Rev's Odyssey by R. R. Kaufman (the reading list .txt) 📕

both were lost in thought as they stared out to sea.

They approached the narrow strait between the soaring cliffs. Their guide carefully maneuvered the sailboat through the jagged rocks stretching out from shore.

A few minutes later he moored the boat in a quiet cove. He motioned to an outside wooden lift. They waved goodbye as they boarded the elevator that slowly climbed the high island pillar.

Nobody spoke.

Fear was in the air. It invaded Rev’s body like venom from a poisonous snake.

She didn’t want to look at her mother or uncle. She knew they felt it too.

No matter how much they had prepared for this moment, anything could happen.

The great unknown.

And lives were in the balance.

Too much thinking wasn’t helpful. Neither were too many emotions.

Only reaction, instinct and adrenaline counted now.

Shake this negative feeling off, Rev told herself.

What seemed like an endless ride was over in two minutes as it finally docked at the top of the pillar.

They exited the lift and were shocked to see the enormous size of the Lux.

 

Cyna

This must be the mother of all Luxes. Our Lux is a child compared to this one.

 

Similar to Radium’s Lux, this one had rotating and oscillating bands of light constantly encircling a colossal golden orb that floated above a rock enclosure beneath it.

 

Rev

Just like Erik described it only a little more mind blowing.

 

They continued up a trail to the base of the Lux. Hundreds of markers surrounded the Lux’s landscape.

 

Rev

What are they?

 

Mars

Graves.

 

Cyna tried to comfort everyone.

 

Cyna

Stay focused. I feel bad for these people but hopefully we are better prepared.

 

Rev

Why don’t they bury the people at sea like we do in Genus and Brix?

 

Just then a door opened in the stone enclosure below the Lux. Rev screamed in terror as human bones were blown out in front of the door. The door shut instantly.

Everyone froze.

Rev wondered what they would write on her marker.

 

Mars

Look at this.

 

Mars pointed to a long black marble slab not far from the door. Hundreds of names were engraved on it. All the names had a line drawn through them except some recent engraved ones.

 

Rev

There are only six names that aren’t stroked out. Razor, Vice, Wolfie, Faze, Klutch and Bruno.

 

Cyna read a large etching at the very top of the black slab.

 

Cyna

Whoever enters the Lux engrave your name.

 

Mars opened a marble box on the top ledge. Inside he took out a thick metal pen. He pressed a button and a laser light pierced the air.

Mars, Cyna and Rev engraved their names on the black marble slab. When they were finished another door to the left of the bones opened instantly.

 

Chapter 79

 

 

They set their watches for the eight minute countdown and switched on their flashlights as they entered the darkness. The door slammed shut behind them.

Rev led the way followed by her mother and uncle Mars.

To their surprise the walls were covered in ivy. A dense fog crept in. Their flashlights danced across the ivy walls as Rev searched for the first open space to pass through.

 

Rev

Something’s wrong. We should have found that first doorway.

 

Mars

Stay there. Don’t move. I’m going back to check.

 

Mars retraced his steps as he placed his hand on the ivy wall. Suddenly he felt a gap in the wall.

 

Mars

Here! The ivy was covering it.

 

Cyna and Rev hurried back. They passed through the open space spreading the vines back. As they continued to the next passageway entrance they kept sliding their hands along the ivy wall. They felt the next opening and went through the doorway.

Rev checked her watch. Seven minutes left.

The next opening was on the right side of a long passage ahead. Rev let out a yelp as a vine grabbed her leg and pulled her down. The ground was covered in a heavy growth of tangled tree roots. She lost her flashlight as she tried to scramble to her feet.

 

Cyna

Keep moving, Rev. Here take my flashlight.

 

Rev grabbed her mother’s flashlight and jumped over the snarled growth. The fog became denser and the ivy reached out from the walls and wrapped around the group. They fought it off at the same time groping the wall for the opening to the next passageway.

 

Rev

I’ve found it.

 

They squeezed through the narrow opening of ivy and landed on a stone floor in the next passageway.

They looked up. A long passageway of stairs going up and down and across the massive passage hallway bedazzled them. Multiple levels of staircases seemed to go on forever.

Regret was taking hold of Rev’s thoughts. She should have never entered the Lux. She looked down at her watch. Five minutes and fifty-five seconds remaining.

She looked at Mars for direction.

 

Mars

Search the right side for any kind of opening.

 

But all the overlapping stairs hindered their ability to see any opening. With only two flashlights they scanned the walls moving forward slowly so as not to pass it. Shadows from the stairways obstructed their view.

 

Cyna

Up there! See that opening at the very end of those stairs?

 

Rev and Mars followed her pointed finger and zeroed in on her location.

 

Rev

I see it. Let’s move.

 

They climbed the steps rapidly up and down and across, finally reaching the small open space that ushered them in to the next passage.

 

Mars

What a relief. No more stairs. It looks like some sort of a tunnel in a cave.

 

Rev

Smells musty.

 

The passageway was smooth and rounded. They made good time, walking rapidly down the long passage, as they searched for the next doorway in the maze. But a roaring sound from behind distracted them.

The noise was unmistakable to Rev. A river of water rushed down on them. Before they could speak all three were submerged. They tossed and turned under the water trying to get their bearings.

In a flash Cyna spotted an opening. Rev turned around and motioned to Mars and Cyna, furiously shaking her head back and forth.

Not this one she tried to warn them. The next one, as she pointed ahead.

Rev tried to reach for her breather but couldn’t even unzip her pocket. Frantically they swam towards the opening. After what seemed like an eternity they reached the opening and swam through it.

The raging water carried them swiftly through the narrow tunnel. Just as they were out of breath they were projected out of an opening and down a waterfall to a pool of water below.

They surfaced gasping for air. Cyna looked around.

 

Cyna

Where’s Mars?

 

Rev wasted no time as she dove deep into the pool. She couldn’t make out what her uncle was doing clinging to the rocky bottom. He must be stuck.

She brought out her breather and handed it to him. He took a needed breath.

Then he pointed to a crevice in the rock floor. He kept desperately reaching for something in the narrow opening with his hand.

Rev pointed to him frantically to return to the surface.

The professor shook his head with a firm indication of no.

Frustrated, Rev reached her hand down the narrow opening. She felt a hard edge and clung to it as she gingerly rescued it from its hiding spot.

Mars smiled and they quickly resurfaced.

 

Rev

What were you thinking uncle?

 

Mars

Sorry…I just couldn’t let it go.

 

Rev knew this was no time to argue. Mars safely tucked Erik’s book of knowledge in his pocket.

Rev checked her watch.

 

Rev

Eighty-eight seconds left.

 

Mars

Everything is lost. Our flashlights are gone. The matches are soaked. Our maps are all blurred.

 

Cyna

Look over there. Some lights.

 

The group stared ahead at two openings spaced far apart on separate walls. Bright lights shone through both of them. Soaked, shaken and disoriented, Rev could hear the loud ticking of a clock in her head.

 

Rev

One of these is the entrance to the labyrinth. But I can’t remember which one we should take. Mom … uncle Mars … which one?

 

They swam over and peered through both openings. The one on the right sloped downwards. The one on the left sloped upwards.

Rev realized they were about to gamble their lives on a guess.

 

Rev

Wait. Isn’t the Lux orb floating on top of the labyrinth’s circle? Then it only makes sense that we go up. Hopefully?

 

They didn’t hesitate. They entered the left passageway and started to climb the gradual incline.

 

Rev

It’s coming back to me. Just keep following this passageway.

 

Cyna

That’s right. It just keeps looping around until we reach the final circle in the center.

 

They picked up their pace with every breath they had. But without warning they could hardly move.

They looked down.

Sand.

 

Rev

What’s happening?

 

Sand was rising upward at a faster pace than they were moving. It covered their feet and soon would be at their knees.

Rev jumped up over the sand as she grabbed her mother. The group raced uphill through the curved passageways narrowly escaping the rising sand chasing after them.

The beam of light shone stronger as they climbed higher. Finally they reached the inner most circle. A large opening revealed the golden orb pulsating above them.

 

Rev

Eleven seconds to spare. I hope this is it.

 

Nothing happened. They stared at each other as the sand reached their waists. Rev, Cyna and Mars stood in the middle of the circle continuing to hold their breaths.

The sand continued to climb up their bodies to their shoulders.

There was nothing they could do.

They had arrived at their destination.

They had followed the directions on the Lux chip.

Drowning in sand wasn’t supposed to happen.

Then a vortex of light beamed down on them. It lifted the group into the giant Lux.

Holding hands they spiraled around, then slowly floated to the center, remaining suspended within the soft pulsating lights.

There was no fear. Nothing could be more peaceful. Everything was perfect.

 

Chapter 80

 

 

Before they could blink, Cyna, Mars, and Rev were standing outside of their own planet’s Lux. The sun almost blinded them. Rev jumped up and down.

 

Rev

I can’t believe it. We made it home.

 

Taking a deep breath, they stood quietly and stared at the landscape. Brix was just over the horizon. Their family and friends would be there to greet them. Rev broke the silence.

 

Rev

There was a time in the Lux that I thought we’d never make it.

 

Cyna

I’m not even sure we could do it again.

 

Mars

We must go. I etched some markers on the trees. The bridge isn’t far.

 

Several trails flowed out from the Lux. Mars led the way on the least traveled path.

 

Rev

You never told me how you found the bridge.

 

Mars

I traced Razor’s movements for years in Brix. But whenever she went through the Lux she had an escort of drokes with her. I couldn’t get close to see how she crossed over to Lux Crag. Then one day I was scouting an area across from the crag when I saw her coming close to me. I hid