Black Mariah: San Antonio, Texas (Black Mariah Series, Season 1 Book 4) by Eva Pohler & Black Mariah Collective

Author:Eva Pohler & Black Mariah Collective [Pohler, Eva]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781645481119
Publisher: Black Spot Books
Published: 2021-08-19T16:00:00+00:00

8

The caverns had become completely dark by nightfall. Marianne and her family had been told that the spotlights illuminating the caves were on a timer and that once they went out, it was time for everyone to sleep. Sleep evaded Marianne, though. She could feel Bobby and Jim leaning against the wall of the cave on either side of her, but she couldn’t even see their profiles. The utter darkness was unsettling, almost suffocating.

Whether her eyes were opened or closed, she couldn’t rid herself of the image of the dead park employee who had attempted to escape. A few of the men had carried the body out of the caverns—to where, Marianne didn’t know. Wasn’t life more precious than this? How could these people have succumbed to this level of barbarism?

It had become quiet in the caverns, except for the sounds of snoring and the occasional rustle of a blanket. Marianne’s stomach growled, and she wondered if it could be heard by others. She hoped her family members were sleeping. It was the only way to escape the misery of their situation.

Just then, she felt someone messing with the rope around her ankles. It couldn’t be Seth, because his hands had been tied just before dark, with an apology from Doug.

“Ssshh,” the person fumbling with her ropes said.

Hands cupped Marianne’s face. Warm breath pressed against her ear. “It’s Shawna. Be very quiet.”

Shawna untied Marianne’s wrists and helped her to untie Jim, Bobby, and Seth. All the while, she feared that by helping them, Shawna had written their death warrant.

“What—?” Seth’s question was cut short as Bobby covered his mouth with a hand and whispered for him to stay quiet. Then, holding hands, Shawna began to lead them through the dark cavern.

Marianne’s heart raced as she blindly and quietly followed the pull of Jim’s hand on hers while she, in turn, led Bobby. She trembled uncontrollably, finding it difficult to keep her balance because she couldn’t stop imagining what would happen to them if they were caught.

She prayed to God to please protect her and her family, especially Seth. She even offered herself as a sacrifice—as a bribe.

If you must take someone, she prayed, please, let it be me.

Someone in the cavern coughed. It was more than a cough—a coughing fit. It reminded Marianne of Kyle the last time she saw him alive. There were voices, asking after the person’s health.

“Are you okay?”

“Need some water?”

The pull of Jim’s hand on Marianne’s ceased as they waited in silence. She held her breath. A few seconds passed before Marianne felt Jim’s hand leading her forward again.

A change in air pressure and the sudden incline in the path made her aware that they had entered the narrow tunnel leading to the natural stone bridge outside. Having made it this far gave her some relief. She could feel the fresh air on her face. They were so close.

“Shawna?”

Doug’s voice came from outside of the cave.

Marianne and her family became as still as the rock formations surrounding them.

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