Page 104 of Love like the (Real) Reel Thing
Her heart hammering painfully against her ribcage, she tried to pinpoint the source of the noise.
Okay, she had to get back to the exit. Still in a half-standing position, she gritted her teeth and started to shuffle back towards the exit, cursing as she banged her back against the sloping roof of the tunnel. Almost immediately she had to crawl again.Shit!How had she ended up doing this? She hated small spaces, but at least she’d had a good reason to actually be in one. Now she had none.
She was going to kill Afric. Just as soon as she managed to smuggle her back into the castle. She sent up a quick prayer that she’d be waiting for her in Linford Wood.
As she inched along, she focussed on her breathing, doing her best to slow her pulse. There was a sudden noise behind her and she tried to look back. Something she couldn’t see brushed against her ear and Jess screamed as she tried to aim the light from her phone.
She reached out and hit something soft. In a panic, she stumbled sideways and hit her head hard against the wall. Bile rose to her throat and she felt her legs crumple under her. And then everything went completely dark.
CHAPTER 52
Jess felt slightly nauseous when she woke up. For a moment, she couldn’t remember where she was. Then everything came rushing back.Shit,she’d completely failed. Afric had disappeared and she was stuck inside this stupid – no, not stuck, she reminded herself forcefully, as bile rose to her throat. She wasn’t stuck – there were two ways out.
Ignoring the pain in her head, she rolled onto her side, her elbow brushing against a hard, familiar object. Her phone! She turned its light on, relieved it wasn’t broken. The roof of the tunnel seemed slightly higher here. Slowly she sat up, still hunched, waves of dizziness and nausea rolling through her.You’ll be fine,Jess – just stay calm.
She had to move. The problem was, she was no longer sure which was the way back to the woods.
Taking a careful breath, she started to crawl, trying not to think about whatever it was that had hit her. If she didn’t name it, she wouldn’t be able to picture it. And eventually she’d be able to convince herself it hadn’t even happened.
“I’m nearly there,” she said out loud. “I’ll come to the exit any minute now.” She kept crawling, wondering if the air had changed or if she’d just imagined it. If it had, that was good – it meant she was probably close to the exit. She tried to crawl a bit faster, her hands slipping sweatily on the stone floor. She should be near the exit now. Still, the tunnel seemed to stretch endlessly ahead.
Because she was going the wrong way.Shit! Double shit!Briefly, she debated turning around but she couldn’t face it – her head was hurting all over now. One way or another, she had to get out.
Pinching her hand hard to keep the rising panic under control, she forced herself to keep moving. Finally, just as she was sure she was going to be sick, she saw the ceiling was starting to get much higher again.
Slowly, she clambered to her feet, straightening until she felt her upper back brush the ceiling. For a few long minutes she walked hunched over, until finally she could straighten. Ahead of her was a wall. Shining the light from her phone on it, she ran her hand along it, and felt it change from stone to wood. The panel leading to the bedroom was here. And it should be open.
Jess pushed hard but nothing happened.Crap, what was wrong?If Emily had opened the exit to the woods, she must have left this open too. The castle entrance to the Lady Linford tunnel could only be opened from inside the suite.
She held her phone up, squinting to try to see if she had reception. There was one bar – it might be enough to message Emily.Trapped inside tunnel at Afric’s room come help. She sent the message and took a deep breath, trying to slow down her pulse. There was nothing she could do now except wait.
She wondered if Afric had already been seen. If she had, all this had been a complete waste of time. She shouldn’t care! Africwas a grown woman – and a professional Hollywood actor. If she decided to just piss off in the middle of a movie, that was her own business. The problem was, shedidcare. Just not as much as she cared about being stuck in here right now.
What if Emily hadn’t seen the message? What if she hadn’t even got it?Okay, Jess, don’t panic. If you can’t get out this end you can go back to the exit.
She banged on the wood. “Emily? Are you there?” She banged a bit louder. “Anyone? Let me out? I’m in the tunnel!”
She checked her phone. The message seemed to have gone but Emily hadn’t seen it. What had happened to her? She should have been here. She’d opened the exit into the wood but hadn’t hung around. And then what? She’d forgotten to leave the entrance here open for them?
She started to message Robert but stopped. He was the only other person who had known about this. But he wouldn’t hurt anyone. They were in a relationship. He was a nice guy, not some psychopath.
But unless Emily told somebody else he’s still the only person who could have known.
She hammered on the wooden panelling until her hands were sore, then leaned back against the cold stone wall and shut her eyes. She’d have to go back, there was nothing else she could do.
A loud bang, followed by what sounded like cracking wood made Jess jump.
“Hello? Is there somebody there? I’m stuck in the tunnel, can you get me out?”
“Stand back!” An angry male voice that sounded suspiciously like Adam came from the far side of the wall. “Stand well back! Now!”
Jess stepped back as far as she could from the wall. There was another loud crack and then wood splintered into the tunnel revealing the first bit of light. Adam’s furious face appeared onthe other side, and Jess suppressed a nervous laugh as a sudden image of Jack Nicholson inThe Shining, flashed to mind.
“Are you hurt?” He bit out the words.
“I don’t think so. I was trying to get Afric into the castle but she went back along the tunnel and then something hit me and I hit my head against the wall and I passed out.” Jess was vaguely aware that she was babbling. “I think it was a bat.”
“Christ!” Adam glared at Jess as if it was her fault. “Turn away! Now!”
