Page 78 of The Claiming

“You search the last tunnel and this room and check the door again. If there is a way into this place, we find it today. No excuses.”

I grip my flashlight tightly as we brace ourselves to crawl through the dark tunnels once again and Siri groans. “Sundays were never like this at home. I should be chilling, not fucking freezing. This sucks.”

I laugh despite the situation we’re in. “Then let’s hope we find what we’re looking for.”

I catch Jack’s eye and smile at the determined gleam in his eye, and he grins as we share a look that has passed between us a thousand times before. We thrive on danger and excitement and, unlike Siri, this is my idea of the perfect way to spend a Sunday and I know Jack is equally buzzing about the situation.

Frankie nods and says with determination. “Yell if you find something.”

We all voice our agreement and as I fall to my knees, my heart beats faster as I shine my flashlight into the dark tunnel and start crawling.

I work methodically, my progress slow. Despite the close confines of the space, it strikes me how easy it is to breathe down here. Dirt and small stones scrape against my knees through the thick denim of my jeans and cobwebs trail against my face as I work steadily through the tunnel.

It doesn’t take long to reach the dead end and my disappointment is a hard realization when I come up with nothing. No stone was loose, and there was no shaft of light or change in the air as I crawled through the dark, creepy space. If there is a way inside this tunnel, I’d love to know where because I have tested every rock in the walls and ceiling and none of them were loose. Plus, there is no hiding place. It’s narrow and there is only enough space for one person to crawl at a time.

I am so frustrated and sigh with disappointment as I reach the end of the tunnel, coming up hard against the rock face at the end.

I explore it carefully, testing every crevice, but nothing shifts and after testing every eventuality, I crawl back the way I came.

I am not the first one to make it back, and Siri sighs with disappointment as I crawl out of my tunnel. “Did you find anything?”

“No.” I shake my head. “Did you?”

“Not so much as a loose rock in there. Mind you, it wasn’t the tunnel Abigail disappeared from. Perhaps Frankie had better luck.”

Jack crawls from the fourth tunnel and shakes his head. “Nothing. What about you?”

“Same.”

I sigh with disappointment and Jack groans. “There must be something we’re missing.”

“Perhaps Frankie has discovered something.”

Siri sounds hopeful and I check the time on my phone.

“He should be appearing soon.”

It appears that every tunnel is the same distance and so we sit on the floor of the chamber while we wait and Jack says, “I thought Jesse was checking this one. Where is he?”

“Not here, obviously.” Siri says in confusion and we direct our attention toward the iron door.

“Do you suppose he opened it?” Siri jumps up and tests the handle but it doesn’t turn.

“No.” Jack joins her and peers around him. “The surrounding dirt is disturbed, but I’m guessing that’s due to Jesse’s footsteps.”

“Where is he then?” Siri’s voice shakes and I don’t miss how she reaches for Jack’s hand and I avert my eyes and say, “Frankie’s taking his time. Should we call for him?”

Siri nods and hollers into the tunnel he entered, “Frankie!”

Her words shoot back at her, but there is no other sound and I share a worried look with Jack.

Something is off about this, and I add my voice to Siri’s. “Frankie!”

Once again, there is nothing and Siri gasps, “I don’t like it. Do you think–” She falters and Jack growls, “I’ll go after him.”

“No, Jack.”

I nod toward Siri. “Stay with Siri. I’ll go.”

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