Hidden Remnants by A. Peter Perdian

Author:A. Peter Perdian [Perdian, A. Peter]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Suspenseful semi-thriller series
Publisher: A. P. Perdian
Published: 2016-11-15T00:00:00+00:00

* * *

Adrian stood at the base of the scramble route and gazed upward, searching for the best way to tackle it. Maya had made it look so easy. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Olivia move up alongside him. He flashed her a reassuring smile. “Just looking for the safest way up.”

“I can lead off if you want.”

“Thanks, but I’ve got this.”

“What shall we take with us?” Sara asked.

He glanced over his shoulder. “Our helmets and headlamps are all we need. Oh, and let’s bring our spare water bottles and something to snack on.”

“Hold on,” Javier said. “I think we should also take our ropes and some protection, a few nuts and climbing cams.”

“Why? It’s only a scramble . . . and if I’m not worried . . .”

“Yeah, but according to you the ledge has collapsed. And since we brought the equipment anyway, let’s use it.”

“Good point,” he said, nodding. “Once I get up a little ways, I’ll start anchoring the rope to the route. That way we’ll be able to move up and down faster.”

“I thought we were just going up once for a look around,” Olivia said.

He shifted his attention back to her. Should he tell Olivia the truth, that something or someone—a presence that had grown stronger the closer they’d gotten to the mountain—was pulling him toward the tunnel? Hell no, he thought. Though none of his companions would admit it, his sanity was already questionable in their eyes. And what was worse, he wasn’t sure they were wrong. “That’s the plan, but this way we’ll be prepared for any eventuality.” He walked over to where they’d set their packs down and pulled out his equipment, quickly readying himself and then letting Olivia check that his harness was secure.

“Are Maya’s vials in your pack?”

He patted the zippered breast pocket of his thin climbing vest. “I don’t want to risk leaving them here.” He moved back to the wall, telling himself he’d soon know whether he was sane or crazy. After briefly reexamining his chosen route, he started up.

When he pulled level with where the ledge had been, he breathed easier as he stared across the rock face. The entire ledge hadn’t broken off after all, only sections of it, and even in those areas, it was the outer portion missing. In those troublesome spots, there looked to be a narrow shelf wide enough to almost accommodate his foot, a risky crossing if not for Joe’s handiwork. His friend had driven in bolts above the ledge, allowing a rope to be strung as a safety line while crossing to the opening.

A short while later, he stood in front of the opening, his boots barely fitting on the small piece of ledge directly in front of the opening. Behind him, the others were strung out across the wall. He turned on his headlamp and stared inside. Shit, he thought. How had Maya and Joe squeezed through all that fallen debris? He swallowed, realizing more of the ceiling and walls could come down at any time.

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