Burial Ground

II

10:39 p.m.

Leo fell out of the tunnel onto a crusted heap of feces and struggled to his feet. He turned his head to sweep the lamp from one side of the cavern to the other. It barely penetrated the darkness and died before reaching the far wall. This was as far as they had explored. Lord only knew what lay beyond. There was no going back, however, so their only option was to take their chances with the unknown.

He turned, grabbed Galen by the upper arm, and hauled him out of the passage. The man fell to all fours and let out a meek sob.

"Hurry!" Leo called to Sam. The moment she was within reach, he dragged her into the cavern. He removed the helmet from his head and shoved it against her chest. "Put this on and see if you can find a way out of here."

She donned it, and when she turned away, he watched the beam on the other miner's helmet slowly brighten from deep within the earthen tube as it neared.

Merritt's rifle clattered across the stone and tumbled out onto the ground. The pilot followed. Leo helped him to his feet, then returned to the hole. Now that Merritt wasn't blocking the light, he could clearly see Colton crawling toward him. Hand over hand. The lamp on his forehead swayed with the exertion, his face a wash of shadow behind the glare. He shoved his rifle ahead of him as Merritt had done.

"Get the others moving!" Colton shouted. "I can hear them right behind---"

The light grew smaller as Colton slid quickly backward.

Leo lunged inside and grabbed for Colton's hand. The two men locked wrists. He tried to gain leverage with his knees, but he wasn't fast enough.

Colton cried out as he was again jerked from behind, dragging Leo deeper into the tunnel with him. Leo felt pressure on his ankles. Someone was trying to drag him back out.

The rifle lay on the ground between his face and Colton's. He could see his old friend's mouth, bared teeth shimmering with blood.

There was another sharp tug and Colton roared in agony. Leo's arm was strained to the point that any more pressure would dislocate his shoulder. Behind him, Merritt shouted for him to hold on and pulled on his legs.

He heard the cracking sound of breaking bone, and Colton released his wrist.

"Let me go," Colton said.

Another jerk pulled Colton away, but Leo grabbed his wrist again.

"You go," Leo said, "I go."

There was a sharp skree from beyond Colton's prone form.

"Listen to me, damn it!" Colton snapped. Bloody spittle dotted Leo's face. Another snap of bone and Colton winced. "Let. Me. Go."

Leo groaned as he was stretched to his physical limit. It felt as though his ribs were pulling apart and his arm was about to be yanked right off. He strained to maintain his grasp.

The force working against Colton increased.

One by one, Leo's fingers started to slip.

"I'm sorry," he whispered. His eyes met Colton's through the shadows and an understanding passed between them. Blood drained from the corners of Colton's mouth. The pain contorted his features.

A loud crack of breaking bone sounded like a gunshot.

Sloppy tearing sounds.

"You have ten seconds," Colton rasped with what little voice remained.

His hand was wrenched away. Leo was helpless but to watch as Colton was dragged in the opposite direction. The light on his helmet grew smaller and smaller. A scream trailed him into the darkness.

Leo didn't stick around to watch. He grabbed Colton's rifle and frantically wiggled back out of the hole.

There was no time to waste.

The clock was ticking.