Chapter 164

“This one,” he said finally, pointing to the one on the far right on the map and then pointing to the real thing in front of them. “Looks like a way out’s still a bit far, but faster than using any of the others. Walt, if you can scout ahead and check to be sure the path is clear, we’ll know sooner if we need to turn back and try another way.”

Walter nodded. “I will be as swift as I can,” he said, and vanished.

Alex met Nathan’s gaze when he looked at her, hesitation and regret on both their faces. “We don’t know for sure if this place is doing the same thing to them that it did to others,” she said. “Neither of them really has human blood in them.”

“That doesn’t mean the dark part isn’t getting a nice boost,” Nathan grumbled. “We can’t take any chances. I don’t…I don’t think they’ll be able to control themselves.”

“I dropped my flashlight, and both duffels are back in the main cavern,” she said. “If the light on our hats go out again, did you manage to hang onto yours?”