The creatures behind the glowing eyes were becoming bolder now. They watched her from all sides at once, and no longer hid themselves when Amanda turned to look in their direction. Amanda was surrounded.
"Don't show any fear. Just keep going. One foot in front of the other. You can do this Amanda. Left foot. Right foot." Amanda's lecture to herself became like a mantra as she continued along the tunnel under the watchful gaze of - whatever they were.
"Left foot. Right foot."
How far had she come now? One mile? Two? It was impossible to tell in the pitch blackness of the tunnel.
"Left foot. Right foot."
How long had she been gone from her classroom? Would anyone have noticed that she was missing?
"Left foot. Right foot."
Why hadn't she asked the faeries how far this tunnel stretched?
"Left foot. Right foot."
"Laffoo-raffoo."
Amanda froze in her tracks.
"Laffoo-raffoo?" the voice came again.
Amanda hesitated. She took the requisite two steps. "Left foot. Right foot."
"Laffoo-raffoo!"
That time, the call which came back was definitely gleeful.
"All right then," thought Amanda.
"Left foot! Right foot!" she called out.
"Laffoo-raffoo!" came the reply.
This was definitely strange, but it was far better to make friends with these watchful entities than to be at odds with them. Amanda set off again.
"Left foot! Right foot!"
"Laffoo! Raffoooooo!"
