Chapter 14: The River of Shadows

As the boat glided across the river, the line cook's eyes scanned the darkness beyond the faint light, searching for any sign of movement. The sound of footsteps had stopped, and an unsettling silence had fallen over the tunnel. Sophia huddled beside her, her eyes fixed on the line cook's face. The line cook forced a reassuring smile, trying to calm Sophia's fears. "We're almost there," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the gentle lapping of the water against the boat's hull. As they reached the middle of the river, the line cook noticed that the boat was being pulled by a faint current. The water seemed to be moving of its own accord, carrying them deeper into the heart of the underground system. Sophia's grip on the boat's edge tightened. "Where are we going?" she whispered, her voice trembling. The line cook's eyes met hers, and for a moment, they just stared at each other. The line cook's mind was racing with possibilities, but she couldn't shake the feeling that they were being led somewhere, rather than escaping. The boat drifted closer to the far shore, and the line cook saw that they were approaching a small cave entrance. The sound of rushing water grew louder, and she realized that the river was flowing into a larger cavern. As they rounded a bend in the shore, the line cook gasped in wonder. Before them lay a vast underground chamber, its ceiling lost in darkness. The river flowed through the center of the cavern, and the sound of rushing water was almost deafening. But it was what lay beyond the river that caught the line cook's attention. A series of ancient stone statues stood like sentinels, their faces worn by time and weather. The line cook felt a shiver run down her spine as she realized that they were not alone in the cavern. Sophia's eyes widened as she took in the sight. "What is this place?" she whispered. The line cook's eyes scanned the cavern, searching for any sign of danger. "I don't know," she admitted, "but I think we're not alone." As they drifted closer to the shore, the line cook saw a figure standing among the statues. It was shrouded in shadows, and she couldn't make out its features. But she knew that they had to be careful. They had been led here for a reason, and she had a feeling that their host was waiting for them. The boat scraped against the shore, and the line cook motioned for Sophia to follow her. As they stepped out of the boat, the figure remained still, watching them. The line cook's heart was pounding in her chest, but she steeled herself and took a step forward. "Hello?" she called out, her voice echoing off the stone walls. The figure didn't respond, but the line cook could sense its eyes on her. She took another step forward, her match held high like a tiny torch. And then, in a voice that sent shivers down her spine, the figure spoke. "Welcome, line cook," it said. "I've been waiting for you."