We crawled out as soon as we felt it was safe to leave. We were COVERED in spider webs and dirt. I thought Cody was going to pass out when he found a spider in his hair.

"What were they doing?" Jo asked after spitting out a mouthful of dirt.

I shook my head. "I have no idea. All I know is, they're up to no good."

Ilah waved us over back towards the cave. "Hey guys, come look at this! It's gone!"

We turned around to face the cave and tilted our heads back to stare at a solid rock. I gawked at it, knowing there had been a cave right here. Where the heck did it go?

Cody had an idea. "Someone should try to get up there and..."

His voice died out as we all looked at him with expectant expressions.

"I wasn't saying..." he stuttered. "I mean someone like Jack should go or someone that's not afraid of heights."

"It's like, only 10 or 15 feet up," Ilah pointed out.

"How do I even get up there!?" Cody said.

"Oh, for crying out loud," Jo huffed. "Just go!"

"You go!"

"You were selected as tribute."

"Anyone volunteer?"

Finally Jo shouted, "No nose goes!" Everyone's hands flew to their schnozzolas. I nearly missed and ended poking myself in the eye. Cody looked around and saw that he was the last one. So he called out, "And toes!"

Jo and I had never heard this one before but I caught on fast. Ilah had heard of this before so she was already going for her toes. Jo however, was confused.

"Wait, what?" She looked around. "Fine, whatever. I'll go."

She turned around and stared up at the sheer rock face. She groaned and turned to us.

"How about this," she proposed. "It's a race. Ready, set, GO!"

Everyone else was down for this. We launched ourselves at the rocky mass. I found a little ledge that if I could just reach I would have an advantage. I stretched my hand out to grab it but Ilah grabbed it before I could. She giggled as she pulled herself up above me. I forgot that her school has an elective literally called, "Rock-climbing".

Cody was still behind me so at least I wouldn't lose. I grabbed the ledge after Ilah kicked off from it. I couldn't see Jo but I didn't care. Ilah was now stuck on another ledge, not sure where to go. I breezed past her. I had found another ledge that she didn't see on the farther side. I was almost at the top! I didn't look down. I was going to win.

The thought never occurred to me that this was a pointless competition. To justify myself, it was for my pride.

My hand slapped into the cave. I smiled. I'm gonna win. But then, I was stuck. I couldn't move anywhere. I ran out of footholds and ledges.

Suddenly another hand grabbed my wrist.