[ HIATUS ] Crossroad 『Detective Conan』

Chapter 16 - Lost in the caves『2/2』

   The groups continued to venture into the caves in search of an exit.
   A few minutes earlier, Genta, Ayumi and Mitsuhiko started to get discouraged, blaming Conan's injury on themselves. The person concerned remotivated them.
   For "Yoko", she hadn't said anything. It was obvious that she took it upon herself more than ever. She didn't want to give in to fear, to her bad memories of the last time a gun have been pointed at her. She was trying hard to hide her shaking hands.

   -Damn... The path split in two... Mitsuhiko sighed.
   -What to do ? Ayumi squealed.
   -Good ! We're going at rock-paper... began Genta.
   He was stopped by Conan. His breathing was gasping because of the pain caused by the wound. Yoko's healing seemed to be working, at least for now. It wasn't going to work long term.
   -Ge... Genta... Lend me your watch-lamp... He asked.
   -Eh ?
   -Trust me... Quick...
   The bulk of the group complied and withdrew his watch which he gave to his friend. The injured man closed the bracelet and threw it down one of the paths.
   -Take this one... He then indicated, pointing to the way where the world-lamp was.
   -Are you sure ? The girl with the headband and the boy with the freckles worried.
   Their friend acquiesced.
  -They will go to the opposite side... They are bank robbers and with this kind of guys, there is generally only one thinking head...
   -...Reverse psychology... the long-haired brunette thought aloud.
   - Exactly... And they're in no danger of separating since they can't use a transmitter...
   The group reassured, they resumed their march.

   After two or three minutes of further walking, the eyes of the two girls turned to a source of water. It been discovered because a fish jumped.
   -Oh ! A fish ! Ayumi exclaimed.
   "Yoko" kept her usual silence and approached to touch the cold water. She wanted to know if it was drinkable, to give some to Conan. It would do him good. But she had a doubt, because of the presence of the fish. She was afraid of making his condition worse and she didn't want to be at fault for that, so she walked away.
   She didn't want to take any more risk.

   She was called by Mitsuhiko as the small team resumed their march. She resumed following them.

   They had to go up the river from the cave to arrive at its source.
   -We won't be able to get out by... sighed the freckled boy.
   -Does that mean we can't get out of here until we die? Ayumi panicked.
   -It's a bit early to get discouraged... Reassured Conan. Look, there are tree roots... This is proof that the surface is not far... The exit may be very close...
Everyone looked around, until Genta noticed something, along with his young friend in the headband.
   -An egg ! This egg is huge! he shouted as he rushed in.
   His freckled friend calmed his friend's joy.
   -But it's just a stone in the shape of an egg that is placed on top of a rock...

   -There's a message... Whispered the kid with the glasses, bending down.
   Mitsuhiko lowered his light to illuminate where his friend was. Thanks to this, she could read.
   - To those who get lost in the darkness, follow the dragon and you will be enlightened by the light of the supreme paradise...
   -It's about the same inscription as the one that was at the entrance... Sighed the boy.

   Ayumi's scream surprised everyone. Then, Genta and Mitsuhiko began to scream in turn when bats attacked them.
   We'll get spotted...
   "Yoko" was a bit panicked at this thought. If they managed to flee almost to the exit, it wasn't to get caught now.

   Conan grabbed his badge and threw it away, which swept the creatures away.
   - Bats in caves eat insects... That's why they are very sensitive to the slightest noise, the slightest movement... He explained.
   -... If there are any here... It's... It's because the exit isn't far... The former high school girl thought aloud.
   - That's it... They never live more than three hundred meters from an exit...  And this exit that we are looking for must be right in front of us...
   The three kids looked at each other, happy to be able to go out. The former high school girl just let out a small sigh of relief, even though she remained tense.

   -Good ! We just have to try each of the paths one after the other! Mitsuhiko announced.
   -They'll catch up with us like that... "Yoko" muttered.
   -But... But we have no choice... Tried to convince his friend.
   -Yes, we have a choice... There is only one in which we can enter... The phrase "He who gets lost in the dark" is addressed to those that were lost here, and "The light of the supreme paradise"... it is the light of the exit... In fact, the engraved stone at the entrance and the rock here carry the solution to leave here... The way out is the way of the dragon... And the way of the dragon is...
   He raised his arm and indicated the back of the cave, the only way going to the right. He couldn't help pulling a grimace of pain.
   -How are you, Conan-kun?! Ayumi wondered.
   -Yes... The bandages seem to do the trick... Thank you again... Yok...!!
   Footsteps cut off the children's discussion.
   -They're coming ! The two boys panicked, out of the injured.

   "Yoko" shivered again as she followed her friends to the exit. She closed her eyes for a second and ran.
   The outside wind was felt. Freedom was near. Like the gunshot. This shot hit Genta who fell.
   -If you thought you could flee discreetly in this cave where all noise resounds, you failed! One of the men said.
   Turning around, the three children still standing could see the criminals holding Conan hostage.
   -Come on three! Come this way...
Seeing that no one was moving, he lost patience.
   - We hurry! If we blow his brains out! he yelled.

   At the same time, a strong light entered the cave.
  "Yoko" did not turn around, paralyzed, but fell to her knees when she heard that the police was there. They were there, encircling the criminals. Two of them were even caught, and it was not long to be the same for the third.

   Tears welled up in the eyes of the girl with the glasses. She took it upon herself, and now that all the pressure had been released, she felt better.

   The police took care of the children and the ambulance, Conan, who had finally lost consciousness. He was taken to the hospital, followed by Agasa who took the boy's friends.