“Only one way to find out,” Porter said.
They approached the tunnel entrance cautiously, flashlight beams sweeping the darkness. Nash caught the scent of earth and decay as they entered, the air growing noticeably cooler.
“Watch your step,” Trey warned. “And your heads.”
Nash kept close to Amy, hyperaware of her presence beside him in the narrow space.
She moved with surprising confidence, pausing occasionally to consult a small notebook where she’d copied details from Bill’s research. “His notes mentioned a fork about a hundred yards in,” she whispered, her breath warm against Nash’s ear. “The broken arrow should be carved on the right-hand path.”
The tunnel gradually widened into a larger chamber, and ahead, voices became clearer—two men engaged in what sounded like a heated argument.
“You said it would be here!” one voice hissed. “We’ve been wandering around for hours!”
“Keep your voice down,” the other snapped.
Nash recognized Dr. Martinez’s distinctive professorial tone immediately.
“The symbols indicate it should be in this section, but some of these tunnels have collapsed.”
“Well, your symbols aren’t worth?—”
The argument cut off abruptly as Chance’s flashlight beam caught movement ahead. Then, without warning, a figure came barreling toward them from the darkness.
“Get out!” the man shouted, his voice bouncing off the narrow walls. “Everyone out! It’s poisoned in there!”
Dr. Martinez emerged from the shadows, his normally composed face contorted with panic. Another man followed close behind him, both gasping for air like fish thrown onto dry land.
“Gas pocket,” Dr. Martinez managed between ragged breaths. “Disturbed … something. Air’s not right.”
“Everyone out,” Trey ordered, his voice leaving no room for debate. “Now!”
They retreated quickly, Nash keeping a firm grip on Amy’s arm as they made their way back up the sloping tunnel. Dr. Martinez collapsed onto his knees, while the other man—presumably his brother—doubled over, hands on his knees.
Nash pulled Amy closer, ignoring the way his heart hammered against his ribs. “You okay?” he murmured.
She nodded, her eyes never leaving Dr. Martinez. “I’m fine. Just …”
While the two strangers recovered, Trey and Porter moved with swift efficiency, forcing both men to the ground.
“What the—” the unknown man began to protest, but Porter’s firm grip silenced him.
They’d barely gotten everyone clear of the entrance when a deafening roar echoed from deep within the tunnel. The ground beneath them trembled, and a blast of hot air and dust erupted from the mouth of the mine.
“Down!” Nash shouted, pulling people to the ground as debris scattered around them.
The explosion wasn’t massive, but it was enough to send a shower of rocks and dirt spewing from the entrance. A cloud of dust billowed out, enveloping them all in a choking haze.
For several terrifying seconds, Nash could only cough and blink against the grit in his eyes, his arm instinctively thrown over Amy to shield her.
When the dust began to settle, he raised his head to see the others slowly picking themselves up, covered in a fine layer of dirt but seemingly unharmed.
“Everyone okay?” Porter called out, scanning the group with sharp eyes.
A chorus of affirmatives answered him, punctuated by coughs and muttered curses.
“What was that?” Colt demanded, turning to Dr. Martinez with accusatory eyes.
Dr. Martinez looked as shocked as the rest of them. “I—I don’t know,” he stammered. “We must have triggered something?—”
