All in Bad Time

by Yvonne Montgomery

  Eve saw her sway and scrambled up, catching her arm and steadying her.

  Brenna ran a finger along the seam where the ceiling and wall came together. "It's a tight fit," she murmured. "Must be nailed together." She took a couple of steps and lifted her hand again. "I can't see any sign of water leakage, can you?"

  Eve narrowed her gaze, following the angle of connection at the ceiling down to the floor. "No, it looks dry over here."

  Together they slowly examined the joints. "It's nice and tight," said Brenna. "We caught a break, falling in here."

  "Yeah," Eve said, "but how are we going to get out?"

  Brenna turned to her with a smile. "I have a plan. Let's sit again and turn off the light. We can't waste it."

  "I'm moving over here." Eve walked carefully to the wall opposite the door and sat down. "Something to lean on."

  "Good idea." Brenna sat beside her and when she was settled, Eve turned off the light. The darkness tucked itself around them like a blanket.

  "So, what's your plan?"

  Brenna yawned. "We hit the ceiling with rocks in hopes the others are looking for us and will hear the pounding."

  "Not bad," Eve said. "But I don't recall seeing any rocks big enough for that. Did you?"

  "No." She was silent. "That's a bummer."

  She was beginning to sound odd, Eve thought, with almost a childish lilt in her voice. "We'll worry about it later. Tell me how you came to be at Wisdom Court."

  "I make movies." Brenna breathed slowly. "Got a letter from Rose 'cause she saw one of 'em. Invitation, too. How 'bout you?"

  "Somebody here read my blog pieces and a few short stories I wrote." Eve blew out a breath. "I was supposed to get here when you did, I think. Then I broke my leg."

  Brenna was quiet and Eve began to wonder if she'd dropped into sleep. Then she asked, "You gonna work on a book here?"

  "I'd like to." Eve fought off a desire to let her feelings go—fear, anger, sorrow—all of them churning inside her. "All I ever wanted is time to write without life getting in the way."

  "You have a life? That's cool." The gravel rattled and Eve felt Brenna move beside her. "I'm so sleepy," she said through a yawn. "I'll take a little nap and we'll figure it out."

  Alarm clutched at Eve. What if she did have a concussion? She shouldn't be allowed to sleep, should she? Wasn't that what she'd read in first aid books? People were always waking up the concussed. "Uh, just rest for a bit, but don't go to sleep, okay? We can keep talking for a while."

  "Okay." Brenna yawned again and Eve had to fight sliding into one of her own. "It's getting colder."

  "Is your jacket zipped?"

  Brenna didn't say anything, and her breathing slipped into a regular rhythm.

  "Crap." Eve listened to her breathe for a while, wondering what she should do. Her imagination was gearing up, little noises hinting at squirming snakes and spiders spinning webs.

  Eve grabbed for the flashlight and clicked the switch. She moved the dimming light over the walls, surprised at the amount of dust in the air. No snakes or spiders presented themselves. As she flicked the switch, the light reflected off something in the corner and she turned it back on again. She couldn't find anything at first, but there it was, a tiny flash near the floor.

  Eve crawled across the floor and aimed the flashlight again, finding a small bit of metal close to where the two walls met. She scraped at the metal and caught her nail on the edge of it, pulling it toward her. A small drawer slid out of the wall silently. When she shone the light inside it, she saw a packet tied around with leather string. As she pulled it out of the compartment, the drawer slid shut.

  Eve took the packet back to her resting place, pausing to shine the light over Brenna. She winced at the sight of her head wound. She sat down beside her and started to open the small package but the light was fading. Flicking off the light, she put it with the package and tucked both against her stomach as she lay on her side. She would keep guard over Brenna and wait for the others to find them. That was her last thought before sleep captured her.

  Evie, wake up. Wake up now. It's important.

  "What?" Eve's eyes popped open in the dark and she knew she was in the hidden chamber. The nest of snakes was near and they would eat Danica.

  Evie, watch out—the drill—take cover...

  "Charlie, is that you?" Eve struggled to waken, half in her dream, half unaware of where she was.

  She pushed herself up, scraping her head against something behind her. "No!" At a nearby movement she sidled away, trying to escape. "No!" Her voice climbed. "Get away from me."

  "Eve, it's me, Brenna."

  Eve felt a hand on her arm. "Brenna?"

  "Yeah. What's wrong? Did you hear something?" Her voice was as scared as Eve's.

  Eve let out a sob and patted the floor around her with manic energy. "God, the flashlight, where is it?" Her fingers brushed against the cylindrical shape, closing around it tightly and she knocked it against the packet. When she switched it on, the dim light was the best thing she'd ever seen. She picked up the package and tried to put it in her pants pocket.

  "A nightmare?"

  "I guess. Something woke me up, I'm not sure what."

  They were still in the room and the floor was dry. Nothing had changed.

  On that thought, a sudden loud thump came from overhead, and dust fell from the ceiling. A second thud was followed by a cracking sound. More dirt scattered around them, some falling onto their heads.

  "What is it?" Brenna grabbed the flashlight and shone it across the ceiling. "Is it breaking down?"

  "Don't know."

  A sliver of light appeared with another crash, more rocks and dirt falling near them.

  "My God, I think somebody's trying to get in." Brenna coughed at the rising dust.

  Eve shuddered at the next smash, ducking as several rocks fell close to their position. "They don't know we're here! Hey!" she yelled as she scrambled to her feet. "Stop! We're here! Stop digging!" A good-sized rock fell behind her and she spun to see if Brenna was okay. In the dim light she could see her leaning against the wall, arms covering her head.

  "Neal, Rose, somebody!" screamed Eve. "Stop! You'll hurt us if you don't." The response was another stone, this one the biggest yet. She scooted over to Brenna, grabbing her by one hand. "Come on," she panted, tugging her toward the other side of the room. "Yell. Scream with me."

  Brenna stumbled after her, wincing in pain. "Help! Help us," she shouted.

  Eve took a deep breath and shrieked. "Help us!"

  Dust rustled to the floor in the sudden silence. A muffled "Hello?" floated through the room.

  Brenna turned toward Eve. "Did you hear?"

  Eve nodded.

  "We're here," Brenna yelled. "We're down here."

  The blade of a hand saw slid through one of the cracks overhead and moved up and down over and over again, moving to an angle and rising and falling until another length was cut. When the saw appeared at the end of the two cuts and sliced across the space between, Brenna grabbed Eve's hand and held it.

  Something thudded against the cuts and a chunk of wood fell to the floor. "Eve? Brenna? Are you in there?"

  "Yes," they both shouted.

  They heard muffled talking and then they could see a portion of a face filled the hole. Eve waved the dying flashlight at it and realized it was Neal.

  "Thank God," they heard him say. "We'll get you out."

  Brenna leaned against Eve, forcing her back against the wall behind them. "I'm so glad they found us," she said through sobs. "I'm really sick of this place."

  At Eve's trembling laugh, Brenna laughed as well, and then cried some more. "No hysterics," Eve said as she helped Brenna down to the floor. "Lean against the wall and relax. It won't be long now."

  Time Out of Time

  "The membership is restless." Fitch lifted the silver dagger from the desk, shifting it in his thick hand to allow it to catch the light from the fireplace.

&n
bsp; Severn lunged across the desk and wrested it from him, replacing it with exaggerated care. "I've told you before not to touch anything you see here." He could not show weakness in front of this buffoon. His eyes held Fitch's gaze until the man was forced to turn away. "What gives you the idea of restlessness in our esteemed colleagues?" He hardly knew what he was saying.

  Fitch flushed at the contempt in his voice. "They ask for details about your plan, and several hint they'll leave the group if action isn't taken soon." An instant of pleasure gleamed in his close-set eyes. "I've kept them in line so far, but they're eager to do something."

  "Really." Severn sat in the leather chair, barely containing his rage. Resting his hands on the polished surface of the desk he laced his long fingers together to prevent their curling into claws. "Clearly I am in your debt." He noted the smile forming at the man's lips and decided to kill him at the next half moon. He was a liability due to the attention he'd drawn in the car accident. But he was useful enough to keep around for the moment. "You assured them of our ongoing progress, I assume."

  Fitch shot him a glance, his round face creasing with petulance. "They listen to me, but I need to kindle their keenness." His hand formed a fist on the arm of the chair. "It would help if I knew more about the plan. As you always say, zeal stimulates belief." He took a breath. "If they lose belief, what will fuel our efforts?"

  Fear. His gaze resting on his hands, Severn was silent. "Your warning is appreciated," he said at last. A lightning glance caught the flash of relief on Fitch's face. "Our efforts have been only partially successful. If they ask, tell them the remote viewing has become more effective." He paused, considering his words. He would throw this weasel a bone to see how far afield it was taken. "This is for your ears only: I have detected another in our game, someone I've not yet identified."

  Fitch frowned. "Another?"

  The man's an idiot, Severn thought savagely. "I'll explain another time. We must be cautious."

  Fitch had brightened at the thought of private information. "I'll keep this to myself, of course." He raised one brow and asked hopefully, "May I be of help?"

  Not bloody likely. For a moment Severn feared he'd spoken aloud, but Fitch maintained his concerned expression and he knew he had not. "I'll call on you if need be." He rose to his feet and Fitch followed his lead. "Before you go, jot down the names of those who are... particularly impatient with our pace." At the arrested look in Fitch's eyes, he came around the desk, hand extended. "I can depend on you to maintain order, my friend, but I must make certain clear communications exist among all the members." They will suffer for their doubt.

  Fitch was already nodding in agreement.

  "I have another appointment," Severn added. "Simms will provide you with pen and paper. Leave the list with him and I'll look it over later this evening."

  He opened the study door and ushered Fitch out into the hall, signaling to the butler, giving him brief orders. As he strode down the corridor, he heard Fitch slipping into the pompous tones he used with the servants.

  Severn fell against the wall, strength nearly gone. He'd been so close. So close! He'd touched her; he'd felt the jerking of her flesh as his hand nearly grabbed hold of her.

  He made his way to his chair. He could not mount another attack tonight. But soon... soon he would destroy her.

  Chapter 15

  Dr. Jerri Williamson's usually pleasant face was grim and anger burned in her eyes. "What in hell is going on here? At the rate you're going, you'll have a body on your hands the next time you call me."

  "Oh, no, Jerri," Aura Lee protested. "It's not that bad."

  For all her upset, Jerri's touch was gentle as she cleaned Brenna's forehead with alcohol-soaked gauze and tossed the pad into the wastebasket near the bed. "I expect you at my office in the morning," she said to Brenna in clipped tones. "An MRI is in order." When Brenna took in a breath to argue, she raised her hand. "Otherwise I'll call an ambulance and have you admitted to Boulder Community today."

  Brenna subsided, a sulky cast to her mouth.

  The doctor glared at Aura Lee. "Take me to my other patient." She followed her to the door where she paused to look back at Brenna. "Stay in bed. Even if you don't have a concussion, you've been through enough to wear you down. I mean it. Stay off your feet."

  "Okay." Brenna's expression softened. "Thank you."

  "Welcome." Jerri waved Aura Lee ahead of her. "Lead on, McDuff."

  Eve was lying on the long couch in the living room. The idea of curling up by the fireplace had been too pleasant to resist. So far she'd had the additional perks of tea and cookies, along with Rose's frequent passes through the room to check on her. I could get used to this. Eve nestled into the cushions, pulling the blanket a bit closer, and fell into sleep.

  The landscape was pitted with craters and ongoing explosions explained their numbers. She limped the best she could through the rough terrain, but smoke and dust in the air slowed her. She didn't dare fall. She'd never get up.

  Dust and blood, haunted by rue,

  String of guts, fear and a grue.

  Hone the edges, score the skin,

  Choke the breath without, within.

  Eve moved her head from side to side, a grimace twisting her features. She plucked at the throw draped over her.

  Sleight of hand, the eyes obscured.

  Rich blood to drink, aged and cured.

  Long strand of evil, then to now.

  Life on the edge, to my will bow.

  "Evie, wake up. Wake up now!"

  Eve's eyes shot open as she let out a cry. Nearby she heard a voice and she jerked her head toward it. Aura Lee led a woman into the room and they both headed directly for her.

  Aura Lee bent over her, eyes searching her face. "What is it, dear? I heard you scream. Are you all right?"

  The woman beside her took hold of Eve's wrist, one finger measuring her pulse. Her square, kind face was intent. "Were you running laps in here? You're heart's beating like you were."

  Eve shook her head and Aura Lee murmured, "She broke her leg some weeks ago. There's a limp."

  "Bad dream," Eve whispered.

  "I'm Jerri Williamson, closest thing to a house doctor at Wisdom Court."

  Her eyes were compassionate, Eve decided, and she smiled tentatively. "Happy to meet you."

  Jerri sat on the edge of the sofa. "I'd say the same, but I have the feeling that something going on around here is affecting everyone's health." She lifted her hand and put her palm against Eve's forehead. "You're a little feverish. The others said you were in the tunnel between six and eight hours. Does that sound about right?"

  Eve stopped to think. "I'm not sure," she said after wandering through cloudy thoughts. "Neither of us had a watch and our phones wouldn't work, so we couldn't tell time." Eve closed her eyes and sighed deeply. "I'm so tired."

  Jerri frowned up at Aura Lee. "Were any gas lines affected by the tunnel collapse?"

  Aura Lee's expression moved from concerned to terrified. "By the Goddess, I don't know. Neal hasn't said any were, but we're not exactly sure about any of it."

  "Did you hit your head on anything? Any rocks hit you?"

  Eve lifted her eyelids, heavier now than before. "Yesterday—was it yesterday?—when I fell into the secret room I think I hit my neck or head on the edge of the trapdoor. Was it yesterday?"

  Jerri Williamson stood up abruptly. "Go get Rose," she told Aura Lee. "Tell her I have to talk to her. Right now."

  As Aura Lee scuttled away, Eve reached up to tug on the edge of her sweater. The rich rust color of it was pleasing, she thought fleetingly. "I'm really okay. Just reaction, I think. We haven't eaten in a while, low blood sugar. Check out my eyes."

  Jerri studied her, finally resuming her seat on the edge of the sofa cushion. "All right." Pulling a small flashlight from her bag, she peered into Eve's eyes and, to her surprise, her ears. When she was finished her lips twisted in a rueful smile. "I'm probably nuts, but I don't think you're
concussed. I imagine you need a good night's sleep, several, in fact, and a pile of comfort food."

  "Jerri? Is anything wrong?" Rose came into the room drying her hands on a towel. "Is Eve badly injured?"

  "Remarkably enough, no." Jerry slid the flashlight into her bag and closed it, then got to her feet. "Eve, I want you to get that sleep, and the food. I'm ordering you to be careful with yourself for a few days. Understand?"

  Eve nodded.

  "Cross your heart." At Eve's short laugh, Jerri frowned. "I mean it. I want your solemn promise to veg out for a day or two. Deal?"

  "Okay," Eve returned. "Deal."

  Jerri patted her hand. "Thank you." She turned to Rose. "I need to talk to you for a minute."

  "All right." Rose led her toward the kitchen and stopped at the table. "You want to sit?"

  Jerri was already pulling out a chair. "Got any coffee hot?"

  "I'll see." Rose slid a cup out of the cabinet and put it under the urn. When she twisted the spigot, coffee flowed into it. "Here you go."

  "Thanks." Jerri drank the coffee down fast and Rose wondered how she managed not to burn her mouth.

  "I need to know what's happening here," Jerri said abruptly.

  Rose considered her. "Why?"

  "Because you've called me more frequently this past week than you ever have. Because your people here are apparently involved in dangerous things. Because I'm worried about all of you." She examined Rose with penetrating eyes. "I'm not going to blab about it; doctor patient privilege and all that."

  Her gaze dropping to her hands, Rose let out a long breath. "I don't know if you'll believe me if I tell you. It's gotten pretty damned weird."

  "Try me."

  Aura Lee passed the doorway to the kitchen on her way to her rooms. She heard Rose and Jerri talking quietly and wondered what it was about. She shook her head at her own curiosity as the hall clock struck nine.

  * * *

  Charlie was in her head again. Eve awoke all the way, the end of what he'd said ringing in her ears. "Not so loud," she muttered aloud.

  "I'm doing everything I can to deflect his energies, but it's getting harder. He's hell-bent on getting to you. He doesn't know exactly where you are, but he and his cretins have identified the general area. I had to carry that information to him myself."