Page 13 of Lost Echoes

“Wouldn’t dream of it.”

We follow the path and send more bugs running away. They’ve probably never seen light before if they’ve been living in the hidden walls their entire lives.

The passage turns and curves, with the ceiling getting higher and lower at certain points. It’s dusty, and after sneezing a few times, I use my sleeve as a makeshift mask. But then I remember Ryker brought some, and as if on cue, he hands me one.

We come to a dead end.

I throw my free hand in the air. “Well, my intuition sucks.”

“You just took a guess.” He shines his light around, but it’s pointless because there isn’t anything here.

“Let’s turn around try the other way.”

“Wait.” He kneels, looking at one wall.

“What?” I sneeze again. Must still have dust in my sinuses.

“Do you see it?”

“The wall?”

“Look.”

I try to study it while also fighting back another sneeze. “You’re going to have to explain it to me like I’m five.”

He nudges his foot close to the floor.

“Another hidden tunnel?” I sneeze again, now needing to blow my nose. If I were ever here as a kid, I don’t know how I dealt with all the dust.

“No. Look.”

“I am.” I sniff, trying to keep my nose from running. Apparently, we should’ve brought tissue with us, not that Ryker seems to have any problems.

He kneels and runs a finger along the wall.

There’s a line there, and none of the others has that. “What is it?”

Ryker doesn’t answer, but moves his hand down to where it meets the floor. It’s a little divot, just about the size of a few fingers. He pulls and shimmies, then a part of the wall pulls out.

I gasp. Something about this feels familiar, but I don’t know what or why.

He digs around, and his eyes light up. “There’s something in here.”

My heart skips a beat. “What is it?”

“A box, maybe?” Ryker reaches in farther until his entire shoulder is in the space.

I shudder to think about the bugs that must be in there. Then I sneeze again. I really need to blow my nose.

He grunts and groans. Then he pulls out a cardboard box and a plume of dust.

“Bring it to the hall.” I run through the passage before I start sneezing even more than I already have been. Once out of the passage, I remove the mask and suck in deep breaths. For as little use as most of the house’s wings get, at least they’re kept up with somewhat regular cleaning services. Once or twice a month, and it clearly makes a difference.

I sneeze a few more times, getting all the dust out of my nostrils. My nose and eyes both run, and I go in search of tissues or even toilet paper. There has to be a bathroom somewhere around here. I find a bedroom with what I need and half fill its previously empty trash bin.

Once I return to the passage entrance, Ryker is just closing it. “Are you ready to see what’s in this bad boy?”

My chest tightens. I’m not sure I’ll ever be ready, but when has that stopped me from searching for the truth? Whatever’s in there could help us get Kenzi back from hypnosis-induced stupor. “Let’s do this.”