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A throat clears, and then in my periphery I see him gesturing around him with his free hand. “It was kind of my thing back home. Did it as a kid, then as I got older. Had an uncle who was a park ranger, and he taught me all he knew about hiking safety. What to look for as far as structural integrity goes when exploring caves.”
He blows out a breath, cutting me a look. “You never know when you might get stranded and need to take shelter. Best to make sure you find somewhere not at risk of collapsing on you while you’re sleeping.”
My eyes widen as I process that.
“Here,” he says, waving the lighter over where there’s another opening. One leading into pitch black nothing.
I shake my head. “Nol…”
“It’s okay,” he says. Our gazes meet and he nods encouragingly. “Just trust me.”
There’s that phrase again.
Except it’s one thing when we’re naked, in the confines of his bungalow, and my body’s at his mercy.
It’s another out here in the open when I’m fully dressed, and no longer drowning in pleasure, desperate and willing to do just about anything.
“Sky, I wouldn't take you here if it wasn’t safe,” he says in a grave tone that leaves no argument.
Swallowing thickly, I nod, and head toward the break in the walls.
This time, it’s definitely a tunnel. Nolan grips my shoulder, keeping me ahead of him. Remembering I actually brought my phone this time—at Nolan’s insistence, seeing as we should probably have one with us that works—I flip on the flashlight so we can see better.
I can feel his breaths on the back of my head, teasing down my neck and shoulder. It’s hot in here—muggy—the air stale. It’s a narrow fit, the walls brushing my shoulders every few feet.
“N-Nol—”
“Almost there,” he rushes out, giving me an encouraging squeeze. “I promise, it’ll be worth it.”
Chest on fire, I have to remind myself I can breathe. Nolan would never take me somewhere he didn’t think was safe—he just said so. He’d never risk it. I know this, Iknowthis.
It’s funny though.
I never used to fear the dark, or confined places…
As we walk, my mind drifts back to a time when I was maybe four or five, when I ran away during a party my parents were throwing for their rich snobby friends.
Everyone kept looking at me, and asking my parents what was wrong with me when I wouldn’t talk or meet their gaze. Finally, they gave up, and I got what I wanted—I was invisible. Even my parents seemed to no longer care where I was or what I was doing.
So I left.
Walked right out the front door.
Found my way through the garden, and into the woods, and found a big hole in the tree, like something out ofWinnie the Pooh.
It was dark, small, but quiet. And all mine.
I loved it.
I felt safe.
So I fell asleep there. Woke up hours later, with the moon high in the sky. Figuring my parents were looking for me, worried I’d be in trouble, I hiked my way back home. I got turned around a bit, but eventually I saw the strung-up fairy lights, and found my way back to the garden.
It didn’t even occur to me no one was yelling for me. Nobody was outside looking around frantically. No flashing red and blue lights like I’ve seen in the movies.
The door was locked, so I banged my fist on it. Over and over and over again until finally, my nanny and one of the cleaning staff—I didn’t know her name—opening the door, gasping down at me.
“Your parents said you went to bed!”my nanny had blurted in a hush.
