Thirteen

Anaya winced at the pain when she pressed her back against the wall.  The black water settled near her chest.   Mom comforted Eli as he wept loudly.  Dad, at the other corner closest to Mom, reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder.

Dan stood silently with his back to everyone as the elevator noisily crept deeper into the earth.

With the door now completely shut, the water began to recede.

Anaya fixed her eyes on the narrow electronic panel ahead of her, and watched as the numbers gradually increased.

27…28…29…30…

How far down does this thing go?

“As soon as we reach the bottom we need to move fast.” Dan spoke in a gruff tone.

Moments later, the elevator settled hard which threw everyone to the floor in a heap.  An electronic *ding* sounded and the door slid opened only to stop partway.

Dan drove his shoulder into the opening with a loud grunt, and forced the door to open wider.

“This has to do.” He huffed as he turned side-way and slipped out.

Anaya then squeezed through and stepped out into a rain storm.

“That door up there won’t hold for much longer.” Dan urged as he reached and took Eli so Mom could climb out.

Anaya glanced around and saw that they were in yet another tunnel.

“Follow me.” Dan muttered as he handed the boy back to Mom.

They tailed closely behind the lone, armed man as he led them down the dark passage.  The rain storm back at the elevator quickly grew in to a raging waterfall.

“Faster!” Dan called out and they quickened their pace.

Anaya could barely see ahead  so she focused on Dan’s waving flashlight.  Without any warning, the flashlight stopped moving and she collided into him.

“Easy there.” Dan’s hand grasped her arm as he steadied her.

“Sorry.” Her face felt hot all of a sudden. “Didn’t see you.”

“No apologies necessary.” He turned away from her.

It was then she noticed that they stood before a rocky barrier.  She strained to see the top but the wall continued upwards into utter darkness.

“Another door?” Dad asked as the men studied the metallic entry molded into the stony earth.

“Yes.” Dan answered and turned the round knob.

As they crossed the narrow threshold, a blast rocked everything.  The sounds of boulders and water crashing to the ground vibrated through Anaya’s body  with such force, she could barely breathe.

Dan pushed the flashlight into her hand and yelled. “Run!”

With her next breath, she ran.

Copyright © 2012 Carrie Ann Golden

All rights reserved.

 

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