Chapter 12
The dank passageway looked, smelled, and felt like every Gothic nightmare I've ever had. The rock walls dripped with moisture, whispers of sound echoed from disconcerting directions, and our footsteps kicked up the scent of rotting fish. Mercifully, the smell abated as we proceeded up the tunnel. I could see in the flickering lantern light that the walls here were no longer comprised of rock but of earth, reinforced with lumber. My back ached from not being able to stand upright.
"Is it much farther?" I whispered.
The boy shook his head. We turned a corner, abruptly coming upon a plank door. It had once had a lock, long ago rusted and broken.
The door had warped over time. We had to tug hard to get it open. Once inside, I was finally able to stand upright.
"Whew. Any other
