eyes narrowed unreadably.