Dwellers of the New World Chapter Six ( Pt 8 ) Mindless Revenge

All was quiet inside the chamber as the other boys held their breath, not daring to move in case Dawson should be seen, they knew this was their last chance of escape.

Dawson thought it took ages for the boulder to move, as rock scraped against rock, when finally a shaft of light beamed into the tunnel. His heart was beating fast he couldn't afford to miss, his hands began to shake as he took a couple of deep breathes to calm his nerves, finally he heard voices.

“Come on Josh...the sooner we get this lad in, the quicker we get back to the game.”

“Your only eager cause your winning. We'll have another game, I'll bet I'll beat you next time.”

“Okay...you're on...haven't lost a game in ages...I'll wager some of me home made brew...how's that?” The other guard agreed and they both laughed.

Dawson felt beads of sweat dripping from his face, his blood pressure beginning to rise. The last couple of hours had taken their toll on him, the tablets he'd taken earlier were beginning to wear off, but now was not the time to think of anything but what he was about to do.

He slowly crept forward a bit further into the tunnel, moving on his stomach and feeling slightly claustrophobic, there was hardly any room and all he could do was advance on his stomach, with head down and gun at the ready.

Suddenly the figure of a boy appeared, a skinny child wearing rags, his blonde hair falling across his fearful eyes. Behind him a dark haired man with a untidy beard, roughly held the boy by the scruff of the neck.

Dawson tried to aim at the man, but the boy was in the way, he wasn't sure he could aim without hitting the terrified child. Then the man picked the child up, his arm now around his waist. With his arm outstretched, Dawson aimed for the man's arm, but he was moving to quickly for Dawson to get a good shot, if he missed the boy would get it. At that moment his hands began shaking, he didn't feel at all confident. Then it seemed like everything was moving in slow motion, as the man pushed the child forward and down the tunnel. The boy fell towards him, now he realised it was too late. The boy turned and struggled back up to the entrance. “Hey guard...there's a man down here, he ain't one of us.”

Dawson panicked rushing back into the chamber, shaking as he felt his body go cold. He looked around for Varden, but he was no where to be seen. “Where's Varden?” he called out.

Gideon waved him over, as the two men entered the chamber.

“Well...well...well, what have we here? An Intruder I believe and in strange clothing.”

It was too late to hide, Dawson was in trouble. He cautiously watched as the two men circled him, looking him up and down.

“So...how did you get in here? Cause me and Seth never let you in.” He laughed in a pretentious manner, running his fingers through his bushy beard.

Dawson raised the gun, not wanting them to get the upper hand. “Both of you keep back or I'll shoot.” Dawson tried to hold back the fear of dizziness he was experiencing, things were not going to plan.

“What's all this about?” questioned Josh. “What's that in your hand...and what's shoot mean anyway?” The bearded man looked puzzled and couldn't make out what Dawson was on about.

“It's a gun, if you come any nearer, I'll...I'll shoot and you'll be dead.” He stared at the two men, wondering if they believed his lie.

“Yeah right,” said Josh. “That little thing's going to kill me. It ain't sharp like a spear, don't see what harm it could do.”

As the men spoke, the boys coward away in fear, that's all but one. Sam who now started to stand. Shifting from foot to foot decided to make a move. He never liked Dawson, from the moment he met him and didn't want him around. Making his way down the rocks, his revulsion of the man overtook any reasonable action.

Dawson had his back to the boy, so without any hesitation, Sam ran at him knocking the gun out of his hand, it flew across the floor landing at Seth's feet. It all happened so quick, Dawson was in shock. He went to grab the gun, but Seth picked it up.

“Ah! Looks like we're back in charge...aye Josh?”

Josh smiled as the other boys, now they felt more fear, and realised they had lost their only chance of escape. They stared at Sam in disgust. For the first time Sam no longer seemed quiet. “I know what that gun does.” Sam approached Josh, flicking the hair from his eyes, smiling smugly.

“Well you do do you...so perhaps you could tell us and maybe we can work something out to free you...what do you think of that?” Josh knew the boy would be only to willing to cooperate.

Sam looked at the gun. “It's called a stun gun..and it puts you to sleep. I reckon you press that button on the side, and something comes out this end.” Sam pointed to the hole. “Whatever comes out, hits you and whack.” He fell back as if being hit and fell to the floor.

Dawson couldn't believe what he was hearing, this child who was so quiet had now ruined any chance of escape, but why? He just couldn't understand.

Josh turned back to Dawson. “Okay Mr...how did you get in here and where are you from?”

Dawson explained about the mist and where he came from. He wondered from the look on their faces, whether they believed him. His body was going from hot to cold as his heart still raced, he needed his tablets desperately. “Look I understand that you are in charge now, but please...I need Gideon to get my tablets, you see I'm a diabetic and could have a fit, if I don't get them soon.”

Gideon suddenly spoke up for the first time. “He's telling the truth...I need to get his bag.”

But Josh wasn't having any of that. “What you on about, diabetic? Don't understand all these strange words. Sam! You go and get his bag with whatever these tablets are.”

Sam made his way over to where the bag lay on the rock, as Josh said to Seth. “Hey I've heard of that place he's on about...what's it called again?”

Dawson spoke of coming from the planet Obsidian. He thought it sounded pretty far fetched, on thinking about it. He realised these people were living very basic lives.

I remember something about those visitors that came to our earth, from the skies in space ships, you remember...don't you Seth? We was living in the forests at the time and I'm sure they said they came from a planet called Obsidian.”

Suddenly everything became clear to Dawson. Somehow he had gone from one world into another, and he was back on earth. Now he had a better idea of what to expect when he left the chamber.

Sam came back with the bag and put it down at Dawson's feet. As he went to pick the bag up, Josh called out. “Hey! And no funny business, you'd better not have any more weapons in that bag. I think Seth should be the one to get the tablets, that way we know you won't try anything stupid.”

Dawson knew there was no point in arguing, so he came to standing, letting Seth go through his bag.

“Are these what your looking for?” he said producing the tablets.

Dawson nodded and took the tablets from Seth. As soon as he had one, almost immediately it began to take effect. His heart began to beat normally again, and the sweats disappeared.

Seth checked the bag, then informed Josh that there were no weapons. He almost threw the bag at Dawson. Josh told Sam he was to come with them and then turned back to Dawson. “Okay Mr...you're coming with us, I think the Master will be pretty impressed when he sees you.
What do you think Seth? We gotta real catch here ain't we?” They both laughed, as Dawson was pushed up towards the entrance to the tunnel. The other boys could only stand and watch in disbelief.

Dwellers of the New World Chapter Seven ( Pt 1 ) Through the Eyes of Dawson | ABCtales