Read Online Ghouls Gone Wild by Victoria Laurie - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Victoria Laurie
Ads: Link
hurry, okay?”
I wanted to tell him I was doing my level best, but I was too focused on moving forward. Heath continued to stumble and lean heavily on me. “Almost there,” I told him, spying the exit just fifty yards away.
“You’re spiking!” Gilley shouted.
“Is it in the red zone?”
“The needle’s at the top of the graph, honey! Get out of there! ”
“Heath!” I shouted as he tripped over something that crunched under his feet and nearly pulled us down. I groaned, stumbling over what looked like a small radio that we’d just crushed under our feet, but with Gilley yelling in my ear to run for it, I didn’t give it a second thought. Instead I shouted to Heath, “Drop the spike out of the canister!”
I heard a loud ping on the ground next to us and with great relief I noticed that all that awful energy that seemed to constantly be pounding against us vanished.
We moved forward several steps with ease, and even Heath’s footing felt more secure. In the back of my mind I was grateful that the somewhat constant noise level that had been assaulting us from grounded spirits everywhere was gone and we moved nearly twenty-five yards without incident. And then, just as the door to the exit opened and Gopher appeared in the doorway, something with tremendous force crashed right into us and sent Heath and me sprawling to the ground.
Chapter 4
I landed hard and smacked my bad shin on the ground. Heath tumbled just to my left, rolling over twice before coming to rest on the opposite side of the cavern. Near the exit I heard Gopher scream bloody murder, and then the slam of a door told me he’d run off for the second time that night.
I’d lost my headset, but somewhere nearby I heard Gilley’s distant voice shout, “M. J.?! Come in! Come in! For the love of God, what’s happening?! ”
With a groan I tried to get to my feet, but the moment I rose, I felt a tremendous kick to my abdomen that literally lifted me off the ground and knocked the wind right out of me.
For several panicky moments I couldn’t even breathe, and I crawled forward on hands and knees, trying to coax my diaphragm back to its normal rhythm. “Get away!” Heath moaned. “Get away!”
The most sick and twisted cackle I’d ever heard sounded loudly about the cavern. “Sacrifice!” I heard someone say.
I took a ragged breath and closed my eyes, willing myself not to pass out. My fingers fumbled at the canister tucked into my own belt while I struggled to take just one breath.
Something sharp raked across my back and I winced in pain, but still I worked at getting the canister free. “Stop!” Heath begged. “Stop them!”
With tremendous effort I finally managed to take a small breath, but it wasn’t enough air to revive me, and when I opened my eyes again, all I could see was stars and darkness closing in. With the last bit of strength I had, I tugged the canister free, and pushed the lid up with my thumb. A second sharp pain raked across my back, followed by another cackling laugh in my ear.
The cap on the canister wouldn’t budge, and I knew I wasn’t going to have time to get it free before I passed out. “Breathe,” whispered a calm, soothing voice. “Just breathe, M. J.”
Immediately I was able to suck in a full lungful of air and the stars and black edges vanished from my vision. “Good job,” said the voice. “Now twist the cap.” I gripped the top of the canister with renewed strength and tugged. There was a popping noise and the metal lid came off. With painful slowness I tipped the canister and slid the spike out. As it emerged, I heard a shriek, a curse, and the swish of skirts, and then everything went quiet.
I sat still for the longest time, clutching the metal spike and focusing on getting oxygen into my lungs. I heard movement behind me and turned my head to see Heath, inching his way over to me. “You okay?” I asked.
He nodded. “Think so.” He then patted himself tentatively
I wanted to tell him I was doing my level best, but I was too focused on moving forward. Heath continued to stumble and lean heavily on me. “Almost there,” I told him, spying the exit just fifty yards away.
“You’re spiking!” Gilley shouted.
“Is it in the red zone?”
“The needle’s at the top of the graph, honey! Get out of there! ”
“Heath!” I shouted as he tripped over something that crunched under his feet and nearly pulled us down. I groaned, stumbling over what looked like a small radio that we’d just crushed under our feet, but with Gilley yelling in my ear to run for it, I didn’t give it a second thought. Instead I shouted to Heath, “Drop the spike out of the canister!”
I heard a loud ping on the ground next to us and with great relief I noticed that all that awful energy that seemed to constantly be pounding against us vanished.
We moved forward several steps with ease, and even Heath’s footing felt more secure. In the back of my mind I was grateful that the somewhat constant noise level that had been assaulting us from grounded spirits everywhere was gone and we moved nearly twenty-five yards without incident. And then, just as the door to the exit opened and Gopher appeared in the doorway, something with tremendous force crashed right into us and sent Heath and me sprawling to the ground.
Chapter 4
I landed hard and smacked my bad shin on the ground. Heath tumbled just to my left, rolling over twice before coming to rest on the opposite side of the cavern. Near the exit I heard Gopher scream bloody murder, and then the slam of a door told me he’d run off for the second time that night.
I’d lost my headset, but somewhere nearby I heard Gilley’s distant voice shout, “M. J.?! Come in! Come in! For the love of God, what’s happening?! ”
With a groan I tried to get to my feet, but the moment I rose, I felt a tremendous kick to my abdomen that literally lifted me off the ground and knocked the wind right out of me.
For several panicky moments I couldn’t even breathe, and I crawled forward on hands and knees, trying to coax my diaphragm back to its normal rhythm. “Get away!” Heath moaned. “Get away!”
The most sick and twisted cackle I’d ever heard sounded loudly about the cavern. “Sacrifice!” I heard someone say.
I took a ragged breath and closed my eyes, willing myself not to pass out. My fingers fumbled at the canister tucked into my own belt while I struggled to take just one breath.
Something sharp raked across my back and I winced in pain, but still I worked at getting the canister free. “Stop!” Heath begged. “Stop them!”
With tremendous effort I finally managed to take a small breath, but it wasn’t enough air to revive me, and when I opened my eyes again, all I could see was stars and darkness closing in. With the last bit of strength I had, I tugged the canister free, and pushed the lid up with my thumb. A second sharp pain raked across my back, followed by another cackling laugh in my ear.
The cap on the canister wouldn’t budge, and I knew I wasn’t going to have time to get it free before I passed out. “Breathe,” whispered a calm, soothing voice. “Just breathe, M. J.”
Immediately I was able to suck in a full lungful of air and the stars and black edges vanished from my vision. “Good job,” said the voice. “Now twist the cap.” I gripped the top of the canister with renewed strength and tugged. There was a popping noise and the metal lid came off. With painful slowness I tipped the canister and slid the spike out. As it emerged, I heard a shriek, a curse, and the swish of skirts, and then everything went quiet.
I sat still for the longest time, clutching the metal spike and focusing on getting oxygen into my lungs. I heard movement behind me and turned my head to see Heath, inching his way over to me. “You okay?” I asked.
He nodded. “Think so.” He then patted himself tentatively
Similar Books
