Chapter 18: The Secret Passageway

The group were all talking on the bottom floor. Dust and Rusty were talking with each other and laughing, and Spots was talking to Mistletoe and Charlotte.
Suddenly, Ash heard a thump - it was so small he was surprised he could hear it himself. The others didn't hear it.
"I heard a thump," Ash announced.
Mistletoe looked at Ash. "You did? Because I didn't..."
"Me either," Rusty added.
"I don't think any of us did," Spots shrugged.
"You must've imagined it," Charlotte guessed.
As the rest of the group kept talking, Ash heard it again.
"Does anyone know an entrance to any kind of basement?" Ash asked.
"I do," Dust announced.
Rusty gave his brother a questioning look. "And I don't know?"
"I vowed myself to keep it a secret, but if Ash wants it...why not?" Dust shrugged.
Sighing, Ash shook his head. Dust walked behind the staircase, and removed a small chest.
"What's in the chest?" Spots asked.
"Nothing; I checked," Dust explained.
Ash heard the thump again. Under the chest was a door. He grabbed the knob with his mouth and pulled up the door.
Only 3 steps were visible - then darkness took the stairs. Ash took a few steps down, then he couldn't see anything.
"It's very dark," came Charlotte's voice.
"Ow! Dust, that's my paw!" Rusty's voice growled.
"Hey! You stepped on my tail!" Dust protested.
"Take this, jerk!" Rusty yowled. There was the sound of someone falling.
"Stop!" Mistletoe shouted.
"Listen, just smell the air and stick to the group," Ash called out into the dark.
"Should we even be in here?" Spots whimpered. It was the first time Ash heard the dog scared.
All of the sudden, there was the sound of something rattling. Ash felt something binding him.
"Lost apprentices, is there?" Came a snarling voice.

Author's Note:
That's a Firebender hanging in that secret room! Oh no, what'll happen next??