After a few seconds I broke the silence.
“What’s the matter? Is the information classified or something? If so, I’m cool with it.”
“I lack understanding of this phrase 'I’m cool with it.'” Rom glanced up at me. You say you are cold?” He made a motion to stand. “My jacket will assist.”
“No.” I laughed and waved him back into a sitting position. “I’m cool with it means that it’s okay. If you don’t want to tell me where you’re from, it’s fine.”
“Accord.” He nodded. “But no secret exists. My country is known as Augustinia. I live in the great city of New Rome.”
“You mean you used to live there. You live here now.”
He seemed surprised by my words. After a few seconds his expression cleared. “Accord."
I searched my memory but came up with nothing.
“I never heard of Augustinia.”
“Many a place exists of which you lack awareness,” Rom said picking up a second sandwich.
“You’re probably right about that.” I played with the chain around my neck. “I never was much good at geography.
“The necklace you wear. The design has familiarity.” Rom took a bite and chewed. My goodness he was handsome even when he chewed.
“Yes.” I pulled it from my cleavage to show the swirling circle metal disc at the end. “It’s where I got part of the design for my tag.”
“Tag?”
“The symbol I use to mark when I’m spelunking. It’s a big K with this counterclockwise swirl on the end.”
“There is appearance of age in the necklace,” he observed.
“My grandmother gave it to me when I was five, just before she died. The charm belonged to her mother—my father's grandmother.” My voice choked on the word father. Tears burned my eyes and I blinked them away.
Rom dropped the sandwich and curled his hand around mine, tangling our fingers together. In amazement I stared at him as he bent his head and brought my hand to his mouth. His soft lips gently brushed against my skin and I had to blink hard again to keep tears from falling, this time for a different reason.
Still clasping my hand, Rom leaned toward me and pressed his lips to mine in a soft caress. I’d never been kissed before. At least not by someone who wasn't related to me...And certainly not by a gorgeous guy.
Hoping I was doing it right, I held my breath and closed my eyes. Tingles radiated from my lips outward in my body like a sunburst as his mouth moved on mine. Then it was over.
Pulling back, we smiled at one another. Rom retrieved his sandwich and took another bite, chewing and smiling at the same time.
I rushed into conversation to cover my awkwardness.
“I wonder how the crew are doing with the race.”
He swallowed. “They have not gone to the hospital, I think.”
“No, they’ve gone to the railroad roundhouse.” I picked up my sandwich, but couldn't take a bite. Too many butterflies inhabited my stomach and there was no room for more tuna.
“Excellent.” Rom bit into the sandwich again. After he swallowed, Rom smiled again and it soon turned to a grin. “This dining together has more pleasure than spelunking.”
He seemed way too pleased with himself.
“Yes,” I said tentatively. “But you really can’t compare—”
“The spelunking leads to injury.” He took a bite of sandwich and chewed. He gestured toward my leg. “This continues to cause pain?”
“Not really.” I wasn't sure where this but I didn't like it.
“You do not spelunk again, I think.”
“Huh?”
“You do not spelunk,” he said.
“Do you want Pepperoni with that?”
“I lack understanding of pepperoni.” Rom lost his smile.
“Well, since you were issuing orders I thought I would check.”
“I do not want you hurt again,” Rom said. “This is preference. So I ask you to dine.”
Did he mean what I thought he meant?
"So this is a pity date?" I felt my lips compress in an angry line. “That’s quite generous of you.”
Rom blinked and swallowed hard. "I understand not.”
“I’m talking about this favor you’ve done me. Asking me out on this date so I wouldn’t get hurt again.”
He held up a hand. “You lack understanding.”
“No, I think I understand you perfectly.” Throwing down my napkin, I rose. “I’m not anyone’s charity case. You can take your favor and go cram yourself down the nearest manhole.”
Rom leaped to his feet.
“In fact, I think I’ll just go on a little spelunk right now.” I extracted the phone from my purse and quickly texted Senji for his location. Spinning on my heel, I stomped away.
“Kizzy!” Rom shouted coming along beside me. “You lack reason.”
“If I’m unreasonable, why don’t you just go home and leave me to my own business.” I marched toward the park’s perimeter.
Chapter Six
At home I slammed the door behind me. Mom came running.
“Honey, what—”
“We had a fight.” Taking the steps two at a time I shouted back over my shoulder. “I don’t want to talk about it.” I closed my bedroom door with a loud crash and threw myself onto the bed, fuming.
“Creep! How dare he …” not be totally infatuated with me. “Charity case am I?” True his concern about me getting injured again was kind of sweet and he had followed me all the way to our front door on foot. But still I didn’t want a pity date. And what about the kiss? Had that been pity too?
My phone pinged and the face bore a text from Senji: @ d hsptl.
“Those idiots.” I texted back: Dnt go n.
Jumping up, I toed off my sandals and crammed on my sneakers. I didn’t want to take the time to fully change my clothes. This would be the first time I’d been spelunking in a dress. But what if the stupid tunnel collapsed in on them before I could get there? My jacket with gloves and flashlight in the pocket hung on the back of the desk chair. I grabbed the jacket, pushed my arms through it and then bolted out the window.
Each minute it took to reach the hospital seemed like an hour even though I ran the entire way. When I got there, I didn’t see Petra, Senji or any of the crew. None of the BQs seemed to be around either. I'd received no text from Senji, so I tried calling. No answer. Petra. No answer.
I hopped the front fence, not taking the time to go all the way to the gate. Something drew my attention to a wrought iron banister near the hospital’s south east wall. The area of the tunnel’s entrance was under this banister unless I’d been completely turned around the night before last night.
On investigation, I found a cardboard planking that, when pulled back, revealed a short flight of narrow concrete steps leading down to an arched entry about four feet in height. The wood door, much of it rotting, wobbled loosely when I rattled the knob, but the lock held.
Bracing my hands against the concrete walls of the stairwell, I brought my foot up and rammed a kick against the door. The wood adjacent to the old lock split. Another kick and it splintered, leaving a hole large enough for my hand—without gloves—to get through.
I felt inside for the lever on the metal box containing the skeleton key lock. When I finally, found it, I heard the tiny click, which signaled my success. Upon opening the door, I found myself in an alcove leading into a familiar corridor.
Hearing no noise around me, I texted Senji: Am hre. U@?
A new text pinged back: gr8.
Did that indicate happiness at my arrival or his location at the grate entrance to the tunnel? Dammit.
As I made my way to the grate, the flashlight beam abruptly began to flicker and I slowed my pace. Hitting the end of the stupid thing with the butt of my palm brought the flickering to a stop. I tripped over something underfoot causing me to stumble and crash to a kneeling position on the hard floor in the midst of a puddle.
Carefully,
I rose and examined myself. At least the dress wasn't soaked, merely a bit damp along the hem. However, the bandage on my shin was a total loss so I peeled it off and tossed it down. After retrieving the flashlight, I continued on to the grate. Once there I saw the barest of lights visible from below through the slats. I heard voices shouting at one another. Although I couldn’t make out the words, I recognized Senji and Franky, and at least two others.
I lifted the grate and set it aside before climbing through and lowering myself. Ahead, the tunnel lay brightly illuminated by battery operated construction site lights on tripods. Billy and Quinn stood near the brick wall while Juliette hovered nervously nearby. Billy had a chisel and hammer. He worked at the mortar while Quinn pried out bricks before tossing them aside. They had a good third of the wall down already.
Franky, paced next to Juliette talking to her but I couldn’t hear him over Senji’s shouts. As Billy and Quinn worked, Senji yelled at them to stop.
“We were here first,” Senji screamed. “You’re cheating, you total dicks.”
“What’s cheating? You aren’t at the morgue first. We are.” Billy chuckled, continuing to tap the chisel.
“Guys stop.” I rushed forward. “You could make the tunnel collapse.”
“Ha,” Billy said. “If it isn’t crazy Kizzy.” He didn’t stop. Neither did Quinn.
“Come on. Don’t be stupid.” I walked toward them. “People got killed here a couple years ago. That’s probably when they put up the wall.”
“Nice try.” He said glanced over his shoulder. “But we’re going to win this race. You squares are gonna be outa the spelunking business.”
“That’s enough.” Quinn tossed down one last brick. “We can climb over the rest.”
Senji, who’d been holding a length of curled up rope, dropped it and charged forward. He grappled up the half-wall but was quickly plucked off by Quinn and flung to the ground. Billy held back a scrabbling Franky before pushing him easily into a sitting position.
Hoisting himself over the remaining bricks, Billy entered the gap first followed closely by Quinn. They disappeared for a few moments. After a while, Billy’s head appeared over the bricks.
He hopped back through to our side and motioned to Juliette.
“Come on, baby. It’s so great in there.”
She moved toward the wall and put her hand in his preparing for him to lift her.
“Juliette,” I called. “Don’t go in there. It’s dangerous.”
“Don’t worry, Kizzy.” By this time she sat on the edge of the wall. She scooted over and disappeared over the other side before peering back at me from the opening. "Billy will keep me safe."
“You’re damn right I will,” Billy said. He climbed back through and joined Juliette and Quinn.
Senji, still complaining loudly, vaulted after them.
“Kizzy?” Franky searched my face. “Should we go in?”
I paused for a few seconds. Finally, I spoke.
“No, but I guess I’m going to.”
With Franky scurrying after me, we went.
The construction lights, partially blocked by the wall, cast a shadowed light into the morgue giving it an almost blue appearance. Nothing remained to identify it as a room of the dead except for the two wood slabs, one lying on its side. Metal rings had been affixed into the wall. I’d seen similar rings in other locations in Savannah where blacks had been kept during the dark days of the slave trade. The chains linking the men and women had been run through the wall rings to secure the people from escape. Paper, bottles and unidentifiable instruments littered the floor.
Something else on the floor caught my eye and I found my attention riveted to the spot. A stylized letter with the upper sweep designed in a spiraling circle had been drawn on the concrete. Even though it was faded with age, the design so closely resembled my tag, I had to examine it twice to note the small segment that closed the K into an R.
“Omigod.” I pointed the letter. “Look at this.”
Senji stopped his continued harangue about how he had in fact won the race and squinted through his glasses at the floor. He broke out in a guffaw.
“There,” he yelled triumphantly. “Kizzy arrived first. Her tag proves it.”
Billy stepped around Senji, pushing him aside. Consternation crossed his face.
“That isn’t Kizzy’s tag.” Billy's tone was defensive.
“Yeah.” Quinn, who had been shining a flashlight down the tunnel a few yards away, turned and stomped back to us. “It’s faded.”
“That’s her tag. Right Kiz?” Franky asked.
“Ummm.”
“Tell the truth.” Billy took hold of my upper arm, squeezing it in an angry pinch, and jerked me toward him.
“Get your hands off her.” Franky struck Billy in the back with his flashlight.
Dropping my arm, Billy rounded on Franky and punched him in the gut, knocking him into the wall. The weight of him brought down the remaining bricks like a wrecking ball. Senji hopped on Billy’s back, his arms closing around the bully’s neck. Quinn tried to pry Franky off as Billy bucked.
As the threesome wrestled and lurched, Billy managed to dislodge Senji in a twisting motion and Senji fell into me. I slammed to the ground landing on my hands and knees on top of the letter design. Pain ripped through my leg along with the realization that the cut on my shin had reopened.
I felt Juliette at my side bending to help me up. A sonic boom sounded, shaking the room and the R began to pulsate with a black tinged violet glow. The spiral of the circle lurched a few inches counterclockwise and then lurched again. I knew what was coming.
“Get out! Everyone. Out.” Scrambling to my feet, I screamed as I backed away from the design.
The lurching of the circle quickened to an easy turning motion and the paper trash on the floor ruffled in the wind. Juliette stood at the edge of the moving circle gazing into it with a look of wonder. The four guys continued to wrestle and scuffle, ignoring me—and the spiraling floor—so close to where they struggled.
Franky threw a punch into Quinn’s stomach. The blow barely dented him. The punchee lifted a meaty fist and brought it down onto the top of the smaller teen’s red head, causing Franky to stumble back two steps. On the third step, Franky’s right foot hit the swirling circle and disappeared as if sinking into quicksand. The loss of a foot upset his balance and as he began to topple. Franky’s frantic eyes flew to mine.
Juliette screamed. The diameter of the swirling had increased and was pulling her in. At her cry, Billy, Quinn and Senji finally noticed something wrong. Billy rushed toward his girlfriend and Senji toward Franky.
“Kizzy!”
Swiveling I saw Rom enter the morgue. I don’t believe I’d ever been happier to see anyone in my life. If reincarnation was possible, I wouldn't be happier in any other lifetime either.
“The rope,” I yelled, pointing to the coil at his feet. “Toss me an end and try to tie the other on something.” Before I’d even stopped speaking he moved.
When I turned back the scene that met my eye was horrific. Juliette was trapped to the waist by the whirlpool that had been the floor. She screamed as she clung to Billy’s hands. He strained and pulled but she only sank deeper. Debris and trash disappeared into the swirling as if being vacuumed by a cosmic force. Senji had an arm locked through one of the metal rings in the wall as he grasped Franky’s hand with the other. Franky lay on an angle, mired up to his thighs on one side and to his neck on the other. Quinn stood like a petrified statue in the corner of the morgue, barely visible.
On the opposite side of the swirling circle, two figures protruded as macabre inversions of Franky and Juliette. The only visible portion of one figure consisted of boots and black trousered legs. Next to that one was another figure, an angled lower body with bony feet, hairy bare arms and legs.
Rom strode past me, but I stopped him with a hand to the arm.
“No,” I screeched. “Let me go.”
Rom cupped my cheeks with his hands as he shook his head. His eyes scorched me with their intensity.
“You must not be lost in the vortex.”
The breath caught in my throat at his words. Rom’s caring meant more to me than I wanted to acknowledge just then.
“I won’t.” I took the rope from his hands. “But I need you on the other end of this. You’re stronger.” He seemed to understand I was saying that he could pull us out of the morass I was about to go into, but I doubted if I’d be able to do the same.
Rom seemed visibly torn with indecision.
“Come on,” I said.
He nodded and helped me to tie one end of the rope around my waist then he secured the other end around himself.
“I can’t hold on much longer,” Billy cried out.
“My arm feels like it’ll be pulled off,” Senji yelled through gritted teeth.
As secure as I was going to be, I edged toward the swirling circle—Vortex, Rom had called it. My tentative steps tested the ground until at last I felt a portion under the tips of the toes of my right foot fall away as if I were at the edge of a precipice. I suppose I was.
The hairy figure’s flailing arm swooped in an arc before landing in a thump on Franky’s arm. The teen’s scream echoed in the tunnel above the increasing sound of the rushing wind. Franky’s hold on Senji’s hand broke and he sank out of sight, his piercing screams silenced.
Diving into the vortex, trying to hit the spot I’d last seen Franky, felt like landing in clear Jell-O. Sight I had, but sound seemed muffled. The interior of the vortex had the consistency of a long fleshy looking tube, like the television footage I’d seen of a camera down someone’s throat. This throat worked and sucked with incredible force at swallowing us all.
Over my left shoulder, Juliette struggled from the waist down. Her legs kicked. Although I could tell she was trying to use all the strength she possessed, her legs moved in almost slow motion. Ahead of me on the right was the man who seemed to be in almost a mirror opposite position to Juliette. While his legs and hips were above the vortex entrance to the morgue, his head, chest and arms were below. He wore a white shirt. Together with the boots and trousers I’d seen, he seemed to be dressed to ride horses. His face was barely visible beneath the medium length brown hair whipping around him. But I did see a sly smile on his lips. The man clearly was enjoying this.
Paranormal Realities (A Paranormal Romantic Suspense Box Set) Page 6
