Page 95 of The Claiming

I say nothing and point to the tunnels and interestingly, she selects the one Hollie chose and I wonder what will happen when they find the person in there with them is another challenger. It’s amusing to think of all five challengers in the same tunnel and when Karen Halton crawls into the room, I almost hope she goes there too. Instead, she selects the one to freedom and I wonder if she will be strong enough to face the swim on the other side. She is not a good swimmer. I already know that because I’ve seen her in the pool. She sticks to the shallow end and is bored by the whole exercise, making me wonder if she can swim at all.

I guess I’m about to find out.

Then Susan Harper brings up the rear and when Siri approaches her, her expression is sultry and inviting, making me giggle inside.

“Hey, babe.” She flutters her eyelashes and sticks out her chest.

“I guess you caught me already. Do you want to claim your prize?”

She reaches for Siri’s robe and attempts to open it and I almost laugh out loud as Siri pushes her forcibly to the ground and points toward the tunnels.

“Hey, there’s no need to be brutal, although–” She gazes up at Siri and trails her finger down her chest, cupping her breast as she whispers, “I kind of like it rough.”

I can only imagine the anger on Siri’s face as Susan Harper comes onto her and Siri jabs her finger in the direction of the tunnel to freedom, more out of spite than anything because denying Susan the ultimate experience is exactly what I would have done.

With a sexy wink in Siri’s direction, Susan crawls into the tunnel, wiggling her ass in Siri’s direction and as soon as she is out of sight, Siri whispers, “Fucking slut. I nearly punched her smug face.”

“I would have paid to see that.”

I struggle to keep it together because one sound could ruin everything.

Siri shakes her head and steps back as the first centurion makes it through the tunnel.

He is also surprised to see us as we stand against the iron door and point to the tunnels in one move of unity.

He nods and takes the middle one and he is soon followed by the rest. One by one, they crawl through the opening and take a tunnel, giving chase through the confined walls. We hear screams as they capture their prey and howls of frustration, and I watch eagerly for the first couple to appear.

Ellie James is dragged from the tunnel by a centurion and I wonder about his identity. She is sobbing as he pulls her along the ground, her ankles shackled along with her wrists.

He ignores us and pulls her back through the tunnel leading to the ceremonial chamber and before we have time to process that, one of the centurions exits the tunnel and curses. “There’s a fucking dead end and no girl.”

Siri points to the tunnels and with a sigh, he chooses another one. Luckily for him, it’s the one Hollie crawled into before Ellie, so he has the choice of two girls.

Then Angelina is dragged cuffed and silent by another centurion and her eyes are wide and afraid as she is dragged back to the chamber.

It’s fascinating to watch and I almost laugh out loud when Susan Harper crawls back into the chamber and hisses, “Fuck my luck to choose the only one out of here. You may want to help Karen though. She’s blubbing on the side of the river because she can’t swim. The fuck I’m helping her, I want to be claimed.”

She huffs as she chooses another tunnel and then screams in delight when she meets a centurion coming the other way.

I picture poor Karen sobbing on the river bank and whisper to Siri, “I’ll go in and see what she wants to do.”

Siri nods and says in an urgent whisper, “Be careful, Cassie, we’re supposed to call for help if there’s a problem.”

“Not this kind of problem.” I assure her and as I crawl into the tunnel, I hope I get there in time.

This time, as I crawl through the confined space, my robe is an irritant I could do without and I hold a newfound respect for the centurions who must navigate the chase with an unfair disadvantage. The mask is also limiting and keeps on sliding down my face, and as the air is stale, I struggle to breathe.

It’s so dark in here. How did I forget that and I only have my phone torch. I reach behind me to release it from my pocket and as I do, I catch my arm on something sharp, the same as Siri did on that first night.

The pain is excruciating and I curse that we never dealt with that and only when I catch my breath do I realize that my phone isn’t where it should be.

Fuck, it must have fallen out somewhere back in the tunnel and I curse not securing it properly in the first place.

I’m aware it won’t be long before I reach the exit, so I clench my teeth to deal with the pain and continue to crawl. I almost think I’m going to pass out. The pain is intense and then from out of nowhere, the floor gives way beneath me and I tumble into the passageway below.

I land with a huge thump and it winds me momentarily and yet before I can catch my breath, something fastens around my ankles and I am pulled along at speed.

“Fuck!” I call out, but my voice is hoarse and catches in my throat and all I can make out is the black hooded robe of the figure pulling me.

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