Too Young (The Jewel Project #1)

Chapter 29.2 - Temple 101

Jimmy rushed to Alice, grabbed her arm and pulled her towards the hole that would lead them to safety. Alice didn't make a move. She seemed paralyzed with fear. Then, out of the blue, she screamed and pushed past Jimmy.

Caught with one foot in the air, Jimmy tumbled to the floor. He rose on his hands to see Alice disappearing down the stairs. The door closed in her wake. Jimmy stared back at the incoming boulder, jumped to his feet and ran towards the trapdoor, praying it would open up under him. It didn't.

He ran to the dead end and turned around, hoping the boulder would stop before it reached him. It slowed down, but it wasn't going to stop, and its speed was enough to crush him. It rolled closer and closer and Jimmy's blood rushed through him so fast, it made him dizzy.

The trapdoor sprung open and Kyle climbed out. He thrust himself against the boulder, steadying his feet on the floor, trying to stop it. Jimmy stared at him for a second and hurried to help. He put his back against it and pushed as hard as he could. The boulder continued rolling towards the wall, pushing them along, but much slower. Finally, after a few exhausting seconds, it stopped.

Kyle turned around and leaned his back against it, wiping the sweat off his forehead. "That was a close one. We almost stopped it over the trapdoor."

Jimmy gave a shaky laugh. "That was the least of my worries. Thanks for saving my butt."

Kyle pushed himself to his feet and turned to the boulder. "You think we can climb it?"

Jimmy studied it as well. It was jagged enough to provide grips. They just had to be careful not to send it rolling in the other direction. Jimmy put on foot on the wall and pushed himself upwards. He grabbed on to the boulder and scurried over it. There was hardly any space between it and the ceiling, but he managed to squeeze through. He dropped on the other side and leaned against it, weary of other traps.

The boulder moved the slightest bit as Kyle climbed over it and slid down next to him.

"Jimmy, Kyle? Are you okay?" Sam asked from the other side of the boulder, sounding severely annoyed.

"Yeah, we're fine," Jimmy called back. "You should climb over so we can move on."

The boulder trembled a little and Jessie landed between him and Kyle. She wrapped her arms around their necks and gave them both a short hug.

"I'm going next," Alice said. "Get your hands off me, Sam!"

The rock started shaking severely. Jessie, Jimmy and Kyle stepped away from it.

"You, blond kid, give me a boost."

Billy mumbled something unintelligible and the boulder continued to move back and forth.

"Alice, get off," Kyle said, his voice strangely strained.

Jimmy looked towards him, but once Alice screamed, turned back to the boulder. Billy cursed and the boulder moved forward. Kyle pushed against it. He stopped it, but also skidded back a few slabs. One of them sunk into the floor. A shower of spears rained from the ceiling.

"Oh crap!" Kyle stuck his back against the wall.

Jessie grabbed Jimmy's arm and ran further down the corridor, trying to avoid the sharp tips. Jimmy freed his arm and evaded three spears. Another fell and scratched his shoulder, throwing him off balance. Jessie lunged at him and sent them both tumbling into a place where no more spears rained from the skies. They rolled on the floor, and Jessie stopped on top of him. She rose on her hands.

He raised and planted a short kiss on her lips. "Thanks."

Jessie blushed and got off him just as Kyle came barging in the room.