I pause to check my surroundings and rein in my fear.
Focus, Mel.
I’m a doctor, not a spy. How did I allow myself to be conned into this? Something I’ll reflect on later...if I live through this...
If not...
Well, I must survive. Otherwise, nobody is going to remember anything worthwhile about me. My headstone will read, Here lies Melanie Destin, too stupid to mind her own business.
If I were as smart as I pretend to be, I’d admit I’m in over my head and return to Requiem.
Calm down, Mel, and try to keep your wits. Now is too late to start second-guessing.
I resume walking. Trepidation growing with each step, I head farther into this dimly lit tunnel. The place hasn’t been used for some time. Half the ceiling lights are burned out, and the electrical cabling above my head must be a hundred years old. The deeper I go, the farther I am from being able to call for help. These walls are solid rock. My cortical implant won’t connect to anyone, and radio communications are impossible.
There is no sign my quarry is aware I’m tracking them, but I keep my eyes on my HUD, just to make sure the signal remains a constant distance ahead, but I can’t guarantee they aren’t on to me.
This is a dumb idea.
I catch myself hyperventilating. My heart is trying to set a new speed record, and my throat aches because I’m breathing through my mouth.
I was trained to deal with this better than I am. Inhale slowly through the nose and exhaling past the lips is one of the first things they teach you in EVA training. Admittedly, it was some time ago, but all the same, I need to calm down and stay on task. All these random thoughts aren’t helpful.
Perhaps now is the time to dig the pistol from my pack. I’m not sure why I accepted the damned thing. I could never use one on a person.
It slips from my grip and tumbles slowly to my feet. I lunge for it, missing. My helmet bangs into the rock wall, and I fall clumsily to the ground.
Shit! Really graceful, Destin.
Keeping one hand on the wall of the cavern for balance, I pick myself up and lean forward to retrieve the dropped gun.
And then I spot the boot, connected to someone pointing a weapon at me.
Shit!
