Page 205 of Scars of Fate

“I officially hate mountains.”

“You’ve complained about the helicopter, the trail, the river, and the tunnel,” Russ said.

“I’m trying to be thorough.”

“You’re succeeding.”

The humor helped.

The tunnel felt smaller with every step.

The air grew colder.

Wynn’s grip tightened.

“You okay?” I asked.

“Perfect.”

“You’re breathing too fast.”

“So are you.”

“I’m carrying equipment.”

“I’m trying not to imagine being buried alive.”

I stopped.

She nearly walked into me.

“You’re claustrophobic.”

“No.”

“Wynn.”

“I strongly dislike confined spaces.”

“You used to take elevators.”

“They had buttons.”

“What difference does that make?”

“I could open the doors.”

“You could not open elevator doors.”

“I believed I could.”

Another explosion shook the mountain.

Wynn flinched.

I turned as much as the narrow tunnel allowed.

Her face had gone pale.