by Rivi Jacks
I hear the click as he flips the release. We both pull on the shelf, but it slides with ease and swings open like a door. We hurry into the passage. As Quanah pulls the shelf to close it, I realize something.
“Wait!” I hurry back out to the steel door to lift the bar. If the door is barred, the Kihn will know we’re in here, and it will only be a matter of time before they find the opening too.
Jake follows me. “Good idea.”
As Quanah shuts the door of the passageway, the flashlight reveals a bar to secure the door, the same as the other. He drops it in place, securing the shelf from opening.
I hear Teresa crying. At least she’s doing it quietly. I’m too scared to cry, or I might be blubbering too. “Jake?”
“Yeah?” He moves beside me.
“Gramps told me about this passageway. It leads to a tunnel.”
“Where’s the tunnel lead to?”
“I don’t know.” I do know I’m ready to move, to run for safety. “It was part of the Underground Railroad.”
“What?” Jake asks with surprise.
“That’s what Gramps told me.”
I shine the light around and see a door on both sides of the passageway. Quanah opens the door on the right, and I look in. There are a couple of cots. Weird. The door on the left opens into a room full of what looks to be cases and cases of wine. Some of the stacks are taller than I am. I know I’m not especially tall, but the stacks must be over five feet high. The room feels cool, refrigerated.
“Here,” I hear Quanah say. He’s standing near the end of the passageway. He’s moved what looks like a large boulder, but it must be fake or he couldn’t have moved it. Quanah has revealed a hole through the rock wall.
They are here, girl.
“They’re here!” I whisper. We all become silent, listening for any sound.
“Let’s go!” Jake decides. He motions for me to go through first.
Gee, thanks, Jake!
I’ve loaded my shotgun with 00-buck, and I have Dragon’s Breath shells in my pockets. Jake has his compound bow and more shells. The problem is the tunnel doesn’t look big enough if it comes down to a fight. But I try not to dwell on that.
Quanah comes through right behind me. While the others make their way into the tunnel, he motions for me to walk a little way ahead with him. He moves the flashlight beam around to illuminate the tunnel walls, reinforced with timber, and the dirt floor. Digging a tunnel like this one would take a mind-staggering amount of time. I have no idea how long it is or where it ends.
“We will need to hurry,” Quanah says quietly. “The Kihn will be able to smell everyone.”
I look at him in surprise. Damn, this is going to be bad.
“We should only use one flashlight at a time, Sofe,” Jake suggests. “We don’t know how long we’ll be down here.”
“Sofe?” I feel Quanah looking at me.
“It’s... a nickname,” I tell him.
“Let’s move. I’ll bring up the rear with Jake, the girls can stay in the middle, and Quanah can take the lead,” Lars offers, by way of getting us moving.
I bet Lars had no idea when he decided to stay that he would spend time underground running for his life. We move on, but it’s pitch black, and one flashlight doesn’t give all of us much visibility. The tunnel is not wide, and the men have to stoop so they don’t hit their heads.
“If I need to move to the back, be ready to hug the wall,” I warn behind me.
“You always think you’re so important,” Teresa bitches.
“Teresa!” Bobbi snaps. “She has the shotgun!”
“Keep quiet!” Jake whispers loudly.
I have a sudden urge to giggle. Teresa being such a pain in the ass is too comical. Even when running for her life, she manages to be an annoying bitch. I control the urge, however, knowing it would be hysterical laughter if I started.
“Are you okay?” Quanah asks softly.
“Yeah... nerves.” I’m not surprised he picked up on my emotions. I knew those dark eyes had a lot going on behind them when we first met. He just has something about him...
We make our way through the tunnel as quickly as we can—but probably not as fast as we need to. I wonder what type of supernatural being Quanah is. I wonder about Cal and Brighton again. I worry about what is happening at the gates and if they are aware the Kihn have breached the compound.
I can’t let myself dwell on Lucas and Sawyer, it’s too frightening. I have to have faith that they’re okay. I’m certain the attack on the Zelts was a diversion, and I wonder if Lucas has sorted that out yet. My mind won’t be still, it keeps running from one worry to the next. I can’t help but remember that the Kihn chased me through a tunnel in one of my nightmares. The déjà vu is so strong I nearly choke with fear.
We have to slow at a point where the walls have caved in somewhat. The timbers that held the earth at bay for so many years are broken. If this tunnel was part of the Underground Railroad, it’s about a hundred and fifty years old. Okay, I wish I’d not think of things like that.
I feel as if we’ve been walking for hours, but in reality, it hasn’t been near that long. Where this tunnel will take us is anyone’s guess. I’m betting on the river. What then? We’ll be at the Kihn’s mercy out in the woods, with the temperature well below zero. I keep this to myself, though. I’m sure the guys have already considered the situation, and there’s no reason to make Bobbi and Teresa hysterical.
“I’m cold,” Teresa whines.
I’m starting to feel chilled too. “Is it getting colder?” I ask Quanah. He’s only wearing a suede-fringed jacket.
“Your body temperature has cooled to match the temperature of the tunnel.”
“What temp do you think that is?” I mostly ask to make conversation. I’m tired of thinking about scenarios that could happen.
“About fifty-five.”
“It feels colder than that.”
When he doesn’t say anything else, I shut up and continue to follow. I know it’s not my imagination that it’s getting harder to breathe. Our path has been fairly level, so I must be really out of shape or—we’re running out of air. I’m just full of good thoughts.
Without warning, Quanah stops. I slam smack dab into his back, which is about the same as walking into a brick wall.
“Sorry! I’m so sorry!” I tell him as I back up a step. Bobbi’s hands push against my back, but she doesn’t say anything. I look around Quanah as best I can; he’s not a small man. He turns, and I see his face in the light that reflects back on us. He looks down at me. “What?” I ask softly.
“A spider.”
A tremor runs through my body. “What?” I breathe.
In the faint light, his black eyes delve into mine. “You fear spiders.”
I gulp convulsively. “Mostly... big ones.”
He regards me steadily. “Then you will not like this.” He swings the light out ahead of us.
I look into a mass of spider webs. In the center of that tangled weave dangles the biggest freakin’ spider I’ve ever seen. It’s the size of a possum, a large possum. I bet it eats possum for a snack! The flashlight makes its eyes glow.
I back up, pushing against Bobbi.
“Hey! There are still people back here,” she mumbles a little crankily. I flatten against the wall, trying to melt into it. “What?” she asks. I can feel her reaction when she sees what is ahead of us. “Shit!”
My sentiments exactly.
“What’s going on?” Jake calls to us. “We don’t have time to stand here.”
“Jake, you need to come up here, please.” My voice is shaky. Quanah moves toward the nest. “What are you doing?”
“I am going to knock it down.”
“No!” Bobbi screeches.
I grab Quanah’s arm. He stops and looks down at my hands. “P-Please don’t,” I beg.
From his reaction to my hand on his arm, I’m certain not many lay their hands on him, and normally, I don’t l
et myself get this close to someone I don’t know. But I’m not letting go of his arm until he agrees he won’t knock that eight-legged nightmare down.
“If you knock it down, it will—” I can’t stop the shudder that runs through my body “—it will be on the ground. Running around—on the ground!”
Bobbi grabs my shoulder, her nails digging in. “Don’t let him do it!” I try to shrug her off, but she has a death grip on me.
“What’s going on?” Teresa asks. “We need to move. I’m cold.”
“Please, Quanah.”
“Woman—I will kill it.”
“Kill what?” Teresa’s voice has raised an octave. “What’s up there?”
“It’s too big!” As terrified as I am of that spider hanging in our way, I’m petrified of it being on the ground, in the dark, crawling around.
“What is it?” Teresa’s voice is practically hysterical now.
“Sofie, what’s going on? Do you need me?” Jake calls.
“Yes! Jake, please!” Bobbi calls back.
Quanah looks down again at my hand locked on his arm. I can feel his bicep through his jacket. His arm is well muscled, and there’s no way I can physically stop him.
I realize it would be easier for Jake to just hand me the crossbow than to try to move up from the back.
“Jake, pass your crossbow up here.” I look back at Quanah. “Do you know how to use one?” I’m not going to stereotype and just assume that he does.
I think I see his lips twitch. “I think I can manage,” he says.
I hear Jake say to be careful, and Bobbi hands the crossbow to me. I hold it out to Quanah as he looks at the nest. For a moment, I’m terrified he’s going to go through with his original plan. I’m pretty sure that spider’s too large to knock down and stomp. To my relief, he turns back and reaches for the crossbow. He rests the stirrup on the ground and pulls the bowstring with ease, cocking it. I hand him an arrow.
He looks at me. “Everyone will need to back up. I’m too close.”
I’m only too happy to stay as far away from that arachnid as I possibly can. I relay the message, and as we back up, I have a sudden urge to flee. That’s the best way I know to describe what I’m feeling. Are the Kihn getting close? I say nothing because I know that Quanah is aware time is not on our side.
While I’m contemplating all this, he is setting up the shot. I hear the crack-snap of the crossbow. I for real do not want to look, but I get that unbearable urge to look at something I just know I shouldn’t. And yes, I wish I hadn’t.
The spider thrashes around in the cobweb. It looks as if it’s trying to pull the arrow out. It finally hangs lifeless, and Quanah steps up close to it. He uses an arrow to knock down the dead spider and web. My life will never be the same knowing spiders that large live here in the Ozarks.
“I hate spiders,” Bobbi shudders.
I glance back at her. For once, we agree. I turn back to see Quanah motioning for us to move forward. We pass the crossbow back to Jake. Quanah pulls the arrow from the spider’s body and moves it as close to the wall as he can with his boot before moving on. I pull a flashlight out of my back pocket and hold the beam on the spider as we sidle past. I think Teresa will have a fit when she sees it, but Bobbi tells her to shut up, it’s dead. We don’t get far before Quanah stops again.
“What now?” I ask. I pray it’s not another spider. One of those in a lifetime is enough.
He shines his light out beyond us. Water.
I have a sudden feeling of wild panic. No! I am not doing this!
“What is it this time?” Lars asks. Bobbi and I flatten our bodies against the tunnel wall.
“Teresa!” Bobbi snaps. “Get back against the wall, so the guys can see.”
My eyes are squeezed shut, body pressed tightly against the packed earth. I’m scared. I’ve already had this nightmare. Why do I have to live it?
There is danger in the water, girl.
Oh, yes, I remember.
“Woman?” His breath fans across my face as he speaks softly, his face close to mine. I open my eyes and look right into his black ones.
I swallow deeply. I guess he means me. “Yes?” My voice doesn’t sound right.
He’s silent for a moment. “I am going into the water. You will need to hold the light.” I don’t move. He takes my hand and presses the flashlight against my palm.
“Please—please don’t go in the water,” I beg.
I hear Jake say my name. He sounds so calm. “He needs to see how deep it is. We need to move on.”
Quanah takes off his jacket.
“Please don’t do this!” He leans up against the tunnel wall to take off his boots. I touch his arm. “I have a truly bad feeling about this.”
“We’re gonna freeze if we go in that water,” Bobbi states.
Lars asks. “We have no choice, right?”
“It’s probably not deep,” Jake says.
“Water doesn’t have to be deep to be dangerous,” I snap.
“You’re thinking of fast-moving water,” Teresa corrects.
I give her a look even though I know she can’t see it. Quanah moves toward the water, and I’m right behind him. “There’s... something... in the water,” I whisper hoarsely.
He stops and turns back. I shine the light up to his face. He’s looking at me with a calmness that annoys me.
“Do not shine the light in my eyes,” he says.
“Sorry, sorry!” I tilt the light down.
He leans his head closer. “Something is in the water?” he asks in his quiet, precise voice.
“Yes!”
He smiles. It’s not a good smile either. A shiver runs down my spine. “Do not get excited and shoot me.” He turns and wades into the water.
Dammit!
If I had the space, I would be pacing. As it is, I shift from foot to foot, biting my lip.
Quanah stops and turns toward me, the water above his knees. “Hold the light—”
And with that, he is jerked under the water.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Bobbi screams. She is the only one besides me with a clear view.
“Shit!” I yell.
Jake yells, “Get back!”
Teresa starts screaming bloody murder.
I point my shotgun toward the water and try to see into it with the flashlight, but the water is inky black.
Teresa continues screaming.
“Shut her up!” I yell.
I hear a sharp slap, a loud gasp, and Bobbi saying, “Sorry.”
The water is perfectly smooth. How can I not see Quanah? The water was only up to his knees.
“Do you want me up there?” Jake yells.
“Better stay back—” I give one of those girlie yelps as Quanah comes out of the water, like Coke shooting out of a bottle after it’s been shaken. Water sprays across Bobbi and me, getting a yelp out of her too.
I look at Quanah, who is holding something long and black, not unlike a huge snake. “You know, I think that we should just turn around and go back. Lucas will be coming and—”
Quanah flings the snake thing at my feet. I screech and leap back into Bobbi. Whatever that thing is—it no longer has a head. It’s maybe ten feet long, big, fat, and resembles the boa constrictors I’ve seen on TV crushing men. Well, maybe the crushing-men part was in some movie, but I’m sure this thing was big enough—it was able to take Quanah down.
My light illuminates the Indian as he steps out of the water. He leans over at the waist, flips his hair over his head, weaves his fingers into the long, wet strands, and flips it back down his back as he straightens.
I look into his face and see the knowing gleam in his eyes. He takes off his shirt, and I discreetly look away, but I want to look. I mean, he is a good-looking man, and he certainly has a nice chest and six-pack. Not that I notice. I mean, I only look for a second.
He slips his jacket on and drops his shirt. I gather he plans to leave it behind. I reach down and pic
k it up.
“It’s safe to cross now,” he says.
“A-Are you sure?” Bobbi asks.
“What was that?” I ask him. “Was... was it a snake?”
“An Untekhi.”
What the hell is an Untekhi? I’ll ask later.
He wades into the water and stops when he notices no one is following him.
“Do you think we should carry the girls across?” Jake asks. “The water will come up higher on them, and when we get out of here, it’s gonna be freezing.”
Quanah retraces his steps and holds out his hand to me. I hesitate before placing my hand in his. He quickly scoops me up. I place an arm around his neck as his dark eyes meet mine. Then we’re crossing the water. We wait on the other side while the others cross.
Lars carries Teresa. She has a death grip around his neck, and he has to pry her arms away after he sets her down. Jake and Bobbi come behind them. After the men slip their boots back on, we continue.
“How much longer?” Teresa wails.
No one says anything. I notice it’s getting easier to breathe, but it’s also colder. I’m plenty cold, so I’m sure everyone else is too. I can’t imagine how cold Quanah must be, but he utters no complaint. All at once, I feel Lucas.
At my sharply indrawn breath, Quanah turns his head toward me. “What?”
“Lucas.”
“Is he close?”
“I... I think so.”
I want to run and get out of the tunnel. I want Lucas to wrap his arms around me and never let me go. The ground suddenly angles upward, and the dirt walls widen, Quanah’s light illuminates the end of the tunnel.
“Thank God!” Bobbi says.
I would agree, but who knows what awaits us outside? I pray it’s Lucas. Quanah stops, and we do too.
“I will go out and check,” he says.
He doesn’t know the land around Sweetwater. “I... I’ll go with you,” I offer.
“No, Sofie, you stay here,” Jake says, coming to stand beside me. “I’ll go with him.”
“Jake, you need to stand guard in case the Kihn are close. Chances of them being outside here are slim. I’ll go help get a bearing on where we are,” I say.
“You stay right with him,” Jake orders. “Quanah—don’t you let anything happen to her!”