She could try blinding him with the flashlight despite his warning, but a quick peek confirmed he’d taken precautions against that possibility. He’d backed too far away for the small beam to have much impact on his vision.

They’d run out of time.

They were going to have to do what he said.

Bile rose in her throat as she scanned the inside of the cistern again. The space wasn’t tiny. But it was confining. And suffocating. And dark.

Her chest tightened, her pulse slammed into overdrive, and she began to sweat.

“Climb down the ladder, Cate.”

“I-I can’t.”

“Kayla’s life is in your hands.”

Oh, God!

She tried to draw in air, but her lungs wouldn’t cooperate.

Why, oh why, had she let her sisters talk her into getting into that chest in the attic when they were kids? And why had the lid stuck on the stupid thing after Eve knocked it shut by mistake?

Whether that was the source of her claustrophobia, or it had simply activated a dormant condition, was irrelevant.

All that mattered was that ever since her dad had pried open the lid and pulled her out, frantic and screaming, confined spaces had brought on panic attacks.

“I don’t . . . I don’t like small spaces.”

“It’s not that small—and it won’t be for long.”

“Cate—please.” Kayla’s voice was racked with fear and pain. “I think we should do what he says. I don’t want to die.”

“Listen to your friend.”

“We’ll f-freeze down there.”

“No, you won’t. It’s deep enough that the temperature is warmer than out here, especially near the floor.” Wilson edged closer. “Are you going or not?” He swung the gun toward Kayla, who was huddled on the ground.

Do it, Cate. For Kayla. You can overcome your fear. You can. And once he leaves, you can try to come up with a plan to climb out.

Wilson aimed the gun at the ground next to Kayla.

Pulled the trigger.

At the loud pop, Kayla shrieked.

Message received.

Cate forced herself to step into the opening and onto the rope ladder. Rung by rung, she descended into the smothering darkness.

As her foot hit the floor, Wilson aimed his flashlight down. “Light the lantern.”

Respiration shallow and rapid, Cate followed his instruction.

The illumination helped dispel the gloom, but not the sensation of walls closing in on her.

A few seconds later, Kayla descended the ladder.

Think about her, Cate. She’s young and she’s hurt. You have to be strong. Guide her through this. Care for her and keep her hopes up.

Repeating that mantra, Cate crossed to the ladder and helped Kayla down. Tremors rippled through the girl, and Cate drew her into a hug.

“We’ll survive this. Your arm isn’t too b-bad, and I can bandage it. Hang in, okay?”