slowly, Cassie strained to catch a glimpse of something, anything.
The breeze seemed to be coming from both directions, so Cassie wet one of her fingers, grimacing at the taste of dirt, dust, and blood. Left hand splayed against the stone, she raised her right hand to test the breeze. It came more strongly from her right. Bracing herself, Cassie began edging her way along the wall.
Sweat beaded the back of her neck, soaking her hair and dripping down the long line of her back. The tank top stuck to her uncomfortably, but she tried to ignore it, concentrating on what her other senses were telling her.
At a hundred steps along the wall, she stopped counting. Her movements became sluggish, repetitive. She’d slide her foot forward, testing the ground before putting her full weight on it. Her hand glided along the stone wall, seeking any opening. The breeze continued to blow against her, carrying the promise of the sea and freedom, but like the Greek Tantalus of myth, Cassie seemed doomed to disappointment.
Her pattern snapped as she encountered a hard surface with her foot. Blinking, Cassie stretched her right hand forward and found the surface extended up to her. Drawing her hands along, she found the corner was rough, yet curved.
It was another wall.
Cassie choked back a cry and turned to press her back against the corner. Sliding down, she sat on the rough ground, ignoring the hard stones that bit into her buttocks through her slacks. She could just imagine how she looked.
The maddening breeze continued to blow from the wall pressed at her back. It cooled the rivulets of sweat dripping down her face and soaking through her clothing. Panting, she sat there, waiting. Her racing heart began to slow, and her panting became deeper, more regular breaths.
Seconds ticked away. Cassie tried the backlight on her watch, but no amount of pressing the button lit the watch up. She checked it periodically while she sat, waiting for the snuffling in the darkness to find her. She wanted to stand up, but her legs shook with fatigue, her chest hurt, and her fingers stung.
Dampness slid down her cheek. Cassie resisted the urge to wipe it away. Her hands were filthy, and she’d probably just irritate her eyes or worse. Tilting her head back against the stone, she looked up.
A pinprick of light glimmered overhead.
Blinking hard, Cassie looked down at her watch’s nonexistent backlight and then up once more. The pinprick of light remained.
Above.
Scraping her back on the wall, Cassie stood. Cassie strained her neck looking back the way she came, only turning her gaze upward. That faint, but very real, twinkle of light seemed evident along the entirety of the path she must have traveled.
“No one ever looks up,” Cassie muttered.
“No, sadly they don’t.”
The voice, spoken into her left ear, sent her heart rate careening at high speed. Cassie screamed, jerking backward and bouncing against the hard stone. She brought her arms up to protect her head, bracing for a blow that never came.
Light flared in the darkness, and a warm, gentle hand closed on her arm. “You damaged your eyes.”
The hand gripped her more firmly when she tried to pull away. Yanking harder, she cracked her head against the wall and winced as a new, sharp pain added itself to her growing catalogue of complaints. “Gently, my lady, gently.”
Cassie flailed, desperate to get away. Her hands curled into fists and struck out, hitting solid flesh. The gentle voice bit off a more colorful oath. Suddenly, arms like steel bands wrapped around her. It cut off her breath, and a hot cheek pressed against hers, warm breath feathering along her ear. “Stop, my lady—stop before you hurt yourself.”
“You’re trying to kill me!”
She slammed her head forward, a shaft of blinding pain ripping open her skull followed by the sound of bone crunching. Her captor released her as hot dampness spattered her cheek. The coppery odor of blood became very strong
The breeze seemed to be coming from both directions, so Cassie wet one of her fingers, grimacing at the taste of dirt, dust, and blood. Left hand splayed against the stone, she raised her right hand to test the breeze. It came more strongly from her right. Bracing herself, Cassie began edging her way along the wall.
Sweat beaded the back of her neck, soaking her hair and dripping down the long line of her back. The tank top stuck to her uncomfortably, but she tried to ignore it, concentrating on what her other senses were telling her.
At a hundred steps along the wall, she stopped counting. Her movements became sluggish, repetitive. She’d slide her foot forward, testing the ground before putting her full weight on it. Her hand glided along the stone wall, seeking any opening. The breeze continued to blow against her, carrying the promise of the sea and freedom, but like the Greek Tantalus of myth, Cassie seemed doomed to disappointment.
Her pattern snapped as she encountered a hard surface with her foot. Blinking, Cassie stretched her right hand forward and found the surface extended up to her. Drawing her hands along, she found the corner was rough, yet curved.
It was another wall.
Cassie choked back a cry and turned to press her back against the corner. Sliding down, she sat on the rough ground, ignoring the hard stones that bit into her buttocks through her slacks. She could just imagine how she looked.
The maddening breeze continued to blow from the wall pressed at her back. It cooled the rivulets of sweat dripping down her face and soaking through her clothing. Panting, she sat there, waiting. Her racing heart began to slow, and her panting became deeper, more regular breaths.
Seconds ticked away. Cassie tried the backlight on her watch, but no amount of pressing the button lit the watch up. She checked it periodically while she sat, waiting for the snuffling in the darkness to find her. She wanted to stand up, but her legs shook with fatigue, her chest hurt, and her fingers stung.
Dampness slid down her cheek. Cassie resisted the urge to wipe it away. Her hands were filthy, and she’d probably just irritate her eyes or worse. Tilting her head back against the stone, she looked up.
A pinprick of light glimmered overhead.
Blinking hard, Cassie looked down at her watch’s nonexistent backlight and then up once more. The pinprick of light remained.
Above.
Scraping her back on the wall, Cassie stood. Cassie strained her neck looking back the way she came, only turning her gaze upward. That faint, but very real, twinkle of light seemed evident along the entirety of the path she must have traveled.
“No one ever looks up,” Cassie muttered.
“No, sadly they don’t.”
The voice, spoken into her left ear, sent her heart rate careening at high speed. Cassie screamed, jerking backward and bouncing against the hard stone. She brought her arms up to protect her head, bracing for a blow that never came.
Light flared in the darkness, and a warm, gentle hand closed on her arm. “You damaged your eyes.”
The hand gripped her more firmly when she tried to pull away. Yanking harder, she cracked her head against the wall and winced as a new, sharp pain added itself to her growing catalogue of complaints. “Gently, my lady, gently.”
Cassie flailed, desperate to get away. Her hands curled into fists and struck out, hitting solid flesh. The gentle voice bit off a more colorful oath. Suddenly, arms like steel bands wrapped around her. It cut off her breath, and a hot cheek pressed against hers, warm breath feathering along her ear. “Stop, my lady—stop before you hurt yourself.”
“You’re trying to kill me!”
She slammed her head forward, a shaft of blinding pain ripping open her skull followed by the sound of bone crunching. Her captor released her as hot dampness spattered her cheek. The coppery odor of blood became very strong
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