A cool breeze caught me off guard when I came across a hole in the wall large enough for an adult to climb freely into. Their voices traveled out much clearer, but so did another uproar. A rush of water. A river. A waterfall. I couldn’t understand what they were saying, but it didn’t matter. They were alive. And they were somewhere up this crawling tunnel.
I stuck my head into the hole and called their names at the top of my lungs. I yelled again and again until my throat hurt. Then I listened. Blood pulsated in my ears. My stomach turned into knots. No response. But it was them. I was certain. I pushed inside.
ChapterThirty-One
I’d forever be grateful for my knees pressing into the seat in front in economy class, for most pants being too short, for every “how’s the weather up there” joke kids made in middle school, because right now my long legs were propelling me upward one step at a time. Breathless Brie, with her petite frame, lagged way below me. For every push I did, she had to do two.
After entering the opening in the wall, we had crawled on all fours several yards before it took a ninety-degree turn and went up. It was tricky to hold the flashlight and creep up, spreading all four limbs, my boots constantly sliding down smooth surfaces. Halfway up, my shoulder screamed bloody murder from the weight I was putting on it. Every minute, I had to take a break, but the further I went, the closer and more visible the opening at the end became, and the louder the sound of water grew. In my gut, I knew that it was the waterfall from Augustine’s sketch. Involuntary bursts of laughter escaped me.
I’d found it.
We’d found it.
Because of the loud rush of water, I couldn’t hear anyone’s voice, but I hoped—I begged—Andrew and William were up there.
With another push, my hands gripped the edge of the opening and the flashlight clattered onto the stone floor. I pulled myself over, belly crawled out, and rolled onto my back. Cool droplets gently beaded on my skin. Catching my breath, I willed my heart to slow down. Another dark cave but hopefully at the same level as Andrew and William.
I’d made it.
Hot tears ran down my face. God, I was tired.
“Can you help me?” Brie called out. “I can barely hold on.”
Did I have to?
I kneeled near the hole. If I leaned in, she would be within arm’s reach.
“Stop staring at me and help me.”
Fuck her.
I scooted away. I didn’t want to be a nice person to Brie. She didn’t deserve it. She was mean the entire time, she dragged my brother here, and she broke Andrew’s heart when he was at his most vulnerable. I should have let her dig her way through that door.
“Please,” she said with a whimper.
Clamping my eyes shut, I cursed, then rolled on my stomach and held my good arm out to her. Her cold palm pressed into mine, and my long fingers gripped her hand. I pulled her out, and she collapsed on the floor. I shifted away from her, back leaning against the wall.
After several minutes, I picked up the flashlight and studied the large underground chamber with a tall single waterfall plunging into a sizeable pool. I grinned until my cheeks hurt. Across the body of water, one corridor led to a possible way out. There were no guarantees though.
A feeling of fatigue penetrated deep into my bone marrow, but I had to find Andrew and William. I had to keep going.
“I don’t think I can move,” Brie moaned.
“You know six languages, but you can’t say thank you in any of them?” I grumbled.
“Thank you,” she said, with so much scorn I was better off without it.
I scoffed and shook my head. Perhaps spending time alone with Brie was my karma’s best joke.
“I think you and Richard are a perfect pair,” I said. “I wish you two life-long happiness so you can spare other people from ever getting involved with either of you.” She wrinkled her forehead, showing deep creases in her skin. She needed to invest in Botox. Because once her looks faded, what would be left of her?
The tunnel began to glow with flickering lights. I inhaled a sharp breath and staggered up on my feet. My heart twisted uncomfortably, not knowing who was about to walk out. I was sure I’d heard Andrew’s voice, but it could have been a prank of my fatigued mind.
The time seemed to drag on, suffocating me.
A tall, broad figure wearing a Fedora emerged from the tunnel.
“Andrew!” I yelled, waving my hands. Even though I could hardly see his eyes in the darkness, I felt our gazes connect.
