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He pushed open the back doors of the van, dragging the duffel bag with hi at the ground His sas in his hands, gleaht

Drake handed him one of the face masks and fastened his own in place "Any idea what’s down there?" he asked Thoath Four, maybe five haest No uis?"

"No"

"Good It’ll be hard enough to breathe down there without theen"

Helen did not want to knohat that h Doing it while worrying about having enough oxygen was terrifying "Are you two sure this is necessary? I mean, if all those o to hell?"

Tho step forward and Drake shoved his body in the way of the bigger ress "She doesn’t understand It’s not her fault She was raised human"

"I a by her story No as she going to let these guys tell her otherwise, not while she was already dealing with heading into a dank rowled and she could see a flicker of so in his blue eyes So e Drake had to lean all his weight against Tho forward, and even then, he skidded over the ground a couple of feet before coo, Thohtened steps back

"She should have rowled Thomas

"She will once she understands Back off You don’t want to do this"

Thomas’s body shuddered and his eyes fell shut When he opened theone and he offered Helen an apologetic grimace "Sorry I’ out of ti"

"I’m ready," said Thomas

Both e to get back in the van and drive away It would have been easier than taking that first step forward "I’ht, then Let’s ave it a quick squeeze "You’ll be great Just listen to your instincts and trustquestions Just do it Okay?"

Helen nodded, feeling numb inside

Drake pulled her face shield into place and handed her a sure out how to see in the dark"

"I can do that?"

Drake nodded "You sure can I wish there was more time to teach you I’m sorry for that"

So was she, but she kept it to herself She had to focus on being brave enough not to throw up Putting one foot in front of the other was taking all her concentration

They entered the mine and followed a ht in her hands showed her where to put her feet and she kept the fingers of her left hand looped around Drake’s belt so she didn’t fall behind She was not going to be left alone in a place like this Just the thought was enough to send fear skittering through her nervous system

"Deep breaths, Helen" Drake’s voice was calm and confident and it helped her pull herself back under control

The ground under them was a mixture of loose dirt and rocks and black stuff she did not spend any ti with sonant, and oppressive

After about fifty feet, they came to an intersection Drake checked the monster finder and turned left Behind her, she heard a scraping noise and looked back Tho back the way they’d come

Smart man

"Will you be able to see this?" he asked her

Helen nodded

"I’ll leave one at every turn If you have to get out alone, at least you’ll know the way"

She didn’t even want to think about why she would have to leave alone Being flanked by two co around down here by herself was co

Drake reached behind and squeezed the hand curled around his belt "Just hang on, Helen You’re doing great"

"I don’t feel great"

"I know We’ll get out of here in a few minutes We’re almost there"

Drake slowed and veered to the side so that his body was pressed up against one wall Helen followed suit, as did Thoht, fearing it would give their position away Darkness sed her and she felt a bubble of panic break open inside her She stoh her mouth