Page 112 of Edge of Steele
He wiggled out and got to his feet. “We go deeper into the cave.”
“Then what?” Finn asked.
“Then I leave you here and take off.”
“We’ll just come after you,” Finn said, not caring if that upset this creep.
“If you do, I let go of the grenade and blow up those lovely people you just met. Maybe bring the whole side of the mountain down and kill the other visitors too.” He fixed his gaze on Ryleigh. “Do you want that to happen?”
She glared at him. “You know I don’t.”
“Then let’s move. Go ahead to your left. Over the boulder.”
Ryleigh went first, the light fading with her as she scrambled over a large rock and into a narrow crevice. Finn followed, his body brushing against the stone worn smooth by others who’d taken this route before him.
He exited the tight path to find Ryleigh bent over in a smaller space where they couldn’t fully stand. She searched the area with her phone’s light.
“Is this the off-trail route?” Finn asked the moment Vick emerged to join them.
“At one time, but this section’s closed now due to the potential for collapse. Just think of it as my own private little tour for you.” He cackled, and the sound bounced off the low ceilings. “Keep going, veering to the right. The walls on the right side are the most unstable. Try not to touch them.”
Finn took out his cell and flashed the light down the narrow path he would have to traverse upright this time, catching a glimpse of Ryleigh ahead. No way his shoulders would fit through there without scraping against the wall. He would have to sidestep through it. At least the ceiling was high enough to stand upright.
He turned to enter, but two feet in, he shone his light back at Vick, wondering if he could take him before going deeper into the caves.
The guy gave him a nod of approval. “Dumb-looking jock like you. I didn’t think you’d figure out how to safely move through there.”
“Not a jock at all.” Finn fired back at Vick. “But still no sweat. As a Navy SEAL, I was in situations far more dangerous than this.”
Shock and awe, coupled with unease and uncertainty claimed Vick’s face. Good. Just the reaction Finn was going for.
The creep held out his fist again, waving the grenade. “Keep going.”
Finn probably should’ve kept his mouth shut—don’t poke the bear and all of that. But he figured if the guy was a little less certain, he might be easier to overpower.
Finn put away his phone and sidestepped his way down the narrow path and into another small room. Bats fluttered to the ceiling. Ryleigh cringed as her light revealed guano caking the room.
Vick eased out of the opening, and Ryleigh pinned him with her light.
He had that same grin, the one that said he wasn’t mentally all there. Delusional in his conspiracy theories. “Take the last opening you see ahead, and you’ll be done.”
“Then what?” Finn asked. “Is that when you leave us?”
Vick nodded, the smile turning snide and uglier. “And you shouldn’t try to follow me. If not for the visitors’ sake, then for yours. Too many side shoots and false paths. You’ll never find your way out of here.”
“Then what do you expect us to do?” Ryleigh asked, her tone higher than normal, her fear cutting into Finn’s heart.
“Wait an hour, then backtrack to get out.” He cocked his head. “But you should know if you’re dumb enough to think you can track me, there’s no cell service, and no one will come looking for you on this route. No one at all.”
25
Time had run out. Finn had to act fast. But what should he do?
He couldn’t let the guy leave. Finn couldn’t be left behind to die in this rocky hole either. Avery needed him. And he sure didn’t want Ryleigh to suffer any more than she already had.
Vick eased toward an opening in the rock that he could back through and keep an eye on them at the same time. His shadow in Ryleigh’s light was long, narrow and fluid, looking other-worldly.
“Wait,” Finn called out, his mind racing to figure out how to get close to this guy. “Don’t leave yet.”
