Curse Raider by Jennifer Rose McMahon

Author:Jennifer Rose McMahon [McMahon, Jennifer Rose]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dubhdara Publishing
Published: 2018-11-14T16:00:00+00:00

Maureen and I waited in the clearing for Ryan to emerge from the dark passageway. My diplomatic coin toss for who would go first bit me in the ass when he called tails. I didn't know what was scarier, going first or being the one to have to wait and then witness the emergence of the frazzled newly initiated. Going first seemed like the better deal.

Ryan, however, had fought to go first to be sure it was safe, and gloated after winning the toss. But I assumed our experiences in the catacombs would be vastly different, considering my connection to Maeve and the nature of my visions, so in the end, it didn't matter.

"Six hours in the hole will feel like an eternity," Maureen said. "Not much longer now though." She tapped on her watch.

We'd sent Ryan down the gloomy passage at dusk, around 11:00pm, knowing that sunrise would be a bit after 5:00am. He went down without any gear, including no flashlight. The point was pure solitude in complete darkness within the chamber with the altar.

Once dawn broke and shone its first light through, he could emerge. It would be his rebirth.

Maureen and I leaned against the boulders with our blankets wrapped over our shoulders. We may have each dozed off once or twice, but for the most part it was an all-nighter.

Before long, the miracle of first light hit. I hopped to my feet in anticipation then reached for Maureen's hand and helped pull her up to standing. We stared into each other’s eyes, waiting, wondering, and then his voice tore at us.

His screams ripped at our souls and we ran to the opening of the passageway. I inhaled, preparing to yell his name, and Maureen pressed her hand to my mouth.

"No. It's all a part of it. Let him work through it." She nodded as she removed her hand.

His screams travelled up through the narrow opening and filled the clearing with his pain and suffering.

"He's hurt!" I pressed my face closer to the passageway. "He needs help."

"Step back now, Isobel. We need to give him space to emerge into the light of day." Her tone remained steady.

My shaking hands pushed my hair out of my face as my entire body trembled in fear. What could he be going through that would cause him such anguish? I couldn't stand it for another second.

"I hear him. He's moving up through the passage now." Maureen lifted a finger to her lips. "Let's give him plenty of room."

We moved to the middle of the clearing and stared at the crevice for any sign of Ryan. Dawn’s light glowed on the hills and illuminated everything around us in a magical hue of gold. And then his hand reached out from the darkness and pulled the rest of him from the narrow crevice.

He crawled out of the boulders and pressed up against one of them. Maureen went to him and wrapped her blanket around his shoulders, then stepped back with me.

He rocked and then he wept.

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