ELEVEN
ROYCE
I spunaround right as Ford and Connor faced the small hatch, both of them staring down inside it. For some reason my heart seemed to beat a thousand times a minute as both Rook and I slowly turned and approached them.
I didn’t want to know what was in that hole. Whatever it was, I felt like it would have been better for all of us if we just didn’t know. My mom sometimes talked about club secrets, and how once upon a time she had to see every single one of them, and how even now, years later, there were some things she couldn’t unsee. She talked about how sometimes, it was just better not to know.
“What is it?” Ford asked, crouching once more to inspect the hole.
Connor seemed engrossed, which made my stomach churn with nervousness. He seemed too excited and not nearly afraid enough.
“I think it’s a tunnel,” Connor said, in awe.
Rook glanced over at me with the same expression that I knew I wore on my face. This wasn’t something we should even know about, much less be looking down into.
“It must connect to the main club,” Connor said, like he was adding up an equation.
So I offered my two cents. “Guys, we should close that and get back.”
Connor glanced back at me then down at the pack he’d brought. I knew what he was going to do, and I felt like I wanted to cry.
“Connor, don’t.” I started forward, but Ford caught me at the waist.
“If he wants to go, then let him.”
Connor gave me a big smile. “I just want to see if it connects.”
“But what if it was never finished, or it’s unstable. What if it caves in?” My voice was raspy as I tried to push forward again. If I could just grab his hand then I could talk sense into him.
“It’ll be fine. It’s deep enough that a cave-in isn’t a concern. If it’s not finished, I’ll just turn around and head back.”
Rook glared at where Ford was holding me and I knew he didn’t like it. No one really liked how Ford treated me, and while he wasn’t hurting me, he was stopping me from saving Connor from making a huge mistake.
“What about air? You won’t be able to breathe.”
Ford released me and pulled out a metal lighter from his back pocket, making my eyes narrow. Why would he even be carrying that?
He quickly climbed down the ladder and then slid his thumb over the starter, igniting the flame. It flickered as if a breeze was blowing through the tunnel.
“There’s got to be a vent somewhere, but air won’t be an issue,” he yelled back up at us.
Fear swelled like a balloon again, this time nearly suffocating me. Ford climbed back up and put his metal lighter back into his rear pocket.
“It’s dark down there.”
“Someone is going to have to be on the other side to open the hatch for you,” Rook finally said, after staring at the opening.
I walked over to Connor and pulled his wrist.
“Please don’t go. This is really dangerous, and I’m worried about you.”
I knew I was younger than Connor, and he looked at me like a baby sister, but I really hoped he’d hear the fear in my voice and choose to see me as a friend.
His blue eyes flickered, as if he felt remorse, but he blinked and it was gone.
“I’ll take my pack. It has a flashlight, glow sticks I can throw ahead and behind, and a walkie talkie.”
“Who has the other walkie?” I looked over to Rook, then Ford.