them. “Answer me,” Coordinator Steele said.
“Elena sees a truck. Wedged below us. Fifteen feet,” Thane whispered up to him and Kaitlin.
Light flashed through the cavern again. A sharp retort cracked through the air. Dirt sprayed out from the wall as a bullet furrowed into the earth above them.
Rhys cursed.
“Turn out your lights,” Thane said.
“Don’t try to move.” Elena’s voice shook. “Not without light.”
“Come back up now.” The Scientist’s voice sounded panicked. His guinea pigs were escaping.
Movements came from above, the sound of someone climbing over the ledge. Small sprinkles of earth fell past. Coordinator Steele shouted, “When I reach you, I will use the gun. I know how to climb and I have all the gear. Return now and we’ll consider another alternative.”
Adrenalin coursed through him, but they all stayed silent. Minutes passed and they held their position.
A deep female scream sounded. Wind rushed by. A person fell.
Above them, The Scientist yelled down, demanding Coordinator Steele answer him.
“Oh God. Oh God. Coordinator Steele just dropped to the bottom of the cavern, and I didn’t hear her hit.” Kaitlin sounded terrified. “How deep is this?”
“Miles.” Rhys had no words of comfort for her. This was messed up. “Could be miles.”
Kaitlin groaned.
Coordinator Steele was gone. Maybe the gun. That left one guy. The Scientist. Rhys’ fingers tightened. Crumbling earth came away in his grip. He knew shit about climbing. Elena was the expert. “Elena, what are we doing?” Rhys said. “Should we go up now? I can’t hear The Scientist anymore. But, if he’s still there, we can take him.”
Thane said, “There could be a second gun.”
“The semis aren’t far,” Elena said. “We can make it there. Rest. Think.”
They went down slowly, and reached the semi. It was ass up, sides wedged against the walls.
They made their way down, lifting the bar and hauling up the door. Their lights shone on jumbled piles of luggage. Supplies.
“Thank God,” Kaitlin said. She lay flat on her back across two large bags. She shook out her arms.
“Let’s go through the luggage and try to find something useful,” Thane said.
Kaitlin ripped off her gloves and tucked them into her pockets. With Rhys’ help, she pulled into a seated position. “I hope we find mine. I packed these special pistachios we get from a deli on 42 nd . You’ll love them.”
Rhys moved to the wall. With one arm braced on the side of the trailer, he dug through the pile. “Priorities are weapon, water, warmth, then food.”
Kaitlin pouted and looked defiant. He rather liked the expression.
“We have to stay dry.” Thane glanced at each of them. “We’re fine for now: stable, warm, and we just landed on a pile of supplies.” Thane rose and brushed a hand over the back of Elena’s hair. “Above all, everyone has to stay calm. We’ll get out of here.”
“Mine, mine, mine,” Kaitlin said. “I see one of mine.” Her voice lilted in a way Rhys hadn’t heard since this trek started. She tossed aside several bags, dug into the pile and hugged a brown leather tote to her chest. After the hug, she unzipped the heavy zipper and dug out a large jar of pistachios and a chocolate bar. “Godiva.”
Everyone joined her, and Kaitlin divided the food. Chocolate. Nuts. Energy.
Rhys threw his shells through the open door. They landed with soft pings on the metal of the trailer. “We need a drink.” He shook the salt around in the bottom of the empty pistachio container.
“Surely some kid shoved a bottle of water into his checked bag when he found out he couldn’t take it through security,” Elena said. “I know I did.”
Rhys got up and continued digging. He tossed aside someone’s high heels and strappy dresses. Like anyone needed that in Alaska. “We’ll probably find liquor. Don’t drink it. The alcohol will lower your body temperature. But, save it if you find it. I’ll
“Elena sees a truck. Wedged below us. Fifteen feet,” Thane whispered up to him and Kaitlin.
Light flashed through the cavern again. A sharp retort cracked through the air. Dirt sprayed out from the wall as a bullet furrowed into the earth above them.
Rhys cursed.
“Turn out your lights,” Thane said.
“Don’t try to move.” Elena’s voice shook. “Not without light.”
“Come back up now.” The Scientist’s voice sounded panicked. His guinea pigs were escaping.
Movements came from above, the sound of someone climbing over the ledge. Small sprinkles of earth fell past. Coordinator Steele shouted, “When I reach you, I will use the gun. I know how to climb and I have all the gear. Return now and we’ll consider another alternative.”
Adrenalin coursed through him, but they all stayed silent. Minutes passed and they held their position.
A deep female scream sounded. Wind rushed by. A person fell.
Above them, The Scientist yelled down, demanding Coordinator Steele answer him.
“Oh God. Oh God. Coordinator Steele just dropped to the bottom of the cavern, and I didn’t hear her hit.” Kaitlin sounded terrified. “How deep is this?”
“Miles.” Rhys had no words of comfort for her. This was messed up. “Could be miles.”
Kaitlin groaned.
Coordinator Steele was gone. Maybe the gun. That left one guy. The Scientist. Rhys’ fingers tightened. Crumbling earth came away in his grip. He knew shit about climbing. Elena was the expert. “Elena, what are we doing?” Rhys said. “Should we go up now? I can’t hear The Scientist anymore. But, if he’s still there, we can take him.”
Thane said, “There could be a second gun.”
“The semis aren’t far,” Elena said. “We can make it there. Rest. Think.”
They went down slowly, and reached the semi. It was ass up, sides wedged against the walls.
They made their way down, lifting the bar and hauling up the door. Their lights shone on jumbled piles of luggage. Supplies.
“Thank God,” Kaitlin said. She lay flat on her back across two large bags. She shook out her arms.
“Let’s go through the luggage and try to find something useful,” Thane said.
Kaitlin ripped off her gloves and tucked them into her pockets. With Rhys’ help, she pulled into a seated position. “I hope we find mine. I packed these special pistachios we get from a deli on 42 nd . You’ll love them.”
Rhys moved to the wall. With one arm braced on the side of the trailer, he dug through the pile. “Priorities are weapon, water, warmth, then food.”
Kaitlin pouted and looked defiant. He rather liked the expression.
“We have to stay dry.” Thane glanced at each of them. “We’re fine for now: stable, warm, and we just landed on a pile of supplies.” Thane rose and brushed a hand over the back of Elena’s hair. “Above all, everyone has to stay calm. We’ll get out of here.”
“Mine, mine, mine,” Kaitlin said. “I see one of mine.” Her voice lilted in a way Rhys hadn’t heard since this trek started. She tossed aside several bags, dug into the pile and hugged a brown leather tote to her chest. After the hug, she unzipped the heavy zipper and dug out a large jar of pistachios and a chocolate bar. “Godiva.”
Everyone joined her, and Kaitlin divided the food. Chocolate. Nuts. Energy.
Rhys threw his shells through the open door. They landed with soft pings on the metal of the trailer. “We need a drink.” He shook the salt around in the bottom of the empty pistachio container.
“Surely some kid shoved a bottle of water into his checked bag when he found out he couldn’t take it through security,” Elena said. “I know I did.”
Rhys got up and continued digging. He tossed aside someone’s high heels and strappy dresses. Like anyone needed that in Alaska. “We’ll probably find liquor. Don’t drink it. The alcohol will lower your body temperature. But, save it if you find it. I’ll
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