Left or Right (chapter three)

   When I reached the fork in the tunnel, I had no idea what to do! Should I go to the left or the right? I had no idea, and I felt like my luck had run dry.

   “Oh, Amelia!” I cried aloud. “Amelia, where are you?”

   I shook my head vigorously. I blinked my eyes several times and bit my lip. I would not allow myself to cry again. I would not! I took a huge breath in and let it out with a huff.

   I looked at each identical path. Identical is the perfect—and unfortunate—word to describe it; they both started dim, then as they wound around or went straight—of which I did not know—beyond my vision. 

   Although just minutes—even seconds—ago my luck seemed to be getting better, all that hope appeared to be plummeting down, sinking below this tunnel!

   I was lost in a tunnel, who knows where, I was separated from my sister, I did not know where my long lost parents were or even if they were still alive, and now this, a fork in the tunnel. Despite all it may seem, especially my anger, frustration, and sorrow, I was determined to change my luck for the better, of course.

   Again, I scanned each of the paths but spotted no difference. 

   I shrugged, thinking to myself that Amelia could have taken either way. I decided to go to the left and come back to take the right if needed.

   I started walking down the path, but suddenly, chills ran down my spine. I had a scary, eerie feeling that I was not alone. I thought that would be good, but then I did not, for I figured if the other being was Amelia, she would have shown herself by now, but she did not. I felt like I was being watched, and the person or thing watching be pierced through my body with its scrutinous eyes. 

   Slowly, very, very slowly, I turned around, pivoting on my right foot. At that moment, the only noise that I sensed in the tunnel was me; more specifically, the only noise that I sensed was my shoe squeaking against the ground as I spun around. My eyes flashed from left to right as I scanned the perimeter. Although I saw no one, I continued to glance back and forth across both ends of the tunnel as far back as I could see. Despite my efforts, my search was futile; if there was anyone there—and I say that, taking the if very unlikely—I did not see them.

   Suddenly I heard a very loud, very obnoxious, very startling, very scary, very...just very. Everything bad and ominous that can tag along with the word ‘very’.

   I screamed at the top of my lungs. “EEEEK!” 

   I covered my head with my hands and arms. What could I say? One cannot be too careful, especially when one is on their own in a creepy, dark tunnel!

   I was very glad that I had protected my head despite the fact that the thing that touched my hands and brushed across my arms was not sharp or hard. Whatever the thing was, it was small and an animal. Apparently one that flies. 

   I thought for a moment. Something small. A small animal. A small, flying animal. A small, flying animal with tiny claws. A small, flying animal with tiny claws that sounds kind of like a creepy, dying duck. A small, flying animal with tiny claws that sounds kind of like a creepy, dying duck and lives in tunnels, maybe even...caves! It hit me; there were bats in this tunnel! More shockingly, there were bats in this tunnel by me! With me if you will! 

   I knelt down to the ground and got as low down as I could, now lying down. 

   I wished the bats would go away. I wished I was out of this tunnel. Not just out of this tunnel, but with Amelia, back on track to finding our long lost parents! In fact, I wished Amelia and I were with our parents right now!

   I knew I wasn’t going to cry; I was too startled by the bats for that. But my heart thumped loudly, and I felt like instead of changing my luck, I was just making what luck I already had—which was very little and very bad at that—even worse!

   When at last the flapping and squealing of the bats had ceased, I figured the tiny creatures were gone now, so I stood up and thought for a moment about what I should do next.

   I knew Amelia had taken one of the paths, but I didn’t know which one. I didn’t know if she had gone left or if she had gone right. Or did I?

   Determined now, I thought long and hard about how I could figure out if my sister had taken this path or the other one. I collected bits of information that I thought might help. First, I thought about what Amelia was wearing just in case I found a piece of cloth or strand of hair or something. Okay. Amelia’s long red hair was braided into one rope down the middle of her back. Hair, check. She had on a blue hoodie, and underneath that was a checkered shirt. I was pretty sure she had on ripped jeans. Clothes, check! Nonetheless, I still felt like those things wouldn’t help me! Suddenly I thought of something; because Amelia probably went feet first out of that window, wouldn’t that mean she might still have some glass on her shoes? It was certainly worth a shot—looking for tiny pricks or larger shards of glass. Yes! Things were looking better. Maybe my luck wasn’t so bad after all!

   Even though things seemed to me to be pretty hopeless earlier, I now had a new hope. It dawned on me like the sun coming up over the horizon in the morning. I was desperate to change my luck, and now, I just had!