What the—
Then a boom sounded. Low and echoing and terrifying.
Shit!
An explosion or cave-in.
When I was young, Cut had brought Kes and me to visit for the first time. I’d rather liked the oppressive tunnels. The thickness of earth and loneliness so far beneath sunlight appealed to my chaotic, oversensitive brain. But I’d explored too far. I’d got lost.
I’d tried to find my way out, only to crawl and get trapped in an unused part of the mine. A section of wall had caved in, partially blocking my exit. Luckily, a worker had come to reinforce pretty quickly and found me.
I’d laughed off the experience and Kes had used my tale as a fascinating story of diamond warfare, but I never forgot the instantaneous terror at being buried alive.
Another reverberation travelled through the walls and floor, shivering like a beast waking up.
Marquise shot upright, his phone clutched in his hand. “What the fuck was that?”
That isn’t normal.
The mine was sturdy, despite its ancient age. The rarity of a continual yield in diamonds after so long was another reason why the shafts and cylindrical passageways were well maintained. No one wanted to destroy a never-ending wealth creator, especially after centuries of collecting.
I flinched as another curtain of soil landed over my tied-up form.
Marquise charged toward the door. We humans were alike in that respect. We craved oxygen and sunlight. Put us underwater and claustrophobia could kill you better than any shark. Put us underground and fear could drive you insane.
My heart charged out of control as another smaller cannonade sounded.
Fuck.
If Marquise didn’t kill me on Cut’s behalf, it looked likeAlmasi Kipangawould.
The mine shouldn’t behave in such a way. The tunnels dived deeper and deeper as the years went on, but the workers knew how to reinforce. Their lives were on the line. They didn’t cut corners.
Yet another boom. Louder. Stronger. Closer.
The cave walls trembled, scattering earth over the table and medical supplies Cut had used.
I raised my eyes, fearing cracks and sudden crashing of rock and earth.
“Fuck this shit.” Marquise grabbed the handle and wrenched open the door.
Armageddon broke out.
Gunfire.
It ricocheted into the room with a sudden spray of bullets. Flashbacks of Jeep metal crumpling and crash landings swarmed my mind. I pressed my faceinto the ground, curling up the best I could while tied to the chair.
What the hell—
Whizzing bullets and the dull thud of their pockmarked landing ratcheted my heart rate until I inhaled dirt from the floor. Terror lacerated my blood, setting up residence in my pounding head.
My system had a healthy dose of fear when it came to lead projectiles. When Cut shot me, I’d reacted instinctually. I wasn’t thinking about pain or death but saving my sister’s life. I didn’t know how it would feel. But now I knew what happened to a body in the path of a mortally wounding weapon.
It fucking hurts.
I didn’t want a repeat.
Fighting the ropes to protect myself, I couldn’t stop my mind doing a mental cleanse, saying goodbye to everyone and everything I ever loved.
