Chapter One: The Cave

  It was the year 5031

  Everyone, hurry,” Odette urged. Behind her, five other kids scrambled through the dark cavern, the wind stirring her short mocha hair.

  The younger ones—three six-year-olds—stumbled as they ran deeper into the cave. Odette and the two older boys her age pushed them onward.

  “I can hear their footsteps closing in!” Odette called out, her voice a reedy rasp.

  Suddenly, the heavy, thudding echoes of their pursuers' footsteps receded into silence. The only noise left was the ragged, wheezing gasps of the children. They stood hunched over, clutching their chests. Just as panic began to set in, a small, glowing glass ball hovered above their heads.

  “I believe our pursuers have lost track of us,” Lumi spoke, its light washing over them. “Let us rest for a moment before continuing.”

  The children flopped onto the ground, releasing a collective breath of relief. A hush fell over the cave, broken only by the wind whistling through the narrow cavern walls and the rhythmic splashing of a small saltwater pond. A light, salty scent filling the air.

  The walls of the grotto shimmered, reflecting light from a small overhead opening that illuminated the pond. Small fish glided along the greenery within the pond, undisturbed by the various rocks surrounding their home.

  After a moment of peace, a young boy with dark skin and thick black curls spoke. “O—Oddie?” he stuttered.

  Odette turned to him. “Yes?” Her hazel irises swam with exhaustion.

  “Are-are the bad guys gone?” he asked, his little hands trembling.

  “I don’t know, Julius,” she whispered.

  “No need to fear, Julius,” Lumi added softly. “While you rested, I took a scan of the cave. They’re not gone, but they aren’t near, either. If you’ve had enough rest, I advise we get moving to reach the exit before dawn.”

  “However,” Lumi began, its glow dimmed slightly. “There is one issue, if you don’t begin moving soon, the possibility of departing from this cave before dawn is nearly zero.”

  Odette opened her mouth to speak when a tall, older boy stepped forward. Long Espresso-brown locks draped over his shoulders, and curtain bangs fell over emerald-green eyes that gleamed with mischief. “Lumi?” Julian called.

  “Yes, Julian?” The Lumicrone hovered near his face.

  “How long can humans run?”

  “Well, kids in your age range are known to run one mile in about ten minutes.”

  “What if…”

  “Get to the point,” a sharp voice interrupted. It belonged to another older boy. Jet-black locks fell over cloud-gray eyes, and dark, round glasses rested on his nose. “We don’t have all day.”

  Julian rolled his eyes. “You’re such a buzzkill, Nikolai,” he murmured.

  “I HEARD THAT!” Nikolai snapped, his eyes constricting.

  “Okay, that’s enough!” Odette’s voice cracked in exasperation.

  “I can’t believe you two are arguing at a time like this. What are you—damn toddlers? We have no time for your charades.”

  Both boys fixed their gazes to the ground, shame clouded in their eyes as a heavy stillness descended over the group. Finally, Lumi broke the silence.

  “Odette has a point. You shouldn’t be arguing—especially over something vain. Julian, continue as you were speaking.”

  Julian sighed in relief. “So—uh, Lumi, how much distance is there between where we are and the exit?”

  “Seven hundred miles,” Lumi processed. “But Julian, why do you ask?”

  The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  Julian grinned. “Well, I just thought it would be a great time to present my new invention.”

  Odette’s eyes widened. Invention…?

  “Like you can invent anything useful,” Nikolai murmured.

  Julian ignored him. “I call them: The Celeripeds!”

  “And what exactly are these ‘Celeripeds’?” Nikolai asked, his voice dripping with skepticism.

  “Let me show you!” Julian dug into his pocket—only to pull out nothing.

  “Ah, so this is the invention? Air? No thank you—we already have enough of that,” Nikolai scoffed.

  Odette gave Julian a look of profound disappointment.

  “Wait—wait! You got it all wrong!” Julian flailed his hands.

  “They’re shrunken!” He pressed the side of a silver ring on his left index finger.

  The air in Julian’s hand shimmered and expanded, materializing into six pairs of burnished silver greaves. Julian set them on the ground with a heavy clink.

  Nikolai’s jaw went slack.

  “Boots?” a little girl asked, tilting her head. “What do they do, Julian?”

  “These are not mere boots, Ellie,” Julian beamed. “These Celeripeds will be our way of escape.”

  With that, Nikolai cleared his throat—finally finding his voice. “And how is that—oh wise inventor?” he asked.

  “Well if you must know, underling,” Julian began.

  “UNDERLING?!” Nikolai snarled, his jaw clenched.

  Julian’s smirk widened. “The Celeripeds, will allow us to travel at speeds faster than any vehicle! It’s not like the teleportation technology but it’s close.”

  “Wouldn’t an Omni-link have been easier?” Odette asked.

  “Sure, but I still haven’t figured out the tech behind the Omni-link yet. I couldn’t mimic it, and we left the facility before I could grab one,” Julian admitted.

  “Well, at least you had a backup plan. Good job, Julian,” Odette said, ruffling his hair with a gentle smile.

  “YOU’RE ONLY FEEDING HIS EGO!” Nikolai retorted.

  “What can I say, shortie,” Julian smirked. “Not all of us can be both tall and smart,”

  Nikolai saw red. “You little—“

  Odette’s cold glare silenced them.

  “We apologize,” they muttered in unison.

  Odette pinched the bridge of her nose. “Will you two ever grow up?!”

  Julian gave an innocent grin. “Probably not.” He cleared his throat. “Well, what are you waiting for? Try them on, everyone,”

  As they strapped The Celeripeds on, Julius looked up at Odette.

  “O—Oddie? Can you tie my laces?”

  “Of course, buddy.” She knelt and tied them, ruffling his hair.

  “Thank you,” Julius’s cheeks flushed pink, his lips curved into a small smile.

  “No problem, Julius,”

  “Can we finally go now?” Nikolai asked, crossing his arms.

  Julian slid his finger across his silver ring, and a holographic screen sprang to life. “Ready, everyone?” he asked.

  They nodded. He then pressed the ‘start’ on the hologram screen. A light blue light pulsed from The Celeripeds as countdown began. Odette’s heartbeat quickened. Nikolai still looked unconvinced.

  The timer hit zero.

  A sudden burst of speed propelled them across the cavern floor. Odette stumbled, her balance faltering as her foot caught a stone. She braced for the fall—until she felt an arm wrap around her waist.

  Julian held her steady, a playful gleam in his emerald eyes. “Careful. Wouldn’t want you hitting your head…Oddie,”

  Odette felt her cheeks flush. “Thanks,” she whispered.

  The cavern walls became a blur as they flew forward. For a moment, escaping before dawn felt possible. Things could only get better from here—couldn’t they?

  ***

  Upon exiting, they were met by the silver glow of the moon. The Celeripeds whirred to a halt in a peaceful, moonlit field. They inhaled the fresh air, a collective sigh escaping them.

  Then, something came into view.

  A looming dark silhouette emerged from the horizon, heading toward them.