The Playful Prince by Michelle M. Pillow Page B

of some sort. What sample were you working with?” Vitto turned to grab an electronic clipboard.
    “The ones we collected from the south section a few days ago.” Tori stood and touched her face. It felt like it was back to normal.
    “You’re still a little red and patchy,” Vitto admitted, “but it should go away in a few days. You’re lucky it wasn’t a lot worse. I don’t want you working with samples until your head is straight. It’s not safe.”
    Before Tori could dispute him, Grant’s voice came through the tent. “Uh, guys, you should see this.”
    They turned to Grant. His tanned face was pale as he solemnly motioned them to follow. Tori and Vitto shared a concerned look before moving to the tent flap.
    “What’s going on?” Tori asked, as Grant grabbed up a pack and moved to the ladder leading to the caves. Seeing Simon watching them, Tori stated, “We’ll be right back, Simon.”
    “I’ll start lunch,” Simon answered as he nodded. Since he was older, Tori hated to make him climb the rope ladder. Besides, he was better in the lab than in the field anyway and he seemed to enjoy cooking for the team.
    “I ... you just got to see it for yourself.” Grant quickly climbed the ladder up into the cave. Leading the way through the tunnel to the main cavern, he paused. “When we were at the palace, well Linzi just finished--”
    “Grant,” Tori stated, not wanting the details at the moment.
    Grant cleared his throat. “Well, anyway, you know I think best after sex, ’cause my head’s the clearest.
    Anyway, something’s really been bugging me about this new lower subsystem I found in the east tunnel.”
    Taking off his pack, Grant handed them each a mask. He moved to the east tunnel and pointed to the hole in the cave floor.
    “Look at the opening. See how it looks chiseled more than formed by erosion? And, look at this. The rim’s covered with that same black moss, only it’s not dying in the air. I know that wasn’t there before when I found this entrance.” Grant pulled out gloves and handed them all round. Avoiding the moss along the edge of the opening, he hopped down into the hole. There was a sound of movement before his light shined up.
    Tori and Vitto followed him into the hole. As Grant led the way, the moss became thicker and longer.
    Tori’s boot splashed in a shallow pool of liquid, but she ignored it and kept going. The light became dim and it was hard to see as they made their way along the rocky cave system.
    “Look,” Grant whispered, pointing his light forward. “I think whatever is behind there is the source of the black moss.”
    An iron door was fitted into the wall of the cave. Tori gasped in amazement to see it. “What’s a door doing down here?”
    “I don’t know,” Vitto whispered. “But it looks old, just check out the hinges. They’re rusted. I don’t think anyone has been down here for a very long time.”
    “Let’s open it and find out,” Grant said, his words edged with scientific excitement.
    They all knew it was a little careless to proceed, but no one stopped him from reaching forward. There was always a certain amount of risk in what they did. Tori felt Vitto’s shoulder next to hers. He nodded at her before turning his attention back to the door. She adjusted the mask over her features, making sure she had a tight seal.
    After a short struggle, Grant pulled the door open. Light flooded them from within. Tori blinked, letting her eyes adjust as Grant took a cautious step forward.
    “Motion light sensors,” Grant said, switching off his flashlight. “Whoever was here must have left them connected.”
    “Whoever it was, they haven’t been back in awhile,” Tori added.
    Black moss covered nearly everything--tables, chairs, an antiquated computer system with a keyboard and desktop monitor. Only peeks of the equipment and part of the metal floor showed through.
    “It’s an old laboratory,” Tori said. “What do you think they were doing