Beneath the whispers

Chapter 17

“So, what do you get from the code?” I had to ask. The way he was flipping the paper, raising it up to the sun and tilting it to view from different angles screamed confusion. I had left with Tony to figure out the code

It wasn't easy though given that Rose was typically having a nervous breakdown and she wanted Tony to stay with her, but his solid point about him being more useful with me in figuring out the code than consoling her, won me a day with him and her only other option, Thelma went to the woman that saved us earlier to find out more on her husband before he disappeared and possibly the mansion mystery with probably some extra survival tips, leaving her with Olivia whom she still suspects to be working with the shadows – I hardly imagine it would go well

“I suspect that we need to -” I approach him pulling on the paper to get a better view

“These are symbols, either they have a meaning or they are just marked somewhere” I say, squinting my eyes

I am literally trying to look at the paper with him but the reflection is killing my eyes. I silently wish I brought my sunglasses because of the blindingly bright sun. How did I pack a greenish gray skinny jeans on black ankle boots and a black crop top ruffled at the arms but didn't pick a black sun shades amongst the Five I already had. Just great!

“Let’s get to the shelter” He says. He seems to have been struggling with the light too, we half jug to what seemed like a shop given its boxlike appearance and an outlet that opened into a platform, underneath the platform were packets that with one good guess contained snacks and food materials.

“This game just keeps getting better” without a thought to who must have stocked it there, I grab on the packet of cheese balls nearest to me, forcing it open and offering Tony who didn't take a second glance at it. With his mini touch he searches around the shop like he was going to find anything. I shrug, sitting back on the thin wood of the shop and cringing from the creaking sound of the wood warning to crumble should I rest my whole weight

“What’s this?” Tony shakes a round flat concrete with both his hands and with a little pressure, it breaks free from what seemed like the mouth of a huge tunnel. The lining of the tunnel has one of the symbols recorded in the paper we were with. Just the one that had been crossed

Gracious goodness! Sometimes bad decisions can turn things around, dropping the packet halfway empty I hurry towards the tunnel and we both burrow the dry soil around the tunnel with our hands ripping on the weak rooted plants that blocked its entrance. In minutes we could see the full entrance of the tunnel large enough to fit us both, but it is bigger on the inside and tall enough that we will only have to hunch our backs – a very uncomfortable and terrible hunch by the way

“Where will this tunnel lead to?” I am totally letting my curiosity win again

“Only one way to find out” Tony smirks at me and unbuttons his shirt, revealing the transparent black vest he wore inside that hugged on his broad chest and huge shoulders. I am itching to run my hands through the net material of the vest and grabbing on his neck – pretty sure my tiny fingers would never meet on the other side

I stop myself from staring, blinking fast and refocusing my gaze on his amused face. He flings his shirt at me playfully and I catch it struggling to keep my attention on his face

“Stop staring, just say the word please and I will let you touch me” His comment snaps me back to reality. Giggling I fist the shirt in my hands and sniff it, letting out a heavy breath my eyes lock with his

“Oh yeah? Let’s see who begs” I Tug at my crop top like I was going to remove them and watch his deep eyes lose the glitter in them to reveal something dark, this makes me chuckle – satisfied, I let go of my top with a smirk “I prefer to leave you curious” I declare with the new found confidence in my voice

He draws a huge gulp of air, holding it in his lungs. I do like what I am doing to him and I am not going to back down, not now - not ever “I wonder what I would do about it?” His says with his voice deeper and with a tease

Damn! That was a game changer, I am pretty sure he noticed my breath quicken from the sense of excitement bursting through his dark grey eyes “These shadows won't catch themselves now would they?” I ask, desperate to get out of that scenario

I leap in first into the tunnel signaling to him with a smirk and he follows through pulling me into a hug from my back “say please” his breath washes over my neck. I pretend like that didn’t just send my heart into a rampage by forcing my tensed lips into a wry grin

I turn to face him “it seems like you are the one begging” I chuckled breaking free from him and wandering deeper into the tunnel with a mischievous grin.