“What did they do next?” Carmen asked.
“They figured I had another copy of the document — a scan, a photograph, something. They told me they were watching Emily and would kill her if I didn’t produce a copy. And while I knew the map held great importance, it certainly wasn’t worth my daughter’s life.”
Zane gave a nod of understanding. “Then the same thing happened at Menaggio. They arrived at the villa, only to discover we were already there.”
“Yes,” Pauling said. “It couldn’t have played out any better. They actually believed I was telling the truth, and that saved my life.”
“Divine providence,” Amanda said softly.
“What happened after that?” Carmen asked.
“To be honest, I’m not really sure. Their focus seemed to shift to finding out who you were. From that point forward, they didn’t talk to me very much. They kept me isolated until this morning when I was thrown into a vehicle and taken here.” Pauling looked at Zane. “And how did you get here?”
“Unfortunately, we walked right in their front door,” Zane said.
“How so?”
Zane gave a very brief overview of what had transpired after Menaggio — the Vatican theft, the meeting with Lawson, the trip to Mount Hermon, and being trapped in the pit.
After he finished, Carmen looked at Pauling. “Do you know Roger and Camilla Lawson?”
“Everyone in my line of work knows those two, and many of those same people don’t trust them.”
“I wish we hadn’t,” Carmen said.
“Don’t beat yourself up,” Pauling said. “Despite their reputation, I don’t think anyone would’ve suspected they were capable of kidnapping or murder.”
“Why do you think you’re still alive?” Carmen asked. “I’m surprised they didn’t kill you after they struck out in Menaggio.”
Pauling considered his answer. “They were aware of my expertise and probably figured I could help them once they got their hands on the map. There was also some nonsense about a sacrifice.”
“Lawson was working with a group called the Order of Baal,” Carmen said. “I’m sure it somehow related to one of their rites.”
“That’s probably why they took Connor and James,” Zane noted.
Carmen looked at Pauling. “Wouldn’t you like to stand?”
He smiled. “I’d love to.”
Zane helped him up. Pauling stretched his arms and legs. Carmen guessed it was probably the best stretch he’d had in his life. Emily beamed as she watched her father move around.
“Zane.” Amanda seemed to be looking at something down the cave.
Carmen turned. Two beams of light moved toward them, bouncing around like light sabers. Connor and James. That’s awfully quick. They’d only been gone for a few minutes. They seemed to be running. She frowned. Either something was wrong, or they’d found a way out.
As they drew close enough to see their expressions, she knew it was the former. When they arrived, the two operatives stopped and put their hands on their knees, gulping for air.
Pratt eventually looked up at Zane. “Something’s coming up from below.”
Zane’s eyes darted down the cave. “What?”
Reid straightened, his face etched with concern. “We don’t know, but it’s extremely large.”
Zane looked again. “If you don’t know what it is, how—”
He was cut off by a faint-yet-distinct tremor.
“That’s how,” Pratt said.
They all felt it now.
Pauling’s brow furrowed. “Perhaps it’s a shifting of tectonic plates or some other geologic phenomenon.”
“No,” Pratt said. “Something is walking, moving. We could hear it better down there.”
Carmen already knew what he meant. The vibrations pulsated like a pile driver. No doubt about it, something was walking.
Keiko crouched and placed her hand on the cave floor. “Whatever it is, there are two of them.”
“Lovely,” Zane said.
“But there is good news,” Reid said. “We think we found a way out. James noticed a crevice in the wall, and when we put our lights in there, we discovered another cave.”
“How far does it go?” Zane asked.
“We’re not sure,” Pratt replied. “About the same time we started to squeeze up in there, the vibrations started. Once we figured out something was coming, we focused on getting back here.”
Zane nodded. “You did the right thing.”
Carmen looked at her feet. The tremors seemed more intense. Whatever was out there was getting closer.
“I think we need to go,” Amanda said. “It’s our only chance to get out.”
Pratt looked at Zane. “If we’re going to go, we need to do it now. The fissure is at least three or four hundred yards away. It’s going to be a race to see who gets there first.”
“Just realize that we don’t know anything about this other cave,” Reid pointed out. “We don’t know how far up it goes or what challenges we’ll face.”
Carmen knew they had to take the risk. She had a feeling of dread about what might be coming up. In fact, it seemed as though opening the gate had somehow triggered the movement, like a spider sensing something at the periphery of its web. She shuddered at the thought.
Zane turned to the others. “We need to try to make it. That cave may be our only way out. Make sure you have everything you brought in… lights, weapons.” He looked at Richard and Emily Pauling. “Can both of you run?”
They nodded vigorously. Carmen couldn’t tell if that was because they were sure they could or whether they knew it’s what he wanted to hear. Either way, they had to try.
“If you can’t, let me know.” Zane nodded at Keiko. “We have someone who can help you.”
Once everyone had retrieved their things, the group set off at a jog. Keiko took the lead with her lighted hand held aloft. They kept a steady, manageable pace. Thankfully, the cave sloped sharply downward.
The tremors grew more intense by the minute. Carmen guessed the creatures — whatever they were — were less than half a mile out now.
A few minutes later, Pratt came alongside Zane and Carmen. “We need to pick up the pace, sprint the last hundred yards.”
He was right. The entire cave shook. Carmen half-expected something to appear in Keiko’s light at any moment.
Zane turned back to the others as he continued to jog. “We need to go faster. Can everyone keep up?”
Most nodded. Emily’s face already showed signs of giving out. She shook her head.
“Keiko.” Zane pointed to Emily. The humanoid understood. Keeping her lighted hand aloft, she dropped back and scooped Emily up with the other. Emily wrapped her legs around Keiko’s waist like a child.
“Alright, let’s go,” Zane said.
The group broke into a run. The intense heat and distance began to take their toll. Richard Pauling and Amanda seemed on the verge of collapsing. Unfortunately, there was no way to carry anyone else. Everyone had to make it on his or her own.
“I think we’re almost there,” Pratt said a half minute later.
Carmen was thankful. Her lungs burned. She was a long distance runner, but heat and dehydration were overriding her training.
“There!” Amanda pointed to the right.
Everyone came to a halt, gasping for air. Flashlights clicked on, and cones of light swept a narrow crevice in the wall. It was going to be a tight squeeze, but they should all be able to get through.
The tremors were so intense Carmen pictured feet thumping against the floor.
Keiko approached and thrust her light into the gap. Carmen looked over her shoulder. A cave sloped upward into the darkness. It was steep, but steep was good. Steep would get them to the surface quicker.