Page 74 of Into The Rabbit Hole

Thank God, he wasokay.

“I’m here!” she calledback.

“Regina, stay there. I’ll get help and come back foryou.”

What choice did she have? The floor behind her was no more, so she couldn’t even go back the way she came, and there was a wall of rocks in front of her. She looked up and shone the flashlight. An idea crossed hermind.

What if she went up? Up to where the ceiling crumbled. With only about two meters of floor behind her she didn’t feel particularly safe waiting aroundhere.

“Brian, I’m going to goup.”

“No, stay there!” He sounded panicked and worried for her. “Regina,please.”

“It doesn’t look stable here. The rest of the floor could give and I’d have nowhere to go besides up, and then that may not be an option.” It was true. That could definitelyhappen.

“Okay, please be careful. I’m going to go down the passage we saw. But go up first and shout back to me so I know you’resafe.”

“Okay… I’ll try now.” She hadn’t climbed anything since she was in her teens. She only hoped that she could pull this off. She placed the little flashlight between teeth, used the wall that was already there and the rocks that had just come down to stable herself, then she movedup.

Holding her breath, she secured one foot then the other on the formation, shining the flashlight as best as she could in front ofher.

She released that breath when she poked her head out of the top and shone the flashlight around. The area up here was much wider, at least twice as wide as where she previouslywas.

“I’m up, Brian, and I’m safe,” she called back. “The area looks stable so I’m going to go thisway.”

“Be careful,” he returned. “Regina…” His voice trailedoff.

“Brian, are you okay?” Her heart pinched at the thought of being separated fromhim.

“No, I’m not, bellezza. Just in case this is it, I loveyou.”

That was a horrible thought she didn’t want to contemplate. “Don’t you dare say that to me! I love you, too, and this is not it. I’ll see you in a littlewhile.”

He didn’t answer for a few seconds, then she heard him clear his throat. “Becareful.”

“I will,” shepromised.

Regina continued up onto what was now her floor. It was best to keep moving. Just in case she lost this section,too.

This mine was off limits for a reason. She’d always heard how unstable it was. She’d bet their presence alone had caused the floor tocrumble.

She looked back to where she came and thought of Brian. Getting back to him was a must. This couldn’t be it for them. She wouldn’t allowit.

She continued on this path for about fifteen minutes. There was a faint light ahead of her that flickered. She followed it, speeding up as she wentalong.

When she got to the end of the path, she saw it twisted onto another path and the light was part of a cascade of old lamps fixed to the ceiling. She followed the path and it brought her to what must have been an old work area. There was an office area, a cart on a track, and more connections that led to otherpaths.

Worst of all, though, was a deep drop into the chasm, which screamed certain death, beyond a very unstable-looking metal framerail.

They’d called Detective Fray before they left, but never got to speak to him. The message they left, however, was enough, and she was sure the police would come to their aid. She and Brian had just left the house, despite being cautioned to stay home and allow the police to handle it. That was what the officer she spoke tosaid.

The thought was tempting, but what made her go were Aaron’s taunts of not knowing who else she may be able to save. He was clearly referring to Taylor, Chloe, andWade.

“Resilience,” said a voice from one of the corners. She knew that voice all too well to not recognizeit.

Aaron walked out from the shadows with a broad smile on his face. The lights brightened as he did, bringing him into fullview.

“Richard, oh sorry, I mean Aaron.” She knew now wasn’t the time to be cocky or arrogant, and definitely not with him, but she couldn’t helpit.