Not A Small-Town Girl

----

“Hey, you’re my sister. Looking out for you is my job,"

Xavier said, puffing up a little.

“Now that’s the kind of son I like to see," Howard said with

asmile. "I’ll take the lead. Danielle, you and your mom stay

in the middle."

"Danielle nodded. "Got it."

“With Howard in front, they moved forward in tense silence.

No one dared breathe too loudly.

“As they moved deeper into the cave, the squeaking grew

louder, filling the air like an eerie soundtrack.

"Danielle switched off her flashlight and glanced up. Her

stomach churned. The ceiling was covered with bats,

massive ones, way larger than anything she had ever

seen.

----

"Howard, Vivian, and Xavier followed

her gaze, a hatever calm they

had managed to hold onto vanished:

Their knées felt weak, anda S

creeping dread settled over them. If

the.bats decided to attack, they

Me dn’t stand a chance.

----

“Then, out of nowhere, Xavier let out a loud hiccup. The

sound echoed through the cavern, startling a few bats into

restless motion.

“Xavier slapped his hand over his mouth, his face was

pale. ’Really? A hiccup now?’ he cursed himself silently as

he glanced nervously at the ceiling.

“The rest of the group froze, barely daring to breathe as the

bats stirred.

"A handful flapped their wings and darted around, but

eventually, they settled down again. The silence returned,

thick and heavy, but their relief was short-lived.

----

The next second, Vivian stepped on

a branch. Th€ Sound was

particularly toud in the empty cave

Their netits sank. Some bats were

already flying towards them. oO

inact all the bats on the top

ofthe cave seemed to wak@up and

fl€w towards them.

----

Light the fire!" Danielle yelled, her voice cutting through

the panic.

“The squeaking grew louder, the chilling sound wrapping

around them like a threat.

“What do we do? They’re coming right at us!" Xavier

yelped, glancing back nervously. His stomach churned at

the sight of the swarm, and his legs felt like jelly.

“Howard fumbled with the lighter, his hands shaking. No

matter how hard he tried, it wouldn’t catch. "Dad, give me

the lighter," Danielle said sharply. "We’ll run ahead and

figure it out."

“Howard passed it to her, his face flushed with guilt. The

swarm was almost on them, and he hadn’t even managed

this simple task.

----

Danielle darted behind Xavier without hesitation, her

movements quick and deliberate. "Keep moving! I’ll hold

them off and catch up."

“Vivian spun around, her eyes wide with disbelief. "Are you

out of your mind? You only have a dagger, don’t stay

behind! Danielle, we’ll face this together!"

“Xavier, despite trembling from head to toe, stepped up.

His jaw clenched, his eyes full of determination. "Mom, you

and Dad go ahead. Find somewhere safe. I’ll stay with

Danielle and protect her."

“Go, now! Stop wasting time, or none of us are getting out

of here," Danielle said sharply, gripping her dagger like her

life depended on it. Her decision was final, she would hold

them off, no matter what.

----

"Howard grabbed Vivian’s arm and

pulled her fpGard "Let’s go. Danielle

knows wkat’she’s doing. We can’t ~

make thi@harder for her!" Vivian wa

olance back at the kids with ag

heayyheart. ’Why did I step om that

bratich? Now Danielle and Xavier are

paying the price.’