Cursed Boyfriend: Hugo (special preview)

“Hughie-” Erik sobbed. “We wanted to go fishing, we cut through the blocked off area around the mine. We’ve done it a thousand times but-” He broke down again, sobbing uncontrollably.

“There was a collapse,” the young man comforting Erik replied. “Hughie fell in.”

“My baby-” I was ready to choke. “Is he--?Oh god, is he--?”

“He’s still alive, he’s hurt, but he’s down there. We’ve been trying to find a way to get to him these past two days, but we’re afraid that mine will collapse more if we even get near it.” The young man said. 

“Have you thrown him a rope?” I was beginning to lose my mind. I had never felt such an overwhelming pressure and loss of control, not since Hughie was born.

“If more than one of us stands near the edge, it’ll fall in. We’re doing everything we can, but--.” I rushed from the house before he could finish.

As I approached the mine, I saw people gathered all around. Some were just onlookers wanting to shove their noses into everything, others were there trying to find a way to get Hughie out. I pushed through them all, running towards the sink hole my son had been trapped inside. I was grabbed as I tried to force my way towards the edge.

“Hughie! Hughie!” I screamed. 

“Ma’am, you need to get back! You could fall in too!” 

“That’s my son!” I kicked the man holding me back in the crotch and raced ahead. The ground was feeble where I stood and I could feel it slipping away even then. I looked down inside, seeing only a deep inky blackness within.

“Hughie!” I cried out. “It’s Mama, I’m here!” I snapped back as men approached me. “Don’t fucking touch me!” I looked back to the hole. “I’m coming, baby! Don’t you worry! I’m coming, I promise!”

“Mama,” the voice was faint and so far away, but I could hear him.

“I’m coming!” I screamed at him. I rushed towards the entrance of the mine. I grabbed what supplies I could from those gathered around and tossed them in through the slates of wood. It had been sealed off ages ago, but I easily slipped through the boards and found myself inside. Everything was dark and quiet. I turned on the lantern, then tied a piece of rope to the entrance and I started walking. I used chalk to mark off the walls, pointing towards the way I came. The deeper into the mine I went, I found more rope and tools I could use. I knew I didn’t have a lot of fuel for the lantern, so I would have to use it sparingly. 

Perhaps I had rushed this and gone into this cave blind, but then again, I was doing this for my son, I would have gone into the cave with nothing if I had to. I started to sing, hoping in some way, Hughie could hear me and then he would know I was there.

As I wound my way deeper and deeper into the mine, I found a pathway that was blocked off. One of the explosions had triggered it to collapse. I was flooded by an overwhelming fear that gnawed away at me with cold teeth. Hugo could easily be behind that wall of crushed rock. I felt sick to my stomach and I had to sit down. I clasped my head in my hands, taking slow breaths to try and calm myself. I couldn’t allow myself to panic or fall deeper.

“Mama.” The voice was so close by that, for a moment, I thought I was hallucinating. “Mama!” I was tackled by a warm, strong hug. I grabbed Hughie up into my arms, holding him tight. 

“Oh, my baby!” I wept happily. “My baby! My baby!” I rocked him in my arms. I grasped his face between my palms, seeing a cut along his forehead and dirt smeared on his cheeks. “Are you ok?” I gasped.

“I need your help,” he said.

I frowned for a moment. “That’s why I’m here. I’m trying to get you out.”

“No,” he shook his head. “Not for me.” He grabbed hold of my hand. “There’s someone else down here.”